Dhampus Sarangkot Trek with Paragliding

What Dhampus actually is

• A traditional Gurung village on a ridge above Pokhara, reached by a 1.5-2 hour uphill walk from the road at Phedi. It is gentle enough for most fitness levels, yet offers enough elevation gain to feel genuinely rewarding.

The view from the ridge

• Machhapuchhre appears dramatically close from Dhampus. The same peak you've seen from Pokhara feels a different scale entirely from 1,650m on the ridge, and early morning before cloud builds gives the sharpest views of the entire Annapurna range.

Cultural character of the village

• Dhampus has preserved more of its traditional Gurung character than villages on the more heavily trafficked ABC approach. You can find stone houses, small gompas, and genuine agricultural activity alongside the guesthouses.

Why Sarangkot

• Sarangkot is one of the most visited sunrise viewpoints near Pokhara for good reason. The pre-dawn view of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Machhapuchhre catching first light above the Pokhara valley is consistently spectacular.
• On this itinerary, you're approaching Sarangkot from the trail rather than driving up the road, which is a meaningfully better experience than the jeep-and-tourist-crowd version most Pokhara day-trippers get.

Best timing

• Departure from the previous night's stop should be timed to reach the viewpoint 20-30 minutes before sunrise. The sky changes fast, and the colour before the sun clears the peaks is often better than after.

Dhampus lodges

• Simple guesthouse accommodation in Dhampus village. Nothing elaborate, but clean, well-positioned for early morning views, and genuinely hospitable given the village's long familiarity with trekkers.

Sarangkot options

• More developed than Dhampus given the heavier tourist traffic. You will find a range of lodge quality from basic to reasonably comfortable, with some properties specifically positioned for sunrise views from the room or terrace.

Pokhara nights

• Before and after the trek, Pokhara's established hotel infrastructure takes over. From budget lakeside guesthouses to comfortable mid-range hotels, depending on your package tier.

For the trekking portion

• The trek itself is very accessible. Dhampus and Sarangkot are hill walks rather than mountain treks, and most reasonably mobile adults handle the trails without specific trekking fitness.
• The Phedi to Dhampus climb is the steepest section, gaining around 400m in roughly 1.5 hours. However, it's still easily manageable for most people who do any regular walking at home.

For the paragliding portion

• No physical fitness requirement beyond being able to run a few steps on launch (the pilot guides this entirely) and sit comfortably in a harness for 30 to 45 minutes.
• Heights anxiety is worth considering honestly. Paragliding in an open harness above a wide valley is a specific sensory experience that's different from looking down from a viewpoint. Most people who are nervous on the ground find the actual flight far less frightening than anticipated, but it's worth reflecting on before booking.

Pilot certification

• Pokhara's established operators use certified tandem pilots. Qualification standards and what to look for matter here, and we only work with operators whose pilots carry recognized international certifications.

Equipment checks

• A pre-flight equipment check with your pilot is standard practice and should happen before every flight. There will be a harness fit, wing inspection, and a brief passenger briefing on the launch and landing procedure.

Who shouldn't fly

• Passengers over 100-110kg may face restrictions depending on the specific pilot and equipment. Make sure you confirm this at booking.
• Anyone with recent shoulder dislocations, severe back problems, or heart conditions should discuss this with us before booking the paragliding component specifically.
• Pregnancy is a contraindication for tandem paragliding. This portion of the itinerary would need to be replaced or skipped.