Here’s a unique travel experience… fly in a tandem paraglider, while huge hawks fly along with you, in the midst of remote Himalayan valleys.
The tour company calls it a first in aviation history — I’m pretty dubious of “firsts” and “onlies,” but it’s for sure I’ve never heard of anyone else doing it.
First, experienced falconers/bird handlers show you how to handle the trained birds of prey. Then you travel by jeep to Sarangkot, the Parahawking take-off site. You will then be fitted into your harness and launch with a tandem pilot, following a trained Pariah Kite and other wild raptors. Your Kite will guide you to the thermals and will come to you when you call.
Sunrise Paragliding says it is committed to responsible tourism, giving jobs to local people, buying supplies locally, and working to protect and safeguard the fragile biodiversity and cultural integrity of Nepal. Go to their Web site for more info.
{ 3 comments }
Dear Mary!
I’m very glad to see your article on ecotravelogue. I’m very very happy to see your article about Nepal and mostly adventures in Nepal. We are really grateful to you for your work to introduce Nepal to world. Thanks a lot from the side of all Nepalese People.
Thanks again for your support to Neapl.
Please send me your comments and suggestions to arl_suraj@hotmail.cm
We are eagerly waiting for you in Nepal. can you visit Nepal again/ for that purpose I will help you to process to come.
Suraj Kaumar Aryal
Ph: +977 9841 412164
Hi,
Many raptors used in stunts like this are taken from the wild. When they die more get stolen. Did you get a chance to check on the conditions these birds are kept in, or their morbidity rates? What sort of turnover of “trained” kites there is? Be interesting to know…
Incidentally, there’s actually no species called a “Pariah” Kite – it’s a local name for the Black Kite.
Charlie,
This paragliding outfit says it is dedicated to promoting responsible tourism. The two birds that fly with the pilots
were not taken from the wild but rescued from a local farmer. Adam Hill and Rajesh Bomjam, owners of Sunrise Paragliding, learned the traditional methods of the ancient sport of falconry to train the birds.
Thanks for your comment!
Mary
Comments on this entry are closed.