Now that the monsoon is slowly settling in we are able to sit back a bit and reflect on what an incredible year we have had. The conditions this previous season produced some epic flying, and many busy days full of smiling faces. Anyone who came to enjoy the flying here in Nepal last year would agree that it was one of the best seasons on record. Amazing records were set, Pokhara was the host for the Russian Open, and we saw Paragliding making headlines every week from the growth of the popularity or the sport here in general to more detailed accounts of some of the sports brave adventurers. 

The 2011 Nepal Open Paragliding Champoinship was a success, and recieved positive feedback from all participants along with collaboritive advice for ways to improve in years to come. We saw three Sunrise Team pilots on the podium this year! Congrats to Binod, Bimal, and Trissa for an outstanding performance!  Binod took first place in the Nepali Overall class, and Bimal took 3rd. Trissa placed 3rd in the Open class for women, and set the bar high for her first podium appearance.

 There is a line that seperates pilots that spend their time around a few local sites, and those that venture into the unknown. Brad Sander, along with a team of friends began an epic journey flying from Pokhara to Kathmandu in only a few days, and continued on to cross the border of India into Sikkim. Each year pilots are exploring the flying possibilities in Nepal more and more, and his story is just one of these, but an impressive one at that. For a more detailed account of his trip, please visit www.himilayanodyssee.com. Our hat's off to you Brad, and we all look forward to your return next season and to hear the stories you continue to live each day.

Brad isn't alone in this category, and the story of Sanu "Babu" Sanuwar's flight from the summit of Everest made headlines around the world. Not only did he manage the summit and a flight from the top of the world, but he continued on via hiking and kayaking to the Bay of Bengal. From the highest point in the world, to sea level, a first for anyone. To hear more about Babu's incredible story, please visit www.theultimatedescent.com Congrats again Babu!

In addition to these longer XC adventures, there have been other records set this previous season. A Bulgarian Pilot by the name of Kamen took off from Korchon on a picturesque day, and flew to over 5,400 meters soaring near the face of Fishtail. He was gracious enough to share a short clip of this adventure with us, and you can enjoy his experience second hand by clicking on the link below: 

Korchan has grown in popularity as a flying site over the years. The views from this 3,200 m take-off are nearly impossible to beat, and the joy of thermalling with friends up to 5,000m and gliding back to Lakeside, Pokhara has been enjoyed by more pilots this past season than ever. Here are a few pics to give you a glimpse into the mystique of Korchon. 

This monsoon has allowed some more time to have fun with video editing as well, and if you want a taste of what  tandem flight with us is like, please click the links below and feel free to share with friends!!

This past season has left us all satisfied, inspired and itching to see our flying family who left for the monsoon return for what we hope to be another beautiful flying season here.  As it is, the monsoon has allowed for breaks in the clouds and some fantastic flying days none the less. There is something to be said for the added enjoyment that comes with a flight when you been forced to be on the ground for a few days. The hillsides are lush and green, and the visibility spectacular. The time on the ground isn't wasted however, and we are always looking ahead to the future of the sport in Nepal, as well as ways to improve the Sunrise Family from every aspect. If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions regarding the services we offer, or more general inquiries about flying in Nepal, feel free to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it As always, much love from the Sunrise Family here in Nepal, and the best wishes to all of you.

You can now find us on youtube and facebook simply by searching "Sunrise Paragliding", if you would like to see what we have been up to this past year. As always, we are looking ahead and finding ways to improve ourselves to provide you with the best possible service. So don't hesitate to email us with any comments/suggestions as your input is always appreciated. If this is your first time looking into the world of paragliding, and a trip to Nepal is in your near future please feel free to drop us a line and arrange a tandem flight, a flying tour, or the chance to earn your own pair of wings and learn to fly yourself. As always, much love from the Sunrise Family, and we hope to share the sky with you soon.