Things to do in Sarangkot, from a village lodge
Beyond the sunrise: paragliding, the zipline, the cable car down to the lake, walks along the ridge and slow village days, with what costs money and what is free.
Most people come to Sarangkot for one sunrise and leave. Stay a day and the ridge has more to give: the sky full of paragliders, walks along the hill, and the lake a cable-car ride below. Here is what we suggest to our guests.
At a glance
| What | Where | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise and sunset | The viewpoint, about 390 m from the lodge | Dawn and dusk | Free |
| Paragliding | Take-off about 770 m from the lodge | 11:00–16:30; steadiest October to May | Paid, with a licensed operator |
| Zipline | From the ridge down to Hemja | By day | Paid |
| Cable car to the lake | Top station, a short walk away | From 5 AM daily | From NPR 400 (Nepali) or USD 8 one way |
| Walk to Kaskikot | West along the ridge | About 2 hours each way | Free; no permit |
Watch the sunrise, and the sunset
The reason everyone comes. The viewpoint at 1,592 m faces the Annapurna range, with Machhapuchhre almost due north. Times for every month, and where to stand, are in our Sarangkot sunrise guide; from the lodge it is a short walk before dawn.
Go paragliding
Tandem flights take off from Sarangkot again. Flying moved away from the hill when Pokhara's new airport opened in January 2023, and Nepal's civil aviation authority allowed Sarangkot take-offs again in late May 2025. Flights now run between 11:00 and 16:30 and land by the lake at Khapaudi. The take-off is about 770 m from our lodge.
Fly with a licensed operator that belongs to the Nepal Airsports Association, check that insurance is included and that your own travel insurance covers paragliding, and expect flights to be called off on windy or wet days. October to May has the steadiest flying. Most operators collect you from your hotel. Ask us when you book if you would like a pointer.
Ride the zipline
A zipline drops from the Sarangkot ridge to Hemja in the valley: about 1.8 km long, with some 600 m between the two stations. It has been billed as one of the tallest and steepest in the world.
Take the cable car down to the lake
Nine minutes from the ridge to Sedi Bagar on Phewa Lake, then boats, the lakeside and Lakeside's cafés. The World Peace Pagoda, across the lake, makes a half-day from there: a boat ride, then a steep climb of about 45 minutes through forest. Fares and hours are in our cable car guide.
Walk the ridge
West along the ridge lies Kaskikot, the old Kaski fort at 1,788 m: about 5–6 km by trail, around two hours each way, and no permit needed. Keep going to Naudanda (about 11 km in all, 3–4 hours) and come back by bus or taxi from the highway. Or walk down to Lakeside in 1.5–2 hours. Routes and times are in our Lakeside to Sarangkot hiking guide.
Slow down in the village
Wander the lanes around the lodge, stop at the tea stalls by the viewpoint, and sit out on a terrace while the light changes over the range. After dark, the lights of Pokhara spread out below.
Our restaurant and bar cooks Nepali, Indian, Chinese and continental dishes, with vegetarian options.
What is free, and what costs money
Free: sunrise and sunset from the ridge, the walks, the village.
Paid: the cable car, paragliding, the zipline and boats on the lake. There may be a small fee for the viewing tower.
Make a day of it
Stay on the ridge and do it all at your own pace. Call or WhatsApp +977 974 552 2082, or write to [email protected].
