FAQs page 4

Can I camp?

Yes we can provide camping gear or you can bring your own

Can I bring my family or nonflying partner?

Yes by all means, there's plenty to do, from sea to beach to sand dunes to biking and water parks etc, it makes for a great family holiday

Do I need to bring a radio?

Yes if you are on a guided or Siv week, two metres, not PMR or shortwave.

No if you are on a tuition week, all kit is provide

Do I need a reserve?

Not really.

Where do we fly in to?

Periera is favourite or Bogota or Cali, please ask beofre booking so we can coordinate pick ups

What if I'm a bit rusty at thermaling?

Colombia :

Piedechince is the perfect place to get into the swing of thermalling, a great area to refresh your skills with great take off sites, easy landings, superb thermalling and some great XC opportunities

Nepal:

If you can forward launch you can come, like Colombia conditions are pleasnat on take off and in the air, you'll need to ba able to land on your own.

Should I be worried about safety considering its history?

Thankfully it is now history, we fly with professional guides, well versed in where to fly, we fly in the the popular areas of the Cacao valley, we use local sims to keep in touch plus our Famous FlyMaster live trackers to keep a watchful eye. We have never had an incident that has made us worry about Colombia in six years, tourism is on the rise, the locals are some of the friendliest folk you’ll ever meet.

What radio do you recommend?

2 meter

Do I need vaccinations?

Only really if you plan to go wild camping afterwards

Can I bring a non flying partner?

Yes sure, there is a pool at every place we stay, but a couple of places are a little out of town so they could be home alone during part of the trip.

Do I have to bring my own equipment?

Yes

Do I have to bring a vario and a radio?

Yes if you are on a guided or Siv week, two metres, not PMR or shortwave.

No if you are on a tuition week, all kit is provided.

Do I have to bring my own paragliding equipment?

Yes

How many paragliders in the group?

10-12 pilots plus two/three guides

What if I've not done any XC flying before?

Not a problem, but if you’ve not done any thermalling before then you’ll not get as much out of the holiday

Where do we fly to?

We land in Kathmandu, then go to Pokhara.

Do I need to get vaccinations?

Officially yes, in truth only if you plan to go wild camping afterwards

Spend a day in kathmandu, head to Pokhara either via a flying site or direct, organize paperwork and permissions, fly locally for three days before exploring some other sites.

HEALTH

Water:
Don't drink the water from the tap, don't clean your teeth with it. Use bottled, boiled or purified water.

I personally take probiotics few days before to come to Nepal to get my stomach as healthy as possible. I take them sometimes during my stay. I also buy a hand sanitizer to keep my hands clean before to eat.

Also check with your doctor about next advises:

Courses or boosters usually advised: hepatitis A; typhoid; diphtheria; tetanus; poliomyelitis.
Other vaccines to consider: hepatitis B; rabies; Japanese encephalitis (for eastern and low lying areas); cholera.
Pokhara is not in a malaria area.

Can I stay on afterwards to go trekking etc?

Yes of course.

Can I bring a non flying partner or friend?

Possibly but depends on numbers and there is unlikely to be any space in the van to go up the hill

How many in the group?

8-12 pilots plus two guides

What's included in the holiday?

Accommodation, airport transfer, boat tow fees, coaching etc, equipment to allow you to do that.

What is thermalling?

Thermalling is flying around in circles to stay in the areas of best lift exactly the same way as the birds, like kites & buzzards or Griffin Vultures (which you see in this country all year round). Average good climb rates in Britain during the summer are around 400 feet per minute although 900 to 1000 feet per minute is not unheard off.

There is nothing to compare to the buzz you get from banking a glider onto it's wing tip and rising skywards in a strong, smooth thermal, ground features getting smaller with every turn. One student on his first trip abroad said to me following his first thermic flight "I am so glad that I’ve not gone through my entire life without experiencing that incredible flight". All this and more is open to you in the world of paragliding and it is one of the few adventure sports where women can compete on equal terms with men as physical strength or body weight is not an issue.

Our Mentor plus Paragliding holidays are aimed at low airtime pilots, balanced courses and holidays to educate and teach pilots new skills to get the best from their flying and go cross country on a paraglider using thermals.