Avia Club, which offers ultralight aircraft tours for domestic and international tourists in Pokhara, has now initiated plans to conduct observation flights over the Everest region from Madhesh Province. To this end, the company recently conducted a test flight from Janakpur Airport.
According to Avia Club’s director, Natasha Shrestha, the company plans to operate Everest observation flights from either Janakpur or Rajbiraj Airport. The flights will offer spectacular views of Mount Everest, surrounding peaks, and the Koshi Tappu region. “Our goal is to provide a direct aerial view of the Everest region, which will also attract tourists visiting Janakpur to explore Everest,” said Shrestha. “This will introduce a new product to Madhesh Province’s tourism sector.”
Avia Club recently conducted a test flight from Janakpur Airport, demonstrating that a round trip to Everest from Janakpur takes about two hours—one hour each way. “In just two hours, travelers can fly close to Everest and return to Janakpur. This initiative will enhance adventure tourism in Madhesh and add a new dimension to the sector,” she stated.
The company also plans to conduct a test flight from Rajbiraj Airport. However, the flight was postponed due to strong winds, despite good visibility in Rajbiraj. Shrestha mentioned that another test flight would be attempted in the coming days.
Once Nepal’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAN) grants approval, regular flights will commence. The authorization process is already underway. “Janakpur receives a high number of Indian religious tourists. If we can offer them an opportunity to see Everest from the air, it will be a significant boost for tourism,” Shrestha said. “Many Indian tourists visit Pokhara, where young travelers enjoy ultralight flights. If we provide a similar experience from Janakpur, it could attract even more visitors.”
Currently, CAAN allows ultralight aircraft to fly up to 10,500 feet. However, the exact proximity to Everest that the aircraft can reach is yet to be determined. “Even if we cannot reach the summit of Everest, we can still provide breathtaking views of the Himalayan region,” Shrestha said. “This will undoubtedly appeal to adventure tourists who will be thrilled to witness the stunning Himalayan scenery from the sky.”
Avia Club operates two types of ultralight aircraft. Of the six aircraft in its fleet, two are “fixed-wing,” and four are “flex-wing.” The company plans to use the fixed-wing aircraft for Everest observation flights. Shrestha believes this unique tourism product will attract Indian visitors to Janakpur for ultralight flights. “These aircraft can fly with a visibility of just 1,500 meters and require only a 600-meter runway. That’s why we have selected Janakpur or Rajbiraj for our flights,” she explained.
Ultralight aircraft, sometimes referred to as “butterfly planes,” were first introduced in Nepal in 1996 for adventure tourism in Pokhara. Avia Club initially started with two aircraft and now operates six in total.
