The Pokhara–Jomsom flight through the gorge

The aircraft on this route are small short-take-off planes, usually Twin Otters or Dorniers, that cannot fly over the Himalaya. They fly through it instead, following the Kali Gandaki gorge north from Pokhara. Dhaulagiri (8,167 m) and Tukuche Peak rise on the left; Annapurna I (8,091 m) and Nilgiri on the right. The change from green terraces to bare grey hills takes minutes. On a clear morning you can see the line where the monsoon clouds stop and the dry rain shadow begins.

Flights operate in the early morning, roughly between 6 am and noon, because the wind at Jomsom becomes too strong after late morning. Airlines run a shuttle, turning planes around fast to fit in as many rotations as possible. When cloud or wind closes the gorge, flights are delayed or cancelled, sometimes for several days in a row. Check-in at Pokhara opens early, often around 6 am, and the first flight is usually the most reliable. Later rotations are more likely to be cancelled.

For the best view, sit on the left side flying north and on the right flying south. Baggage is limited, often to 10–15 kg plus a small hand bag, so pack light and leave the rest in Pokhara. We always build a spare day around this flight and keep a jeep on call as a backup. If the morning flights are cancelled, we can usually drive you to Jomsom the same day by jeep, a 7–9 hour journey via Beni and Ghasa, rather than lose another day waiting at the airport.