Rappelling in Pokhara: Scary Adventure Down a 45m Waterfall

If you want to get your heart racing, rappelling in Pokhara down a 45m waterfall at Ghalel village in Nepal should do the trick! But how scary was it?

Rappelling In Pokhara: Scary Adventure, Or Not?

Getting From Pokhara To Lwang Ghalel

We drove through the town of Gandaki where there was a completely naked man casually walking through the streets with his little plastic bag he was carrying just about covering his manhood. I was wondering if this was something native to Nepal but judging by the looks on the faces of the locals, my guess is not!

A snapshot of village Nepali life can be seen once we hit the Annapurna Conservation Area with women working in the vibrant rice fields and children playing in the streets. The views of the mountains with random waterfalls dotted that was just staggering.

Preparing For Rappelling In Pokhara 

There were 14 of us so we split into three groups to make this easier to manage. We all headed down to the base of the 45m high waterfall to get our gear on; wetsuits, waterproof jackets, safety harnesses, and helmets.

My big tip here would be to go down one group at a time, I was in the third group and I got colder by the minute, my hands started to turn a little purple, and lost feeling in my fingers. Stay warm for as long as possible.

Each group was given a practice session on rappelling techniques against a rock. Following this was a briefing on how to handle each part of the rock face and the drop at the end. So, armed with the information and the right gear, we had to do it for real!

Time To Go Over The Top!

Being so cold, I couldn’t wait to get started so I marched up the mountain waving my hands around to get the feeling back to make it easier to guide the rope in this crazy little adventure.

On reaching the top, we were all locked onto the rope for safety. I took a glimpse over the edge… yup this was high, my stomach turned slightly but I was super excited to do this.

I edged down to the first platform where I was attached to the long rope for the descent down the rock. I managed to make up some pace in this section but as you hit halfway the power of the waterfall on your head was immense. I slipped a couple of times but got my footing back on the rock. You just have to keep going and keep your head straight.

In the end, the guides pull on the rope so you are away from the waterfall, this was purely for the photo opportunity. As they loosened the rope and I went back towards the waterfall, I spun around like I was in a washing machine, not once but twice. It was really hard to catch my breath and regain control of the sheer power of the waterfall.

The guides pulled the rope hard again to bring me out of the waterfall. Once I had a moment to calm down, I dropped into the water pool at the bottom. I did it!

How Scary Was It?

It was terrifying to start with, the spinning round was worrying. Getting out of the water, my legs felt like jelly. Total adrenaline rush! Would I go canyoning and rappelling in Pokhara again? Yes, in a heartbeat!

FAQs: Rappelling In Pokhara

Where To Go For Rappeling In Pokhara?

Pokhara Canyoning is located in Ghalel Village of Kaski district of Nepal.

How Safe Is Rappelling In Pokhara?

As with all extreme sports, there is an element of risk. Remember to get your travel insurance, and ensure that you are covered for any adventure activities you may be taking part in. Here are some tried-and-tested options;

Get 5% off your travel insurance with HeyMondo. They offer an add-on for adventure activities, best to check the small print! You would also benefit from 24-hour medical assistance, 365 days a year with single, multi-trip, and long-stay insurance, broad cover for Covid-19 and non-refundable expenses. HeyMondo’s handy app makes this a simple process, and I love that they give a little back too by contributing to ‘Doctors Without Borders’.

Where Next After Pokhara?

Adrenaline junkies should not leave Pokhara before paragliding with a Himalayan backdrop! 

There is no better adventure than trekking to Everest Base Camp. Read my blog about my Everest Base Camp experience with a helicopter evacuation from the mountain to the hospital in Kathmandu.

Once you’ve explored the city of Kathmandu, head to Kathmandu Valley for mountain biking, or on a 2-day hike to Nagarkot to stay at the Mystic Mountain Hotel.

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