Sunrise Paragliding - Kathmandu, Nepal

On 30 December 2016, I decided to book a paraglide with Sunrise Paragliding, even though my hotel strongly recommended another company. There are lots of companies to choose from in Pokhara, however I decided to go with Sunrise Paragliding because they seemed to have "the best" reviews online (later it became clear that most of these reviews are bought). Here's the sequence of unhappy events that tarnished what was otherwise a perfect time in Nepal:

1. I had specifically arranged to paraglide at the 9.30am window due to that being the best time for the views. On arriving at the mountain jump off point, I was forced to sit around for over 2 hours waiting - not due to the wind conditions (which were perfect), but simply because the company had not arranged enough pilots to come up because one of them had slept in upon his return to Nepal from Bali - so despite my pilot and I being ready to go, all the others in "my group" having done their flight hours earlier, and my nervousness and anxiety in waiting around watching at least 60 people jump before me mounting with each minute of waiting around, we were forced to wait for another pilot to arrive to paraglide with someone who was not part of my group.

2. The company advertises and promises - and also separately promised my hotel manager - a flight time of between 20 to 30 minutes. In fact, we were in the air for a total flight time of 14 minutes. Again, nothing to do with the flying conditions which were perfect but rather because the company had booked in too many flights that day. I complained at the time including while we were in the air but nothing was done at this stage.

3. On returning to my hotel feeling very disappointed and frustrated by the whole experience, the hotel manager contacted the company to complain and to determine why I was only in the air for 14 minutes. At this stage, the company said to the hotel manager, "it was almost 15 minutes of flying". The company does not advertise "almost 15 minutes of flying" - this is misleading and deceptive and thievery given the amount of money paid. Go with any of the other Pokhara sky diving companies as they guarantee at least 20 minutes in the air.

4. I had paid an additional amount of money for the video and photo package. Upon collecting the DVD of my videos and photo, I asked the lady at reception of Sunrise Paragliding to confirm those were my photos and video and I indicated I wanted to check them. Despite my requesting this, I was not given the opportunity to check the DVD and rushed out of the company in light of my and the hotel manager's earlier complaints.

5. Upon returning home to Sydney, I discovered the the DVD is completely blank.

6. I have attempted to resolve this matter directly with Sunrise Paragliding - on each of my 6 phone calls, I have been told "the manager is not available" or that someone will come back to me. I have not received a single response to my 10 emails, Facebook messages and posts to Sunrise Paragliding. All I would like is to get my photos and videos.

7. Apart from the outstandingly awful experience of my time in the air, I am completely shocked, appalled and enraged that Sunrise Paragliding are getting away with this - to not respond to any of my correspondence is rude. To take a customer's money and give them "almost 15 minutes" in the air when promising between 20 to 30 minutes for no reason other than they have booked too many other flights is misleading.

8. It is not about the money - it is about the fact that I went for an experience for which I now have no photos/videos (as they are not allowed unless done through the company) and this experience ruined what was otherwise an amazing time in beautiful Pokhara.

Take your money elsewhere! If it were possible to do so on here, I would give them less than the one star/terrible rating.