Sarangkot sunrise

Sarangkot is the ridge northwest of the city, about 1,600 metres above sea level — roughly 700–800 metres above Lakeside. On a clear morning the wall in front of you is Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Annapurna I (8,091 m), the rest of the Annapurna massif, and Machhapuchhre (6,993 m). Cloud eats the view more often than postcards admit; check Today before a 4:30 taxi.

The road from Lakeside is about 11 km of switchbacks (a taxi is 30–45 minutes). Walking up from the lake side takes one and a half to three hours. Tandem paragliding launches from this ridge after breakfast when the sky is legal and the wind is kind. Sleeping on the ridge turns sunrise into a walk, not a night drive.