15 best things to do in Pokhara, Nepal

Pokhara is Nepal’s favourite place to slow down. The city sits beside Phewa Lake at about 820 m, with the Annapurna range and the sharp summit of Machhapuchhre rising almost straight out of the hills behind it. It is the starting point for the Annapurna treks, the adventure sports capital of Nepal and, after a week on the trail, the best place in the country for a long breakfast with a mountain view.

Here are the best things to do in Pokhara, whether you have a weekend or a few rest days around a trek.

Pokhara at a glance

Pokhara facts
Altitude	About 820 m
From Kathmandu	25 min flight, 6 to 8 hrs by road
Best area to stay	Lakeside (Baidam)
Best months	October–November and March–April
Ideal stay	2 to 4 days

On and around Phewa Lake

1. Rent a boat on Phewa Lake

Hire a colourful wooden boat, with or without someone to row it, from the shore at Lakeside. Go early in the morning when the water is still and the reflection of Machhapuchhre is clearest.

2. Visit Tal Barahi Temple

A small two-tiered pagoda temple on an island in the middle of Phewa Lake, dedicated to the goddess Barahi. Boats run there all day from the main ghat. Saturdays are busiest, when local families come to make offerings.

3. Walk or cycle Lakeside

Lakeside is Pokhara’s tourist strip, a long road of cafés, bakeries, bookshops and gear stores along the eastern shore of the lake. Rent a bicycle and ride north along the shore towards Khapaudi for quieter views.

4. Hike to the World Peace Pagoda

A white Buddhist stupa on a ridge on the south side of the lake. Take a boat across the lake and climb the forest trail for about an hour, then walk or take a taxi back. The view over the lake to the Annapurnas is one of the best in Pokhara, especially in the late afternoon.

Views and adventure

5. Sunrise at Sarangkot

The most famous viewpoint in Pokhara, at about 1,600 m above the north side of the lake. Drive up before dawn to watch the first light hit Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range. Clear mornings are most likely from October to April.

6. Go paragliding

Pokhara is one of the best places in the world for tandem paragliding. Flights take off from Sarangkot and glide down over the hills to land beside Phewa Lake, often alongside eagles and vultures riding the same thermals. No experience is needed. You fly with a licensed pilot for 20 to 60 minutes depending on the package.

7. Try the zipline or an ultralight flight

The zipline from Sarangkot is one of the longest and steepest in the world, dropping hundreds of metres down the hillside in under two minutes. For a calmer thrill, an ultralight flight takes you close to the Annapurna range in a small open-cockpit plane.

8. White-water rafting on the Seti or Trishuli

Half-day rafting on the Seti River is a short trip from Pokhara, suitable for beginners. For bigger rapids, many travellers raft the Trishuli on the way between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Caves, waterfalls and culture

9. Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

Davis Falls, known locally as Patale Chhango, is a waterfall that disappears into an underground tunnel. Across the road, steps lead down into Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, a Hindu cave shrine where you can see the same water from below. Both are most dramatic after the monsoon, from August to October.

10. Bat Cave and Mahendra Cave

Two limestone caves north of the city. Mahendra Cave has lit walkways, while the Bat Cave has a tight squeeze at the exit, so wear shoes with grip and bring a torch.

11. International Mountain Museum

A large museum about the Himalaya, with displays on the 14 peaks above 8,000 m, the history of mountaineering and the cultures of the mountain peoples of Nepal. A good choice for a cloudy day.

12. Old Bazaar and Bindhyabasini Temple

North of Lakeside, the Old Bazaar has Newari townhouses and traders’ shops from the days when Pokhara was a stop on the trade route between India and Tibet. Bindhyabasini Temple, on a small hill nearby, is one of the city’s most important Hindu shrines.

13. Begnas and Rupa lakes

Pokhara has eight lakes in the valley. Begnas and Rupa, about 30 minutes east of the city, are much quieter than Phewa, with fish farms, rice terraces and homestays. Take a boat out on Begnas or walk the ridge between the two lakes.

Short hikes from Pokhara

14. Australian Camp and Dhampus

A one- or two-day walk from Kande to the meadow at Australian Camp and the Gurung village of Dhampus, with sunrise views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. It is the start of the Mardi Himal trek and a good taster before a longer route.

15. Start a trek into the Annapurnas

Pokhara is the gateway to the best treks in the region:

• Poon Hill: 4 days, easy, a famous sunrise at 3,210 m.
• Mardi Himal: 4 to 6 days, moderate, a ridge walk to 4,500 m.
• Annapurna Base Camp: 7 to 11 days, moderate, into the Annapurna Sanctuary at 4,130 m.

Foreign trekkers need a licensed guide and an ACAP permit for all three. See our trekking permits guide for details.

How many days in Pokhara?

• 2 days: Sarangkot at sunrise, a boat to Tal Barahi, the Peace Pagoda in the afternoon, then paragliding or Davis Falls the next day.
• 3 to 4 days: Add Begnas Lake, the caves, the mountain museum and a slow day in Lakeside.
• Around a trek: Plan one day before to meet your guide and buy gear, and one day after to rest.

Getting to Pokhara

Pokhara is about 200 km west of Kathmandu. You can fly in about 25 minutes, take a tourist bus in 7 to 8 hours or hire a private jeep for a door-to-door trip of 6 to 7 hours. Our Kathmandu to Pokhara guide compares all three, and our things to do in Kathmandu guide helps you plan the other end of the journey.