By Manish, Mountain Hike Nepal · Kathmandu · Updated 11 October 2026
Pokhara is the main gateway to the Annapurna trekking region and the second city most visitors to Nepal actually spend time in, after Kathmandu. It sits beside Phewa Lake at about 820m, with Machapuchare (Fishtail Mountain) and the Annapurna range visible from the lakeside on a clear day.
Most people pass through Pokhara before or after a trek — the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Mardi Himal Trek, and Annapurna Circuit Trek all start or end here. But the city has enough on its own to justify two or three days even if you’re not trekking: paragliding, short hikes, temples, and a lakeside that’s genuinely worth slowing down for.
What’s Inside This Page
- Getting to Pokhara
- 12 things to do in Pokhara
- Starting a trek from Pokhara
- Travel between Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan
- Chitwan jungle safari
- Frequently Asked Questions
Getting to Pokhara
Pokhara is about 200km west of Kathmandu by road, along the Prithvi Highway. Most travelers book a tourist bus from Kathmandu, scheduled at 6–7 hours. In practice, budget closer to 8–10 hours — ongoing roadworks on sections of the highway slow things down, and it can run longer during Dashain or Tihar when traffic is heavier. A domestic flight (around 25 minutes) is the faster option if your schedule is tight, but prices and frequency change often enough that we’d rather you check current fares directly than rely on a number we print here.
12 Things to Do in Pokhara
1. Boat on Phewa Lake
Rowing out on Phewa Lake is the default lakeside activity, and it earns that status — hire a wooden boat by the hour from the Lakeside docks and row across to Tal Barahi Temple, a small Hindu temple on an island near the middle of the lake. Mornings tend to be calmer water and clearer mountain reflections than afternoons.
2. Watch Sunrise from Sarangkot
Sarangkot is a hilltop viewpoint above Pokhara, and the standard early-morning trip for sunrise over the Annapurna range, with Machapuchare and Dhaulagiri also visible on a clear day. Most hotels can arrange a taxi there for roughly 5am; cloud cover in monsoon months (June–September) can block the view entirely, so this is a better bet in autumn and spring.
3. Try Paragliding in Pokhara
Pokhara is one of the better-known paragliding spots in Asia, and the setting is a real part of why — flights launch from Sarangkot and glide down over Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range in view the whole way. Tandem flights with a licensed pilot don’t require experience. Like Sarangkot’s sunrise, visibility and flying conditions are weather-dependent, so autumn and spring give you better odds than monsoon season.
4. Visit the World Peace Pagoda
The World Peace Pagoda sits on a hill on the south side of Phewa Lake. You can hike up (around 1–1.5 hours from Lakeside) or take a boat partway and hike the rest. Either way, it’s a clear view over Pokhara and the Annapurna range without an early start.
5. Explore Devi’s Fall
Devi’s Fall (locally Patale Chhango) is a waterfall just south of the airport where the Pardi Khola river disappears into an underground channel. It’s a short visit, usually paired with Gupteshwor Cave right across the road.
6. Discover Gupteshwor Cave
Gupteshwor Cave is a limestone cave across the road from Devi’s Fall, with a shrine to Lord Shiva inside. Some sections involve wading through shallow water, so sandals rather than hiking boots are the better call here.
7. Visit the International Mountain Museum
This museum covers Himalayan mountaineering history and Sherpa culture, including exhibits on the first Everest ascents. Worth an hour or two if you want context before or after a trek, rather than purely as a standalone outing.
8. Walk Around Lakeside Pokhara
Lakeside (Baidam) is where most visitors actually stay — restaurants, gear shops, cafes, and the lake itself, all walkable. It’s the easiest way to fill a slow afternoon between activities, and most of what’s on this list is a short taxi or walk from here.
9. Other Adventure Activities
Beyond paragliding, operators around Lakeside run:
- Zipline
- Bungee jumping
- Ultralight flights
- Seti River rafting
- Hot air balloon rides
- Skydiving
These run through third-party operators rather than us directly — ask at your hotel or Lakeside, and check current safety certifications before booking any of them, since standards vary between operators.
10. Visit Bindhyabasini Temple
Bindhyabasini Temple, in Pokhara’s old bazaar area, is one of the city’s most visited Hindu temples, with views over the Annapurna range from its hilltop setting. It’s a working temple rather than a tourist site built for visitors, so it’s worth going with that in mind.
11. Explore Begnas Lake
Begnas Lake, about 15km east of Pokhara, is quieter and less developed than Phewa — worth the trip if you’ve already done the boat ride on Phewa and want somewhere with fewer people.
12. Short Hikes Around Pokhara
If you want a half-day or full-day hike without committing to a multi-day trek, the common options are:
- Sarangkot hike (from Lakeside, roughly 3–4 hours round trip)
- Australian Camp hike (a popular overnight or long day hike toward the Annapurna foothills)
- Dhampus village hike
- World Peace Pagoda hike
All four give you Annapurna mountain views without needing a permit or a guide, which the multi-day treks below do require.
Starting a Trek From Pokhara
Pokhara is the starting and ending point for most Annapurna-region treks. The ones we run:
- Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Mardi Himal Trek
- Mardi Himal & Khumai Danda Trek
- Annapurna Circuit Trek
- Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek — the shortest of the five, and the most common first-time option
Travel Between Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan
Tourist buses run daily between all three cities and are the standard way most visitors get around outside the mountains:
- Kathmandu → Pokhara
- Pokhara → Kathmandu
- Pokhara → Chitwan
- Chitwan → Pokhara
- Kathmandu → Chitwan
- Chitwan → Kathmandu
Chitwan Jungle Safari
Many travelers add Chitwan National Park onto a Pokhara trip, usually after trekking rather than before. It’s a different kind of Nepal entirely — lowland jungle and grassland instead of mountains. Common activities include:
- Jeep safari
- Canoe rides
- Bird watching
- Tharu cultural programs
Frequently Asked Questions
About 200km by road on the Prithvi Highway. The tourist bus is scheduled at 6–7 hours but often takes 8–10 in practice because of ongoing roadworks. A domestic flight takes around 25 minutes.
Two to three days covers the lakeside activities, a sunrise trip to Sarangkot, and one or two of the temples or caves on this list. Add a day if you want to try paragliding or a short hike like Australian Camp.
Tandem flights with a licensed pilot are the standard, low-risk way to do it, and no experience is required. As with any adventure sport, check that the operator is licensed before booking, and note that flights are weather-dependent — they get cancelled or rescheduled in poor visibility.
Yes — the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Mardi Himal Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek, and Poon Hill Ghorepani Trek all start and end in Pokhara, unlike Everest Base Camp which requires a Lukla flight from Kathmandu.
Autumn (September–November) and spring (March–May) give the clearest mountain views and the best odds for paragliding and the Sarangkot sunrise. Monsoon (June–September) brings frequent cloud cover and rain, though the lake itself stays scenic year-round.
Final Thoughts
Pokhara works as a standalone city break and as a staging point for the mountains — most people end up doing some version of both. Pick the lake, paragliding, a short hike, or the start of a longer trek, and it’s one of the easier places in Nepal to fill a few days without overplanning them.
Plan Your Trip to Pokhara
If you’re planning a visit to Pokhara or the Annapurna region, we can help with transport, trekking tours, and local logistics.