Pokhara tours and activities: the complete guide
Pokhara is Nepal's favourite holiday town. It sits beside the calm waters of Phewa Lake at about 820 m, with the fishtail summit of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurna range rising almost straight above it. It is the starting point for the Annapurna treks, the adventure capital of Nepal and simply a lovely place to relax.
This guide covers the best things to do in Pokhara, from sunrise viewpoints and city sights to paragliding, short treks and wellness, with tips on when to go and how long to stay.
Sunrise at Sarangkot
The classic Pokhara experience is watching dawn light up Dhaulagiri, the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre from Sarangkot (about 1,600 m). Our Sarangkot sunrise tour has you back at Lakeside in time for breakfast.
Sights in and around the city
- Phewa Lake: rent a colourful boat and row to the island temple of Tal Barahi.
- World Peace Pagoda: a white stupa on the ridge above the lake; walk up on our World Peace Pagoda hike.
- Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave: a waterfall that vanishes underground, and a cave temple beneath it.
- Mahendra Cave and the Bat Cave: limestone caves north of the city.
- International Mountain Museum: the story of Himalayan climbing and mountain cultures.
- The Tibetan settlements, with carpet weaving and handicrafts.
Our Pokhara city tour covers the main sights in a day.
Adventure activities
- Paragliding: fly tandem from Sarangkot over Phewa Lake; see Pokhara paragliding and our paragliding guide.
- Zip flying: the ZipFlyer drops about 600 m from Sarangkot to Hemja.
- Hot air balloon: a calm sunrise balloon flight over the valley.
- Cycling: ride to the quiet lakes on our countryside cycling tour.
- Rafting: the gentle Seti river runs close to Pokhara.
Lakes beyond Phewa
About 45 minutes east, Begnas and Rupa lakes are quieter, surrounded by farms and forest. Our Begnas Lake boating and village walk combines both.
Short treks from Pokhara
Pokhara is the gateway to some of the best short treks in Nepal:
- Australian Camp and Dhampus: 2–3 days with big views.
- Ghandruk: a Gurung village beneath Annapurna South.
- Panchase: quiet forest trails and sacred lakes.
- Ghorepani Poon Hill: the most famous sunrise in the Annapurnas.
- Mardi Himal: a ridge trek close to Machhapuchhre.
See our best treks near Pokhara.
Wellness
Pokhara is Nepal's yoga capital. Join our Pokhara yoga retreat, or simply book a massage at Lakeside after your trek.
Evenings in Pokhara
Lakeside comes alive at night with restaurants, live music and bars. See our Pokhara nightlife guide.
Getting to Pokhara
Pokhara is about 200 km west of Kathmandu: a short flight, or six to eight hours by road. Pokhara's international airport opened in 2023. See our Kathmandu to Pokhara travel guide.
Best time to visit
October–November and March–April have clear views and pleasant temperatures. Winter mornings are crisp and clear. The monsoon (June–August) brings heavy rain and cloud, though the town is green and quiet.
How many days?
Two or three days lets you see the sights, enjoy an adventure activity and relax. Add two to five days for a short trek. Read our Pokhara travel guide.
Book Pokhara activities with Himalayan Hiking
All our Pokhara tours include pick-up from your Lakeside hotel and licensed guides or pilots. Contact us to plan your days in Pokhara.