Colourful rowing boats moored on Phewa Lake, Pokhara

Gandaki Province, Nepal

Things to do in Pokhara

Nepal's laid-back lakeside city — the gateway to the Annapurnas, with Phewa Lake, paragliding, and a relaxed strip of cafes facing the Himalayas.

Pokhara is Nepal's most relaxed city and the launchpad for the Annapurna region. Life centres on Phewa Lake and the Lakeside strip, where cafes, guesthouses and boat hires look out at the Himalayas on a clear morning.

It's the place to slow down: take a wooden boat to the Tal Barahi temple in the middle of the lake, catch sunrise over the Annapurnas from Sarangkot, or simply work and recover between treks.

Pokhara is also the capital of adventure sports in Nepal — tandem paragliding off Sarangkot, ziplining, ultralight flights and bungee are all a short drive from Lakeside — and the jumping-off point for the western hills: Kushma's canyon bungee, the temple town of Baglung, the Gurung village of Ghandruk beneath Machhapuchhre, and the road up the Kali Gandaki to Jomsom and Muktinath. Below are our picks for where to stay and what to do.

Where to stay in Pokhara

The Best Hotels in Pokhara

Lakeside resorts and boutique stays with Himalayan views — where to sleep in Pokhara.

Hotel Barahi

A long-established central Lakeside hotel with gardens, pools and easy lake access.

Temple Tree Resort & Spa

A leafy Lakeside resort with a pool and spa, steps from Phewa Lake.

Where to eat in Pokhara

Pokhara Restaurants and Cafes

Where to eat in Pokhara — lake-view dining, Nepali staples, fresh fish and the Lakeside cafes.

Cafes & coffee in Pokhara

Pokhara Cafes Guide

Where to find lake-view coffee, good breakfasts, bakeries and local food across Pokhara's Lakeside.

Adventure in Pokhara

Bungee and Swing in Pokhara

A fixed tower in the foothills near Pokhara offers a free-fall bungee jump and a stomach-dropping giant swing.

Paragliding in Pokhara

Launch off Sarangkot for a tandem flight over Phewa Lake with the Annapurnas behind you.

Adventure Sports in Pokhara

Paragliding, zipline, ultralight flights, bungee, skydiving and SUP on Phewa Lake — Pokhara's adventure sports in one guide.

Skydiving in Pokhara

Skydiving in Pokhara runs as short seasonal tandem-jump windows over Phewa Lake and the Annapurnas — what it costs, when it runs and how to book.

Ultralight Flights Over Pokhara

Open-cockpit ultralight flights from Pokhara Airport climb high for a close Annapurna panorama over Phewa Lake.

Zipline in Pokhara

Ride one of the world's steepest ziplines from Sarangkot down toward the Seti River, hitting speeds over 100 km/h.

Boating in Pokhara

Boating on Phewa Lake

Hire a colourful wooden boat to the island temple — calmest and prettiest at sunrise.

Stand-Up Paddleboarding on Phewa Lake

Beginner-friendly SUP on Phewa Lake, best at dawn when the water is glassy and the Annapurnas reflect.

Food experiences in Pokhara

Food experience

Lakeside Cafes

Slow mornings and sunset dinners with lake views — Pokhara's relaxed cafe strip.

Food experience

Nepali Cooking Class in Pokhara

Learn to cook dal bhat, momo and Nepali curries on a hands-on Pokhara cooking class.

What to do in Pokhara

Australian Camp

A grassy ridge meadow above Pokhara with a sweeping Annapurna and Machhapuchhre panorama.

Begnas and Rupa Lakes

Pokhara's quiet twin lakes east of the city — boating, ridge walks and a slower, rural pace.

The Best Things to Do in Pokhara

Phewa Lake, Sarangkot sunrise, paragliding and the Peace Pagoda — the best things to do.

Best Viewpoints in Pokhara

Where to find the best Annapurna and Phewa Lake views in Pokhara, from Sarangkot to Pumdikot.

Bhadrakali Temple, Pokhara

A Hindu shrine to the goddess Bhadrakali near Pokhara's old bazaar, busiest on Saturday mornings.

Bindhyabasini Temple

Pokhara's oldest and most revered Hindu temple, set on a hill above the old bazaar.

Chamero (Bat) Cave

A dark limestone cavern near Mahendra Cave, alive with colonies of bats and a famous squeeze exit.

Davis Falls

A roaring Pokhara waterfall that drops into a sinkhole and vanishes into an underground tunnel.

Dhampus Village

A terraced Gurung village above Pokhara with front-row views of Machhapuchhre and the Annapurnas.

Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

A sacred limestone cave with a Shiva shrine that descends toward the hidden waters of Davis Falls.

International Mountain Museum

A serious museum on Himalayan peaks, mountain peoples, ecology and the history of great climbs.

Lakeside Pokhara (Baidam)

Pokhara's lakefront strip on Phewa Lake — how North, central and Damside differ and where to stay.

Mahendra Cave

A limestone cavern north of Pokhara, usually paired with the neighbouring Bat Cave.

Matepani Gumba

A serene Tibetan Buddhist monastery on a hill east of Pokhara, with prayer flags and valley views.

Pame and the Lakeside Loop

The calm western end of Phewa Lake — rice fields, birdlife and an easy cycle or walking loop.

Peace Pagoda Hike

Cross Phewa Lake by boat, then climb through forest to the white stupa above the southern shore.

Places to Visit in Pokhara

A run-through of Pokhara's headline sights, from Phewa Lake and Sarangkot to caves and hilltop temples.

Caves, Gorges & Temples of Pokhara

Pokhara's underground world and sacred hills — caves, the Seti gorge and the city's most revered temples.

Pokhara Day Hikes and Nearby Areas

Easy hill villages, twin lakes and short walks you can do from Pokhara in a single day.

Pokhara Lakeside: Nightlife, Cafes & Lakes

How Pokhara's Lakeside strip works — cafes, nightlife, shopping and the lakes beyond Phewa.

Pokhara Old Bazaar

Pokhara's historic Newari market quarter, with tiered shopfronts, old temples and traditional trade.

Pokhara Sightseeing Guide

The best places to visit and viewpoints in Pokhara, from the island temple to Sarangkot sunrise.

Pumdikot

A hilltop above Pokhara with a giant Shiva statue and panoramic Annapurna and Phewa Lake views.

Romantic Things to Do in Pokhara

Sunset boats, mountain sunrises and lakefront dinners — the most romantic things to do in Pokhara.

Sarangkot Sunrise

The classic dawn panorama of the Annapurnas and Machhapuchhre from a hilltop viewpoint.

Seti River Gorge

A deep, narrow canyon of milky-grey water cutting unseen through the heart of Pokhara.

Tal Barahi Temple

A two-tiered island temple on Phewa Lake, reached by wooden boat and Pokhara's most revered shrine.

Top Things to Do in Pokhara

Waterfalls, sacred caves, hilltop temples and the Mountain Museum — the best of Pokhara beyond the lake.

World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa)

A gleaming white stupa above Phewa Lake with sweeping views of the city and the Himalayas.

Shopping & markets in Pokhara

Pokhara Shopping Guide

What to buy on Lakeside — pashmina, crafts, singing bowls, trekking gear and the evening market.

Nightlife in Pokhara

Pokhara Nightlife Guide

Lakeside bars, live music, rooftop drinks and the evening street market — Pokhara after dark.

Yoga & wellness in Pokhara

Ayurveda & Spa in Pokhara

Ayurvedic massage, herbal therapies and spa in Pokhara — ideal recovery after an Annapurna trek.

Lakeside Wellness Day in Pokhara

A self-guided wellness day in Pokhara — dawn yoga, a lake walk, massage, healthy food and a sound bath.

Meditation Centres in Pokhara

Buddhist gompas, Vipassana-style retreats and quiet lakeside sessions for meditation in Pokhara.

Yoga & Wellness in Pokhara

Retreats, Ayurveda, meditation, sound healing and teacher training — Pokhara's wellness scene by Phewa Lake.

Sound Healing in Pokhara

Himalayan singing-bowl sessions and gong baths in Pokhara — what to expect from this Nepali tradition.

Wellness on a Budget in Pokhara

Affordable yoga, cheap massage, donation meditation and free lake walks — wellness in Pokhara for less.

Yoga Retreats in Pokhara

Lakeside studios and immersive hillside retreats in Pokhara, with asana, pranayama and Annapurna views.

Yoga Teacher Training in Pokhara

How 200-hour and longer yoga teacher training courses work in Pokhara, and how to choose a school.

Plan your trip in Pokhara

The Best Time to Visit Pokhara

Autumn is clearest, spring is mild and lush, winter is quiet, and the monsoon is green but cloudy.

Pokhara Day Trips

The best day trips from Pokhara — hill villages, quiet lakes, viewpoints and short forest hikes.

Pokhara Itinerary: 2 to 3 Perfect Days

A day-by-day plan for two or three days in Pokhara, from lake mornings to sunrise on Sarangkot.

Pokhara With Kids

Family-friendly Pokhara — boating, easy caves, the Mountain Museum and gentle walks for all ages.

Where to Stay in Pokhara

Lakeside (Baidam) is the place to base yourself — here's how its areas and price tiers compare.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get from Kathmandu to Pokhara?+

You can fly (about 25 minutes) or travel overland by tourist bus or private car (roughly 6–8 hours on the Prithvi Highway). Flying saves a day; the drive is scenic but slow.

How many days should you spend in Pokhara?+

Two to three days covers Phewa Lake, a Sarangkot sunrise, the World Peace Pagoda and the main viewpoints. Add more if you're paragliding or starting an Annapurna trek.

Is Pokhara good for relaxing after a trek?+

Very. The Lakeside area is built for it — calm cafes, lake views, spas and easy walks make Pokhara the classic place to unwind before or after an Annapurna or Mardi Himal trek.

Nearby destinations