Things to do in Pokhara
Best known as Nepal’s Adventure City, Pokhara is the country’s most popular resort town. With its close proximity to the Annapurna region of the Himalayas, it’s the jumping off point for many of Nepal’s most famous treks. Whereas Kathmandu feels like a busy mega-city, Pokhara has a quiet charm. Although not as steeped in cultural history as Kathmandu, there is no shortage of stuff to do in Pokhara.
For us at Far Xplorer, Pokhara is our home base and offers great hotels, delicious restaurants, and a quiet vibe which is perfect after a long and adventurous trip in the mountains.
The peaks behind Pokhara, left to right: Dhaulagiri, Machapucchare, Annapurna II, Annapurna IV.
How much time is too much time for Pokhara?
Most of our trips include at least 24 hours in Pokhara relaxing, shopping, enjoying a nice dinner, or cooling off in the hotel pool. Some travelers with more time often stick around for a additional day or two. We that’s the ideal amount of time to enjoy all that Pokhara has to offer. So, what to do while in Nepal’s Adventure City?
1) FEWA LAKE (Boating) 5 minute walk from our host hotel
In a country known for hills and mountains, lakes are a special attraction and Fewa Lake is one of the most famous. Situated at the base of the 10th tallest mountain on earth, Annapurna, it has a dramatic backdrop. The most popular lakeside activity is to rent a boat and explore some of the sights along the water’s edge.
2) POKHARA MOUNTAIN MUSEUM 10 minute taxi ride from our host hotel
Nepal is not known for museums, but the International Mountain Museum is well worth the 60-minute visit if you are interested in mountaineering history, or want to discover more of the country’s many diverse peoples. You are guaranteed to learn a few things about Nepal in a quick visit.
3) PEACE PAGODA (Views of the Himalayas). 20 minute taxi ride or motorbike ride from our host hotel
There are two ways to access the Peace Pagoda overlooking the Himalayas and Fewa Lake. You can take a boat to the trailhead and hike up a rather steep trail for 45 minutes, or you can take the road via taxi or motorbike. The pagoda itself is not much of an attraction as it’s a modern structure, but the view is incredible, if the peaks are not hidden by clouds. A few coffee shops and snack bars make for a good place to relax as you soak in the view of the world’s biggest summits including Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, II, IV, and the famous Machapucchare
The view from the Peace Pagoda is pretty amazing.
4) RENT A MOTORBIKE FOR THE DAY ($45 or less)
We have several partner businesses in Pokhara with excellent prices for daily motorbike rentals. There are several nearby roads which are easily navigated and access several fun vistas or attractions.
5) Matepani Gumba Buddhist Monastery
This isn’t the easiest place to find and not many tourists make the effort, but it’s a very interesting place. Like many temples, it is open to the public with only a few days when it might be restricted to local Buddhist monks.
6) Take a boat to the Krazy Gecko for lunch
We often end many of our trips at our favorite lakeside restaurant and bar. The Krazy Gecko has a jungle hut vibe, a great menu of diverse dishes. The permanent happy hour is a strong draw as their cocktails and fruit smoothies are awesome. If you want to add a dose of adventure to the day, take a rental boat from the lakeside area and land right on the shores of Gecko Beach. The boat rental comes with a paddler, so you only have to sit back and relax. The cost is roughly $15 and it’s definitely not fast. The boat cruise takes about 30 minutes.
7) Paraglide from the top of Sarangkot Hill
On a good day the sky above Pokhara is filled with paragliders. Flyers from around the world come to soar above Fewa lake in the shadows of Machapucchare Peak and the Himalayas. If that’s something you’re keen to do, let us know and we will connect you with one of the more professional and reliable paragliding companies.
The cost is roughly $85 for the 45 minute flight and the round trip experience only takes about three hours. Most flights depart early to mid morning.
If you find yourself in Pokhara for a day, or even a week, there is no shortage of stuff to do. We can help arrange for any activity with a quick phone call to one of our many adventure partners.