15 Best Things to do in Pokhara, Nepal (Updated 2024)

I really had a great time in Pokhara, the adventure capital of Nepal . The city close to the lake is really chilled and the perfect place to relax before or after a long trek . The city is really worth visiting and one of favorite place in Nepal . A heaven for all adventure seekers and nature lovers . When the weather is clear, you will see the highest peaks and tallest mountains in Nepal with the main attraction : Annapurna mountain range .

I myself did the Annapurna trekking and it was one of the best experience in my life . 8-9 days of strong trekking, stunning views and memories for all life long . It is not hard and pretty accessible as long as you are fit and with a great motivation . They actually advice me 14 days and I did it in 08 days , without forcing too much . Everything is well organised and prepared and you can sleep on the way . You will find very cheap restaurants and rooms for less than 3 $ per might

[ CHECK OUR COMPLET GUIDE ON ANNAPURNA TREKKING : PREPARATION, TIPS ETC … ]

Below is a complete guide of activities and things to do in the city and outside . Enjoy every bit !

Pokhara is among the best places and most colorful destinations in Nepal. Considered as the doorway to Annapurna Circuit, Pokhara is nestled around the scenic Fewa Lake. Pokhara is full of natural beauty which makes it an excellent place for adventure and lots of other fun things to engage in. It does not matter if it’s trekking, nightlife, camping or adventurous sports, there are several great things you can always do during your visit to Pokhara.

In this article, we will be listing some of the top things to do in Pokhara Nepal to ensure you have unforgettable and memorable experience during your vacation.

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Things to Do In Pokhara Nepal

Getting To Pokhara from Kathmandu

Kathmandu is known to have the only international airport in Nepal. Pokhara is 206 kilometers from Kathmandu. The road connecting the two is quite dusty and is always characterized by huge traffic snarl-ups especially when leaving Kathmandu. Depending on the weather, time of day and transport mode you are using, the journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara will last between 6 and 10 hours. Ensure you carry enough snacks and treats since it will be a long road trip!

Most people using air always rush to seat on the right side of the plane just to witness the views of the Himalayas when flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara. By air, it takes 25 to 30 minutes and it is advisable to travel in the morning to avoid the Tribhuvan Domestic Airport chaos.

Planning to Visit Pokhara and Wondering Top Things to Do?

We have a list of great things you can do that will fill up your soul with unforgettable experience during your visit to Pokhara Nepal. It is an excellent destination for those who want to try our new things as there are lots of scenic views.

Here is a list of the best things you must not forget to do when visiting Pokhara.

Take a Tour to the Three Pokhara Caves

Gupteswar Mahadev Cave is a great place to start your Pokhara visit. The cave is made up of intricate deities’ structures that are well carved along the staircase series. When climbing deeper towards the end of this long cave, you can clearly witness Devi’s falls fallen force with a thick water sound through the cliff’s vertical rift.

Both Mahendra Cave and the Bat Cave are 12 kilometers and 10 kilometers away from the main town. Be sure of seeing horseshoe bats clinging upside down throughout the Bat cave’s narrow shaft.

Can you imagine getting a chance to witness a limestone cave named after King Mahendra Bir Shah and was first discovered back in mid-60’s by shepherds? That will be an unforgettable experience for sure!

Here are the timings to visit the three caves whenever you are in Pokhara

Gupteswar Mahadev Cave – 9 am to 6 pm

Bat Cave – 9 am to 6 pm

Mahendra Cave – 7 am to 6 pm

Explore Restaurants, Cafés and enjoy a Perfect Accommodation

Pokhara is one of the top tourist destinations for tourists from different parts of the globe. Most tourists prefer visiting Pokhara since they are assured of enjoying the scenic beauty of mountains and having a great time relaxing.

Pokhara is well known for its international cuisine. As a tourist, you can be sure of finding anything from sweet and spicy Chinese dishes, authentic Nepali Thali food, tasty Indian curries and international cuisine together with several other spices that suits your palate. Having the opportunity to enjoy different cultural foods is among the reasons why your Pokhara vacation will be memorable.

There are several cozy coffee shop where you can always relax and read your favorite book or do your work while enjoying a cup of coffee. There are several world class bars along the lake side where you can enjoy the best viewpoints of the lake and mountains late in the evening. The restaurants and cafes along the Pokhara lakeside offer a wide array of both international and local delicacies.

You do not have to worry about the type of accommodation you want, Pokhara has every type that suits everyone right from friendly lodges and hostels to luxury five star hotels with bars, swimming pools and 24 hour surveillance. Be sure of finding accommodation that suits your budget and requirements.

Witness the Mesmerizing Sunrise from Sarankot

Sarankot Mountain is among the most prominent scenery any visitor to Pokhara cannot afford to miss out on. The mountain is famous for activities like blue sky paragliding and zip lining. When at Sarankot, you will also have a view of some of the most stunning views at sunrise and sunset since it is the talent mountain in the Pokhara valley.

Most tourists are known to wake up very early in the morning and start hiking up the Sarankot Mountain to enjoy the sunrise. However, there are some who prefer hiking in the afternoon just to enjoy the remarkable view.

Do not forget to do a short day hike to Naudanda which is just 3 hours away from Sarankot Mountain. However, when you want to take part in a whole day hike, feel free to walk to Australian camp and return the following day. Dhampus is another great trail for hiking from Sarankot Mountain. It is situated off Annapurna base camp.

Activities to do in Pokhara Nepal

Ride a Boat at Fewa Lake

Lake Fewa ranks among the most gorgeous and clean lakes across the globe. There is nothing more pleasing that exploring this beautiful lake on a boat ride. The nature that surrounds Lake Fewa is quite amazing. Most tourists prefer visiting this lake during the low season since there are not many people around.

There are endless restaurants, lodges, souvenir shops and bookshops on the eastern shoreline of the lake which is popularly referred to as Baidam. The most fascinating part of this lakeside is the great view of mountains especially when the waters reflect the peaks creating a double image. It is great witnessing the scenery views right from the middle of the lake in all its peacefulness. This is a place any person visiting Pokhara should not miss out on experiencing.

Plunge and Enjoy Bungee Jumping

There are several adventurous activities Pokhara city offers with bungee jumping being among them. This is the only tower bungee in Nepal. It is coupled with a 3 minutes long free fall and a 75 meters vertical drop. When bungee jumping, you can be sure of enjoying the most spectacular Pokhara valley view, surrounding mountains and the lake.

When you tour Pokhara for your vacation, you will notice that bungee jumping is not just an adventurous thing to do but one of the most memorable events you can take part in Nepal!

Take a Walk to World Peace Pagoda

Just as the name suggests, World Peace Pagoda strives at promoting peace on the globe. When walking into the World Peace Pagoda, you will experience the feeling of beauty, calm and silence especially when walking in a clockwise direction.

World Peace Pagoda is a huge Buddist stupa situated at the top of a hill on the shores of Phewa Lake. It is also at the top of Ananda hill and the first ever in Nepal and 71^st Pagoda constructed by Nipponzan-Myōhōji in the world. It is a great place to catch stunning views of the Pokhara city, the Himalayan range and the Fewa Lake.

Performing a 360-degrees view will provide you with an opportunity of seeing Machapuchare popularly referred to as the fish tail. Experience the beauty of the sunrise from the Pagoda and enjoy the unforgettable experience of witnessing the mountains before the clouds start to form.

Paragliding

Paragliding is among the most popular adrenaline activities visitors do enjoy taking part in during their visit to Pokhara city. It is great to enjoy seeing pilots flying among several vultures and eagles above the lakeside. Pokhara is an extremely popular place to paraglide since the flights are quite affordable and the scenery is also quite great and spectacular especially when soaring over the jungles, lakes, ancient monasteries and local villages.

Most of the paragliding flights do launch from the viewpoint sarangkot hill which is 20 minutes’ drive away from the town. There are two main types of lights that are offered by several companies. There is the high flight which uses thermal currents that lifts you for a spectacular flight of approximately 30 minutes and lands you close to the lake. The second type of flight is the longer cross country flight that lasts up to one hour and takes you over the valleys and close to the surrounding mountains.

Go Trekking

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There are a wide range of spectacular treks in Annapurna Mountains. The treks range from one day to several weeks and multiple altitudes. The treks are reached with ease from Pokhara and it is also much easier to organize the public transport and permits from Old Pokhara city. Pokhara is also an excellent place to relax in between the trek missions.

Panchase trek is an excellent trek for those interested in medium difficulty. Most people take 3 days to hike the 44km. However, one does not have to organize transport to the starting point as you will have to start walking from Pokhara through the World Peace Pagoda.

Poon Hill trek is also another excellent trek that normally lasts for 4 days. During this trek, you will experience some great views of the sunrise over the Annapurna mountains right from the Poon Hill. Acclimatization is not required at this altitude. The trek is mainly done from the Nayapul to Ghandruk. You can get to Nayapul using bus in under 3 hours from Pokhara. Several people do combine this route with Mardi Himal trek.

There is also the Annapurna circuit trek which is considered to be one of the hikes with the most varied and spectacular views. The 15 day trek will take you through spectacular scenery. You will have a lifetime experience whenever you go for a trekking expedition in Pokhara during your vacation.

Discover Your Inner Peace by Attending a Yoga Class

Your vacation in Pokhara can never be complete without attending some yoga class. Yoga is a very popular activity in the city and any visitor should at least try and attend at least one class. There are several yoga retreats you can always attend during your vacation in Pokhara. Most of the yoga retreats have great views of the lake making them more relaxing and breathtaking.

There are several places in Pokhara city where you can take a single yoga class. However, when not sure you want to invest days doing yoga, you can always consider taking a class or two. There are several yoga classes that are always on going at the lakeside Pokhara hence, as a tourist, you will not have to go far.

Go for a Shopping Spree in Pokhara

Pokhara is a shopping hub. You can never visit Pokhara city for your vacation and fail to do some shopping. However, you need to be very keen since almost everything will look good for you. Before you embark on your trekking, it is advisable you shop for some bits and bobs especially if you had not carried them from home. There are several trekking shops dotted in the main street.

It is possible to find anything you want while vacationing in Pokhara. It is a great place to get some gifts or souvenirs for your family, friends and relatives back at home. Pokhara city is also a great place to stock up all that you have ran out of when backpacking. There are several places you can get your laundry done and well stocked pharmacies. For sure, Pokhara is a great place to reset!

Conquer the Himalayas

You can explore the area around Pokhara city on two wheels. In fact, there are several great and picturesque trails for mountain lovers to enjoy. Mountain biking will provide you with a great opportunity of exploring this great city. Can you imagine cycling though the delightful villages, green vegetation’s, along the river banks, through the lush, along the highways, around the temples and up and down the hills? That is quite memorable for sure!

You can rent the bikes on an hourly basis from any of the several bicycle rental shops around the city. When you do not want to miss out on some of the coolest spots and get a proper understanding of the lifestyle and local culture of the villages by subscribing for a guided trip.

Fewa Tal Temple

Fewa Tal Temple is among the smallest temples in Pokhara city. However, it is one of the places you will get lots of fun. Fewa Tal Temple requires one to use a boat to get to as it is situated 300 meters off the Lake Fewa shore. This Hindu temple is a sacred place for the Hindu and they always celebrate god Vishnu who is the protector of the universe. Visiting Fewa Tal Temple will provide you with lots of insight into the religious culture of the Pokhara people.

The Tal Barahi Temple is quite busy since there are queues of boats that line up to dock on the island. Hence, if you are so much into checking it out, ensure you always go down to dock at Lakeside Pokhara immediately after sunrise to avoid thousands of visitors who tour the place every day. Whenever you get into the island, there is no much you can do apart from paying respects to the Vishnu in the Fewa Tal Temple. However, moving around the lake front can be a challenge at midday or late in the afternoon since hundreds if not thousands of Hindus from Kathmandu do visit the island.

Relax at the Movie Garden

You cannot fail to experience the wine, pizza and huge screens in the garden showing great films. If you are looking for a great place to spend your night, then the movie garden will offer you a memorable nightlife experience. There is lots of fun atmosphere at the movie garden and you will have a great time watching movies while taking drinks and enjoying some foods and popcorns.

The movie garden is very popular among visitors and natives hence make sure you get there early if you want a good seat. The movie garden opens daily at 6 pm till 11 pm at night regardless of how the weather is. You can be sure of watching some movies under lightning flashes and thunderstorm rumbling. For sure this will give you one of the best experiences ever.

Conclusion

There you have it! You now know some of the top things you should not fail to do during your next visit to Pokhara City. However, it is always a great idea that you hire a local guide to ensure you do not miss out on any of the top places to visit during your vacation in Pokhara City. The tour operators have immense experience and are aware of the favorite places tourists dream of visiting whenever they land in Pokhara.