Lakeside
First-timersHostels, restaurants and agencies by Phewa Lake.
Pokhara city guide
Things To Do In Pokhara
A relaxed lakeside town beneath the Annapurnas, where you paddle on Phewa Lake, paraglide off Sarangkot and set off on some of the world's great treks.
37
Hostels in the city
8.9
Average, from 5,285 reviews
6,993 m
Machapuchare
25 min
Flight to Kathmandu
Guides
Required on most treks
Beneath the Annapurnas
Pokhara sits beside Phewa Lake at the foot of the Annapurna range, with Machapuchare, the Fishtail, rising above it. On clear mornings the mountains are reflected in the lake.
It is Nepal's adventure capital and the start of the Annapurna treks, and Lakeside is a relaxed strip of guesthouses, cafés and gear shops.
Two or three days in town is right, before or after a trek.
Where to stay
Lakeside, along the eastern shore of Phewa Lake, has nearly all the hostels, restaurants, trekking agencies and bars. Damside, at the southern end of the lake, is quieter and slightly cheaper. Sarangkot, on the ridge above, has guesthouses with mountain views at sunrise.
Damside
QuietThe quieter southern end of the lake.
Sarangkot
ViewsGuesthouses on the ridge with sunrise over the Annapurnas.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 7 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Pokhara
Pokhara sits on Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range rising behind it, including the fishtail peak of Machapuchare, 6,993 metres and sacred, never officially climbed. Mornings are clearest for the mountain views.
Rent a wooden boat to paddle across Phewa Lake to the Tal Barahi temple on its island, then hike or row to the World Peace Pagoda on the hill opposite, a white Japanese stupa with views back over the lake and mountains.
Sarangkot, on the ridge above town, is the classic sunrise viewpoint over the Annapurnas, and the launch point for paragliding over the lake, one of the best tandem flights in the world.
The International Mountain Museum tells the story of Himalayan climbing. Davis Falls and the Gupteshwor cave, across the road, are a short ride out of town.
Pokhara is the base for the Annapurna treks: Poon Hill, a short trek of about four days with sunrise over the mountains; Annapurna Base Camp, about a week into the sanctuary; Mardi Himal; and the Annapurna Circuit, two to three weeks over the Thorong La pass. Most treks now need a licensed guide, an ACAP permit and a TIMS card, arranged by agencies in Lakeside.
Free things
Free things to do in Pokhara
Walking along the Phewa lakeshore is free, and sunrise views of the Annapurnas from Lakeside on a clear morning cost nothing.
The hike up to the World Peace Pagoda is free, and so is the walk up to Sarangkot from town, a steep couple of hours. Begnas Lake, a quieter lake east of town, is free to walk around.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking in Pokhara
Lakeside has a huge range of restaurants for travellers, from dal bhat and momos to wood-fired pizza and steaks, plus German bakeries selling cinnamon rolls before treks.
For local food, try thakali dal bhat, a richer version from the Mustang region, served with many small side dishes.
A meal is €2 to €7.
Nightlife
Going out in Pokhara
Lakeside has bars with live music, rooftop terraces over the lake and a few late bars, busy with trekkers celebrating the end of a trek.
A beer is €2 to €4.
Getting around
Getting around Pokhara
Pokhara International Airport, opened in 2023, mainly handles domestic flights; flights to Kathmandu take about twenty-five minutes, and weather can delay them.
Tourist buses reach Kathmandu in seven to eight hours and Chitwan in about five. Taxis and jeeps reach the trailheads, such as Nayapul and Kande; agree fares in advance.
Lakeside is walkable, and bicycles and scooters are easy to rent.
Costs
What Pokhara costs
Pokhara is cheap. Dorms start around €5 and a careful day is €15 to €25.
Permits, guides and paragliding are the extras: the ACAP permit is NPR 3,000 (about €20) and the TIMS card NPR 2,000. A licensed guide costs roughly €25 to €35 a day. Paragliding is roughly €70 to €100 for a tandem flight, and a boat on the lake a few euros an hour.
The currency is the Nepalese rupee (NPR); prices here are euro equivalents, at roughly 155 rupees to the euro. Cash is essential outside the cities and on treks; ATMs have low withdrawal limits and fees. Withdraw enough cash before a trek; there are no ATMs on most trails.
Safety
Staying safe in Pokhara
Pokhara is very safe.
On treks, altitude sickness is the main risk above about 3,000 metres: climb slowly, acclimatise, and descend if symptoms worsen. Most trekking areas require a licensed guide since 2023, and you need permits.
Check your travel insurance covers trekking at the altitude you plan to reach, and helicopter rescue.
Emergency: 100 police, 102 ambulance. Tourist Police: 1144.
Day trips from Pokhara
Short treks, long treks and a quieter lake.
Poon Hill
Sunrise over the Annapurnas and Dhaulagiri.
Annapurna Base Camp
Into the Annapurna sanctuary.
Annapurna Circuit
Over the Thorong La pass at 5,416 m.
Begnas Lake
A quieter lake east of town.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Trekking season is the event.
October–November and March–April
Trekking season
Annapurna
The clearest months.
October or November
Tihar
Pokhara
Lights on the lake.
Hostels
Where to stay in Pokhara
The top-rated places to stay in Pokhara right now, live from Hostelworld.
The Mountain House Pokhara
See dates and book
Pokhara Backpackers Hostel
Dorms from €6 a night
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Kiwi Backpackers Hostel Pokhara
Dorms from €5 a night
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Zostel Pokhara
Dorms from €4 a night
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Forest Lake Backpackers Hostel
Dorms from €5 a night
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Hotel The Cherry Garden
Dorms from €3 a night
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Gaurishankar Backpackers Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
When to go
October and November, and March and April. The monsoon hides the mountains.
Jan
Cool, clear
Feb
Good
Mar
Spring, Holi
Apr
Rhododendrons
May
Hot, hazy
Jun
Monsoon
Jul
Monsoon
Aug
Monsoon
Sep
Clearing, Indra Jatra
Oct
Peak, Dashain
Nov
Peak, Tihar
Dec
Cold, clear
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs.
What your trip will cost
Pick how you travel. Per person per night, in euros.
Prices are in rupees locally; these are euro equivalents. Excludes treks and paragliding.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Pokhara travel questions
The ones we get asked most.
Do I need a guide to trek?
Most trekking areas, including the Annapurnas, have required a licensed guide since 2023, as well as an ACAP permit and TIMS card. Agencies in Lakeside arrange them.
Which trek should I do?
Poon Hill for a short trek of about four days; Annapurna Base Camp for about a week; the Annapurna Circuit for two to three weeks.
Is paragliding safe?
With a reputable licensed company, yes. Flights launch from Sarangkot over the lake.
How do I get there?
By tourist bus from Kathmandu, seven to eight hours, or a twenty-five-minute flight.
How many days do you need?
Two or three in town, plus the time for a trek.
When is the best time to visit?
October and November, and March and April, for clear mountain views.
Do I need insurance for trekking?
Yes, check it covers your planned altitude and helicopter rescue.
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