The best things to do in Pokhara

The best things to do in Pokhara

At Lost Earth Adventures, we’re always encouraging people to get off the beaten path. To explore places other people haven’t seen. To do things most people will never do. Pokhara is the perfect place for this.

Finding that mix of blissful ambience and epic adventure, this beautiful city stays with you for life. Never ones to keep a secret, we’ve compiled our list of the best things to do in Pokhara!

Pokhara lies just west of Kathmandu, resting peacefully on the Phewa Lake. It’s more relaxed than Kathmandu, less frenetic, more spacious. Time passes meditatively.

It’s known as the gateway to the Annapurnas and it’s been on our trek itineraries for years. Many of our treks, the Annapurna Base Camp, Annapurna Circuit, the Hike and Bike, Ghorepani and Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, they all come this way. It doesn’t take long before you realise why.

Step into the city

Take your first step into Pokhara and an instant sense of calmness and tranquility overwhelms you. It’s busy, but it carries itself much softer than its bigger, noisier brother, Kathmandu.

Nestled within the streets, there are peaceful spots for lunch, rooftop cafes with views to make you want to stay forever. Flip to night-time and the streets are vibrant and bouncing. But the city listens. You never feel out of your comfort zone. There’s too much choice for that. It’s like Pokhara was built for everybody.

If the laidback charm isn’t for you, just look in another direction. There is adventure at every turn.

Stay active

You can rent a motorcycle and head out into the mountain roads on a guided tour. Our guides live nearby and can show you some of the most breathtaking views of the Annapurnas, and the slaloming roads are just swell. Don’t worry if you don’t have a motorcycle license, the experience as a pillion passenger is just as inspiring.

You can also head out of Pokhara by mountain bike, and we can’t recommend this enough. The trails are truly special with a great mix suitable for all levels. We use Giant Trance and Fathom bikes, perfectly suited to tricky, technical descents or casual strolls down by the river.

Get on the water

When in Pokhara, you simply must take advantage of Phewa Lake. One of our favourite things to do is to hire a rowing boat either by yourself or have a guide row for you across the lake.

Get out and you can hike up to the World Peace Pagoda, a Buddhist temple offering staggering views across the Annapurnas, Pokhara and Phewa Lake.

If you don’t fancy the climb, you could hire a canoe and find serenity on the water. Take a stroll to Davis Falls, a marvellous waterfall and a great place for a few snaps.

Adventure is out there

There are so many other things you can do on and around Phewa Lake too. Try your hand at fishing or go extreme white-water rafting on intense, high-volume water.

Easily one of our favourite things to do not just in Pokhara but in Nepal as a whole, paragliding up above Phewa Lake is the icing on the cake after any trek.

Co-founder Richard spent a day with Sano Babu Sunuwar, one of the best paragliders in the world. Sano had him performing Misty Flips, the helicopter and lots of other tricks.

The panoramic views of the Himalaya all around are well worth the initial stomach-turn though.

You can see all outdoor activities in Nepal here.

See the sunrise

Another top recommendation is to take a trek to Poon Hill in the early hours and see the sun rise over the Annapurna range. It’s genuinely a breathtaking experience that imprints into your mind for life. Every time we’ve been here, we’ve just felt blessed.

The trek itself usually takes two days of climbing. We can fit it into your overall trip if you’d like, just let us know when you come to book. Find out more about the Poon Hill trek.

Have a breather

OK, OK, we’ve mentioned quite a lot of outdoor pursuits, extra exertion and the like. What if you just want to soak up some culture and relax before you head back to blighty?

Like we said, Pokhara speaks to all types of trekkers. There’s some seriously scrumptious food on offer in Pokhara. Rosemary’s Kitchen serves up a storm in Nepali-Western hybrids while Moondance is your go-to if you’re after Western dishes. We can never get enough of Himalayan Java Coffee, our pick for the best coffee in all of Nepal. If you’re a post-trek foodie, read our blog on the best places to eat in Pokhara.

You don’t necessarily associate shopping with Nepal, but Pokhara plays host to some intriguing shopping centres like the Pokhara Trade Mall. Great for souvenir and gifts, too.

Soak it up like a sponge

Often enough, you’ll find simply exploring this wonderful city – strolling around Old Pokhara, snapping countless natural shots of the mountains, the lake, the architecture, the people(!) – is probably the best way to spend your time. Pokhara hits the spot whether you’re looking for peace or for adrenalin while the views make every sight a postcard.

We’ve been specialising in trips, treks and hikes to Nepal for well over a decade. There’s lots we want to show you. Get off the beaten path with us, see what treks we offer or get in touch on 01904 500 094 or email us.