What to do In Pokhara?
At some point during your journey in Nepal, many travelers end up in Pokhara. We’ve compiled a list of our top 10 activities to enjoy while you’re in this beautiful lakeside town.
Boats on Pokhara Lake
Top 10 Things To Do In Pokhara
1 – Go Paragliding.
Pokhara boasts one of the best spots in the world for paragliding with spectacular views of the Annapurna Mountain Range and the Few Tal lake. You can paraglide pretty much all year round and it’s a great spot to learn. Parahawking takes the experience once step further and you can glide in the sky with these incredible birds whilst supporting a great cause.
2 – Trek To The World Peace Pagoda.
Originally built by Japanese Buddist Monks, you can see the Pagoda where ever you are in Lakeside. The best way to get there is to paddle across the lake then trek 45 minutes up the hill where you will be greeted by the most fantastic views. For those of you who are short of time (or not as fit), you can also get a taxi up to the top.
3 – Chill Out & Get A Massage.
Many people come to Pokhara to escape the chaos of Kathmandu, to relax after a strenuous trek or simply just to chill out. My favourite spot to have a traditional Nepali massage or a Hot Stone massage in the Winter is Jive Cafe and Spa. They also have an excellent food and smoothie menu!
4 – Take A Boat Out On Fewa Tal.
The lake is the focal point when traveling to Pokhara so you can’t really come and not go out on it. You can hire wooden boats (which you can either row or you can hire someone too for relatively cheap), you can take them out for just an hour or a whole day. A highlight is to paddle to the middle where the Bahari Temple stands. Or simply paddle to the center and enjoy the view of the mountains behind.
5 – Take A Trek To Poon Hill.
Our favourite short trek, from 3-5 days (5 recommended so you can visit the natural hot springs). Or if you have more time why not go a bit further and reach Annapurna Base Camp. This in our opinion is the best short trek you can do from Pokhara getting you close to the mountains and up to an altitude of 3200m.
6 – Grab A Cocktail Down By The Lake.
There’s nothing better to do on an evening thansitting by the lake and sipping a cool cocktail. A few of our favourite spots are Silk Road and Busy Bee Cafe.
7 – Visit Devi’s Fall & Bat Caves.
This is on most tourists ‘to do lists’. Devi’s falls is most impressive during the monsoon when the water levels are huge, you can then cross the roads and visit the caves to see where the falls goes under ground. There are several caves in Pokhara, the best being the bat caves where you can take a guide and explore the hidden caves. Don’t forget to take a torch!
8 – Go To A Museum.
The two best museums in Pokhara are the International Mountain Museum and the Gurkha Museum which are well worth a visit. You’ll need at least a few hours at both of these to make the most of it and read all the information. If you have children then the Mountain Museum is maybe more interesting (especially the Yeti with gloves on!
9 – Yoga.
Pokhara is an ideal place to do a spot of yoga whether you are a beginner or a pro. There are many organisations offering all sorts from yoga retreats to morning sessions. One of the better and more organised seems to be Pranamaya Yoga which operates out of Jiva Cafe.
10 – Enjoy Fresh Fish From The Lake.
There are many incredible restaurants in Pokhara offering all sorts of meals from local Nepali to Italian, from Indian to Korean. Our favourite is the grilled Tangy fish from Maya. See our post on the best places to eat and drink in Pokhara for more info.
11 – Go Rafting or Kayaking.
I know we said 10, but here’s a bonus idea for you! The Seti River is less than 20 minutes taxi from Pokhara and is a great half days rafting or for the kayakers it’s a great section to do laps on.
Kaligandaki is only 3 hours from Pokhara and is one of the best shorter rafting trips on offer in Nepal. 2 nights 3 days of whitewater rafting/kayaking, camping out under the stars, swimming and enjoying the wilderness. Best season is Oct-Dec.
If you would like any information on activities in Pokhara, please fee free to email us and we’ll be happy to help.
Top 10 Things To Do In Pokhara
If you think we have missed anything feel free to email us at info@grgadventurekayaking.com and we can add them in! For more hints and tips on travelling in Nepal read our other blog posts here.
To book on one of our trips checkout our website GRG Adventure Kayaking.
