Can I see the mountains from Pokhara?

On clear mornings, yes: Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), Annapurna South and Annapurna II are all visible from Lakeside.

Is Pokhara worth visiting without trekking?

Absolutely. Many travellers spend three or four days enjoying the lake, viewpoints and activities without walking further than a day hike.

Gandaki

Pokhara

Lakeside calm beneath the Annapurna skyline.

Photo: Jungsik Kwak · Pexels(opens in a new tab)

Region: Gandaki
Best time to visit: October to November and March to April; mornings are clearest.
How long to stay: 2–4 days
Experiences: 6 nearby

Overview

Set on Phewa Lake with the Annapurna and Machhapuchhre peaks reflected in the water, Pokhara is Nepal’s relaxed second city. It is the gateway to the Annapurna treks and the country’s adventure capital, with paragliding, zip-lining and boating on the doorstep.

Most travellers base themselves in Lakeside, a long strip of cafés, gear shops and guesthouses. Mornings are the time for mountain views; afternoons often cloud over.

Where is Pokhara?

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Plan your visit

Tours to Pokhara See suggested itineraries

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Why visit Pokhara

Sunrise over the Annapurnas from Sarangkot
Tandem paragliding above the lake
The start point for Poon Hill, Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp

What to see

Phewa Lake
Rent a rowing boat to the Tal Barahi island temple or simply watch the light change on the water.
Sarangkot
The classic sunrise viewpoint and paragliding launch site, 30 minutes above town.
World Peace Pagoda
A white stupa on the ridge across the lake, reached by boat and a short forest climb.
International Mountain Museum
Well-curated history of Himalayan mountaineering and the peoples of the region.
Davis Falls

Good to know

Book paragliding for the morning slot; thermals and visibility are best early.
Tourist buses from Kathmandu take 7–9 hours; flights take 25 minutes.
Trekking permits for the Annapurna region can be arranged in Pokhara.

Frequently asked questions

Photo gallery

Pokhara in pictures

Things to do

Experiences in Pokhara

Easy

Day Hiking

Short walks to viewpoints, villages and monasteries, no permits or porters needed.

Typical duration: 2–6 hours

Easy

Food Tours

Momos, Newari feasts and dal bhat with the people who cook it.

Typical duration: 3–4 hours

Challenging

Mountain Biking

Valley-rim singletrack near Kathmandu and the epic descent through Mustang.

Typical duration: 1–12 days

Easy

Paragliding

Tandem flights from Sarangkot over Phewa Lake with the Annapurnas as a backdrop.

Typical duration: 30–60 minutes in the air

Moderate

Trekking

Multi-day walks between mountain lodges, from gentle ridges to high passes.

Typical duration: 4–18 days

Moderate

White-water Rafting

From gentle one-day floats to multi-day expeditions on glacial rivers.

Typical duration: 1–10 days

Plan

Suggested itineraries with Pokhara

Day-by-day trips by our team. Ask local agencies for a quote on any of them.

7 days

Suggested itinerary

7 days: Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan

A first trip that covers the classic trio at an easy pace: Kathmandu’s heritage sites, the lake and mountain views of Pokhara, and wildlife in Chitwan. No trekking needed.

Places: Kathmandu · Pokhara · Chitwan
Trekking: No trekking

8 days

Suggested itinerary

8 days: Kathmandu, Bandipur and Pokhara

The road west done slowly: Kathmandu’s heritage, a night in the traffic-free hill bazaar of Bandipur, and three days of lake and mountain views in Pokhara.

Places: Kathmandu · Bandipur · Pokhara
Trekking: No trekking

10 days

Suggested itinerary

10 days: Kathmandu, Pokhara and the Poon Hill trek

A gentle introduction to Himalayan trekking: four days on the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek with its famous sunrise viewpoint, plus Kathmandu’s heritage and time by the lake in Pokhara.

Places: Kathmandu · Pokhara · Annapurna Region
Trekking: Easy

From travellers

Stories from travellers who went to Pokhara

First-hand accounts from people who visited recently. Read one, then plan a trip like it.

Travel storyDemo story
Traveller story · Arjun Mehta · 2 Apr 2026
Poon Hill in four days: our first Himalayan trek
Two beginners, one sunrise and a lot of stone steps. A short lodge-to-lodge walk from Ulleri to Ghandruk that showed us how much we could enjoy the mountains without any technical skill.
Visited
March 2026
Places
Annapurna Region · Pokhara
Recent visitDemo story
Traveller story · Priya Nair · 10 Mar 2026
Pokhara: a lake, a sunrise hill and a first paraglide
Three relaxed days around Phewa Lake with a pre-dawn walk up Sarangkot, a boat to the island temple and a tandem paraglide I was too nervous to enjoy until I was in the air.
Visited
February 2026
Places
Pokhara
Travel storyDemo story
Traveller story · Lucas Ferreira · 4 Dec 2025
Mardi Himal: a quiet ridge above the cloud
A newer, quieter trek that climbs a long ridge to High Camp at 3,580 metres. Rhododendron forest, a cloud sea at sunrise and a trail we shared with few others.
Visited
November 2025
Places
Annapurna Region · Pokhara

Why Poon Hill Is the Perfect First Himalayan Trek

Four days, good lodges, no serious altitude and a sunrise that includes two 8,000 m peaks. If you are wondering whether trekking is for you, start here.