Pokhara guides
The big topics, one honest guide each: what to do, where to stay and eat, the viewpoints, the lake, the sky and the trails beyond.
Wide shot from Lakeside at dawn: Machhapuchhre reflected in Phewa Lake, two painted doonga boats in the foreground.
Things to do in Pokhara: the honest list
The lake, the sunrise, the sky, the caves, the old bazaar — what is actually worth your time in Pokhara, and what you can skip.
Lakeside north at golden hour: low guesthouses with gardens running down to the water, hills behind.
Where to stay in Pokhara, by area and budget
Lakeside centre, Lakeside north, Damside, or up on the Sarangkot ridge — how each area feels, who it suits, and what to expect for your money.
Overhead shot of a Thakali dal bhat set: brass plate, rice, dal, curries, pickles, gundruk.
Where to eat in Pokhara
Thakali sets, lake fish, momo, the good bakeries and where to sit for the view — organised by what you actually want to eat.
Sunrise from Sarangkot viewpoint: first light on Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre, silhouettes of people at the railing.
Best viewpoints in Pokhara: Sarangkot, the Peace Pagoda and the ones nobody tells you about
Where to stand for the Annapurna panorama, at what hour, and how to get up there — including the quiet alternatives to Sarangkot.
A single blue doonga mid-lake with a rower, Tal Barahi temple small in the background, calm water.
Phewa Lake: boating, Tal Barahi and the walk to the Peace Pagoda
How to hire a boat, whether to row yourself, the island temple, and the best half-day you can spend on the water.
Tandem paraglider mid-flight above Phewa Lake, Annapurnas across the whole background, shot from another glider.
Paragliding in Pokhara, plus the zipline, ultralight and bungee
What a tandem flight is actually like, when to fly, how to choose an operator, and the other ways to leave the ground here.
Stone houses of Ghandruk village with terraced fields and Annapurna South towering behind.
Day trips from Pokhara: Begnas Lake, Ghandruk, Australian Camp and Dhampus
The lake without the town, a Gurung village under Annapurna South, and two ridge-top viewpoints you can reach in an afternoon.
Trekkers on the trail above Chhomrong with Machhapuchhre ahead, rhododendron in bloom.
Pokhara as a trekking gateway: Poon Hill, Annapurna Base Camp and Mardi Himal
The three treks that start here, how long they take, what permits you need, and how to use Pokhara before and after.