Pokhara is one of the favorite tourist destinations for many tourists visiting Nepal. We’ll explore things to do in Pokhara.
After around a 6-hour drive from the capital city of Nepal, we’ll reach Pokhara. Pokhara is a delightful departure from the crazy dust and chaos of Kathmandu.
Table of Contents
The beautiful city located by Phewa Lake is known for its spectacular mountain view, trendy street markets, and fashionable cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops around the Lakeside.
Pokhara is the starting point for world-famous trekking route like the Annapurna circuit. The city ticks all the right boxes, including breathtaking views, adventurous activities, delicious food choices, etc.
What are Things To Do in Pokhara in One Day
Paragliding in Pokhara
Paragliding is one of the most popular adventure activities in one day in Pokhara. Many pilots fly among giant eagles and vultures above Lakeside daily.
This is a trendy place for paragliding for a good reason; flights are cheap, with tandem flights by experienced operators selling in Pokhara for about $50, and the scenery is truly spectacular, soaring over lakes, jungles, local villages, ancient monasteries looking at the snow-capped Annapurna mountains. It would be the most exciting thing to do in Pokhara.
The Paragliding Flights launch from the viewpoint of Sarangkot, which is about a 20-minute drive from the town. Many companies offer two types of flights: a high flight with thermal currents lifting you for a spectacular flight of about 30 minutes, landing close to the lake, and a long cross-country flight up to an hour, taking you over the valleys and close-up to the surrounding mountains.
Bungee Jumping in Pokhara
Bungee Jumping in Pokhara is a retreat for thrill seekers. Nepal’s first and only tower bungee is in the enchanting city of Pokhara. The bungee jump site is located at Hemja, which is only 25 minutes away from Lakeside, Pokhara. It offers a 75-meter vertical drop with 3 seconds of free fall, with a spellbinding view of the Pokhara Valley. This is a must to include in the to-do list while visiting Pokhara.
Whitewater Rafting in Pokhara
A super fun whitewater rafting adventure is just 30 minutes from Pokhara’s Lakeside. This short & sweet half-day trip offers 1 ½ hours of non-stop adrenaline-filled class III and IV rapids with fantastic Annapurna mountain views, crystal clear Himalayan whitewater, and a beautiful gorge decorated with prayer flags. It is an action-packed day suitable for families and children. Rafting in the Upper Seti River is the ultimate day trip in Pokhara, the “adventure capital of Nepal.”
Ziplining in Pokhara
Zip Flyer, operated in Pokhara, claims to be the tallest, the longest, and the steepest zipline in the world. Zipling should also be one of the top priorities in Pokhara, as it can be finished in one day.
It is a fast zipline with an incline of 56 degrees, a total length of 1.8 km, and a vertical drop of 600 meters, reaching speeds up to 120km. It offers 180-degree panoramic views of the majestic Annapurna range as you soar at over 85 miles (100+km) an hour. It is located only 30 minutes ride from Lakeside, Pokhara. This is too exciting to miss on your Pokhara tour.
Some Trekking or hiking Destinations start from Pokhara.
Pokhara is the gateway for trekking in the Annapurna circuit. The Annapurna Mountains offer a range of spectacular treks ranging from one day to multiple weeks and altitudes up to the incredible Thorong La Pass at over 5200 meters or even some hardcore climbs over 7000m! These treks are easily reached from Pokhara, and all permits and transport can be easily organized here.
Panchase Trek
The Panchase trek is a fantastic trek of medium difficulty. It only takes three days to hike the 44km; it is great that you don’t need to organize transport to the starting point since you start walking in Pokhara from your hotel, walking past the World Peace Pagoda on the way.
The Poonhill trek is a top-rated 4-day trek in the Annapurna Sanctuary, which we did, being based in Pokhara. The trek offers beautiful views of the sunrise over the Annapurna mountains from Poon Hill at 3210m. Acclimatization is not required at this altitude, with little danger of altitude sickness. This trek is most commonly done from Nayapul to Ghandruk; you can reach Nayapul by bus in 2 to 3 hours from Pokhara. Many people combine this route with the Mardi Himal trek.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek
The Annapurna Base Camp trek is one of the most popular trekking trails in the world. It takes 8-11 days to reach the base camp, at 4130m/13549ft in height. It is a fantastic walk through diverse landscapes and cultures, complete with rich mountain vistas, terraced fields, quaint Gurung villages, and a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Hiking in the imposing and impossibly beautiful mountains of the Annapurna Range is, without a doubt, the best thing to do in Pokhara and its surroundings. One of the best full-day hiking inside Pokhara is the trail to Naudanda from Pokhara. It is the best scenic trail for experiencing the rural life of Nepal, with superb mountain views including Annapurna, Machhapuchchhre, and Dhaulagiri, Phewa lakes, Pokhara valley, Paragliding, and hilly farming terrace land.
Watching the sunrise from Sarangkot
As the sun slowly rises and hits the beautiful snow-covered mountains of the Annapurna Range in the distance, turning it to golden, you cannot take your eyes off the beautiful and calming view. It will be a treat for your eyes and a cleansing for your soul. Sarangkot is undoubtedly home to the best views of the Annapurna range without having to hike to Poonhill or Annapurna Base Camp.
Mountain Biking in Pokhara
There are beautifully designed cycling trails in Pokhara. You can hire a cycle from shops at Lakeside and go for your preferred trail. One of the popular cycling trails starts from Lakeside, moving ahead and leaving the city behind slowly.
You get to take in the fresh mountain air and feast your eyes on the soothing natural beauties of rural life. The route goes from Lakeside to airport road- Mountain Museum – Dovilla – Bagmara – Lower Gagan Gauda – Raja Chautari – Bhimsen Hill – Phapretar – Rupa Lake – viewpoint for both Lake Begnas and Rupa Lake – Begnas Lake – Begnas bus station, and back to Lakeside. Or, if you are not in the mood for adventure and hard work, you can hire a cycle and cycle around the Lakeside, sightseeing the trendy streets and markets.
Boating in Pokhara
Boating in Pokhara is an enjoyable recreational activity. It has glacier-fed lakes up north to the gently moving rivers in Terai. You hire a boat for a couple of hours with or without a guide, and you can enjoy the moments with many sights.
Phewa is the center of attraction in Pokhara. Boating in Phewa Lake is a heavenly experience. The view of Fishtail and other mountains reflected in the lake, the little island and the Tal Barahi temple in the middle, the white stupa on the top of the hill, the gliders jumping from Sarangkot, the Ultralight soaring up high and paralleled each other, buzzing, all at once can be seized in the mild breeze over the Phewa Lake.
Begnas Lake is the second most famous lake in Pokhara for boating. Not only is it famous for boating, but it is also renowned for fishing. If you prefer to avoid the crowd and experience boating in another place rather than Phewa Lake, Begnas Lake is the best option. It is less crowded and exclusive than Phewa Lake.
Food hunt in Pokhara
Nepal is famous for its unique varieties of cuisines, as there are thousands of caste groups with their own unique food culture. Pokhara is a tourist hub; different restaurants and cafes in the city offer the delicious and most authentic tastes of Nepal. One of the most popular food cuisines provided by restaurants in Pokhara is “Thakali Food.” It includes the typical Thakali Khana Set, which is the most popular one, and there are other unique delicacies such as aalangkhu (buckwheat dumpling soup), into (blood sausage), paper ko roti (buckwheat pancake), kanchemba (buckwheat-fries), suki (smoked-dried meat), etc. So, the food hunt in Pokhara doesn’t sound dull at all.
