Nepal
Pokhara and the Annapurnas
A lakeside town at the foot of the Annapurna range, where the snow peaks rise straight out of the green hills. The base for Nepal's most popular treks, and for those who just want the view.
Pokhara sits on Phewa lake at about 800 metres, and within about 30 kilometres the mountains rise to more than 7,000 metres, with Machhapuchhre, the "fish tail", in front. On a clear morning the view is one of the great sights of the Himalaya.
You do not need to be a trekker to enjoy it: hill lodges an hour or two from town have the same view. For those who want to walk, routes range from three easy days to three weeks.
Written by the TravelZeg team in New Delhi.
In short
- Best for
- Mountain views, walking from easy to demanding, a slower pace after Kathmandu
- Less suited to
- Clear views in the monsoon
- Best time
- October and November, March and April.
- Ideal length
- 3 to 4 nights; a week or more with a trek.
Where to go
Where to go
- Pokhara and Phewa lake
- A boat on the lake, the World Peace Pagoda on the ridge, and the old bazaar.
- Sarangkot
- A hill above town for sunrise over the Annapurnas.
- Hill lodges
- Lodges on the ridges around Pokhara, with the mountains in front of you and walks from the door.
- Short treks
- Three to five days on the Poon Hill and Ghandruk circuits, through villages and rhododendron forest.
- Longer treks
- Annapurna Base Camp, the Mardi Himal ridge or the Annapurna circuit, for those with the time and fitness.
Our view
What we rate, and what we would skip
What we rate
Two nights in a hill lodge
The best views, without the trek.
Ghandruk
A Gurung village with stone houses and the mountains above.
A licensed guide and porters
Required on most treks, and they make the walk.
What we would skip
Flying in the afternoon
Morning flights are more reliable.
Trekking in the monsoon
Leeches, cloud and slippery trails.
Rushing the altitude
On longer treks, rest days matter.
Practical
Getting there and around
- Getting there
- Fly from Kathmandu (about 25 minutes), or drive in six to eight hours.
- Combine with
- The Kathmandu valley; Chitwan; Upper Mustang.
Plan my journey
Tell us roughly what you have in mind
A specialist for that country replies within 24 hours, with a first idea of route and price. There is no charge and no obligation.