Nepal's second tourist city, on Phewa Lake with Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and the Annapurnas a few tens of kilometres away. Lakeside is relaxed, walkable and full of cafés, and it is the start of every Annapurna trek. Boat to the Tal Barahi temple, walk up to the World Peace Pagoda, paraglide from Sarangkot, and see the gorges and caves (Davis Falls, Gupteshwor Mahadev). Indian and vegetarian food is easy in Lakeside.
Highlights
- Rowing boat to Tal Barahi Temple
- Sunrise on Machhapuchhre from Sarangkot
- World Peace Pagoda over the lake
- Paragliding (tandem, about 30 minutes)
- Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
- International Mountain Museum
- Lakeside cafés and bookshops
- Ultralight flights towards the Annapurnas
Things to do
- Boat on Phewa Lake to Tal Barahi TempleMorning · 2h
- Hike to the World Peace PagodaAfternoon · 3h
- Tandem paragliding from SarangkotMorning · 3h
- Davis Falls & Gupteshwor Mahadev CaveAfternoon · 2h
- International Mountain MuseumAfternoon · 2h
- Lakeside evening walk & dinnerEvening · 2h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: October – April
Heads up
Monsoon Cloud Hides the Himalaya
From June to September the mountains are usually in cloud, so the sunrise views from Nagarkot, Sarangkot and Pokhara are a matter of luck; mornings give the best chance. The Prithvi Highway is often slowed by landslides.
Worth knowing
Dashain: Transport Full, Offices and Shops Closed
During Dashain (late September or October, 15 days, the main 4-5 days like India's Navratri and Dussehra) most of Kathmandu goes home to the villages: long-distance buses and domestic flights sell out a week either side, offices, banks and many shops and restaurants close for the main days, and taxis are scarce. Book transport early and carry cash.
Heads up
Tihar: Holidays and Full Buses
Tihar (Nepal's Deepawali, five days, two to three weeks after Dashain) closes offices and many shops for its last days and fills buses again. The lamps and decorations are lovely to see; plan around the transport.
- Dashain (Bada Dashain) — Nepal's biggest festival, 15 days ending on the full moon, with the main days (Phulpati to Vijaya Dashami, the day of tika from elders) like India's Navratri and Dussehra. Kathmandu empties as people go home: buses and domestic flights sell out a week either side, government offices, many shops and some restaurants close for 4-5 days, and prices rise. It falls in the autumn trekking season, so book transport early.
- Tihar (Deepawali) — Five days of lights, two to three weeks after Dashain: crows, dogs and cows are honoured on successive days, Laxmi Puja falls on India's Diwali, and Bhai Tika ends it. Towns are lit with oil lamps and garlands and children sing deusi-bhailo door to door. Offices close for the last days and long-distance buses fill up again.
- Holi (Fagu Purnima) — Colours are thrown in the hills, Kathmandu included, a day before the Terai (Janakpur, Chitwan, Lumbini) celebrates with India. Basantapur and Thamel are the centres in Kathmandu; wear old clothes and keep phones in a bag.
Part of a longer route
Pokhara is a stop on a curated circuit through Nepal.