Scenic
Bagmati
Nagarkot
A hilltop escape east of Kathmandu offering the widest panorama of the Himalayan range from Dhaulagiri in the west to Kanchenjunga in the east.
2,175 m altitude
Scenic
Gandaki ProvincePokhara
Nepal's adventure capital on the shores of Phewa Lake, with a dramatic backdrop of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges reflected in the still water.
Overview
Pokhara is Nepal's second largest city and the primary gateway for the Annapurna Conservation Area, one of the world's most popular trekking regions. Situated at 827 metres, the city enjoys a warmer, more subtropical climate than Kathmandu. Phewa Lake is the centrepiece — visitors hire rowboats to the Tal Barahi Temple on its island, while the lakeside Baidam promenade is lined with restaurants and cafés offering views of Machapuchare (Fishtail Mountain). The city is the hub for paragliding, zip-lining, white-water rafting, and ultra-trail running. The Pokhara Regional Museum and the International Mountain Museum are worth half a day each.
Where you can go next
Common onward connections from Pokhara.
Pokhara → Kathmandu
6.5 hrs · 200 km · Tourist Bus or Domestic Flight
Pokhara → Chitwan
4.5 hrs · 155 km · Tourist Bus
Pokhara → Lumbini
4.5 hrs · 165 km · Tourist Bus or Private Car
Pokhara → Bandipur
1.5 hrs · 60 km · Bus or Taxi
Pokhara → Mustang
8 hrs · 230 km · Domestic Flight to Jomsom then Jeep
Pokhara → Manang
6 hrs · 175 km · Jeep
Related destinations
Scenic
Koshi
Ilam
Nepal's tea garden region in the far east — lush rolling hills covered with Darjeeling-style tea estates, mist, and views of Kanchenjunga.
1,200 m altitude
Trekking
Gandaki
Ghandruk
A large Gurung village at 1,940 metres with close-up Annapurna views, stone-paved lanes, traditional wooden inns, and the starting point for numerous short treks.
1,940 m altitude
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