Things to Do in Pokhara Before or After Your Trek
Pokhara is a main gateway for Annapurna treks and the best place in Nepal to rest a day or two. The top things to do are the sunrise at Sarangkot, tandem paragliding over Phewa Lake, a boat to Tal Barahi Temple, the World Peace Pagoda, and Devi’s Fall with Gupteshwor Cave across the road.
Most sights cost only a few dollars to enter. If you would rather have it organised, our Pokhara City Tour covers the main sights in one day.
- Sarangkot cable car: about USD 12 return for foreign visitors
- World Peace Pagoda: free
- Devi’s Fall and Gupteshwor Cave: around NPR 100 each for foreign visitors
- International Mountain Museum: about NPR 750 for foreign visitors
- Paragliding, bungee and city tours: see our trip pages for current prices
- Best time: October to May for clear views and flying weather
Entry fees and local prices change often, so check on the day. Last updated: November 2026
Why Pokhara Matters for Trekkers
If you are doing the Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill or Mardi Himal, you will almost certainly pass through Pokhara. It is where you sort your gear, rest your legs, eat well and do laundry. A spare day here is also a good buffer if a Jomsom flight or a mountain road is delayed.
Before or After Your Trek?
Before the trek, keep it light. Buy or rent anything you are missing, check your gear, and get an early night. A gentle walk by the lake is fine, but save the big days for later.
After the trek is the time for sightseeing. Boating, paragliding, museums, a massage and long lunches in Lakeside all feel much better once the hard walking is done. If you can, plan your spare Pokhara day for the end.
Things to Do in Pokhara
1. Sunrise at Sarangkot
Sarangkot is the hill above Phewa Lake, with a classic sunrise over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). You can drive up before dawn or take the Annapurna Cable Car from near Lakeside. A return ticket is about USD 12 for foreign visitors. Check the first operating time against sunrise before relying on the cable car. Go on a clear morning, because cloud often rolls in by mid-morning.
2. Tandem paragliding over Phewa Lake
Pokhara is Nepal’s best-known tandem paragliding spot. You take off from Sarangkot at around 1,590m and land beside Phewa Lake, with views of the Annapurna range on a clear day. A standard flight is around 20 to 30 minutes, and longer cross-country flights are available. Photos and video are usually paid to the pilot on the day.
Flights depend on the weather, and the monsoon usually stops them. Keep some flex in your plans. If flying is your main priority, don’t leave it for your last few hours in Pokhara. See Paragliding in Pokhara for current prices.
3. Microlight flight
A microlight, sometimes called an ultralight, is a small engine-powered aircraft. It climbs higher than a paraglider, so you get closer views of the mountains. It is a separate activity from paragliding, and like paragliding it depends on weather and visibility. Ask us about adding it when you book.
4. Boating on Phewa Lake and Tal Barahi Temple
Take a boat from Lakeside to Tal Barahi, a small Hindu temple on an island in the lake. A shared boat to the temple costs far less than hiring your own, and private hire is usually charged by the hour. Agree the price and the waiting time before you get in, and wear the life jacket provided. Go early for calm water and mountain reflections.
5. World Peace Pagoda
A white stupa on the ridge south of the lake, with wide views over Pokhara and the mountains. You can drive most of the way, or take a boat across the lake and walk up through the forest, which makes a lovely half-day outing. Entry is free, and late afternoon is good for sunset.
6. Pumdikot
A hilltop with a giant Shiva statue and big views over Phewa Lake and the Annapurna range. It is a short drive from Lakeside and a good alternative viewpoint to Sarangkot.
7. Devi’s Fall and Gupteshwor Cave
Devi’s Fall is a waterfall that drops straight underground. Right across the road, Gupteshwor Cave goes down to a Shiva shrine and, during and after the monsoon, a view of the falls from below. Each costs around NPR 100 for foreign visitors. The cave steps can be wet and slippery, so wear shoes with grip.
8. Bindhyabasini Temple
A busy Hindu temple on a small hill in old Pokhara, with mountain views on clear mornings. It is a good look at local life away from Lakeside.
9. International Mountain Museum
The best museum in Pokhara for trekkers. It covers the 8,000m peaks, the history of Himalayan climbing and the people who live in the mountains. It is especially good after a trek, when the names on the maps mean something to you. Entry is about NPR 750 for foreign visitors, and it makes a good rainy-day stop.
10. Gurkha Memorial Museum
Worth a visit if you are interested in the history of the Gurkha soldiers, many of whom come from the hills you have just trekked through. Entry is a few hundred rupees.
11. Bat Cave
A short, dark cave with a large colony of bats. At the end you squeeze out through a narrow exit. Only go if you are comfortable in dark, tight spaces. Entry is around NPR 100 to 200.
12. Bungee jump at Kushma
For the adrenaline crowd: a jump of about 228m over the Kali Gandaki gorge at Kushma. It is about two hours by road from Pokhara, so it becomes a full-day outing once you add the drive and time at the site. See Bungee Jump in Nepal.
13. Lakeside: rest, food and gear
After a trek, Lakeside is the reward: good coffee, bakeries, massage, laundry and proper food. It is also where you rent or return gear and buy anything you forgot.
How Many Days to Spend in Pokhara
| Time you have | Suggested plan |
|---|---|
| Half a day | Phewa Lake boating, Tal Barahi Temple and Lakeside |
| One day | Sarangkot sunrise, paragliding or boating, then Devi’s Fall and Gupteshwor Cave |
| Two days | Add the World Peace Pagoda, the museums, Bindhyabasini Temple or the Kushma bungee |
If you want it organised, our Pokhara City Tour covers the main sights in one day with a private car and guide, including the Sarangkot sunrise. Group discounts are available. For a longer trip, see the Kathmandu and Pokhara Tour.
Getting to Pokhara
Pokhara is about 200km from Kathmandu. Most people take a tourist bus, which takes about 6 to 7 hours, or a 25-minute flight. See Kathmandu to Pokhara. Spending time in the capital first? See things to do in Kathmandu. If you are heading on to Mustang or finishing the Annapurna Circuit, see Pokhara to Jomsom.
FAQs About Things to Do in Pokhara
What is the best thing to do in Pokhara?
For most people, the Sarangkot sunrise and paragliding over Phewa Lake. On a clear day you see the Annapurna range from both.
How much does it cost to visit Pokhara’s sights?
Most sights cost only a few dollars to enter, and the World Peace Pagoda is free. The cable car to Sarangkot is about USD 12 return for foreign visitors. Paragliding and other adventure activities cost more, so see our trip pages for current prices.
How many days do I need in Pokhara?
One full day covers the highlights. Two days lets you rest after a trek and add the caves, museums or a bungee jump.
Should I do sightseeing before or after my trek?
After, if you can. Use the day before your trek for gear and rest, and save the boating, paragliding and museums for when the hard walking is done.
How do I get from Kathmandu to Pokhara?
By tourist bus in about 6 to 7 hours, or by a 25-minute flight.
Planning an Annapurna trek? Add a day in Pokhara at the end. See our Pokhara City Tour.
