3 days in Pokhara

Day by day

1. Day 1: Phewa Lake and Tal Barahi Temple

   Phewa Lake, Tal Barahi Temple and Sarangkot sunrise, then Central Lakeside in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Phewa Lake

      Nepal's second-largest lake stretches about 4 km along the edge of Pokhara, with forested hills on its southern shore and, on clear days, Machhapuchhre reflected in the water.

   2. Late morning

      Tal Barahi Temple

      Combine it with a longer boat hire and continue to the far shore to walk up to the World Peace Pagoda.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dal bhat

      Local restaurants in Old Pokhara and Lakeside; many tourist restaurants serve a set version.

   4. Afternoon

      Sarangkot sunrise

      At about 1,600 metres on a ridge above Phewa Lake, Sarangkot's viewing towers look across to Dhaulagiri, the Annapurna range and the sharp summit of Machhapuchhre, which turn pink and gold at dawn.

   5. Evening

      Central Lakeside

      Bars with live bands and open-air terraces along the main Lakeside road, busiest in October and November.

2. Day 2: Tandem paragliding and World Peace Pagoda

   Tandem paragliding, World Peace Pagoda and Davis Falls, then Lakefront terraces in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Tandem paragliding

      Fly in the morning for calmer air and clearer mountains, and choose an operator with a clear safety record and insured pilots.

   2. Late morning

      World Peace Pagoda

      A white Buddhist stupa built by the Japanese Nipponzan Myohoji order on a ridge above the southern shore of Phewa Lake, at about 1,100 metres.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Thakali khana set

      Thakali restaurants along Lakeside and in town.

   4. Afternoon

      Davis Falls

      Visit the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave across the road on the same trip to see the water emerge underground.

   5. Evening

      Lakefront terraces

      Restaurants and bars along the lakeshore path with fire pits and views of the water.

3. Day 3: Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave and International Mountain Museum

   Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, International Mountain Museum and Mahendra Cave and Bat Cave, then Sunrise at Sarangkot in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

      A cave across the road from Davis Falls, entered down a spiral staircase, with a shrine to Shiva housing a natural stone lingam.

   2. Late morning

      International Mountain Museum

      Visit before a trek to understand the mountains you will see, or on a cloudy day when the peaks are hidden.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Momo

      Momo shops all over Pokhara, from Lakeside cafés to local eateries near Mahendrapul.

   4. Afternoon

      Mahendra Cave and Bat Cave

      Two limestone caves in the north of the city.

   5. Evening

      Sunrise at Sarangkot

      Stay overnight in Sarangkot and watch the peaks light up from your lodge terrace.

Before you go

• Tandem paragliding: Book a day or two ahead in October and November; flights depend on weather and may be rescheduled.

If it rains

• Swap in Gurkha Memorial Museum (North Pokhara): A good rainy-day visit to understand why so many families in the hills around Pokhara have a soldier in their history.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Lakeside keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, North Lakeside ($) suits budget, solo travellers and quiet stays. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–17 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.4 hours in December to 13.9 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Pokhara
• 2 days in Pokhara
• 5 days in Pokhara

Questions travellers ask