One day in Pokhara

Day by day

1. Day 1: Phewa Lake and Tal Barahi Temple

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

   1. Morning

      Phewa Lake

      Go out early in the morning when the water is calm and the mountains are most likely to be clear; wear the life jacket provided. Allow 1–2 hours.

   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. Allow 1 hour with the boat.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dal bhat

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

   4. Afternoon

      Sarangkot sunrise

      Leave Lakeside by taxi about an hour before sunrise, or walk up the day before and stay overnight; October to December gives the clearest views. Allow 2–3 hours.

   5. Late afternoon

      Tandem paragliding

      Fly in the morning for calmer air and clearer mountains, and choose an operator with a clear safety record and insured pilots. Allow 2–3 hours including transfer.

   6. Evening

      Central Lakeside

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

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 Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave (Damside): Wear shoes with grip; the inner passage is slippery and low in places, and photography is not allowed in the shrine area.
• Swap in International Mountain Museum (Ratopahiro): Visit before a trek to understand the mountains you will see, or on a cloudy day when the peaks are hidden.
• Swap in Mahendra Cave and Bat Cave (Batulechaur): Bring a torch for the Bat Cave and expect to scramble; the exit route is very narrow.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 6–9 hours of visiting over one day, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.4 hours in December to 13.9 hours in June.

Getting between stops: Walking. Lakeside, North Lakeside and Damside are linked by the lakeshore road and paths; walking between them takes 15–30 minutes.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Pokhara
• 3 days in Pokhara
• 5 days in Pokhara

Questions travellers ask