Travel tips · Pokhara · Nepal
Pokhara travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Utsab Raj Giri, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Pokhara's population mixes Gurung, Magar, Thakali, Newar and Brahmin-Chhetri communities, and the town has long been a recruitment centre for Gurkha soldiers. Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries stand side by side, and Tibetan refugees have lived here since the 1960s. Daily life follows the Nepali calendar, with major festivals in autumn.
Key facts
- Language
- Nepali and English
- Currency
- NPR
- Plugs
- Type C, D and M sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is not drinkable; use refill stations, filtered water or bottled…
- Emergency
- 100 (police), 102 (ambulance), 1144 (Tourist Police)
Things to know
- Greet people with 'Namaste', palms together, rather than a handshake.
- Remove shoes before entering temples, monasteries and homes, and walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels.
- Some Hindu temples do not allow non-Hindus or leather items inside; respect signs at the entrance.
- Do not touch people's heads or point your feet at people or shrines.
- Ask before photographing people, especially at temples and in villages.
- Book Tandem paragliding ahead: Book a day or two ahead in October and November; flights depend on weather and may be rescheduled.
- Prices are often lower in North Lakeside and Damside than on the central Lakeside strip.
Tipping
Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge. Trekking guides and porters are customarily tipped at the end of a trek, often around 10–15% of the trek cost shared among the crew.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Namaste | Hello / greetings |
| Dhanyabad | Thank you |
| Kati ho? | How much is it? |
| Mitho chha | It's delicious |
| Pheri bhetaunla | See you again |
What to wear
Casual clothes are fine in Lakeside, but cover shoulders and knees at temples and in villages. Bring warm layers for early mornings at Sarangkot and evenings from November to February.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C, D and M sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is not drinkable; use refill stations, filtered water or bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 100 (police), 102 (ambulance), 1144 (Tourist Police)
- Phone and internet
- Wi-Fi is widely available in Lakeside guesthouses and cafés; local SIM cards from Nepal Telecom and Ncell work in town and on many lower trails.
- Time zone
- Asia/Kathmandu
Choose licensed, insured operators for paragliding, rafting and trekking, and follow guide advice on weather and altitude on treks. Monsoon landslides can block roads and trails, and boats on Phewa Lake should only be used with life jackets.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Nepal's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Pokhara?
Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge. Trekking guides and porters are customarily tipped at the end of a trek, often around 10–15% of the trek cost shared among the crew.
+Can you drink the tap water in Pokhara?
Tap water is not drinkable; use refill stations, filtered water or bottled water.
+What plugs are used in Pokhara?
Type C, D and M sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Pokhara?
Nepali and English.