Major city · Nepal
Pokharaपोखरा
Use Pokhara as the lakeside base for Annapurna treks and short hikes: two nights for the lake and viewpoints, longer if you are trekking out from here.
Pokhara is Nepal's second most-visited city, spread along Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range rising directly behind it — on a clear day Machapuchare's fishtail peak appears to hang over the water. It is the standard start and end point for Annapurna-region treks (Poon Hill, Annapurna Base Camp, the full circuit), and its Lakeside strip is built almost entirely around trekking outfitters, gear shops and guesthouses. Compared with Kathmandu it is relaxed, low-rise and easy to navigate on foot.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Best months
- Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr (clear skies, mountain views, stable trekking weather)
- avoid Jun–Sep (monsoon rain and cloud hide the mountains and can trigger landslides on trek routes)
- Airport
- PKR
- Nights
- 2–4
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- Nepal ↗Get visa information only from the Department of Immigration; visa-service lookalike sites charge extra, and the rules differ by nationality.
- Nepal ↗At stupas walk clockwise; at temples and homes remove shoes where there is a rack or a raised floor; cover shoulders and knees.
- Nepal ↗Carry Nepalese rupees in small notes: many stalls, taxis and tea shops are cash-only, and shops rarely take foreign notes.
- Nepal ↗Strikes (bandh) and protests can close roads without notice: check the news and your hotel the night before any airport or highway day.
What is in this basic guide5 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
- Forecast and monthly weather
- Where to sleep2 areas
- Getting around
- What to watch out for4 notes
- Airports1 airport
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Pokhara, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?NPR in small notes (100s and 500s) for taxis, tea shops and entry tickets.Nepal-wide
- SIM or eSIMNepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell sell tourist SIMs at Kathmandu airport and in town with passport and a photo.Nepal-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Nepal-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Round up if 10% service is added; 5–10% if not.Nepal-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Nepal-wide
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels; squat toilets with a water jug elsewhere.Nepal-wide
Show all 11 answers
- Emergency numbers100 police · 1144 tourist police · 102 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)Nepal-wide
- Sundays & holidaysSaturday is the weekly holiday: government offices and many businesses close; museums often close Tuesday.Nepal-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPKR Pokhara International (New airport (opened 2023) a few kilometres from Lakeside; domestic flights from Kathmandu take about 25 minutes…
- Getting aroundLakeside itself is compact and walkable.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- PKR Pokhara International (New airport (opened 2023) a few kilometres from Lakeside; domestic flights from Kathmandu take about 25 minutes, with a growing number of regional international routes — confirm current services with the airline.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
Feb
not flagged
Mar
Best
Apr
Best
May
not flagged
Jun
Avoid
Jul
Avoid
Aug
Avoid
Sep
Avoid
Oct
Best
Nov
Best
Dec
not flagged
Best: Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Weather and climate
Pokhara: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Lakeside itself is compact and walkable. Taxis reach Sarangkot for sunrise and paragliding, the World Peace Pagoda and the airport; tourist buses and short domestic flights connect Pokhara to Kathmandu, and mountain flights are routinely delayed or cancelled for weather, so build in a spare day if you have an onward connection.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
- Kathmandu full guide140 km (87 mi)87 mi (140 km) south-east of Pokhara
From Kathmandu: Flight 30 min or bus 6–8 h · Overnight
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Lakeside (Baidam)
The main visitor strip: guesthouses, trekking agencies and restaurants right on Phewa Lake, but busy and noisy in high season.
Damside
Quieter southern end of the lake, still walkable to Lakeside, with fewer crowds and lower prices.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Watch out
- Monsoon cloud (Jun–Sep) hides the mountain views most days: come outside this window if seeing Annapurna and Machapuchare is the point.
- Trekking Information Management System (TIMS) cards and Annapurna Conservation Area permits are required for most treks and rules change: confirm current requirements with a registered agency or the Nepal Tourism Board before setting out.
- Paragliding and other adventure operators vary widely in safety standards: check for licensed pilots, insurance and recent safety records rather than booking on price alone.
- Roads and trails can be damaged by landslides after heavy rain, including outside the core monsoon months: check current trail conditions locally before a trek.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Pokhara. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr (clear skies, mountain views, stable trekking weather) · avoid Jun–Sep (monsoon rain and cloud hide the mountains and can trigger landslides on trek routes)
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast
- 4 things to watch out for
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
- officialNepal Tourism Board
- secondaryWikivoyage — Pokhara