| 4 mins read
If you are planning an adventurous vacation to the Himalayan country of Nepal, there’s one outdoor-friendly destination that you simply cannot miss: Pokhara. Located 200 miles west of Kathmandu, this mountain city sits at the foothills of the Annapurna trekking circuit and is home to a plethora of adventure-filled activities. Whether you’re looking to trek into the mountains or spending an entertaining weekend in Nepal’s most populated city, Pokhara will definitely be a highlight of your travels.
Trekking and Hiking Around Pokhara
For most adventure travelers, Pokhara’s proximity to the Annapurna Circuit is the main attraction. Seven to twelve day hikes are the most popular method of seeing the surrounding range, with the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) being a major stopping point. Pokhara trekking guides lead travelers through a variety of landscapes, from tiered rice paddies to lush forests, with views of the Annapurna Range accompanying them for the duration. Trekkers planning to tackle one of Nepal’s most famous routes should however be aware of the hazards along the way: altitude sickness, mudslides, frostbite, staying “mountainside” when yaks and mules are passing on the trail- just to name a few!
Travelers who are not looking to embark on extended treks have some shorter options along Pokhara’s smaller hiking trails that make for excellent day trips. Five to seven hour hikes around the World Peace Stupa, Sarangkot Vista, village of Dhampus and Phewa Lake are some of the most popular.
Water-Based Activities
Thanks to the surrounding lakes and waterfalls, Pokhara is home to some excellent water-based activities as well. Boat trips & canoe rides along Lake Phewa are an excellent way to take in some fresh air and soak up the stunning surrounding sights.
For those who are looking to get a bit more hands on, Pokhara has some amazing white water rafting and kayaking adventures along the outlying rivers. From half day to twelve-day excursions, cruise through some of Pokhara’s tame, grade-3 rivers or ride its wild 5+ grade rapids. Looking for the ultimate adrenaline fix? Combine both rafting and mountaineering in Pokhara by “canyoning.” With trekking, climbing and abseiling to swimming, diving and rafting, canyoning takes adventure travelers through every outdoor challenge Pokhara has to offer.
More Adrenaline-Filled Fun
Biking fanatics will be delighted with Pokhara’s amazing mountain biking trails around Phewa Lake, Sarangkot and the Rupa Tal and Begnas Tal Lake regions. If you’d prefer to add some petrol to your adventures, you can hire motorbikes in Pokhara to see the city and surrounding villages with a bit more speed.
Look up to the skies for more adrenaline inspired action, where you will find paragliding / tandem flights available from different locations all around the city. Alongside professional, trained pilots, visitors can soar through the skies, soak in the breathtaking scenery, take photos and relax for one of Pokhara’s most unforgettable experiences.
Pump up the adrenaline further; ask your Pokhara tour guide to sign you up for some extreme zip lining adventures. Typically based around Sarangkot, visitors are taken on extended zipline routes, which are some of the fastest, tallest, steepest and longest in the world.
Quite possibly the most unique of Pokhara’s experiences though, is flying in an “ultralight.” A two passenger, fixed-wing aircraft, these mini planes can fly you up to 5,000 meters for short city flights or extended Himalayan air treks.
Image Details and Licenses:https://flic.kr/p/4cq8Eq (Marina & Enrique, CC BY 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/p41GPn(Matt Zimmerman,CC BY 2.0,https://flic.kr/p/fbKuGA (Fred Postles,CC BY 2.0),https://flic.kr/p/rzkfKR(Bruce Klorfine,CC BY-NC-ND 2.0),https://flic.kr/p/nimTja(NepalGateway Trekking,CC BY-NC-SA 2.0),https://flic.kr/p/89Js(Nathan Proudlove,CC BY-NC-SA 2.0),https://flic.kr/p/81vn9A(jeeheon,CC BY-NC-SA 2.0),https://flic.kr/p/6WyBDt (Shinya ICHINOHE, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/6LWztA(David Ooms,CC BY 2.0)