Pokhara was easily my favorite city to experience in Nepal, especially as a female traveler.  It’s the last major city along the way to the Anna Purna Circuit and surrounding treks, this sense of people coming and going creates a strong hiker community presence and overall just felt extremely welcoming towards tourists. Pokhara is nestled on a lake with gorgeous tree covered mountains surrounding it, and endless activities to explore.  I’m extremely thankful we designated a few days here after our trek to recover and would highly recommend checking it out, even if you aren’t planning on doing a trek. Getting there from Kathmandu is around 6 - 8 hours on a bus. Though this sounds pretty intense I actually recommend taking the bus because you get some incredible views and there are many stops along the way for food and restroom breaks. Alternatively you can take a flight there that lasts about 30 minutes. 

Where To Stay 

You’ll want to stay near the main walking strip during your time in Pokhara (Thorpek Tole Road). This road is filled with everything from cafes, bars, shopping, and tons of spas and activities to check out. The whole town is very walkable and staying near this area will give you plenty of options. I felt completely safe walking around here solo as a female at night and found people to be much friendlier than Kathmandu. Especially as a Western woman you can sometimes get unwanted attention traveling in Asia but I did not experience that at all in Pokhara. I recommend staying at The Lakeside Retreat Pokhara for a relaxing atmosphere that's close by to the lake and an easy walk out to the main street (Thorpek). If you are looking to budget your trip a bit more, we also really enjoyed Kiwi Backpackers Hostel. They had an amazing rooftop and offered tons of daily activities like yoga and meditation and were also a quick walk to all the action. 

Spend An Afternoon On The Lake

Even if you just stroll by it, you need to spend some time by Phewa Lake during your visit because it is truly beautiful and encompasses the serenity of Nepal. I suggest renting a boat for an afternoon from Phewa Taal Boating and taking it to go explore the stunning Tal Barahi Temple located on an island in the middle of the Lake. If being on the water isn’t really your speed, explore some of the walking paths around the lake at sunset for spectacular views. Phewa Lake Viewpoint is a good point to walk towards. 

Pamper Yourself At The Spa 

If you're coming from a trek or just a long bus ride, take advantage of all of the amazing spa’s Pokhara has to offer. I suggest walking around and asking rates from a few different places and negotiating a bit. We were initially told over three times the amount we ended up paying. The post trek massage is a truly special experience and even if you aren’t doing a trek I would suggest it as it is such a soothing experience after any amount of traveling. My favorite spa personally was Lakeview Day Spa. Though tipping isn’t a supper common practice in Nepal I definitely suggest tipping your masseuse 10 - 20%. 

Other Pokhara Experiences 

• Paragliding and Parasailing, Pokhara is one of the most budget friendly destinations for any daredevils looking to take in the views from above 

• World Peace Pagoda, wake up and catch sunrise and grab a breakfast at the top for one of the most beautiful views of the Anna Purna Mountain Range. A visit here is free but don’t forget to leave a donation to support its continued beauty. 

• The World's Second Highest Bungee Jump, not my cup of tea but had friends who absolutely raved about this experience. 

• Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, follows a series of gorgeous winding stairs down into the caves which are located at the bottom of Davi Falls. Note that inside the caves can feel a bit cramped and I don’t recommend it if you are claustrophobic. However the entrance to the caves alone makes them worth visiting.