WHERE?
Pokhara
WHEN?
8 APR 2025
HOW LONG?
19 DAYS
TRIP FORMAT?
FLEXIBLE TRIP
Set off on a Annapurna region multiday trek through the stunning Himalayas near Pokhara. Spend most of your time moving from one cozy tea house to another, carrying your backpack and soaking in the majestic mountain views. Immerse yourself in the local culture and spirituality, meeting friendly locals along the way. After your trekking adventure, unwind in Pokhara with yoga by the serene lakeside, relaxing massages, and moments of tranquility. This trip offers the perfect blend of adventure, cultural exploration, and relaxation.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
#MOUNTAINS
#TREKKING
#CULTURE
#ADVENTURE
#SPIRITUALITY
HOW FLEXIBLE TRIPS WORK?
SAFAROTO flexible trips provide you with the benefits of choice and the freedom of solo travel enabling you to set your own trip schedule and make decisions based on your budget. You also get the benefits of being part of a group of like minded people who you can join on a regular basis for meals and activities – which are coordinated by an experienced traveler who is familiar with that destination based on the input and the preferences of the group.
Stay as long or as little
as your would like
Reserve your own
transportation & accommodations
Opt in or opt out of any
group activity or meal
Each person is responsible
for their own expenses.
HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO BUDGET FOR THIS TRIP?
Swipe left and right to view the STANDARD or the ECONOMICAL budget option:
CONFIRMED TRIP ATTENDEES:
Oto 🇺🇸🇲🇦
Diana 🇧🇷
Naveen 🇮🇳
TIPS & ADVICE TO HELP YOU PLAN THIS TRIP:
Here are some important facts and details to help you prepare for this trip:
- 📍The town: Pokhara is a town with a population of 600k and a hub for tourism in the area visiting to trek around Annapurna – the 10th highest summit in the world at 8091m
- 🏔️ The plan: our intention is to spend 10-15 days up in the mountains in the Annapurna national park carrying a backpack and trekking 10-25km each day staying at tea houses in little villages along the way. We will then spend the rest of the time in Pokhara so be prepared mentally and physically for one of the most beautiful multiday treks in the world.
- 🕑 Timezone: UTC+5h45m | When it is 5pm in Nepal, it is 6:15am in NYC, 11:15am in London and 10:15pm in Sydney
- 🗣️ Language: Nepali is the primary language but many people speak English
- ☀️ climate/weather: Expect a pleasant spring weather in Pokhara in April between 10-24°C (50-72°F) with occasional rain showers and moderate humidity. During the trek, up in the mountains, daytime temperatures are typically ~5-10°C (41-50°F) and nighttime temperatures are ~-5°C to -10°C (23°F-14°F).
- 🌅 sunset/sunrise: sunrise is round 6am and sunset around 6:30pm
- ⛰ Landscape: Pokhara is located in a valley with lush green hills surrounded by lakes and rivers with the towering peaks of the Annapurna and Machhapuchhre mountains in the backdrop
- 💱 Currency: 1USD = 137npr (Nepalese rupees)
- 🔌: Electrical outlet: Type-D (3 round pins) is the most common but Type-C with 2 round pins (Eurotype) can also be found
- 💰 Tipping culture: 5-10% at restaurants is appreciated. Some restaurants include a 10% service charge.
- 📱Getting a local sim card: Easy to find and inexpensive. Data plans can be gotten for $0.50-$1/GB.
- ⛑️ Safety: Pokhara is considered very safe for tourists. One should be mindful of altitude sickness while hiking.
- 👘 Culture/Holidays/festivals: Nepali new year is on April 14th 2025
- 🚰 Food safety & drinking water: It is recommended not to drink tap water and be mindful when choosing places to eat as not all places have high food safety standards. It is a good idea to carry water filtering tablets during the trek.
- 🥾 Hiking gear: for any hiking gear you may need for your trek, it is a good idea to stop by Kalapatthar Trekking Store in Thamel – Kathmandu for the best prices on everything you may need before departing for Pokhara
Yes, most nationalities need a via which can be obtained online via this government website. A 30 day multi-entry visa costs ~$50.
Kathmandu is the main country’s airport with direct flights to many other Asian countries. It is not the cheapest airport to fly to but the cheapest flight options can be found from/to India ($100-$150 each way), other Asian countries ($150-$300). You can fly to/from Europe for $350-$500 each way, to North American for $700-$800 each way and to Australia for $300-$500 each way.
Once in Kathmandu, you can either take a 25mn internal flight for $92 each way or catch a 8-9h bus to Pokhara from this location in the morning ~7am for about $12/p.
You may want to consider spending one night in Kathmandu (most visitors stay in Thamel neighborhood in the center) and stop by the Kalapatthar Trekking Store to shop for any hiking gear you may need at reasonable prices.
Getting a ride from the airport to the center of Kathmandu should cost $5-$10 with the ridesharing options being cheaper than taxis. The 3 main apps to use are Pathao, Indrive or Tootle.
The town is quite compact and the best option for most people is just to walk everywhere. If you need to go somewhere further away then using one of the 3 apps (Pathao, Indrive or Tootle) or a taxi should only cost a few dollars.
There are also bicycle and motorcycles that can be rented in Pokhara to explore the area.
The city is quite compact so anywhere within 15-20mn walk of the lake should work depending on your preferences. Note that we will be spending 10-15 days trekking in the mountains so most of the time we will be spending time in tea house along the trek path (think a little bed and breakfast in small villages along the way) which typically cost $5-$10/night for a room when having dinner there (~$5/p). They typically only take cash so it is a good idea to carry ~20/day in cash for the planned trek.
Here are some suggestions for options in Pokhara for before and after the trek:
| 📸 | Accommodations | Weekly price | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Forest Lake Hostel | $35/week | Dorm bed, Modern, nice view |
 |
Pokhara Backpackers Hostel | $41/week | Dorm bed, Popular, social , good location |
 |
Sweet Dreams Hotel | $54/week | Simple Double room with lake view, good location |
 |
Hotel August International | $88/week | Room with lake view, 20mn walk to town, quiet area |
 |
Hotel My Dream | $119/week | Nice hosts, room with AC and lake views, good location |
There is a good mix of restaurants in Pokhara serving Nepalese and international cuisines. During the trek, most of the tea houses serve Nepalese food with some typical western dishes such as pizza, pasta, burgers…. it is also a good idea to carry some snacks during the trek such as nuts and dry fruits.
Here are some recommendations for restaurant options in Pokhara:
| 📸 | Restaurant | Meal Cost | Cuisine | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Vegan Way | $4/p | Vegan | Good food and smoothie bowls |
 |
The Juicery Cafe | $6/p | International | Good food with great views, friendly staff |
 |
Hot Sandwich Corner | $3/p | Sandwiches | Tasty, simple space, friendly owners |
 |
Am/pm Organic Cafe | $6/p | International | Good food |
 |
Nuri’s Cafe | $6/p | International | Good food, 15mn walk away |
 |
Kebab King Restaurant | $4/p | Indian | Tasty food. Cash only. |
Our intention while in Pokhara is to spend the majority of the time trekking around Annapurna so we may end up spending 10-15 days up in the mountains… but while in Pokhara, here are some of the options for activities we could do:
| 📸 | Activity | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Multiday trekking | $45+/p |
|
 |
Day hikes | Free |
|
 |
Rent a bike for the day | $10/d | Chamling Cycles $7-$11/d |
 |
Rent a Motorcycle for the day | $15/d | One Motorbike rental: $15/d Royal Enfield |
 |
Go to the Gym | $10-$20/week |
|
 |
Get a massage | $16/h | Seeing Hands Blind Massage Clinic: nonprofit supporting bling people | $16/h |
 |
Take a yoga class | ~$5/class |
|
 |
Go Whitewater rafting or kayaking | $40+/p |
|
 |
Play Soccer | Free |
|
There are a few bars and restaurants with live music or karaoke night such as the Juicery Café or the Office Bar but Pokhara is not a nightlife destination.
Internet speeds are descent in Pokhara (15-65MBps) but there may be very limited access and phone service while trekking.
The Juicery Café by the lake makes for a very pleasant space to work from.