Nepal’s tourist capital is where most people quickly head to after arriving in Kathmandu, and most would agree that Pokhara does live up to the hype. It’s a serene and picturesque hang-out town for those on either side of many of Nepal’s best and most famous treks, including the Annapurna circuit.
Trekking can add significantly to the cost, although on a per-day basis most trips are still quite cheap if you research and shop around. You can also get any kind of brand-name trekking gear you need here, all at very competitive prices, so no worries if you don’t have your full kit before arrival.
| Population | 200,000 |
| Area | 200,000 |
| Timezone | UTC+5.75 |
| Currency | Nepalese rupee |
| Airports | Pokhara Airport (PKR) |
Food and drinks are also great bargains in Pokhara, especially considering the quality and choice available. Dozens of restaurants have nearly identical menus, featuring foods from around the world in addition to the cheaper local fare. Beers are quite cheap too, as are cocktails using the local rums.
| Budget breakfast | Many guest houses serve a basic breakfast for cheap. If not there are plenty of hearty offerings along the main road. | $1.17 - $2.04 |
| Budget lunch | Pokhara is filled with reasonable restaurants, with the local dahl bhat combo platter or Tibetan mo mos being a great and filling deal. | $1.51 - $2.65 |
| Budget dinner | Prices at nearly every restaurant are competitive and similar. Pasta and pizza are more expensive than Chinese or Indian, but not by much. | $2.88 - $4.99 |
| Beer (.64l bottle) | Local lagers, like Everest, are cheap and available almost everywhere. | $2.27 - $3.33 |
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 61 | 39 | 0.7 |
| February | 64 | 43 | 0.6 |
| March | 72 | 50 | 1.2 |
| April | 79 | 55 | 1.5 |
| May | 79 | 63 | 4.0 |
| June | 81 | 68 | 7.9 |
| July | 79 | 70 | 14.8 |
| August | 79 | 70 | 12.8 |
| September | 79 | 66 | 7.4 |
| October | 75 | 59 | 2.2 |
| November | 70 | 48 | 0.1 |
| December | 63 | 41 | 0.4 |
Pokhara weather has very distinct seasons, in spite of relatively mild temperatures all year. From December through March it’s hazy, and cool nights are made much worse by a complete lack of heating at all but the high-end hotels. April and May are perfect, clear, and crowded. June through September is the rainy season, where most trekking is either impossible or inadvisable. October and November are perfect again, and even more crowded than Spring.
| 21 Mar | 6:13am | 6:20pm |
| 21 Jun | 5:12am | 7:09pm |
| 21 Sep | 5:57am | 6:08pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:56am | 5:17pm |
Fortunately, in addition to being pleasant and attractive, Pokhara is also quite cheap. Hotels can get a bit pricey during April, May, October, and November, but even during those times cheap rooms will be available if you plan ahead a bit. There’s a boom in new hotels going up, so prices should come down, if anything.
Hotels in Pokhara understandably follow the weather patterns closely. April and May are the high season, while October and November could be considered the peak season, since things are even more crowded. Outside of those two periods you can get rates that are half or even less, but it’ll be cold and/or rainy and/or hazy most of the time you are there.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | 3.50 - 11.00 |
| 7.00 - 38.00 |
| 12.00 - 55.00 |
| 85.00 - 67.00 |
| 108.00 - 150.00 |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | 3.08 - 6.00 |