Pokhara is the famous tourist destination of Nepal. Many adventurous and fun activities begin from here. This place serves as the thrilling destination for many domestic as well as International tourists. It is known as the place of lakes and mountains.  Pokhara lies in the north-western corner of the valley which is a widening of the Seti Gandaki valley that lies in the region of the Himalayas. 

It is the county’s largest metropolitan city in terms of area and second largest in terms of populations. You can experience many water, air and rope sports. Tourism plays a vital role in Pokhara since thousands of tourists visit every year and majority of people are involved in the tourism sector. There are many trekking agencies in the area that provide several trekking programs and itineraries for the tourists. Some of the major trekking regions are Annapurna region, Everest region, Langtang region, Manaslu region, Rara region and Kanchenjunga Circuit region.

There are mainly two things that bring travellers to Pokhara , one is mountain adventures and the other is a chance to unwind. People can admire the towering peaks rising amongst the clouds in the distance. These are the 8000 metre high snow capped giants of the Annapurna range, awe inspiring in their size and stature. On a clear day, they can be seen from everywhere in Pokhara like watchful guardians over the sleepy town. There are a number of epic things to do in Pokhara, especially for those chasing adrenalin, with white water rafting and some of the best paragliding on earth all available here. Somehow, despite the buildings getting taller and the crowds slightly busier in recent years, it still manages to retain an oasis-like feel; carefree and relaxed but with all the familiar traveler essentials. 

There are many favourite things to see and do in Pokhara as well as you can shop for many traditional handicrafts. You can make your vacation  both relaxing and thrilling one as you can enjoy the serene environment of the area with some of the adrenaline rushing sports and activities.

1. Hiking in and around Pokhara

Pokhara offers many hiking and trekking spots. Hiking in the imposing and impossibly beautiful mountains of the Annapurna is without a doubt, the best to do in the area and surrounds. You can do many multi day hikes here including the Annapurna Circuit. There are many trekking spots in Pokhara . If you are an admirer of the Mountains and Hills you can hike to the Poon Hill or the Mardi Himal. The route provides you with the best view of the Himalayan ranges and beautiful juniper and rhododendron forests.

These hiking tours also let you encounter the different Gurung and Magar villages of the region. you can experience the culture and tradition of these ethnicities. It provides the perfect opportunity to live with them in the home and enjoy the local cuisine. Experience their humble and polite hospitality with the broad smile on their face. Pokhara is the gateway to many of the hiking and trekking routes, you can plan according to your length of stay in Nepal.

2. White Water Rafting Near Pokhara

This is the pure adventure that lets you experience the adrenaline rushing through your veins.  Upper Seti provides a short but sweet adrenaline- filled rafting experience. For about 2 hours you have to paddle your way down the class III + IV rapids, admiring the Annapurna mountain range in the distance and the peaceful, lush surrounds. Although the rapids are less ferocious than post-monsoon, they’re enough to really kick the heart rate into gear. There’s even time for an impromptu cliff jump, as if another adrenalin-fix is needed.  The best time to experience this adventure is between October to November as the rivers are full and clear blue. This fun activity may cost about 51 US dollars per person for the half day trip.  For those wanting to do longer rafting expeditions, there are plenty of full day and multi day options from Pokhara.

3.  Paragliding

Paragliding in Pokhara is rated as one of the top 5 commercial tandem paragliding locations in the world, with the perfect combination of stable thermal currents, a safe take off location and landing zone with the amazing and epic views of the lake, landscapes, hills and Himalayan ranges. The 30 minute flight provides an initial adrenaline rush before a surprisingly calm glide back to earth.

Floating above Phewa Lake and the surrounding mountains (with views to the Annapurna Range in the distance) is wonderfully picturesque. Paragliding flights launch from Sarangkot, about 30 minutes drive from Pokhara. There are three flight times a day, depending on season and weather – 10:30am, 12pm and 2pm. The best flying time is around midday, when the thermals have become active and the flight the most enjoyable.  To experience this adventurous sport you can contact the travel agency in the area, The cost of the Paragliding may cost up to NRs 11000 per person.

4. Zip line

Zipline in Pokhara is considered as the one of the most adventurous and thrilling outdoor activity to deal in Nepal as Nepal is full of high range of hills and landscapes. This zip line is in the total length of 1.8 km and the vertical depth of 600 meters with the initial inclination of 56 degrees which makes it the steepest zipline in the world. It is the tallest, longest and the steepest zipline in the world. We can experience the 180 degree panoramic views of the majestic Annapurna range.

It is one of the most extreme zip line in the world which operates in most of the weather condition. It is an outdoor adventure activity which last for about 5-7 minutes. The maximum speed that can be reached in zip line is about 120 km/hr but it depends upon the weight, weather and wind intensity. The minimum weight should be about 34 kg and maximum weight limit is 125 kg. The zip line also offer dual zip line which means couples can do side by side zipping. The zip line site is located at the short 30 minutes drive from Pokhara lakeside to the Sarangkot. The cost of the Zip line is NRs 4500.This includes the transportation facility.

5. Hang Gliding

Hang gliding is an outdoor air sport or recreational activity in which the person flies a light,  manual foot launched aircraft heavier than air called hang glider. It is an adventurous sport to enjoy during the vacation in Nepal. Our nation has the subtropical climate which makes it an ideal spot for hang gliding. The spectacular natural views of the country has lured the many daring and adventurous people to do the hang gliding in Nepal. It is the sport in which the pilots launched hang gliders from the hills facing toward the direction of wind. It is controlled by the hand movement towards the direction of wind to enjoy the stunning view of the landscapes and the Mountain ranges.

Hang gliding is a popular air sport in Nepal enjoyed by both International and Domestic tourists. Tourists can enjoy the stunning views of Himalayas and Landscapes. It rushes the adrenaline in the body when the pilots launched the hang gliders from the hill allowing tourists to experience the free fall. The most popular months for this spot are November, December and January as these months have the super consistent weather. The hang gliding usually has the options from 15 -90 minutes in which the tourists can select the option according to their preferences.

6. Sunrise from Sarangkot Viewpoint

Sarangkot is, without a doubt, home to the best views of the Annapurna range. From the viewpoint, you’re afforded uninterrupted, panoramic views across a number of the most striking Himalayan peaks, including the imposing Dhaulagiri (8167m), the triangle peak of Machhapuchhare, Annapurna II and Lamjung.  The light show here is incredible, as the peaks turn from bright pink, to orange, and finally white.   There are a number of chai stalls and tea houses just near the viewpoint which serve fresh tea or coffee, perfect for the post-euphoria come down. To get to Sarangkot viewpoint, you can hire a taxi to take you to the lookout point , or hire a scooter in Pokhara and follow the signs to Sarangkot.

Pokhara serves as the major tourist hub of Nepal. You can try many fun and thrilling sports here. it is the perfect escape from the stressed life with the panoramic views of the Himalayan and the peaceful setting of the serene environment and lakes.