Pokhara — Lakeside Views of the Annapurna Range

Pokhara sits in a wide valley at the foot of the Annapurna range, built around Phewa Lake, and offers something Kathmandu can't: close, unobstructed views of the Himalayas without any trekking required. On a clear morning, the water reflects the jagged outline of Machapuchare — the distinctive “fishtail” peak considered sacred and, unusually, never officially summited — alongside the wider Annapurna massif behind it. Most visitors head up to Sarangkot before dawn for the valley's best sunrise viewpoint, then spend the rest of the day at a slower pace: a stop at Davis Falls, where the water disappears underground into the connected Gupteshwor Cave system just below it, or a tandem paraglide flight launched from the hills above the lake.

Pokhara is also the starting point for two of Nepal's best-known treks, the Annapurna Base Camp and Annapurna Circuit routes, which draws a steady stream of trekkers through the city even if they don't plan to walk the trails themselves. For travellers who want a taste of adventure without committing to days on foot, the valley also offers paragliding launches with some of the best tandem flying conditions in the world, alongside easier half-day boating and cave visits. Reached by a short flight or a scenic drive from Kathmandu, Pokhara pairs naturally with the capital as the second stop on most Nepal itineraries, trading Kathmandu's temple-dense streets for open water and mountain air.