Slow Pokhara
Photo: Shadow Ayush, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
About
Four slow days in Pokhara and the hills around it, for people who want to stay in one place and let it open up. Sunrise over the Annapurna range from Sarangkot; Phewa Lake by boat and the forest path to the World Peace Pagoda; the quiet lakes of Begnas and Rupa east of the town, with a walk on the ridge between them; and the Tibetan settlements, where families who came from Tibet in the 1960s still weave carpets and keep their monasteries. No long drives, no rush.
A private journey
Your holiday in Nepal, travelled your way
Namaste, and welcome to Nepal. A week or two here can feel like a race when you are one of thirty on a coach. With your own guide it becomes a journey: the same face every morning, a car that stops for tea in a village, a slow day when you need one, and someone who knows the country and wants you to feel at home in it. I would like you to go home feeling that Nepal was kind to you.
- One place, no packing
- Three nights in the same room, so the days are free.
- The quieter lakes
- Begnas and Rupa are calm, with fishing boats and fields to the water.
- Time with the Tibetan families
- Tea, carpets and the monastery's evening prayers, without a schedule.
- Just you, and the people you came with
- No strangers to wait for, no group to keep up with.
- The same guide from the first day to the last
- You never start again with someone new.
- Rest days when you want them
- We add one, or move the plan, whenever you need it.
- The country between the places
- Villages, rivers and roadside tea, not only the famous sights.
- Someone to look after the details
- Tickets, permits, rooms and roads are arranged for you, so your mind is free.
With warmth, Rujan Neupane
Along the way
What this day is known for.
- Sunrise over the Annapurna range from Sarangkot
- A boat across Phewa Lake to the World Peace Pagoda
- Begnas and Rupa lakes and the ridge between them
- The Tibetan settlementscarpets, a monastery, butter tea
- Devi's Fall and the Gupteshwor cave, if you like
Day by day, night by night
Where we go, how long on the road, and where you sleep each night.| Day | The day | On the road | The night | Room + meals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Day 1 · Arrive in PokharaI meet you at Pokhara airport or your hotel. An evening walk along Phewa Lake.
|
Pokhara, near the lake | Dinner | |
| Day 2 | Day 2 · Sarangkot and the Peace PagodaSunrise from Sarangkot over the Annapurna range. After breakfast, a boat across the lake and the forest path up to the World Peace Pagoda; down by another path.
|
Short drives | Pokhara | Boat |
| Day 3 | Day 3 · Begnas and RupaEast to Begnas Lake, a boat on the water, then a walk over the ridge to Rupa Lake through fields and villages.
|
About 45 minutes by car each way; 2 to 3 hours on foot | Pokhara | Boat; car |
| Day 4 | Day 4 · The Tibetan settlementsA morning at the Tibetan settlements and their monastery, then Devi's Fall if you like. The tour ends in Pokhara.
|
Short drives | Car |
Is this tour for you?
Walking, steps, heat and access, honestly.Not sure? Tell me who is coming, and I'll tell you honestly. Write to me
The honest downsides
What I'd want to know before booking.- Lakeside Pokhara is busy and built-up; the quiet is at Begnas, Rupa and the settlements.
- The mountains hide behind cloud from April to September.
- Carpet shops at the settlements sell, of course; we visit only if you want to.
Photos from this tour
More about this tour
Best time to go
Clearest from October to early December and in February.- GoodJAN
- BestFEB
- GoodMAR
- GoodAPR
- HazyMAY
- RainJUN
- RainJUL
- RainAUG
- HazySEP
- BestOCT
- BestNOV
- GoodDEC
In the monsoon Pokhara is one of the wettest towns in Nepal; mornings are the clearest.
Time of day
Festivals worth planning for
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year; I confirm the date when you ask.
Before you go
The small practical things.Visiting with respect
These are living places of worship, not museums.- Walk around stupas, monasteries and temples clockwise.
- Ask before photographing people at prayer, or inside temples; some do not allow it.
- Take off your shoes where others do, and dress with shoulders and knees covered at holy places.
- In the parks, keep quiet and keep your distance from animals; follow the nature guide.
Staying away: 3 nights
You pay me only my guide fee. Rooms and meals are paid at what they actually cost, with nothing added by me.Where your money goes
Every amount, and who receives it. I charge only my guide fee; the rest is paid at cost.| What | Who receives it | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guide fee | Rujan Neupane | My day rate × 4 days, plus my overnight allowance × 3 nights away from Kathmandu | For your whole private group |
| Car and driver for the short drives | The driver or car company | Agreed before the tour | Paid at cost |
| Boats | The boat owners | Their prices | Paid at cost |
| Entry tickets and park fees | Paid at the gate | Official price | See Entrance fees |
| Rooms and meals | The hotels, lodges and homestays | What they charge | You pay them directly, or I book at their price |
I don't sell packages. I guide, and I help you arrange the rest (rooms, transport, permits) at what it actually costs. If you would like it all put together as one package, ask me: I make one only on your request, and we confirm it by email.
Photo notes
From a guide who is also a photographer.The places in detail
The history and stories behind what you will see.Pokhara at a slow pace
Pokhara lies at about 800 m with the Annapurna range close above it. Phewa is its main lake; Begnas and Rupa, a little east, are quieter. Tibetan families who left Tibet around 1959 and in the 1960s settled at Tashi Palkhiel and Tashiling, where they still weave carpets and keep their monasteries.
Entry tickets and park fees are at the official price: see entrance fees in Nepal.
My promises
Written down, so you can hold me to them.- No pressureAsk me anything. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and I will never rush your decision.
- Nothing hiddenEvery cost is written down before you pay anything, and nothing is added later without your agreement.
- Your day, your paceWe stay longer where you want to, and skip what doesn't interest you.
- Reviews as writtenEvery review here is published as the guest wrote it. I don't edit reviews or remove critical ones.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to start in Kathmandu?
No. The tour starts and ends in Pokhara; fly or drive there as you like.
Is the walk hard?
No: 2 to 3 hours on a ridge with a few climbs.
Is the guide fee for each person?
No. One rate for your whole private group of 1 to 5 people.
Can you book everything?
If you want, I book the car, rooms and flights at their own price and send you every price by email first. You can also book them yourself.
Can we add a night in the hills?
Yes, Australian Camp or Dhampus add one or two days of easy walking.
Why is my fee counted with an overnight allowance?
The allowance is for each night I am away from Kathmandu; it covers my own room and meals.
Reviews from guests who toured with me are published automatically, exactly as they wrote them. Reviews sent through the open form are checked for spam only.
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Tell me how you'd like to spend the day. I'll plan the rest around you.
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- +977 984-3808583
- Phone
- +977 984-3808583
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More than 5 of you? Write to me. I guide up to 5 people at one rate. For a bigger group we can talk it through by email. I reply myself, usually within a day. On the trail there is often no network, so it can take a few days.
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