Pokhara is where most travellers exhale. The city curls around Phewa Lake, Nepal's second-largest, and on clear mornings the fishtail summit of Machapuchare (6,993 m) seems to hang directly above the water. It is relaxed, walkable and full of lakeside cafés — the natural base for the Annapurna region.
Rent a wooden boat to paddle across to the Tal Barahi temple on its island, then hike up through forest to the white World Peace Pagoda for the view back over the lake. Before dawn, drive up to Sarangkot to watch the first light hit the Annapurna range — and if you're brave, come back down on a tandem paraglider from one of the world's best-known flying sites.
Pokhara is also the trailhead town for Poon Hill, Mardi Himal and Annapurna Base Camp treks, so it's the place to stock up, rest your legs afterwards and swap stories over dinner by the water.
