Kaski
Pokhara's lakeside bliss and the legendary gateway to Annapurna
Kaski district is home to Pokhara, Nepal's adventure capital and the gateway to the Annapurna region. Framed by Phewa Lake and the sheer, fish-tailed peak of Machapuchare, Pokhara is where most Annapurna treks begin and end - the last comfortable town before the trail, and a welcome return to hot showers and lake views afterwards.
Beyond trekking, Kaski is a destination in its own right: boat across Phewa Lake to the Tal Barahi temple, paraglide from Sarangkot with the Annapurna range as a backdrop, or simply slow down lakeside after days on the trail. Most travellers reach Pokhara by a short flight or a scenic drive from Kathmandu, making it an easy first or last stop on a Nepal itinerary.
Curated Experiences
Our journeys in Nepal.
Categories
Points of Interest
34 places
Attraction
Annapurna Base Camp
Nepal's most loved Himalayan trek
Attraction
Sarangkot
Pokhara's legendary sunrise viewpoint
Attraction
Phewa Tal Boating
Serene boating on Pokhara's iconic lake
Attraction
Pokhara Lakeside
Nepal's most beloved lakeside resort city
Attraction
Begnas Lake
Pokhara's peaceful and pristine second lake
Attraction
Mardi Himal Trek
Pokhara's newest gem, intimate Himalayan views
Attraction
Davis Falls
Pokhara's waterfall that disappears underground
Attraction
International Mountain Museum
Celebrating the world's greatest peaks and climbers
Attraction
Pokhara Valley Museum
Story of the Pokhara Valley's nature and people
Trek / Trail
Tadapani
Rhododendron-forest ridge village at 2,630m between Ghorepani and Chhomrong
Trek / Trail
Chhomrong
Last permanent Gurung village before the Annapurna Sanctuary, 2,170m
Trek / Trail
Sinuwa
Ridge-top teahouse stop at 2,360m on the way into the Annapurna Sanctuary
Trek / Trail
Bamboo
Dense bamboo and rhododendron forest camp at 2,310m in the Modi Khola gorge
Trek / Trail
Dovan
Forested teahouse stop at 2,600m between Bamboo and Deurali
Trek / Trail
Deurali
Treeline teahouse stop at 3,230m, the last stop before Machhapuchhre Base Camp
Trek / Trail
Machhapuchhre Base Camp
3,700m base camp beneath the sacred, unclimbed Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) peak
Activity / Adventure
Jhinu Danda
Natural hot springs beside the Modi Khola, a favourite stop on the way back down
Natural Wonder
Machhapuchhre
Sacred, unclimbed 6,993m fishtail peak overlooking the Annapurna Sanctuary
Natural Wonder
Annapurna South
7,219m peak forming the southern wall of the Annapurna Sanctuary
Natural Wonder
Hiunchuli
6,441m peak, an extension of Annapurna South at the mouth of the Sanctuary
Natural Wonder
Annapurna I
8,091m, the 10th highest mountain in the world and the massif's namesake summit
Trek / Trail
Annapurna Sanctuary
High glacial basin ringed by 7,000m peaks, the destination of the Annapurna Base Camp trek
Natural Wonder
Modi Khola
Snow fed river draining the Annapurna Sanctuary, followed for most of the Annapurna Base Camp trek
Viewpoint
World Peace Pagoda
Hilltop stupa above Phewa Lake with 360 degree Annapurna views, Pokhara
Trek / Trail
Chuile
Small village at 2,309m on the trail between Tadapani and Chhomrong
Trek / Trail
Himalaya
Teahouse settlement at 2,920m between Dovan and Deurali
Trek / Trail
Nayapul
1,070m trailhead town where most Annapurna Sanctuary treks begin
Trek / Trail
Birethanti
1,030m riverside checkpoint town at the confluence of the Modi and Bhurungdi rivers
Trek / Trail
Tikhedhunga
1,480m riverside village at the foot of the long stone-step climb to Ulleri
Attraction
Ghandruk
1,940m Gurung village with a heritage museum, set below Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre
Trek / Trail
Landruk
1,450m Gurung village on the alternate Dhampus-Landruk approach to the Sanctuary
Trek / Trail
Dhampus
1,650m ridge village popular as a short, easy Annapurna viewpoint trek from Pokhara
Viewpoint
Australian Camp
2,060m viewpoint above Kande, named for the Australian trekkers who once rested there
Other
Pokhara International Airport
Nepal's third international airport, opened January 2023
Culture
People & Culture
Kaski's hill villages are home to Gurung communities, whose Buddhist and Bon-influenced traditions and Gurkha military heritage are showcased at Pokhara's International Mountain Museum. Pokhara itself has grown into a genuinely mixed city, drawing migrants from across Gandaki Province's hill districts alongside a long-established trekking and tourism industry built up since the 1960s.
Activities
Things to Do
Trek to Annapurna Base Camp or the Mardi Himal viewpoint
Watch the sunrise over the Annapurna range from Sarangkot
Boat on Phewa Lake or the quieter Begnas Lake
Visit Davis Falls and the International Mountain Museum
Trek the Annapurna Sanctuary route through Tadapani, Chhomrong (the last permanent village), Sinuwa, Bamboo and Dovan
Cross the treeline at Deurali before reaching Machhapuchhre Base Camp beneath the sacred, unclimbed Fishtail peak
Soak in the natural hot springs at Jhinu Danda on the way back down from Annapurna Base Camp
Start (or finish) the classic Sanctuary route through Nayapul and Birethanti, or via Tikhedhunga toward Ghorepani
Take the alternate approach into the Sanctuary via the Gurung villages of Ghandruk, Landruk and Dhampus
Hike up to Australian Camp above Kande for Annapurna and Machhapuchhre views without a multi-day commitment
Travel Information
Best Time to Visit
October, November, March, April
Other Districts in Gandaki Province
Frequently Asked Questions
Stories from Kaski
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