Bike Tourer's Guide to Pokhara!
Recommendations on where to stay, what to see, where to eat, and the best bike shops...
Nestled in the foothills of the Annapurna mountain range, is Nepal’s laid-back lakeside gem. Often seen as a peaceful counterpoint to the chaos of Kathmandu, Pokhara blends natural beauty with a relaxed, almost meditative atmosphere. With its mix of mountain views, friendly locals, and chilled-out vibe, Pokhara feels like the soul of Nepal at rest.
Where to Stay in Pokhara
Hotels and Warmshowers Hosts are also available, however, the below accommodations are from my own experience.
Probably the best hostel in Pokhara for socialising, and. was pretty much always fully booked whilst I was there in December 2024. I was able to meet 5 other travelling bike packers who were also staying here. So it seems like it is already the hostel of choice for the bike traveller. There is a rooftop bar, very comfortable beds, ensuite bathrooms, free breakfast, and is well located near other hostels and the lakeside.
Dharma Backpackers Hostel & Hotel
Located a stone’s throw from Kiwi Hostel, Dharma offers cheap private rooms and a lively hostel environment with a free breakfast on the rooftop, and fire pit on the ground floor.
What to See & Do in Pokhara
Myself, Michael, and Yvette cycled up to the Sarangkot View Tower – a significantly steep and hard climb up, but a view worth seeing.
And, on a clear day, Rise and look around you. And you'll see who, You Are you can also see Pokhara off in the distance. There’s a cablecar that goes up to the top, but where’s the fun in that?
Check out my Vlog Nº 333 for my full review of Sarangkot View Tower!
A stroll around Phewa Lake is the perfect way to soak up the beauty and tranquility of Pokhara. With the snow-capped Annapurna range mirrored in its calm waters and colorful wooden boats drifting by, this scenic walk offers peaceful views, charming cafés, and plenty of photo-worthy spots.
Step back in time at Old Pokhara Bazaar, a charming maze of traditional Newari architecture, vibrant shops, and timeless culture. This historic market district offers a glimpse into Pokhara’s rich past, where locals still trade daily goods beneath wooden balconies and carved windows.
Where to Eat
Juicery Cafe (Lakeside, and others)
During the 2 weeks I was in Pokhara, I must have ate at The Juicery around 16 times – I’m not even joking. Their food is incredible and exceptional value for money. There are 3 locations dotted around the city, but the Juicery Lakeside is definitely my favourite with a stunning view from their conservatory of Phewa Lake and mountains in the distance. #Boshhhh.
After months of experiencing the worst pizza known to man coming across the Stans, and India, it was a nice welcome surprise to be faced with good quality pizza and beer. Fire Pizza is awesome and I highly recommend going.
Along many of the non-tourist streets you’ll also find traditional Nepalese restaurants where the national cuisine of Dal Bhat is served, prices range from 150 to 300 NPR as of December 2024 – and is absolutely delicious. Worth getting when in Pokhara.
Other places worth checking out: am/pm Cafe, and Roadhouse Cafe Pokhara
Bike Shops (Repairs, Boxes)
Chamling has earned a reputation in recent years for being the go-to stop for bike tour repairs. They’re a little light on parts, but they have highly skilled mechanics who can fix just about anything. In addition, they will clean your bike to a quality standard you didn’t know existed.
I provided them with my spare cables and pads, but they were able to change the cables, pads, clean the whole bike (looks cleaner than it did when it came out of its box from the factory), full bolt check, gear index front and rear, lubed, and a few other things – for the grand total of 100NPR, which was about 0.60GBP as of December 2025.
As for boxes, you’re best off calling into the Chamling store ahead of time, or getting in contact with the other bike store (Pokhara Mountain Bike Adventure, although they seem more like a bicycle hire shop) in Pokhara to see if they have one. From my experience though of dealing with Pokhara Mountain Bike Adventure, whilst they carry more parts than Chamling, they don’t speak English and they’re very reluctant to help. If I needed a box and they had one, I’d get it from them, and take it to Chamling for them to box for me (or do it myself).
Top Tips:
Pokhara holds a yearly Street Food Festival which fortunately was on at the time I was there, The Festival, a prominent event in Pokhara, Nepal, is traditionally held from December 28 to January 1each year, celebrating the English New Year with an array of food, music, and cultural performances.
Don’t bother going to the Irish Pub, they don’t have anything on draft, there’s no Guinness, and it’s expensive as hell.
If you’re heading onto Kathmandu, I recommend buying a face mask from a pharmacy as the dust clouds are insane.
If you’re heading down to the border, make sure to check out Tansen on your way. This is an incredible town set on a mountain side with a huge Hollywood-style ‘TANSEN’ sign. Hard cycle to the top but incredible views, not one to miss. I recommend staying at Horizon Homestay – very nice hosts and they do a great free breakfast.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!
As always you can follow my journey via my Linktree here.
Good advice, thanks for taking the time to compile.