Viewpoints

• World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa) [2]. Opened in 1999 atop a hill just south of Phewa Tal, the Stupa is the first Peace Pagoda to be constructed in Nepal and offers great views of the Annapurna Mountains, including Fishtail, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna South, and Annapurna III. This is a great place to watch the sunrise or sunset over Pokhara. The easiest way to get there is to take a taxi to the base of the Peace Pagoda (NPR1000 return, including waiting). If you want to go on foot, you must first get to the southern side of Phewa Tal, either by walking around the lake or rowing across the lake. Then take a very steep hike (no switchbacks!) through the forest (watch out for leeches during the monsoon) or from the road that passes Devi's Fall, turning right at the end of Chhorepatan. To hike to the top: From the small fork road behind the bakery in Damside, go south 200m, past a few hotels to the road bridge over the big canal. Go southwest along smaller road to the cable bridge over the creek, notice the "peace" sign on bridge anchor cement. Cross, then go up steps to rite, hence main walking trail to left along rice fields. 200m to a small temple and water tap. Notice another peace sign and arrows pointing zig zag up behind tap. Follow the zig zag trail through the forest to steps and continue up them to the top of the ridge spur, follow the USA style tree "blazes" (notches in the tree trunks) wherever things get confusing. Follow the large trail through lovely forest with monkeys at times. Warning: there have been reports of a few robberies. Reach forested ridge top at a mudhole/saddle, hence trail crosses over to north side, through more nice forest. Look for tree markers. gradually up until you reach open main ridge, within sight of Peace Pagoda. A few small cafes and a hotel here, then steps up to top. It should take around 35min from the hotels near the road bridge over the big canal.

• Sarangkot. The perfect pre-trek warm-up. Head up Sarankot in the late afternoon (be prepared, it's steep and hard work) find yourselves a warm guest house before sunset, go up the top for sunset and again for sunrise... you won't be disappointed. You can rent a motor bike for under NPR700 and take yourself to the top. The road is rough, but traversable. Great views, spectacular images and a great way to get a taste of what it's like to be trekking.
  • Sarangkot south slope trail. A killer run/polewalk workout. Go north through Lakeside about 5km, through Kare, around corner to SediBogar village. Park bike/moto at the Caravan Restaurant (last spot to buy water/snacks)—the stopwatch starts here. Follow stone road 1+km directly north towards Sarankot's forested slopes, past houses, to school. Don't try to ride a moto or bike up this road, too rocky. road ends to rite (east) of school, follow trail behind, east (right) into seasonal creek gully, then 100m up it trail goes off a bit to left and soon the gruelling stone steps begin. Take water! Follow steps all the way, follow the arrows carved into stones where confusing, cross 3 new 4x4 roads but stay on stone step trail, way up you'll come out on the 4x4 road along north to Kalipani and Naudada villages at a restaurant/school three quarters of the way up, follow road 100m left to the parasail jump off, then continue up obvious steps to Sarankot village (hotels/cafes/shops) and up cement steps to lookout tower. Morning views are best. Sometimes a ticket taker asks for top admission fee of NPR20 but a simple trick of just running by, saying you are on the clock may help you to dodge the toll. This trail takes at least 52 minutes from the bottom at Caravan park spot. Knee jarring decent takes 40 minutes, or possible to take taxi or even hitch a ride in a parasail truck going down. Absolutely brutal workout!