Around the Fewa Lake mountain biking in Pokhara

The Around Fewa Lake tour is the classic Pokhara mountain bike ride, and the best way to reach the World Peace Pagoda: by bike, under your own power. Most visitors get to the pagoda by boat, on foot, or by taxi. On this ride, you earn it, climbing the jeep track up through the hill villages to the ridge, then riding one of Pokhara's best singletrack descents on the way down.

It is a moderate-to-advanced day loop of about 25 km that packs three things into one ride: a flat warm-up along the north shore of Phewa Lake, a real climb to the Peace Pagoda on the ridge above the lake, and a technical forest descent through Queen's Forest back down to the dam. It is a loop around the west and south side of the lake and the ridge above it, not a full circle of the shoreline, but it takes in the lake, the villages, the big mountain views and proper trail riding.

From the ridge you get the full Annapurna panorama, then the trail drops into the forest for the highlight of the day: a flowing, technical singletrack with roots, rocks, stone steps and switchbacks. It is a rewarding ride for a confident rider, and there is an easier way down for those who want it. If you have done the flat lake rides and want a real Pokhara ride, this is the one.

Quick Details

The Ride: The Climb and the Descent 

This ride is split into two main sections: a steady climb to the Peace Pagoda and a fun, flowing singletrack descent back to Pokhara.

The warm-up. Start with a flat 6–7 km ride along the north shore of Phewa Lake through Sedi, Khapaudi, and Pame villages, passing wetlands, fishermen, and water buffalo.

The climb. From Pame, climb 7.5 km (about 400 m of elevation gain) on jeep tracks through hillside villages to Pumdi Bhumdi ridge. The climb is steady and fitness-based, with scenic lake viewpoints along the way.

The top: Peace Pagoda. Reach the World Peace Pagoda (about 1,100 m), one of Pokhara's best viewpoints, overlooking Phewa Lake, the valley, and the Annapurna range, including Machhapuchhre (Fishtail).

The descent. Ride a 5–6 km technical singletrack through Queen's Forest (Rani Ban), featuring roots, rocks, stone steps, and switchbacks. Intermediate riders will enjoy the flow, with an easier route available if preferred.

The return. Finish with a relaxed 5 km ride along quiet backstreets past the Phewa Lake dam and back to Lakeside.

What You'll See

• The World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa) and its wide ridge-top view

• The full Annapurna panorama: Annapurna I (8,091 m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m) and Machhapuchhre, the Fishtail

• Phewa Lake from the shore, from the ridge, and from the dam

• Suspension and wooden bridges, water buffaloes, and village farm life

• The Queen's Forest singletrack: roots, rocks, stone steps and switchbacks

• Birds, monkeys, foxes, and some wild animals along the way.

Who This Ride Is For (and how technical it is)

This trail is an intermediate-to-advanced ride, not a beginner one. It suits you if you:

• have the fitness for a steady 7.5 km climb (about 400 m of gain)

• are comfortable descending technical trail with roots, rocks, steps and switchbacks

• want a real Pokhara ride with a proper single-track descent, not a flat sightseeing loop

How This Ride Compares to Our Other Pokhara Rides

Not sure which Pokhara day ride to pick? Here is where this one sits:

• Easiest: the Pame Valley ride: flat, gentle, no real climbing. Best for beginners and families.

• This ride, Around Fewa Lake: one real climb, the Peace Pagoda, and a technical forest descent. The step-up is for confident riders who want a proper trail.

• The Kristi Village ride: a longer day and a bigger climb to a ridge, more about the panorama and endurance than technical descending.

Best Time to Ride

You can ride this loop all year round, but it is at its best in autumn (October and November) and spring (March to May), when the skies are clear and the mountain views are sharpest. We avoid the June to August monsoon: the forest singletrack becomes genuinely slippery and hazardous when wet, leeches come out, and clouds usually hide the peaks. For the technical descent, dry conditions matter, so the dry seasons are both the safest and the most fun.

Trail Composition

The route mixes four surfaces, so you get a bit of everything in one ride.

Bikes & Gear

You have the choice to ride a premium hardtail or dual suspension mountain bike from Trek Bikes and Scott Sports bikes, with a helmet and gloves included. Because this ride has a real climb and a technical descent, the bike and gear matter. You can choose the bikes as per your needs and riding styles:

• The E-MTB upgrade (+$85) flattens the 400 m climb, so a less-fit rider can still earn the descent. It does not make the descent any easier; you still need handling skills.

• A full-suspension bike is more comfortable on the rooty, stepped Queen's Forest descent and can be arranged.

• We provide a helmet and gloves. Knee and elbow pads are a sensible idea for the technical descent.

Optional Stops Near the End

Near the end of the ride, around Damside, you pass close to three of Pokhara's well-known sights: Devi's Fall, the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave just across the road, and a Tibetan refugee settlement. They are They are not on the trail, but these optional stops are easy to add before you return to Lakeside. Just ask your guide.

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