Rupa Lake Rim & Rupakot Ridge Hike

Rupa Lake is Pokhara's quieter, less-visited twin — smaller than Begnas but wilder, with forest reaching its edges and a ridge above it (Rupakot) that remains almost entirely unvisited. This hike combines a lakeside walk with an ascent of the Rupakot ridge, where you get face-on views of the Annapurna range reflected in the lake below. The trail starts at the Rupa Lake shore and climbs through mixed forest to the Rupakot viewpoint (1,600 m), then follows the ridge north before looping back down to the lake via a different trail. The route passes through Magar and Gurung farming villages where farming life continues as it has for centuries. This is one of Pokhara's great secret hikes — popular with expats and long-term residents who know the area, but almost invisible to day visitors. No permit required, no teahouse queues, no crowds. Entry permit: ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area) fee — NPR 100 Nepali / NPR 1,000 SAARC / NPR 3,000 foreign, paid at the checkpoint. TIMS abolished 2023. Licensed guide mandatory on trekking routes.