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Poipet

Poipet hosts Cambodia's main border crossing with Thailand, which links northwest Cambodia to Aranyaprathet, and onward to Bangkok. Cross-border activity has made the town grow to be larger than its provincial capital, Sisophon.

Poipet is on the fully paved National Hwy 5 which runs to Sisophon and then further on the south side of the Tonle Sap Lake to Battambang and Phnom Penh. At Sisophon, National Hwy 6 branches off to provide a fully paved arterial route along the north of the Tonle Sap to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

Understand

Most travellers consider Poipet "a dump". Poipet hosts a bewildering array of touts, beggars, thieves and dodgy casinos for day tripping Thais, which all contrive to separate money from the unwary. The town has one main street that runs approximately southeast from the roundabout at the immigration offices. North of this street is an average Cambodian town; to the south is a poorer slum area. Both areas have their own markets: clean and airy and dishevelled and stinking, respectively. The latter is likely to be more interesting to an observer. For travellers staying overnight at the border, Poipet represents a cheaper option than the adjacent Thai town, Aranyaprathet, particularly for those heading into Cambodia (see below for avoiding overpriced transport).

While most travellers only pass through, the town can provide the savvy and curious with some fascinating insights into Cambodia's grisly underside. Ever a transport hub, Poipet hosts the western railhead of Cambodia's defunct, but regenerating network which once connected to the functioning Thai network.

Border location
The nearest Thai town is Aranyaprathet, about 6 km from the border. The border is in central Poipet. The border is open 07:00-20:00. There is no time difference between Cambodia and Thailand.

Immediately next to the Thai immigration facilities is Rongkleu Market, which host banks, cafes, a convenience store, money exchangers, and buses.

From elsewhere in Cambodia
Poipet is a large town that is well connected with reasonably priced buses to various points in the country. The three major cities of Phnom Penh, Battambang and Siem Reap (US$3.75 to Poipet, US$5 from Poipet) are each directly connected to Poipet. If you're on a bus to Poipet with a view to leaving Cambodia, the bus will stop at its company's Poipet offices first. Do not get off unnecessarily as it will likely continue as far as immigration, which will save you a walk or motorbike taxi fare.

Taxis to Poipet should be cheaper than those from Poipet, if you can keep middle men out of it. Your guesthouse may help arrange one but will inflate the price for you. A taxi from Siem Reap should be about US$30 and take about 2½ hr.

Leaving Cambodia at this border is generally unproblematic. The porters that swarm over your luggage as soon as it's out off the bus are only trying to get a fare for carrying it to the Thai side. They will generally not steal from it, but it's best to keep your valuables on you. Their services (US$1) can be appreciated on a hot day if the queues are long.

From Thailand
Rongkleu Market has buses to Bangkok's Victory Monument, Mo Chit bus station and Suvarnabhumi airport. There are also buses from the market to other Thai towns, such as Nakhon Ratchasima and Chachoengsao. Such buses allow travellers to avoid Aranyaprathet town, though Aran is better connected.

From Aranyaprathet, songthaews (pickup trucks that act as buses) run between the 7-Eleven in Rongkleu Market and the out-of-town Tesco Lotus hypermarket, passing through central Aran on the main road. A ride costs 15 baht. A tuk-tuk should cost 60 baht after haggling and a motorbike taxi should be 40 baht after a haggle.

On the Thai side, entry to the Thai immigration facilities is to the left of the main road which approaches the border. Travellers therefore must head towards the busy Rongkleu Market for about 2 or 3 metres before seeing the queues for immigration.

When in line for Thai immigration, both arrivals and departures, there are vats of cool drinking water that travellers can help themselves to, if they have a bottle to fill.

Cambodian immigration
As of May 2023, visa issuance and immigration are now done in the same room; just follow the "Foreigners" signs at the border. The visa-on-arrival office is in the back of the room, which is dominated by the queues to enter the country. Remember to pick up an arrival card in the room as well.

 * Queues are longest at around midday when many buses arrive. Arriving earlier or later will let you sail through.
 * The paperwork is very simple. It requires no assistance, regardless of what touts may say.
 * Forms are available at the counter to the left of the visa window, although a "helpful" tout will likely offer you one as soon as you approach the office. Take the form and otherwise ignore the tout.
 * A passport photo was previously required for the visa, but as of May 2019 the visa officials are turning down the photos and saying they prefer to just scan your passport. They now ask for a 100-baht fee regardless of whether you have a photo, though if you insist a few times that there is no such fee, they will eventually give up and grumpily tell you to have a seat and wait. This is a bluff, as you will still have your visa in hand within minutes.

Alternatively, you can obtain an e-Visa for US$36, which is the same visa as the one for US$30 but obtained online in advance. Having an e-Visa usually saves you time at the border (unless they have to open the "e-Visa counter" just for you and it takes even longer than just getting one on-arrival), and considering the $5-10 bribe typically demanded to issue your visa-on-arrival, isn't that much more expensive than the VOA.

US$30 tourist visas (T class) can be extended once only, for a further 30 days at cost of US$45. Anyone wanting longer stays and multiple entries in Cambodia will need a US$35 "ordinary" visa (E class, valid for 30 days and extendable in Cambodia). As of April 2018, a work permit and letter from employer is required to get an EB (business) extension. If you are not working you will need to apply for an EG ("looking for work") extension, or, if you are aged over 55, an ER (retirement) extension. The EG extension is a one-off, and comes in 1-, 3-, and 6-month versions, 1- and 3-month are single entry and the 6 month is multiple entry. Once you have had an EG extension you cannot extend it or reapply on a subsequent visit. Confusingly, E class visas are unrelated to the online visas. They cost US$35 and require no extra documents or fees. Make sure the officials know that you know this.

The official transport monopoly "scam"
One's first steps after the arrivals office lead to the Transport Monopoly Tout Zone (see map). The racket here is the dressing of expensive privately run transport as official policy.

Free, so-called government buses or minibuses await tourists emerging from immigration. They go to an inconveniently out-of-town transportation depot: the. They cease running at about 18:00. Overpriced food is available while one waits for an expensive bus or shared taxi. On the other hand, the buses here run much more frequently than local buses from the town, so you could also just think of it as the price of a transport infrastructure that wouldn't exist at all if not for tourists.

Only the diligent and stubborn will avoid this one (see below) because police are beastly to and extort drivers that pick up tourists near the border. The police and "helpful" others pester tourists emerging from arrivals and basically cajole them onto the buses. Most tourists succumb, either unaware of the dishonesty or unwilling to go against a uniform. If such a set up irks you, remember that despite how it initially feels you have every right to do as you please in Poipet and you can smilingly, tactfully and respectfully decline to follow their instructions.

Some tourists have reported being taken to a private travel agency instead of the proper depot, under the pretense that the station "is under construction". You don't have to deal with them but the private company may be cheaper than the "officials".

By taxi
An official taxi to Siem Reap costs an offensive 2,400 baht. The police-enforced cartel takes US$25 per taxi per trip. Negotiation is very difficult but should be possible given that a taxi outside the cartel should cost about US$30. Negotiate the price in dollars, baht prices tend to be inflated.

There are no rules against introducing yourself to fellow travelers and sharing the ride.

Drivers who work for the cartel will generally deliver tourists to wherever they choose in Siem Reap without any problems. Though possible tricks include being dropped in a dusty parking lot out of town or at a commission paying guesthouse, which is most of them. Simply do not pay until you are happy with the destination. Do not believe that taxis are prohibited from entering the centre of Siem Reap.

Wherever you end up, tuk-tuk drivers will be waiting. A fare within town should be US$1, though Siem Reap is easily covered on foot.

By bus
From the Tourist Passenger International Terminal a bus to Siem Reap costs US$9 per person and takes around three hours.

You may arrive a couple of kilometers outside central Siem Reap, where tuk-tuk drivers pay the cartel for access to arriving tourists. They recoup their money by taking tourists to commission paying accommodation, which they may offer to do very cheaply, perhaps for free. Their big money however comes from temple trips and they will implore you to hire them on for this. This is not necessarily bad but make sure you know the correct rates. If you value your independence, pay the tuk-tuk driver a fair rate (US$2 is acceptable, perhaps generous) for the trip into town, make sure you are dropped where you want to be dropped and then have nothing more to do with him. If you pay a cheaper rate for the tuk-tuk, you may feel obliged to use his services subsequently.

Outside the Transport Monopoly
Avoid this scam by saying you want to have lunch, find a guesthouse, see Poipet, go to the post office or casino or karaoke, basically anything that isn't finding a bus. Then walk down the street, the pressure eases off away from the roundabout and you should be able to pick up a ride without being bothered.

Just don't start negotiating with a driver if a policeman is standing next to you. It's unfortunately their job (i.e., orders from bent bosses, rather than legal duty) to intervene if a tourist tries to deal with a driver outside the monopoly. Don't be worried, the intervention will be nothing more than creaming a cut from the fare (you're not doing anything wrong remember). There are many taxi drivers in town. A taxi to Siem Reap normally costs up to US$30, but negotiate as prices may start at US$50–60. If you want to do it Khmer-style, a seat in a shared taxi will be about US$8.

Non-tourist buses depart from the bus company offices scattered along the main street a little way from immigration (see map). Their fares are outside the official monopoly so a bus to Siem Reap costs only US$5, to Battambang US$4. Departures are in the morning and can generally only be made after staying overnight in Poipet. However, the taste of victory over Cambodia's institutional corruption can be sweet.

Pickup trucks can be found near the border and in the town, they run to Siem Reap and Battambang, although changing in Sisophon is likely. Seats inside/outside the truck cost 10,000/5,000 riel to Sisophon, plus approximately double that for an onward journey to either Siem Reap or Battambang.

The monopoly only affects transport from Poipet. Buses from Siem Reap to Poipet are about half the price of those from the Tourist Passenger International Terminal to Siem Reap.

Poipet's airport has no scheduled flights. However, if you're travelling between Bangkok and Siem Reap, flights will pass near enough over Poipet and cost about US$150.

Alternatively, have the monopoly work for you. Take the free shuttle out of town and then hitch-hike. Anyone who picks you up will expect something for their effort, nothing compared with a taxi or even bus fare though.

Get around
The town is relatively easily covered on foot, for those who wish to explore it. Hotels are within walking distance of customs; though on a hot day, you and your luggage may appreciate a motodop (motorbike taxi), which for 500–1,000 riel will take you to any part of Poipet. One could also be useful for escaping the transport monopoly hot zone of immediately outside immigration and finding a non-scam taxi.

There is also the free bus to the transportation depot, which is perhaps a false friend.

Spending time in Poipet involves being hassled, scammed and frustrated. Though these problems mainly fall on the post-border, bag-carrying weary. Check in, dump the bags and shower. The town then loses much of its hassle.

See and do
Poipet is a border town typical of where shocking economic disparities exist between two nations, not unlike Tijuana or Ciudad del Este or less famously, impoverished Sungai Kolok in southern Thailand, which borders more prosperous Malaysia. The town offer the usual Khmer mix of markets, stalls, coffee shops and beer gardens.

Poipet's growing gambling industry has spawned several large, opulent casinos, in rather sharp contrast to general squalor of the town. Gambling is illegal in Thailand and in Cambodia, though this has not prevented some well connected somebodies from putting up casinos before Cambodian immigration. Thais use the casinos to circumvent their own country's interdictions, though Khmer are not allowed at the tables.

The amateur anthropologist can watch Asian businessmen entertain themselves at the casinos or at the karaoke bars throughout town that double as brothels. Watching the coachloads of package tourists being shepherded through customs may also count as a valid pastime.

It is a near certainty that the casino operation is run by organised crime. Given that you may want to think twice before giving them your money.

The area around the old railway station is particularly interesting. This slum backs onto the filthy trickle of a river that marks the Thailand-Cambodia border and at around dusk tuk-tuks brimming with people can be seen making their way to the unofficial border crossing, an unstable bamboo bridge 400 m down the dirt track south from the railway station. The path passes a small Cambodian police station. The Thai side is a minefield, but the well-trodden path can be followed and leads to a road. Being stopped at a Thai police checkpoint once on the road is likely. Using this unofficial border crossing, apart from perhaps a few paces on the Thai side for bragging rights, will likely cause problems for conventional travellers, particularly upon their exit from Thailand. This option should only be used in the most extreme circumstances that preclude the town's regular border crossing.

People with a desire to help others can find opportunities in Poipet. Any assistance or conscious effort to speak Khmer or interact with local people on their own level will be highly appreciated. A man called Trip (+855 77945100) is a friendly English speaker. He will act as a guide to Poipet and tell you some interesting stories about the area. Cost: buying him lunch and a beer.

Buy
In Rongkleu Market, just before Thai immigration, banks sell US dollars at decent rates (USD being the main currency of Cambodia). There are also ATMs dispensing baht. For exchange, the banks don't open until 10:00, and after a weekend or holiday they may be short on US dollars. Do not worry, baht can be exchanged in Cambodia without problem, some large stores even accept baht at rates better than they do Cambodia's own toy currency, the riel.

In Poipet, just about anyone will exchange USD and baht to riel. Look for the traders with glass cabinets full of money, it's their way of advertising. There are banks and ATMs close to the border but Canadia Bank is a little further away. ANZ charges US$5. Canadia ATMs charge a $4 service charge to nearly all ATM cards issued by foreign banking institutions - some bank cards from Europe are the only exception to this policy (2015).

Eat and drink
If you're a sucker for the minibus to the Poipet Tourist International Terminal, you'll probably also be a sucker for the expensive snacks next to where it departs.

Very close to immigration, on the north side of the roundabout, Long Sen Guesthouse has a convenience store. In front of the post office is a little street stall does reasonable meals and coffee and doesn't rip off tourists, which is a pleasant break from the border stress.

In the duty-free zone, in front of the Poipet Resort Casino is a laid back coffee shop and cafe. Also, some of the casinos offer buffets. Though they have dress codes, so you may have to spruce up a bit. Holiday Palace and Diamond serve good coffee and even frappes and have air conditioning, although in Diamond you need to explore a bit to find it, an interesting experience in itself. Food in the casinos is good and a welcome change from the standard restaurants in town.

Beyond the immediate border area, the markets probably offer the most atmospheric dining. Also Tropicana Resort & Casino near Holiday and Grand and the other casinos at the border has a pretty sumptuous buffet.

Sleep
While many choose Aranyaprathet to spend the night, Poipet does have a reasonable selection of accommodation. For the budget conscious, it is a cheaper option.

Stay safe
Like most of Southeast Asia, unprovoked violent crime is rare. However, being foreign and out at night could be construed as sufficient provocation. During the day, one can wander through the town and its slums without fear. Being robbed more subtly by scammers and pickpockets is a different matter. Any visitor should explore Poipet with the expectation of spending more than reasonable and also of losing the contents of his pockets. Wear a money belt and stand your ground if you think you are being scammed. Watch out for pickpockets and snatch thieves, including the adorable little children who swarm you and cheer at the border. If you've managed to arrange a taxi away from the monopoly, don't pay up front, and do not let anybody you don't know into the car. The small upside to the travel monopoly is that, once the exorbitant price for the taxi has been paid, they're reliable and the driver will take you anywhere you like once you've reached your destination.

Connect
On the south side of the roundabout, in front of the cluster of radio masts, is a post office. Postcards not available but it's your last chance to get a Cambodian stamp on those Angkor postcards.

Go next

 * Phnom Penh - 8 to 10 hours by bus.

title: Poipet


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Poitiers

Poitiers is a city in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of western France.

Understand
Poitiers is a pleasant, relatively small city of around 85,000 inhabitants that has strong medieval roots. It is on the Clain river.

Charles Martel changed the course of French and European history near Poitiers in 732 by halting the advancing Moors in the Battle of Tours, which was the first decisive Christian victory over the Moorish invaders. The battle took place just a few kilometres north of the city.

There isn't a lot to see in Poitiers. To be honest and to make a long story short, it's a boring place.

Get in
Poitiers is roughly due south of Paris,  East of the Atlantic Coast.

By car
Halfway between Paris and Bordeaux on the motorway A10, Poitiers can be a nice place to stay for a couple of days on a trip to other destinations in the South West region of France.

By train
The journey from Paris (Montparnasse station) to Poitiers takes 90 min on the TGV high speed train. Upon arrival, the city centre is straight ahead out of the station, on the top of the hill.

Get around
Given the small size of the city centre, walking is the best way to get around. All the main attractions, apart from Futuroscope, are within reasonable walking distance of each other.

Poitiers' train and bus stations are next to each other. Nearby towns, cities, and local attractions can be reached by bus, operated by Vitalis.

See
As stated above, there isn't a lot to see in Poitiers, but it is a pleasant small city, and visitors will find it has a relaxed atmosphere, especially compared to Paris. Poitiers is also a good base to visit nearby towns like La Rochelle or Tours.

Learn
The local university, the Université de Poitiers, has over 24,000 students. Poitiers is the French town with the largest proportion of students in the population, around 25%.

Buy

"Macaroons from Montmorillon", a local speciality delicious with a coffee or tea, and great as a gift. These can be found at Rannou Metivier, which has two shops in Poitiers' town centre (30, rue des cordeliers and 13bis, rue des cordeliers).

"Le Broyé du Poitou", the Crushed of the Poitou, a biscuit the size of a cookie that is called this way because it was traditionally shared by hitting it of a punch in its centre, hence breaking it. As it is a hard biscuit, it would then yield nibbling size pieces. The Broyé du Poitou can be found in any supermarket in town. The main producer is Goulibeur.

Drink
Although the city is small, the significant student population in the city do make the city alive, even at night. Some places where you can grab a drink are:

Sleep
There are many hotels in Poitiers, with prices ranging from €30 for a double room in a one star hotel to more than €200 in a relais et chateaux.

You can also sleep in a hotel in Paris and take the train or car early in the morning

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Poitiers


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Pojoaque

Pojoaque (pronounced poh-WAH-kay) is a small town in north central New Mexico, USA, not far from Santa Fe. While of limited interest itself to the traveler, it is a good jumping-off point for many northern New Mexico attractions.

Get in
Pojoaque is about 15 miles north of Santa Fe on US highway 285. The nearest major commercial air service is via Albuquerque, while Santa Fe has limited air service.

Get around
Once you've been there, you've gotten around. A car is useful for reaching outlying attractions.

See

 * Pojoaque Pueblo is one of the smaller of the American Indian pueblos of New Mexico, but does have a casino (see under "Drink") and a moderately interesting tribal museum.
 * The Poeh Cultural Center is on US 285 and appears to be open during daylight hours (probably 9-5), with exhibits by local artisans. The museum's position on historic interactions between Native Americans and European settlers, it is fair to say, is opinionated.  Occasional special events.

Buy
Pojoaque Pueblo is less significant as an arts/crafts center than nearby San Ildefonso and Santa Clara Pueblos, but interesting pueblo art can sometimes be found at the museum.

Go next

 * Pojoaque is about equidistant from Santa Fe and Los Alamos with nearby Bandelier National Monument. Los Alamos and Bandelier are both interesting and worth a day trip; Santa Fe is one of the world's great travel destinations, and a traveler who comes to Pojoaque but doesn't spend time in Santa Fe is missing something.
 * Pojoaque is also a reasonable jumping-off point for the American Indian (incidentally, the term is preferred locally to "Native American") pueblos of the region; check the Santa Fe (New Mexico) and North Central New Mexico articles for details.
 * The High Road to Taos is one of the classic scenic drives in northern New Mexico and takes off from Pojoaque via SR 503 on the north side of town. For route details, see the North Central New Mexico article.

title: Pojoaque


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Pokhara

Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal with about 520,000 people in 2021. It is the starting point for most of the treks in the Annapurna area. It is a very popular location with most people staying around the beautiful Fewa Lake. Dozens of hotels and restaurants are sprouting like mushrooms everywhere, and today it is much easier to find modern amenities not common to other locations in Nepal, but Pokhara is losing its small town charm and the lakeside now feels more like Khao San Road (with all the usual: yoga, reiki, massages by blind people, overpriced souvenirs and disingenuous locals).

Pokhara is still beautiful and many great and genuine people can be found, but it takes some work on the traveler's side. If you intend to stay on the lakeside road, para-glide, and trek to Annapurna, you will be getting a very inauthentic version of Nepal. If you make an effort to get out of the tourist areas, you will find amazing scenery, great people, and unforgettable experiences.

From Kathmandu
Tourist buses (Rs700-800, 6-7 hr) and crowded local buses/microbuses (Rs400-600, 6-7 hr) travel the 200-km journey between Kathmandu and Pokhara almost every 15 minutes from 07:30 until late afternoon. Night buses are available, but the ride is painful. Greenline operates a convenient bus every morning between the popular tourist areas of Thamel in Kathmandu and Lakeside in Pokhara (US$20, lunch included). Swift operates comfortable tourist buses for US$15 per ride. The bus runs twice daily, leaving in the morning and in the evening. Swift buses offer comfortable, reclining and extra-wide seats (three per row).

The road is winding with many switchbacks but offers wonderful views of hills and rural Nepalese lifestyle. The drivers will generally not drive too fast but some will calmly weave in and out of the stream of opposing traffic and slam on the brakes when a stop is required, making for a scary ride if you look out the front window. During the rainy season, there may be problems with the roads, and flying may make more sense.

If your bus leaves you at the "old bus station" near the old airport, just take a city bus from the road to lakeside (Rs20).

Update May 2023: There's construction on a new road between Kathmandu and Pokhara and many parts of the route have been broken up or narrowed to only one lane, making for traffic snarls and an extremely bumpy ride. Plan on spend at least 8 and possibly 9 or 10 hours on the road now, with frequent nauseating and bone-rattling sections. Air travel may be more advisable while construction is underway. Locals say it's been going on for a year, and estimate construction will likely go on for another two.

From Sunauli and the Indian Border
Buses are available from the border town of Sunauli (Rs500-700, 10 hours). If you can travel to the nearby town of Butwal, you will have more options for travelling to Pokhara. A 12-seater vehicle will cost around Rs5500 from Butwal to Pokhara.

From Siddharth nagar rail station to Kakrahwa border - Kakrahwa border to Bhairahawa Bus Park - Pokhara
Shared Tempo Rs 50 Indian on shared tempo/ bus from Siddharth Nagar rail station to Kakrahwa border approx 50 mins if no jam on road (Last bus around 6 pm all via Lumbini). Kakrahwa border to Bhairahawa Rs 130/- Nepali by bus. Rs 25/- per person by shared auto to Bhairahawa Bus Park. Bus park to Lumbini Rs 750/- Nepali Non AC bus. (Added this route on Sept 2023 after travel)

From Kathmandu
Yeti Airlines, Buddha Air and Air Viva are reputable airlines that operate regular flights (US$102-106, 40 minutes) that can be purchased online and at the last minute. The flights offer the benefit of a bird's eye view of the countryside and of the panoramic mountains themselves. Flights are almost always delayed and afternoon flights run the risk of cancellation as delays from the morning compound.

A taxi from the Pokhara airport to Lakeside should cost Rs250 if negotiated in advance, but the city bus passes the airport and costs Rs20.

By foot
Pokhara is a mid-sized city and can be traversed on cycle or car or bike. Walking is necessary to get to places where vehicles or bicycles can't reach.

By bus
Buses and minivans operate on most of the popular routes. These are crowded and uncomfortable but the fare is cheap and student discounts may be offered. Fare is Rs20–40 per way (as of March 2023).

By taxi
Comfortable taxis are available to be hired. You may also use InDrive app to hail a taxi or motorbike.

By bicycle
Bicycles can be hired in a lot of shops in Lakeside (Rs300-2,000/day). Make sure the seat is not too hard, and try realigning the seat if it is set uphill way, instead of sloping down.

By motorbike or scooter
It is also possible to hire a scooter or a motorbike in Lakeside (from Rs550/day). You will have to buy petrol (Rs120/litre). It is not possible to reach Sarangkot or the World Peace Pagoda with an automatic motorbike or scooter due to the steep uphill road, so get a manual gear model if you intend to travel to those places.

Adventure sports

 * Hiking and trekking — for information on trekking in the Pokhara region, including popular treks and suggested itineraries, see Trekking in Nepal
 * Boating and canoeing — hire a boat or canoe for a day out on the water. Canoes can be difficult to steer on the flat lakes.
 * Whitewater rafting, kayaking, and canyoning - 1- to 10-day adventure expeditions on beautiful Nepali rivers. There are many operators offering trips, such as
 * Rapidrunner Expeditions,
 * GRG's Adventure Kayaking,
 * Adrenaline Rush and
 * Paddle Nepal.
 * Ultralighting
 * Avia Club Nepal specializes in airborne adventure sports.
 * Mountain Biking. Consider these fun bike rides:
 * Around Phewa Lake
 * Sarankot/Naudada/Hemja loop — 3 hours hard from Lakeside is a fast time. Go towards downtown (Mahendrapul) from Lakeside, turn north at "Zero Kilometre" along the main road to Baglung. Be careful as it's crowded. Ride about 5–6 km north, slowly up, past the nasty old bus park, to the Sarankot Road junction, turn left (west). The climb time starts at the fork 50 m further. Follow paved road up incredibly steep climb, 1st gear almost all the way. Good pavement mostly, climb zigs past houses and ends at a small village on a saddle. It takes around 40 min from bottom. From here you can park bike and hike up old ridge trail to Sarankot, but for this loop continue west along rocky jeep road along mountains south slopes, past parasail place and onwards, rolling ascent to Kalipani village and after and hour or so jeep road hits the "hi-way" at Naudada village on ridgetop. From here good pavement zigs steep down to valley bottom, then its a long gradual descent to Hemja village, and back into Pokhara.
 * Dobindy Pass ride — A fun up and back hillclimb to a pass on pavement southwest of Damside. Take paved road south from Damside to Birota area then turn right (west) along main road, the "hi-way to Syangja and Tansen, gradually down towards Devi's Falls, continue west to the Chorepatan area to base of climb. The steep bends begin here, road climbs steadily, though not too steep, along south side of Peace Pagoda ridge, up to a few villages, then after a short steep descent into a forest for last climb up to the pass at Dobindy village. At least, it'll take just under an hour from Lakeside. From here you can continue west through scenic rolling country towards Syangja town, but it's usually possible to zip back down to hotel in about 35 min. Beware; this road is getting more crowded, and sometimes with lots of buses & trucks in the wrong lane.
 * Tibetan Refugee Camp — go for a bike ride down to the airport way, on the way to the Tibetan settlement where there is a nice little monastery, a school, and refugee-made jewellery and craft stalls. Be prepared to ride all the way uphill on the return trip to Lake area and it is wise to take a rest halfway if you want to avoid suffering from cramps and weariness the following day, from the long ride.
 * Rock Climbing, 3 Sisters, an organisation dedicated to the empowerment of Nepali women, runs a rock climbing course near Lakeside.
 * Himalayan Golf Course offers a unique golfing experience.
 * Tibetan Refugee Camp — go for a bike ride down to the airport way, on the way to the Tibetan settlement where there is a nice little monastery, a school, and refugee-made jewellery and craft stalls. Be prepared to ride all the way uphill on the return trip to Lake area and it is wise to take a rest halfway if you want to avoid suffering from cramps and weariness the following day, from the long ride.
 * Rock Climbing, 3 Sisters, an organisation dedicated to the empowerment of Nepali women, runs a rock climbing course near Lakeside.
 * Himalayan Golf Course offers a unique golfing experience.

Education

 * Cooking classes - Stay on a farm and learn to cook Dal Baht from scratch!

Reiki, yoga, meditation & massage
Pokhara is Nepal's top yoga destination and there are over a dozen yoga retreats. Many of these retreats also offer massage, reiki and water/honey therapy. Some also organise 1- to 20-day treks that combine hiking with classes in yoga and meditation.

 * Annpurna Yoga Ashram (Lakeside), run by guru Narayan Prasad Dhakal, offers daily yoga classes at 08:00 and 17:00 (US$8.50), massage, reiki, honey/water therapy, as well as one-day or multi-day spiritual/meditative hikes to small villages in the area that foreigners rarely get to visit. The guru also offers the opportunity for a homestay, with traditional organic meals cooked by his wife.
 * Jiva Cafe & Spa offers yoga, meditation and zumba classes, therapeutic messages, acupuncture, beauty therapies in private cottages. On Phewa Lake walking path behind Busy Bee. 09:00-19:00.
 * Om Family (Lakeside Road) offers daily drop-in yoga and meditation sessions, as well as holistic treatments costing Rs500.
 * Jiva Cafe & Spa offers yoga, meditation and zumba classes, therapeutic messages, acupuncture, beauty therapies in private cottages. On Phewa Lake walking path behind Busy Bee. 09:00-19:00.
 * Om Family (Lakeside Road) offers daily drop-in yoga and meditation sessions, as well as holistic treatments costing Rs500.
 * Om Family (Lakeside Road) offers daily drop-in yoga and meditation sessions, as well as holistic treatments costing Rs500.

Live music
With the ever-present backpacker atmosphere, there is no shortage of live music. Lakeside is certainly the best place to find it. A walk along the shore reveals many little pubs and bars with bands and overpriced libations. Often there are busking musicians who can actually be quite talented and add real local flavour.

Most clubs are sausage-fests of local guys or "girl dance" bars where the only women are the staff, paid to 'dance' on the stage and then come ask male patrons to buy them drinks (with no possibility of anything else).

 * Catwalk Club Beside the amusement park in North Lakeside, seems to be the only club that actually has female patrons. It is only "electronic" music (EDM), with local or Nepali DJs playing every night. A very impressive theatre, and totally unexpected in a place like Pokhara, with a really powerful sound-system, and ludicrously expensive (but effective) drinks (over 1000 Rs for a Long Island) – western style, western prices.
 * Busy Bee Cafe in Lakeside frequently has a live local band playing, and usually a hotspot for local tourists (even in 2024), although probably the most overpriced drinks on the Lakeside strip.

Festivals

 * Dipawali — the Hindu festival of lights and worshipping of Laxmi, celebrated in either October or November, is a great time to be in Pokhara.
 * Full Moon Trance Parties are held in the surrounding hills during the warmer months. Ask around for details and schedule. There have been several instances of festivals publishing fake line-ups so check with the artists.
 * Holi — the festival of colour is heavily celebrated. Concerts and musical events are held on Pokhara, Lakeside.
 * Street Festival — is celebrated every year from 27 December to 2 January. Thousands of people gather and celebrate the festival on Lakeside street. It is one of the biggest festivals in the Pokhara valley.

Buy
There are several ATMs in central Lakeside and all over Pokhara. All charge a withdrawal fee of Rs500 per transaction. Nabil Bank and Standard Chartered Bank ATMs have the highest withdrawal limit of Rs35,000 per transaction.

 * Jewels and trinkets from the lovely Tibetan women who ply the streets with their wares in backpacks or blankets. Sit and enjoy the atmosphere, and make sure you bargain as starting prices generally are highly inflated.
 * Kriayt Social Business is a marketplace in central Lakeside with the mission of empowering Nepali women to earn a living. You can buy beautiful handmade items and even design your own, all while supporting a good cause.
 * Hemp products. There are numerous stores in the Lakeside area where you can get clothing, bags, and other accessories made from hemp. Hemp fibre is superior to cotton in durability, breathability, and environment impact. There are different quality (e.g. fibre density), so compare ahead.
 * General shopping can be done cheaply in new Town, a large bazaar selling clothing, fruit, vegetables and general items is located across the road from the old bus station
 * Though relatively cheap, hiking gear sold in lakeside is of notoriously poor quality — often not even surviving one trek.
 * General shopping can be done cheaply in the bazaar across the road from the old bus station.

Eat
The cheapest (and often the best) food is found at the street stalls, selling momos/dumplings, samosas or fried noodles. Early in the morning, children walk the streets with trays of pastries; chocolate croissants, cinnamon rolls and other cakes.

The bazaar across from the old bus station has basic Nepali dishes from Rs60, and a nice atmosphere amongst the bustle of vendors.

Drink
Try the local beer (Gurkha/Everest), and if you are brave the home brew which comes in several forms "Chang": A rice or millet beer that's slightly sour and earthy. "roxi" a stronger fermentation of Chang, And "three panni roxi": very strong and tastes awful.
 * Gorkha Bar One of the famous outlets of the Fulbari resort this bar offers all kinds of drinks, cocktails and mocktails.
 * Pema Tibetan Restaurant offering Thukkpa (Tibetan Soup Noodles), Mo Mo (Tibetan style dumplings), with sukuti, sekuwa and locally brewed alcoholic drinks.
 * Busy Bee Great spot on the lake in the heart of Pokhara. Late night, with live music from 20:00. Pool tables, decent food, local beers and imported spirits.
 * Busy Bee Great spot on the lake in the heart of Pokhara. Late night, with live music from 20:00. Pool tables, decent food, local beers and imported spirits.

Sleep
Virtually all tourist accommodations are in Lakeside and Damside, near Phewa Lake. In addition, there are around 12 guesthouses uphill in Sarangkot which offer better views and less air pollution, but are much more expensive for both accommodation and food. Note that these hotels are not accessible by car - they are a 20-minute walk uphill on gravel from the taxi stand in Sarangkot (Rs500 for a taxi, less for a microbus).

Work-aways and farm stays are common, many will ask for money to cover volunteers food.

Long-term
It is possible to find medium or long-term accomndation in Pokhara. Best by far is to ask locally. Anything geared exclusively for tourists in the Lakeside area will start at about US$250/300 per month for a probably new but not really special place. It takes some time but if you scout around you can find good deals for US$100-150 per month. Keep in mind that most locals make a very meager salary usually under US$200. When they say that US$300 is "local price", it is of course not true. Many local options lack furniture, Internet, etc., so you will have realistically have to pay a bit more if you want something where you can immediately move into. Just take a few days and you will find a more genuine and nicer place and it will cost half price than the tourist apartments that are springing up all over Lakeside.

Budget

 * Hotel Lake Side, one of the oldest hotels in the town, overseeing Phewa lake.
 * Jasmine Guest Home. Small and friendly hostel with dorms for 200, private rooms available, Wi-Fi, hot water, a dog and cat. Laid back and had a second hand exchange, close to the lake but far from city centre
 * Penguin Guest House, towards the more relaxed end of Lakeside, almost opposite the Royal Lake House. Budget rooms, Rs500 a night for double or twin room, with shared bathroom. Great cheap food, and smoke friendly. Owner is fluent in Japanese, and so it is popular with Japanese visitors.
 * Pushkar Guest House, a relaxed and comfortable guest house. Has a variety of rooms at various prices, hot showers and a rooftop restaurant. Overlooks the lake.
 * Sweet Dreams, lakeside, very small relaxed hotel with a small bar/cafe/garden attached which is great for escaping from the noise of the main road. Rooms from Rs300, next door to Billy Bunters.
 * Hotel Lake Side, one of the oldest hotels in the town, overseeing Phewa lake.
 * Jasmine Guest Home. Small and friendly hostel with dorms for 200, private rooms available, Wi-Fi, hot water, a dog and cat. Laid back and had a second hand exchange, close to the lake but far from city centre
 * Penguin Guest House, towards the more relaxed end of Lakeside, almost opposite the Royal Lake House. Budget rooms, Rs500 a night for double or twin room, with shared bathroom. Great cheap food, and smoke friendly. Owner is fluent in Japanese, and so it is popular with Japanese visitors.
 * Pushkar Guest House, a relaxed and comfortable guest house. Has a variety of rooms at various prices, hot showers and a rooftop restaurant. Overlooks the lake.
 * Sweet Dreams, lakeside, very small relaxed hotel with a small bar/cafe/garden attached which is great for escaping from the noise of the main road. Rooms from Rs300, next door to Billy Bunters.
 * Jasmine Guest Home. Small and friendly hostel with dorms for 200, private rooms available, Wi-Fi, hot water, a dog and cat. Laid back and had a second hand exchange, close to the lake but far from city centre
 * Penguin Guest House, towards the more relaxed end of Lakeside, almost opposite the Royal Lake House. Budget rooms, Rs500 a night for double or twin room, with shared bathroom. Great cheap food, and smoke friendly. Owner is fluent in Japanese, and so it is popular with Japanese visitors.
 * Pushkar Guest House, a relaxed and comfortable guest house. Has a variety of rooms at various prices, hot showers and a rooftop restaurant. Overlooks the lake.
 * Sweet Dreams, lakeside, very small relaxed hotel with a small bar/cafe/garden attached which is great for escaping from the noise of the main road. Rooms from Rs300, next door to Billy Bunters.
 * Pushkar Guest House, a relaxed and comfortable guest house. Has a variety of rooms at various prices, hot showers and a rooftop restaurant. Overlooks the lake.
 * Sweet Dreams, lakeside, very small relaxed hotel with a small bar/cafe/garden attached which is great for escaping from the noise of the main road. Rooms from Rs300, next door to Billy Bunters.
 * Pushkar Guest House, a relaxed and comfortable guest house. Has a variety of rooms at various prices, hot showers and a rooftop restaurant. Overlooks the lake.
 * Sweet Dreams, lakeside, very small relaxed hotel with a small bar/cafe/garden attached which is great for escaping from the noise of the main road. Rooms from Rs300, next door to Billy Bunters.
 * Sweet Dreams, lakeside, very small relaxed hotel with a small bar/cafe/garden attached which is great for escaping from the noise of the main road. Rooms from Rs300, next door to Billy Bunters.
 * Sweet Dreams, lakeside, very small relaxed hotel with a small bar/cafe/garden attached which is great for escaping from the noise of the main road. Rooms from Rs300, next door to Billy Bunters.
 * Sweet Dreams, lakeside, very small relaxed hotel with a small bar/cafe/garden attached which is great for escaping from the noise of the main road. Rooms from Rs300, next door to Billy Bunters.
 * Sweet Dreams, lakeside, very small relaxed hotel with a small bar/cafe/garden attached which is great for escaping from the noise of the main road. Rooms from Rs300, next door to Billy Bunters.

Go next

 * Annapurna is a mountainous region just outside of Pokhara, famous for trekking. Two popular longer treks are the Annapurna Sanctuary and Annapurna Circuit.
 * Lumbini is the birthplace of the Buddha, reachable from Pokhara by bus (Rs150, 3-4 hours).
 * Kathmandu is reachable from Pokhara by crowded local minibus (Rs400–600, 6–7 hours), tourist bus (Rs800–2000, 6–7 hours), and by plane (US$102-106, 40 minutes). Tickets are sold at all travel agencies.
 * Chitwan National Park is a World Heritage site with tigers, rhinos and jungle animals which offers elephant rides, jungle canoeing, nature walks and bird watching, as well as more adventurous tiger and rhino-viewing.
 * India is enterable at Sunali from the Nepalese border town of Bhairahawa, reachable by crowded local minibus (Rs545, 8 hours) or by tourist bus (Rs700, 8 hours). The buses leave very early in the morning (06:00, 07:00 and 08:00 for local bus, 06:30 for tourist bus). Beware being a sold a ticket for a tourist bus that is actually for a crowded local minibus. Upon reaching the bus station in Bhairahawa, take a rickshaw to the immigration office/border control station (Rs250).

title: Pokhara


text:
Pokolbin

The Pokolbin district, in the Lower Hunter Valley in New South Wales, is one of Australia's premier wine regions. Viticulture in the region has a long history, the first vineyards being established in the 1850s.

Pokolbin is something of a cross between a village and a district: it's a collection of vineyards and very small villages (Lovedale, Mount View and Rothbury), it doesn't have a single center that could be thought of as a township.

Get in
The route is about 2 hours from Sydney, 1 from Newcastle and 0.4 from Branxton.
 * From Sydney, use the M1 Pacific Motorway, then continue onto the M1 until B82. Take the exit onto B82, and continue on B82 til; Cessnock. Once past Cessnock, follow Tourist Drive 33/B82 until Broke Road. From Broke Road, turn left, and at the end of the road, you have arrived at Pokolbin.
 * From Newcastle, follow A15, until the M1 Pacific Motorway. Then, continue straight onto M15 Hunter Expressway for around 30 minutes. Take the exit onto B82 Wine Country Drive, and then immediately turn left. Then, turn left and follow the road for about 15 mins. Then turn right on to Broke Road, and at the end of the road, you have arrived at Pokolbin.
 * From Branxton, continue down on B82/Tourist Drive 33 for 15 mins. Then turn right on to Broke Road, and at the end of the road, you have arrived at Pokolbin.

Get around
Pokolbin is large, and thus, you'll need your own vehicle to get around. Walking is quite ineffective.

Buy
Wine is the most obvious item to buy here, although the estates and farms also offer cheese and olives.

Eat
Be aware that many restaurants pay to be listed in tourist guidebooks and are exorbitantly priced. It may be better to ask a local for recommendations. Rock Restaurant and Bistro Molines at Tallavera Estate are the only restaurants in Pokolbin to be awarded a chef's hat and both have a very good reputation. Other excellent restaurants are Shakey Tables, Esca at Bimbadgen Estate (especially for the wood-fired duck, which is the restaurant's speciality) and Cracked Pepper at de Iulius Estate.

Go next

 * Visit the historic village of Wollombi.
 * Explore Tourist Drive 33

title: Pokolbin