The odd ones: golf in a gorge, horses on the ridge, quads in the riverbed
Three things you would not expect to find in Pokhara, one of which is among the more unusual golf courses anywhere.
By Dawa Gurung · 5 min read · Updated 1 August 2026
Every list of things to do in Pokhara has the same six items on it. These three are not on it, and one of them is remarkable.
None of these is a reason to come to Nepal. All of them are good answers to a spare afternoon, particularly for someone who has already done the lake and the sunrise. We do not run any of them; this is a map.
The golf course in a canyon
East of Pokhara there is a golf course built into a natural gorge, with the Bijayapur river running through it and tee shots that carry across ravines onto greens on the other side. It was cut into the landscape rather than laid over it.
It is nine holes played as eighteen, and the setting does the work — terraced hillsides, a river below, and the Annapurnas on the horizon on a clear day. Clubs can be hired and you do not need to be a member.
Whether you are a golfer or not, it is worth seeing. If you are one, it is probably the most interesting round you will play this year and it costs a fraction of what the setting would command anywhere else.
Horse riding
Horses are available around Pokhara, generally for short rides on the ridges and around the lake rather than serious trekking on horseback.
Quality of animal and tack varies considerably, and this is one where looking at the horse before agreeing tells you most of what you need. A thin animal with poor tack is a decision about which operator to use.
Riding up toward Sarangkot or along the ridges gives you the same views as walking with a different rhythm, and it suits people who want to be out in the hills but cannot walk far.
Quad bikes and off-road
ATV rides run on riverbed and rough track around the valley, typically an hour or two with a guide leading.
It is noisy, dusty and enjoyable, and it is the option for people who want the terrain without the walking or the fitness. Minimum ages apply and vary by operator. The environmental case for it is thin, and we would rather point you at a bicycle. But it exists, people enjoy it, and pretending it does not would be silly.
Where these fit
All three suit the day after a trek, when your legs are done and you still want to be outside.
They also suit a mixed group — one person can play nine holes while another walks the course, which is a rare thing to be able to say about an activity here.
And they suit the hazy months when the mountains are not showing and a viewpoint would be wasted.
Walk it with us
Private departures on your dates, guided by the people who wrote this page.
Questions we get asked
Do I need to book the golf?
Ring ahead at weekends; otherwise turning up generally works. Clubs and balls are available to hire and the course is used to visitors.
Is horse riding suitable for beginners?
The short ridge rides, yes, with a handler. Look at the horse and the tack before agreeing, and walk away if either looks poor.
What is the minimum age for quads?
It varies by operator and by whether you are driving or riding pillion. Tell us ages and we will check rather than guess.
Do you book these?
We will help you arrange them and we take nothing for it. They are all walk-up or a phone call.
Read next
Still deciding?
Tell us your dates and how much walking you have actually done, and we will tell you honestly whether this trek is the right one for you.
Ask a guide