Golf in a gorge, horses on the ridge and quads in the riverbed
Three things you wouldn't expect to find in Pokhara, and one of them is among the more unusual golf courses anywhere.
By the Lakeshore team · 5 min read · Updated 5 October 2026
Every list of things to do in Pokhara has the same six items on it. These three aren't on any of them, and one of them is remarkable.
None of them is a reason to come to Nepal. All of them are good ways to fill a spare afternoon, especially if you've already done the lake and the sunrise. We don't run any of them ourselves, so think of this page as a map.
The golf course in the gorge
East of Pokhara there's a golf course built into a natural gorge. The Bijayapur river runs through it, and your tee shots carry across ravines to greens on the far side. They cut the course into the landscape instead of laying it over the top.
It's nine holes played as eighteen, and the setting does most of the work, with terraced hillsides, the river below and the Annapurnas on the horizon on a clear day. You can hire clubs, and you don't need to be a member.
Even if you're not a golfer, the course is worth seeing. If you are one, it's probably the most interesting round you'll play this year, and it costs a fraction of what you'd pay for a setting like this anywhere else.
Horse riding
You can hire horses around Pokhara, mostly for short rides on the ridges and around the lake. Don't expect serious trekking on horseback.
The animals and the tack vary a lot, and this is one activity where a look at the horse before you agree tells you most of what you need to know. If the horse is thin or the tack is poor, find another operator.
A ride up toward Sarangkot or along the ridges gives you the same views as walking, at a different pace. It suits anyone who wants to be out in the hills but can't walk far.
Quad bikes and off-road rides
ATV rides go out on the riverbeds and rough tracks around the valley, usually for an hour or two with a guide leading.
It's noisy and dusty and good fun, and it's the way to see rough country if you don't want the walking or don't have the fitness for it. Minimum ages apply and differ between operators. There isn't much of an environmental case for it, and we'd sooner point you to a bicycle. But it exists and people enjoy it, so we'd be silly to pretend otherwise.
When they fit in
All three suit the day after a trek, when your legs are finished but you still want to be outdoors.
They work for a mixed group too. One person can play nine holes while another walks the course, and you can't say that about many activities here.
They're also good in the hazy months, when the mountains are hidden and a trip to 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?
Phone ahead at weekends. On other days you can usually just turn up. Clubs and balls are available to hire, and the course is used to visitors.
Is horse riding suitable for beginners?
The short ridge rides are, with a handler leading. Check the horse and the tack before you agree, and walk away if either looks poor.
What's the minimum age for quads?
It varies by operator, and driving has a different limit from riding pillion. Tell us everyone's ages and we'll check instead of guessing.
Can you book these for us?
We'll help you arrange them and take nothing for it. They're all walk-up or a phone call, so just tell us what you'd like.
Still deciding?
Tell us your dates, and we'll tell you whether Pokhara Highlights Day Tour is right for you. If it isn't, we'll say so.
Nothing to pay online. We confirm your dates first.
Or call the office +977 61-457830