After the splendid time we spent at the Himalayan Travel Mart conference in Kathmandu, Nepal, we were pumped to spend 4 fantastic days exploring Pokhara.
The first two we spent at the lovely Rupakot Resort in the hills just outside Pokhara.
About Rupakot Resort
Rupakot Resort is an eco-friendly property nestled in the mountains about an hour’s drive from Pokhara, or about 30 minutes from the main highway leading into the town.
We loved that there were tables and chairs both inside the room and outside on the balcony. Although the rooms were generously sized at 370 sq ft, we spent most of our time out on the balcony drinking in the unparalleled beauty available from just about every room.
There’s no bad vantage point here, so it’s no surprise we spotted most families and couples that were vacationing here just relaxing on their respective balconies enjoying the views.
We were treated to a thunderstorm late on our first day there, and we were completely awestruck by the beauty at our fingertips.
Since we were last minute invitees to Himalayan Travel Mart in Nepal this past June, we joined the pre-conference FAM trip a bit late, missing our group’s visit to Pokhara. Instead we started straight in on our memorable trip to Chitwan National Park.
The great thing about these sorts of conferences is that you tend to meet lots of great PR-type folks who are proud of their properties, and are usually willing to help you see them.
Ryan and I had decided to stay a few extra days to explore Nepal at our own pace, and as luck would have it, we ran into one of the managers of Heritage Hotel Suites & Spa in Pohkara, who in turn put us in touch with the fine folks at Rupakot Resort — a cluster of 10 tranquil cottage-style buildings hugging the mountainside outside Pokhara.
As we were to discover, the resort affords some rather outstanding views of the majestic peaks of Fishtail, the Annapurnas, Manaslu, Dhaulagiri as well as the region’s lakes.
One of the big draws here at Rupakot (besides the serenity of course) is the amazing infinity pool.
Since Nepal in Bengal Tiger territory, the pool is shaped to resemble a giant tiger’s paw.
The cool welcoming waters were a nice respite from the heat of the day’s activities.
Another highlight of our trip wasn’t actually at Rupakot Resort itself, but just outside the property a short hike up the hill past a school near the resort.
There’s a temple and a small locally run restaurant. We hiked up there during the day to scope out the view (and what a view it was!), and treated ourselves to a couple of beers. We returned later that evening for dinner, and we thrilled to chow down on what were probably the tastiest momos of our entire trip to Nepal.
The owner told us he loves living up at the top of the mountain, saying he couldn’t have created a better life. Though I get the feeling he wished things were a little busier.
Rupakot Resort makes a great place to relax and regroup after a trek through the mountains, or a taxing trip through Nepal.For us, it was a shelter for the senses — a welcome change after the assault on the senses often posed by Kathmandu.
Activities at Rupakot Resort
Although there are plenty of guided hiking tours available through Rupakot Resort, we preferred to explore on our own. For those with the resources to afford it, Rupakot Resort also offers a pretty nifty private helicopter tour of the area. Bird-watching excursions and organic farm tours are also available through the resort, and the dining options at the hotel are second to none. If you prefer more local fare, there are a few locally owned restaurants within walking distance from the resort entrance.
We loved our stay at Rupakot Resort, and our only complaint was that our stay wasn’t long enough.
ABOUT HIMALAYAN TRAVEL MART
Himalayan Travel Mart (HTM) is Nepal’s premier international travel and tourism trade show facilitating unparalleled networking and business opportunities and valuable industry insights among the global tourism and hospitality organizations, and individuals engaged in different aspects of tourism in the Himalayan region.
ABOUT IMPACT TRAVEL ALLIANCE
Impact Travel Alliance is a global community and 501(c)3 nonprofit aimed at improving the world through travel.
We educate travelers on how to spend their money mindfully so that their experiences empower locals and protect our environment.
NOTE: we were guests of Impact Travel Alliance, Himalayan Travel Mart and Rupakot Resort during our time in Nepal, but all opinions are our own.
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