Getting in

• Pokhara International Airport: For Lakeside, skip any pre-arranged hotel car unless its price is sensible. A negotiated taxi is the practical choice; allow roughly 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. The airport lies on a city-bus route, and the local bus fare has been reported around Rs20, but it is crowded and not a good arrival move with trekking luggage. Flights from Kathmandu take about 40 minutes, but afternoon delays and cancellations are common; take an early flight if the same day matters.
• Pokhara tourist-bus arrival area / old bus-station area: Kathmandu tourist buses usually take at least a full daylight day in practice: the nominal 6–7 hours has been stretched to 8–10 hours by roadworks, traffic and monsoon conditions. From the old bus-station area, use a city bus toward Lakeside (about Rs20) if travelling light, or take an inDrive/negotiated taxi for the short final ride. Do not pay for an expensive ‘transfer’ sold at the bus door.