The spring season is considered appropriate for trekking to the Annapurna Base Camp, Pun Hill, Jomsom and other trekking routes in the Annapurna Circuit. Consoled by the recent declaration of truce between the government and the Maoists, and fascinated by the onset of spring season, the number of visitors coming to Pokhara has increased, most of whom would go on trekking.
Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN) Pokhara and Union of Trekking Travel Rafting Labourers want to discourage the unauthorised trekking agents serving in the Annapurna area. In order to curb the self-appointed trekking agents serving in the Annapurna area, these two trekking bodies have started a week-long sudden inspection check at three major points en route the Annapurna area from Pokhara, namely Gaunda Fedi, Bire Thanti and Pokhara Bus Park. The inspection teams will check whether a trekking group is accompanied by an unauthorised trekking agent or not. About 60 per cent of the trekkers going to Annapurna area from Pokhara are served by unauthorised agents. Generally, the hotels arrange such unauthorised trekking agents to its clients.

"The unauthorised trekking agents are not trained and hence less competent. It is impossible for the trekkers to receive quality service and proper guidance from such agents. On the other hand, their wages are not fixed and they do not get health insurance facilities. If they are not clever enough, it is possible that they are cheated on their pay," TAAN officials stated. To be an authorised trekking agent, one has to obtain licence from TAAN.

Paragliding as an adventure sport, is slowly catching the fancy of the citizens of Pokhara and with proper government support the region around Pokhara could be easily developed into a paragliding destination for lovers of the esoteric sport. Paragliding, very similar to a bird gliding across the open sky, which apart from being an exciting experience, provides a moving birds-eye panorama of the world below. While gliding through the skies of Pokhara one can get a clear view of snow-peaked mountains such as Machhapuchhre, Annapurna range, and various ponds and ravines, settlements of the Gurung scattered across the valley and glimpses of the popular Pokhara Bazaar in all its glory.
Paragliding had been introduced in Nepal seven years ago under a firm registered as Sunrise Paragliding. Till date 2000 foreigners have traversed the skies of Pokhara. There are already a few foreigners wanting to paraglide in the natural beauty of this already popular tourist spot from above the veil of white clouds. For flying and learning new paragliding skills, Pokhara seems to be the ideal place.
Nepalese wanting to get into the air for 30 to 40 minutes of gliding time require to pay Rs. 3000, while foreigners are charged 70 U.S. dollars. However, foreigners with their own equipment do not have to make any payments.
Paragliding can be done in Pokhara throughout the year, except for the four months from April to July . The Sunrise institute has been conducting paragliding takeoffs from two points along the northern ridge of Sarangkot hill, leased to them by the Sarangkot VDC for a sum of Rs. 70,000 per year.

Though the Tourism Act of the country provisions that only registered trekking agents should guide the tourists, the local hotels employ unauthorised trekking guides. Almost seventy per cent of tourists thronging this beautiful city of lakes come mainly for trekking to Annapurna Conservation Area. According to Trekking Agents Association of Nepal, almost 40 per cent of the tourists visiting this city are directly taken to trekking, guided by their 'unskilled' porters and guides. Last year, the number of tourists visiting Pokhara was 70 thousand. The number of legally registered trekking agents is 35 in Pokhara. Whereas about 450 guides and porters have taken licences from Pokhara. According to the Act, even the porters have to be licensed. The unlicensed guides being employed by the local hotels are not even insured.

A thick cloud of fog and haze has hidden the peaks of Mt. Machhapuchhre, Annapurna and Dhaulagari for more than a week, even if the mountains are just 30 kilometres from the valley. Not even a single tourist has made a trip to the top of Sarangakot, a must-visit site for sunrise views and a panorama of the mountains. Experts have attributed the worsening climatic situation in the valley to excessive pollution by vehicles and industries alike. "If pollution goes unchecked, the peripheral mountains will not be visible from the valley after 15 years,"an expert said. It has been just six to seven years since fog and haze started covering the sky of Pokhara. Fog and haze have been increasing in the sky of the valley which is a serious threat to tourism.

Just at the start of the autumn tourist season this year, many tourists have returned from Panchamul-Sirubari, the famous rural tourism destination of Syangja district, without really relishing their visit due to growing Maoist activity there. With the growth in tourism, cottage handicraft such as woollen caps, blankets and bags were flourishing in the rural area. The concept of rural of village tourism had been gaining popularity with tourists from Asia and even western countries. With the Maoists becoming active in village, tourism areas such as Panchamul-Sirubari area near Pokhara, Tansen and even Lumbini, the mood in the hills is rather sombre.

Pokhara City faces a water shortage that may soon exceed that of the Kathmandu Valley. The cause of the water crisis is mounting population growth due to migration. The tourist valley has a water demand of over 30 millions litres per day while it has the capacity to supply only 1.5 million litres of water in the dry season and 2.5 million litres of water during the monsoon season. Pokhara has a population growth rate of seven to eight percent per year. Hotel owners are facing the largest challenge when it comes to supplying water. Except for a few large hotels that supplement their water supply by pumping ground water, other hotels can barely extend their water reserves to meet the demand. Water to the city is fed from three sources. Mardi River at Hemja Lachok, 11 kilometres outside of Pokhara Valley, is the main water source while Klimuda and Baldhara rivulets at Armala Village of Syangja district also supply water to the city.