Popular hostel designed specifically for backpackers with dorm beds and private rooms. Social atmosphere, common areas, and location close to Lakeside promenade make it ideal for meeting fellow travelers.
Forest Lake Backpacker Hostel is located in the Lakeside district of Pokhara, approximately 150 metres from the eastern shore of Phewa Lake and a short walk from the main Lakeside promenade and its concentration of restaurants, trekking gear shops, and paragliding operators. Pokhara sits at roughly 820 metres elevation in the Kaski district, and clear days deliver unobstructed views of the Annapurna range — including Machapuchare — visible from the hostel's upper terrace and garden area.
Accommodation spans dormitory beds in four-bed, six-bed, and eight-bed configurations with individual reading lights, personal power sockets, and padlock lockers; shared bathrooms in dormitory blocks have hot-water showers. Private rooms with en-suite or shared bathrooms are also available. The common room is the social hub of the property, furnished with low sofas, a book exchange, and a notice board tracking current trekking conditions and group departure opportunities. A shared kitchen with a cooker, fridge, and basic cooking equipment is available for self-catering; local produce markets are a few minutes on foot.
Regular social events — quiz nights, local film screenings, and group dinners — are posted on the common room board and run several evenings each week. Staff organise group bike hire trips along the Lakeside road and morning rowing sessions on Phewa Lake. The travel desk connects guests with reputable operators for Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Base Camp treks. Wifi covers common areas and most rooms. There is no kitchen restaurant on site, but dozens of cafés and restaurants serving everything from Nepali thali to wood-fired pizza are within a five-minute walk along Lakeside Road.
Amenities
- dorm beds
- free wifi
- common room
- kitchen
- social events
Location
Lakeside, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
28.2069, 83.9569 View on map
Highlights
- Multiple dormitory configurations (4-, 6-, and 8-bed) with individual sockets and locker storage, plus private rooms for travellers needing quiet without a full hotel rate
- 150 metres from Phewa Lake shore with clear Annapurna range views from the hostel terrace on mornings without cloud cover
- Active social programme — quiz nights, group dinners, and morning lake rowing — makes it practical for solo travellers to meet trekking companions
Tips for visiting
- Book a private room during October–November when the hostel fills to capacity and late-arriving dormitory guests can disturb light sleepers well past midnight
- The shared kitchen cuts daily food costs significantly; the morning market on the Lakeside road stocks fresh produce, eggs, and bread at local prices
- Check the trekking conditions notice board before setting a trailhead departure date — the board is updated frequently by returning trekkers and hostel staff