Looking to read a detailed review of The Pavilions Himalayas Resort before booking your next trip to Nepal? You’ve come to the right place!
The Pavilions operates two luxury boutique eco-hotels in Pokhara: The Farm and Lake View. The resorts are located in the heart of Nepal’s scenic Himalayas mountain region.
We suggest splitting your time at the two Pavilions Himalayas properties: 3 nights at The Farm and 2 nights at Lake View.
The Pavilions Himalayas: Two Eco-Hotels in Pokhara
The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts is a luxury boutique hotel company with properties throughout Europe and Asia. We’ve previously had the opportunity to visit The Pavilions Phuket, The Pavilions Madrid, and The Pavilions Chateau de Fiac.
The Pavilions Himalayas are two eco-friendly boutique hotels located in Pokhara, Nepal. The Pavilions Himalayas The Farm is located on a scenic organic farm, while the Lake View glamping site sits perched over a quiet bay on Phewa Lake.
The resort’s came to life when Douglas and Insuba Maclagan decided to transform their farm into a unique sustainable resort.
Douglas and Insuba have over 20 years of experience working in international development, working in the field of woman and child protection, health, and education.
After managing many projects throughout Nepal, they’ve focussed on The Pavilions Himalayas, which is committed to providing 70% of its net profits to giving back by supporting urgent social needs through the NGO Right4Children.
The Pavilions Himalayas: The Farm
The Pavilions Hotels & Resorts first launched The Farm in 2015.
The site is part of a small village, which lies at the base of a hill and is spread out across over 2 hectares of gradient farmland. The property is home to goats, chickens, buffalo.
Sustainable travelers looking to do good on holiday will appreciate the low impact philosophy in building the resort with local and natural materials.
The resort also boasts a rainwater collection program, recycled wastewater treatment, biogas used for cooking, solar electricity, and sourcing menu ingredients from the farm itself and local producers in the valley.
The resort comprises 14 luxurious villas, which operate entirely on renewable energy, while the organic farm supplies fresh produce, ensuring a sustainable and fulfilling getaway.
At The Pavilions Himalayas, management also empower young people through hospitality training programs. Guests have the opportunity to support Nepali youth by donating to the FAB School, a transformative initiative dedicated to providing skills and employment opportunities.
The hospitality school offers local teenagers the opportunity to develop skills so they can work in the tourism industry. Skills development includes a culinary school (which boats a separate bakery and cheese production facility), front of house training (from folding restaurant napkins to serving at a restaurant and running a coffee shop), and housekeeping duties.
If you stay at either of The Pavilions Himalayas properties you’ll meet friendly staff who have graduated from the FAB School. They’re thrilled to elevate their career prospects from the struggle of rural farm life to being part of a collaborative team at a luxury hotel.
Accommodation
The all-villa boutique resort features 14 accommodations that can be booked in 3 room categories.
- Pavilions Classic: the 90 sqm interior is available with double or twin beds.
- Pavilions Grand: the 120 sqm interior features a king bed in a large master bedroom.
- Pavilions Chalet: the largest 200 sqm grand villa features 2 spacious bedrooms outfitted with king beds that can sleep 4 guests.
All villas at The Farm have been oriented to offer jaw-dropping panoramic views while also ensuring guests maintain their privacy.
All villas boast Nepalese artwork, outdoor terraces, elegant wood furnishings, cozy fireplaces, en-suite bathrooms with jacuzzi tub and separate shower, LCD TV, mini bar, tea and coffee station, plush bathrobe and slippers.
Amenities
The central hub of the resort is the Clubhouse, designed in a split level configuration to suit the natural topography.
It’s home to the hotel’s reception, restaurant, bar, spa, pool, & jacuzzi and lush garden. On the upper level of the Clubhouse you’ll find male and female change rooms, spa and yoga studio.
The petite onsite spa features one treatment room with two beds, perfect for a romantic afternoon of rest and relaxation. The spa menu features Ayurvedic treatments that utilize herbal essential oils.
Explore the Spa Svastha treatment menu and you’ll find a selection of massages, Ayurvedic treatments, body scrubs, facials, manicures & pedicures, Reiki, and relaxing singing bowl therapy.
On a hot day head to the hotel’s pool for a plunge. The 25 metre long swimming pool is located next to the restaurant and bar at the Clubhouse, filled with fresh spring water and treated with Himalayan sea salt. You’ll find several comfy lounge chairs, the perfect spot to tan in the sun.
Dining
Fresh organic food, staple crops, fruits, vegetables, milk and meat are farmed within the resort for the guests throughout the year. Members of the nearby village are also encouraged to supply local produce to the resort, which also aids in supporting the local economy.
The resort’s signature farm-to-table restaurant celebrates authentic Nepalese cuisine and is located at the heart of the Clubhouse.
The dining room features playful swing chairs, easy loungers and table configurations. A lavish marble bar with a jaw-dropping view can be found at the back of the dining room, serving up fine wine, local beer and craft cocktails. A large open fireplace helps segregate the dining room from the bar.
Adjacent to the restaurant’s dining room guests can skip over to an outdoor terrace where tables are shaded with umbrellas.
At breakfast guests wake up to the world by selecting fresh fruit juices, coffee or tea. Depending on your mood and cravings, the morning meal can burst with local flavours like Chisapani Rice Pancakes, or Paratha and Pickles or Western flare like Brioche French Toast and Omelettes.
During lunch and dinner the restaurant serves up a mouth-watering farm-to-fork menu with highlights including Nepali Momos, Chicken Tikka, Tawa Fish, Chisapani Tango and Popcorn Prawns. The menu also features a selection of daily soups, vegetarian dishes, grilled meats, seafood, pastas, sushi and handhelds like burgers and sandwiches.
If it’s your first visit to Nepal we recommend ordering a traditional Himalayan Thali, which includes dal, vegetable chutney, and rice.
The bar offers a wide selection of top shelf spirits from peaty Scotch whiskey to smooth Mexican reposado tequila. Guests can also order cocktails like Rum Punch, Espresso Martini, Sangria and Long Island Iced Tea.
The Pavilions Himalayas: Lake View
The Lake View is The Pavilions Himalayas satellite resort, located across the serene Phewa Lake.
The glamping resort is accessed by a traditional Nepali canoe, which requires a 30 minute scenic paddle where you’ll spot cackling monkey families and majestic herons that fly over whispering rice paddies.
Pokhara’s best glamping site features 8 luxurious tented villas that offer a unique blend of luxury and camping in nature.
Guests wake up to breathtaking views overlooking Phewa Lake, surrounded by lush rice paddy fields and the majestic Annapurna Mountains in the distance.
The Pavilions Himalayas Lake View property is a haven for nature lovers. Come here with the expectation that you’ll spend your time paddling on the scenic lake, hiking 4 hours to the nearby Peace Pagoda, joining a naturalist guide to spot exotic birds and flowers, and if it rains have a good book to curl up to.
The resort is spread out across a hill that is shrouded in lush jungle. It requires climbing a flight of stone steps from the beach so it is not an ideal vacation for those with mobility issues.
Accommodation
If you’ve just finished hiking the arduous and exhilarating Annapurna Trail why not treat yourself to sleeping under the stars in a private tent to celebrate a job well done?
The boutique glamping site features just 8 luxurious tented camps, available in 3 room categories: Classic Lake Villa (4 units), Grand Lake Villa (3 units) and Royal Lake Villa (1 unit).
All tented villas include locally crafted wooden furniture, comfy king sized beds, minibar, ensuite bathroom, coffee and tea nook, plush bathrobe and slippers and scenic outdoor terrace.
Guests looking to enjoy a spa treatment can request a therapist for an in-room massage.
Dining
The gorgeous glamping site is built around a central Basecamp Lounge, which features a restaurant, bar and al fresco terrace.
Since The Pavilions Himalayas Lake View property is more intimate than The Farm property the menu offerings are less robust, though there are still plenty of options.
Guests can look forward to ordering from menus that change daily, and rotate every 7 days. You can similarly expect a mix of local Nepali cuisine and Western fare.
Fun Things To Do In Pokhara
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal after the bustling capital, Kathmandu.
The region boasts 3 mountain ranges, which are ranked as the top 10 highest mountains in the world. It’s a popular base for trekkers hiking the Annapurna trail.
We recommend spending at least 5 nights in Pokhara, splitting your time between The Pavilions Himalaya’s The Farm (3 nights) and Lake View (2 nights), to enjoy two unique accommodation experiences.
With so much to do in pretty Pokhara here are our top recommendations:
- World Peace Pagoda: Nepal is home to 2 of the 80 peace pagodas in the world: Shanti Stupa in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha and Shanti Stupa in Pokhara. Today the World Peace Pagoda is a popular tourist attraction, boasting panoramic views of the Annapurna range, Pokhara city and Fewa Lake.
- Pumdikot Shiva Statue: This popular Hindu site is located on the mountain next to the World Peace Pagoda. The impressive perch is located 1,500 meters above sea level, and has the second tallest statue of Shiva in Nepal, after Kailashnath Mahadev Statue.
- Devi’s Falls: is a waterfall, which can be accessed in the heart of the city of Pokhara. The falls is easily accessibly from the road and crashed down into a cave.
- Gupteshwor Cave: located across the street from Devi’s Falls. The dimply lit cave is home to a Hindu temple and gives visitors the opportunity to watch the falls from underground.
- International Mountain Museum: is a 2-story museum dedicated to educating visitors about mountaineering in Nepal. There are exhibits on famous mountain peaks (including of course Mount Everest), descriptions of famous mountaineers, the culture and lifestyle of mountain people, Nepali flora and fauna, and indigenous communities.
- Boat Ride To Barahi Temple: No trip to Pokhara is complete until you’ve hopped in a wooden canoe for a boat ride on Phewa Lake. The most popular cruise destination is the tiny island home to Hindu Barahi Temple
- Women’s Skills Development Organization: visit this NGO to watch 400 local women transform Himalayan cotton into dolls, bags and fine fashions. Take a tour to learn about the colouring process then watch friendly locals as the spin yarn, weave and then sew the fabrics into purses and totes.
- Boomerang Restaurant Dinner & Dance:
- Annapurna Cable Car: takes you to Sarangkot in just 10 minutes. Enjoy panoramic views of Himalayan peaks from Dhaulagiri (8167m) in the west to Machhapucharre (6997m), Annapurna II (7937m) and Lamjung (6983m) in the east. Once at the top enjoy the views from the lookout tower, hop on a swing or thrill seek by zip-lining or Sky Cycling.
- Matepani Gumba Monastery:
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