Fish Tail Lodge by Annapurna — Hotel in Pokhara

Situated on a peninsula with the Fewa Lake on one side and a forest-covered hill on the other, the Fish Tail Lodge offers spectacular views all round making it a unique lake resort. Guests are received and transported to the Lodge on its shuttle-floats or boats. It's an escape into the serene. Fish Tail Lodge, an upscale accommodation in Pokhara, is noticeably less expensive in recent times yet provides the same luxuries and breathtaking Lake and mountain views. Sprawling over 25 ropanis of land, Fish Tail Lodge has countless spots from where you can observe Phewa Lake and Machhapuchhre in all its glory. There is a lane separating Basundhara Park and Komagane Park in Pokhara; either side of the lane has vast open fields with an odd tree here and there along with small groups of people soaking in sunlight on wintry days. Instead of a door to Narnia, there is a boat (or a raft) waiting to take you into another world when you reach the end of this lane. The entrance of Fish Tail Lodge is an unconventional one; you can’t walk there but instead need to cross Phewa Lake to reach it. When it’s daylight, there are hotel staff waiting on both river banks and when it gets dark, there is a bell on the opposite riverbank of the lodge which you can ring to call a boat.

Situated on a peninsula on the popular Phewa Lake abutting a dense forest, Fish Tail Lodge appears as a place straight out of mythological folklore. Established in 1969 AD, Fish Tail Lodge has had a long history as an upscale lodge in Pokhara. There is peaceful silence in the air —which is only broken by the chirping of birds every now and then— even though the lodge is only about 300m away from the lively Lakeside Road.

A trinity of natural wonders await you on the lodge: the verdant, lush Rani Ban hides a variety of furry and avian creatures (squirrels can accompany you during breakfast and lunch on the decks if you are lucky and while you stroll around the garden); the calm, relaxing Phewa Lake adjoins the lodge and you feel as if you could jump into the lake for a swim right from the lodge deck; the sight of Annapurna range, especially Machhapuchhre, beams clearly at you while getting illuminated by the morning and evening sun. The lodge consists of five one-storied roundhouses: four of the roundhouses have accommodation rooms whereas one of the roundhouses, the first one that you encounter when you reach the lodge, houses the front desk and the Circle Restaurant and Bar. There is also an oval-shaped swimming pool, spa and pool bar, fitness centre, a conference hall, and something called a ‘Hawa Ghar’, which is basically a small roundhouse with big open windows ideal for meetings for small groups.

The lodge is operated under the endowment of the Jayanti Memorial Trust (founded as a legacy to the late princess Jayanti Shah) whereupon all of the profits generated by the lodge is spent to further the trust’s mission of promoting prevention against cardiac diseases and providing assistance to cardiac patients all over Nepal. Till now, the trust has been able to serve 2,500 people. About Rooms: There are four tiers of rooms available on the lodge: Standard, Deluxe, Heritage, and Heritage Suite. In total, there are 61 rooms available; 44 Standard rooms, 12 Deluxe rooms, 4 Heritage rooms, and 1 Heritage Suite.

I stayed in one of the Deluxe rooms, which had similar amenities to the Standard rooms albeit the room was a bit bigger(the Deluxe rooms are 193/37 sq ft). Each Deluxe room also has a private patio with a view of the garden. Relaxing on the chairs on the patio, one feels as if one is surrounded by nature yet still in the lap of luxury. Each room also has its own dedicated wifi.

The Heritage rooms and Heritage Suite are pricier and have housed many popular foreign dignitaries such as Jimmy Carter, Prince Charles, and Sanjiva Neelamber Reddy among others. The Heritage Suite also stands on an isolated house of its own with a...

Fishtail lodge is the most breathtaking getaway, but the staff is where the true beauty lies. I have traveled the world and experiences great locations but this location has given me memories for a lifetime. Working in hospitality for 20 years I have never had such genuine service…

Prakash initiated our first dining experience and it was so remarkable we never left the resort to go anywhere else! At dinner time he arranged us a special table with candle and gorgeous view, I felt so VIP. I’ve spent my career creating experiences for other people and rarely get to experience it on my behalf! The chef even came to visit our table to check in on our meal, I’m glad I had the opportunity to give him compliments because the quality of food was the best I’ve had in Nepal.

We were also visited by the wonderful Ganesh, who arranges the excursions. He was so friendly and no pressure, I could tell he works hard every day to make the guests’ trip complete. And even though we backed out of paragliding last minute he was very understanding. Because we were having such a relaxing time we didn’t want to leave, so enjoyed an hour and half at the spa! The girls were wonderful and really put the cherry on top of our opportunity to relax! The groundskeepers and housekeepers were always smiling and greeting us, I could tell they really enjoyed their job.

We were so content on site we sat at “our table” every morning and evening… Surendra and Hasta Bir delivered exceptional service and it was not just that, they truly became our friends. I’ve never had my expectations exceeded in such a magnificent manner. Training service for 20 years I wish I could have staff like them to help teach back to others. You have authentic people at Fishtail and I send all the praise to them and hope they get the recognition they deserve.

Sagun at reception was so delightful and helpful, she really ensured we had everything we needed. After working in Kathmandu for 4 months this was the perfect place to center myself… and enjoy my first days of marriage with my husband. I hope we have the chance to return and hang out with this outstanding staff again… oh and also the view, which is secondary to the experience. Thank...

"Heartfelt Appreciation to the Incredible Team at Fish Tail Lodge"

Our sincere thanks to the entire team at Fish Tail Lodge for making our recent conference such a smooth, warm, and memorable experience.

A special mention to Mr. Gyan, whose calm leadership, attention to detail, and unwavering support were the backbone of our event. From managing complex logistics to accommodating numerous last-minute requests, Mr. Gyan handled everything with grace, professionalism, and a genuine desire to help. His thoughtful coordination ensured that every aspect of the conference ran seamlessly.

We are equally grateful to Mr. Mahesh, whose responsiveness, flexibility, and proactive approach made a huge difference throughout our stay. Whether it was organizing activities, adjusting schedules, or assisting our guests, he was always one step ahead, ensuring everyone felt comfortable and cared for.

Our sincere appreciation also goes to the drivers, who were not only punctual and reliable but also courteous and incredibly helpful. Their support with transportation logistics was vital to keeping the program running on time.

Last but certainly not least, every staff member at Fish Tail Lodge deserves recognition. From the reception to housekeeping to the restaurant and event support teams, the warmth, hospitality, and kindness they extended to each of us created a truly welcoming atmosphere. Their collective effort turned this conference into more than just an event—it became an experience to remember.

Fish Tail Lodge is not only a beautiful lakeside retreat—it is an amazing destination for group events, conferences, and retreats. We highly recommend it for large groups looking for a peaceful yet professionally managed venue in Pokhara.

Thank you all for going above and beyond. We look forward to...