Best hotels in Nepal

Nepal's Pokhara Valley sits at the foot of the Annapurnas, cosseted by three of the world's tallest peaks and the unmistakable fishtail silhouette of Machapuchare. And it's in this magical spot that you'll find The Pavilions, two sister retreats called The Farm, a working organic smallholding dotted with private villas, and Lake View, a collection of glamping tents reached by paddle boat across Phewa Lake. But what sets The Pavilions apart isn't just the scenery or the farm-fresh food – it's the fact that the majority of profits fund local education and support vulnerable women and children. It's eco-credentials are genuinely impressive too, with solar power, biogas and triple-recycled rainwater running the show.

Perched a thousand feet above Pokhara Valley, Tiger Mountain delivers views that make you temporarily forget your own name. Three 8,000-metre peaks – Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu – dominate the horizon, while the sacred Fishtail mountain peeks through the morning mist. This isn't your typical mountain lodge however, but a stone village dreamt up by Harvard architects and blessed by Sir Edmund himself back in '98. The staff, most who have been here since day one, know every butterfly by name (there are 275!) and can spot a Himalayan griffon before you've finished your cup of tea. It's the perfect spot for pre-trek acclimatisation or simply hiding away from the world with a good book and even better views.

Your home away from home in Nepal comes in the guise of Nepali Ghar, a characterful boutique hotel. Tucked into bustling Thamel, it's blissfully quiet once you step inside and has become a beloved sanctuary for trekkers seeking comfort before and after Himalayan adventures. But what makes it truly special is the journey through Nepal's architectural history, the original building showcasing exquisite Newari woodwork, while the newer Seto Ghar wing occupies a restored 200-year-old neoclassical mansion that once housed Rana-era royalty. Throw in an exceptional team, free daily yoga and the Garden of Dreams just two minutes away, and you've got yourself a proper Kathmandu base.

When Thailand's Dusit brand planted its flag in Nepal's capital in 2023, it brought something refreshingly different to Lazimpat's leafy streets. It's certainly not your typical Kathmandu crash pad and instead you've got an infinity pool gazing at Himalayan peaks (it's the highest in Nepal), rooftop shisha lounges pulsing with DJ sets, and Thai masseurs working their magic twelve floors above the city's bustle. The whole place feels uncluttered and calm – all clean lines and peaceful corners, and it's quickly become a clever choice for travellers who want their dal bhat served with a side of high-end sophistication.

Forget your typical heritage hotel – Dwarika's is what happens when someone becomes so obsessed with saving Kathmandu's disappearing architecture that they accidentally create one of the finest luxury retreats in Nepal. Started by one man (Dwarika Das Shrestha) rescuing centuries-old carved doors and windows from bulldozers in the 1950s, this extraordinary property has grown into a living showcase of Newari craftsmanship and it's now one of the world's largest private collections. Tucked away from Kathmandu's honking madness yet conveniently close to sacred sites and the airport, you'll find yourself having breakfast beneath 13th-century woodwork whilst planning your Himalayan adventures...

Tucked into the medieval lanes of Bhaktapur, just two minutes from Durbar Square, this charming boutique hotel bills itself as a 'museum of life' – and it's not wrong! Named after the Newari word for courtyard, the property is built around traditional communal living, with no perimeter wall separating guests from the ancient city outside. The design blends minimalist, mod style with age-old craftsmanship, and the cultural programme runs deep: think storytelling evenings in an on-site amphitheatre, rooftop dinners where every dish is full of history, and artisan visits to potters' workshops. A real and thoughtful immersion into what makes Kathmandu tick.

On the banks of the Rapti River, Barahi has transformed what was once barren grassland into a thriving jungle haven right opposite Chitwan National Park. No run-of-the-mill safari lodge, it's a carefully crafted retreat where thatched cottages blend seamlessly into 12 hectares of forest, all planted by the lodge. With their own quartet of resident elephants (Ranikali, Sundarkali, Madhumala and Rangmala), hand-picked naturalists who've spent their lives in these jungles, and a rare combination of genuine eco-credentials and luxury, the wildlife experience at Barahi is enthralling and really quite hard to match.

Tucked into a quiet corner of Monjo village, this stone-built lodge sits on a hillock between the local monastery and a century-old Sherpa home – a fitting spot for one of Nepal's most heartfelt mountain retreats. With just eleven rooms and views across the imposing flanks of Thamserku, it's the smallest and newest of the Mountain Lodges of Nepal collection, and definitely the most intimate. The family behind it have been pioneers in Himalayan travel for over three decades, and that legacy shows in everything from the organic greenhouse supplying the kitchen to the genuinely warm welcome at the door. A restorative pause before the climb to Namche.

Four hours' downhill from Lukla's goosebump-inducing runway, Phakding Lodge catches trekkers completely off-guard with its Scandinavian-inspired luxury. In fact, the Sherpa family behind the Mountain Lodges of Nepal collection have somehow wedged top-notch comfort into the Khumbu valley – think electric blankets, happy hour cocktails and vegetables grown in organic gardens. Massive riverbank boulders form the bones of the lodge and it's literally built into the landscape rather than on top of it. With a selection of coveted amenities (including hot showers – bliss!), Phakding Lodge has become the first-rate first-night stop for trekkers who've decided that reaching Everest Base Camp doesn't have to be uncomfortable.

There's a stone house in Phaplu, tucked into pine-forested slopes 18 miles south of Everest, where Sir Edmund Hillary spent months at a time. He called it his "happy place" and declared the views the finest he'd ever seen... Built in the 1970s through a collaboration between Italian explorer Count Monzino and a local Sherpa family, the house has now been lovingly - and beautifully - restored into an intimate ten-room retreat. Expect hand-painted Buddhist murals, artefacts from Monzino's legendarily lavish expedition, and a team of local people dedicated to revealing their magnificent homeland.

Situated within the Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park in Nepal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hotel offers a 360-degree view of the awe-inspiring peaks. With a view of Mt. Everest from every room, visitors can immerse themselves in this mesmerising scene in luxury.

Opened in 1971, Hotel Everest View has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records (2004) as the Highest Placed Hotel in the world at 13000ft. Featured in numerous guidebooks and having received media coverage, the resort has become a destination in its own right.

Perched on a spiky promontory, the Modi River rushing below, Birethanti Lodge is the lowest lodge on the Annapurna circuit and an excellent start or end point to a trekking adventure. The suspension bridge entrance, draped with prayer flags, sets the tone beautifully while marigold-filled gardens and their resident butterflies remind you that opting for comfort doesn't mean sacrificing authenticity. Inside, you'll find handcrafted rooms with properly hot showers, and in the evening, communal dinners where trekkers swap tales over hearty meals grub. And outside, that sacred Fishtail Mountain practically poses for photos at sunrise...

Mustang was closed to outsiders for centuries, and even now, reaching its wind-sculpted valleys feels like arriving somewhere the modern world has forgotten all about. Seated just above the frontier town of Jomsom, between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, Shinta Mani Mustang is the first proper luxury lodge in this corner of Nepal – and it was well worth the wait. Designer Bill Bensley has worked his magic on the hillside stone building, filling it with upcycled antiques, yak fur stools and tiger-motif rugs that somehow feel completely at home, even at 2,800 metres high in the sky. Stay more than five nights and it's all included: guided excursions, wellness treatments with an 11th-generation Tibetan medicine doctor, themed dinners and drinks – your Adventure Butler will take care of the lot!

Reaching Landruk Lodge requires a proper pilgrimage – down into the Modi Khola gorge, across a swaying suspension bridge, then up those endless stone steps. But the reward is worth every footfall and gasp of breath! The crescent of green and white bungalows perches halfway up the mountainside in the heart of Gurung country, home to the legendary Gurkhas for centuries. The sacred Machhapuchhre – never climbed, never permitted – dominates the view. Wake to morning tea at your door as the pink light catches the snow and watch honey hunters scale sheer cliffs on bamboo ladders. Landruk is all about simple pleasures in spiritual surroundings.

Perched at the very top of Ghandruk – regarded as one of the most beautiful towns in Asia – this cosy retreat offers some of the finest mountain views in the Annapurna region. Built around a 19th century Gurung village house, the lodge gazes directly at Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and the iconic Fishtail peak, all close enough to take your breath away. Part of the Mountain Lodges of Nepal collection, it's a world away from more basic teahouses: think hot water bottles slipped into your bed, hearty home-cooked meals and happy hours around a crackling wood-burner. All in all, a perfect launchpad for lodge-to-lodge trekking through rhododendron forests and terraced hillsides.