Gokarna Forest Resort

Nepal , Kathmandu
Gokarneshwar, Rajnikung, Gokarna, Thali
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50 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

23 Oct 2025

Andrew

The pool was great

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

13 Feb 2025

Prabin

Loved the stay and hospitality.

8/10

Excellent

25 Nov 2024

Carol P

Peaceful resort on the edge of the city

Set in a lovely peaceful area 30 mins from Kathmandu. Well maintained golf course with a fabulous view of Mount Everest. Indoor pool was lovely and warm but in need of an upgrade. It is part of the Spa so kids should be allocated a set time so as to not to disturb adults using the spa and pool for relaxation. Room was huge and very comfortable. Food was excellent and had a wide choice of local and international cuisine. We booked a 1-hour forest walk for USD10. It’s a beautiful forest with spotted deer and monkeys. But beware! The ‘walk’ was definitely a hike up and down steep hills and the tree roots were difficult to navigate. The guide had to assist me all the way. It took 2hours 15 mins and was rather grueling so only opt for this is you are physically fit. Other than that, we had a lovely stay.

Friends_and_family Friends

8/10

Excellent

30 Sep 2024

Anthony

Wonderful retreat from busy everyday life

Business Self

10/10

Exceptional

10 Apr 2024

Gurpreet

Staff was really nice and helpful

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

08 Oct 2023

STEVEN

Great golf course, too. Loved my big room.

Leisure Friends

8/10

Excellent

08 Sep 2022

Terrance

Peaceful

I always enjoy my stay here. It is far enough outside of Kathmandu city where I feel like it is peaceful and quiet. I love walking the grounds and experiencing the nature there. I have stayed there 4 times and would not hesitate to stay again

Business

6/10

Pleasant

05 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

Disappointed by the grounds

Despite being called Gorkana Forest Resort, the forest is only accessible if you pay 10 dollars per person for an hour's accompanied walk with a golf caddy. Otherwise, the hotel grounds are very limited. There are mountain bikes for hire, although I'm not sure where you could cycle to.

The clubhouse has a lovely view over the golf course and does good food. The cottage rooms look into the forest but the balconies have no chairs.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

04 Dec 2019

Verified traveler

Should be better.

Some parts of the property are in need of renovation or at least a thorough clean. The mattresses were old and uncomfortable. Our bathroom had mould on the ceiling. The mat and shower curtain in the bath were ancient and should be replaced.

The bar area was nice. The staff do their best. The location was quiet and calm and preferable to Kathmandu.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Nov 2019

Jared

The best resort money can buy

Bandana was an amazing host and really helped us get situated, from showing us our room to providing us with a complimentary foresr walk. This place is awesome and worth the cost. The grounds are beautiful, and they have an amazing club house and golf course

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

08 Jul 2019

Verified traveler

Resort setting was refreshing and fascinating. Concierge and staff were excellent.

Leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

17 Jun 2019

Verified traveler

Our stay at this resort was amazing. Very beautiful location with wonderful facilities and the staff are very nice. Highly recommend this place for couples.

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

02 May 2019

Verified traveler

Lovely hotel on the outskirts of busy Kathmandhu in a lush green forest. We booked this as our last night in Nepal for a treat after trekking for three weeks to Gokyo and EBC and to get away from the hustle and bustle of the Thamel.

The hotel itself is lovely and one of the reasons we booked it is because of its pool and spa which was a nice luxury after being in the mountains for so long. You can also have guided walks in the forest at a cost (10$ pp/hr), which was a nice option though a shame you have to pay extra for it as the forest is surely a key feature.

We ate at the Clubhouse restaurant which is a thai/ chinese and the food was great. It was also enjoyable having a long chat with the staff there as it was quiet, who looked after us extremely well.

Its worth upgrading to a premium room as this is in the main building and we thought this looked nicer than the cottages which are a short walk away.

The only hiccup we had which was a bit of a problem initially was an Indian wedding had been booked for three days and it started about 20 minutes after we arrived around midday with very loud awful techno music which completely destroyed the tranquil atmosphere of the hotel and continued most of the afternoon. Having come here to relax we weren't happy at all, and having not been told prior, but the hotel staff were really very helpful and did their best to help by giving us a complimentary forest walk to get away from the noise and a dinner which was much appreciated.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Apr 2019

Verified traveler

Great location, excellent staff, great service, fantastic food.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Relaxing, calm spa hotel in the middle of a hectic Kathmandu- a great way to escape the noise, hustle and bustle!

Big pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub. Two restaurants and a bar and large clean rooms.

Friendly service!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

05 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Well maintained. Lot of activities for adult and kids. Staff was very polite and helpful. I would like to recommend everyone to visit this hotel. I am sure you will return home with good memories.

Leisure Family_with_children

10/10

Exceptional

10 Feb 2019

ANDI

I really loved my stay at Gokarna Forest Resort.

This was my first trip to Nepal and while I was only able to stay for one week, the staff made my experience so positive that I am determined to return.

I enjoyed the excellent breakfast buffet daily and was so well looked after by the team, especially Kieran who provided me with excellent customer service and a warm, friendly welcome every day. I also had good food in the bar and via room service. The range of cuisines was vast and the quality of everything I tried was good, especially the momo! I ate approximately one thousand of these delicious local dumplings and washed them down with a fair amount of cold Gurkha beer, enjoying both enormously.

I swam in the beautiful pool daily and indulged myself with multiple spa massage treatments which were all just wonderful. While I'm sure all the staff are excellent, if Asha is working while you're here I can not recommend her highly enough: she has magic hands and helped me with a couple of issues with my lower back for which I am so grateful. The hotel also arranged for me to have transport for a couple of trips into the city for a very reasonable price, and as a woman traveling alone this was invaluable. Kathmandu is a VERY busy and bustling city, and knowing I was safe with a local guide helped me to enjoy the experience rather than being nervous or worse, getting terribly lost!

Highly recommend and looking forward to my next visit.

Business_and_leisure Self

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Wonderful venue fir a wedding. Also, would considering for a vacation

10/10

Exceptional

19 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

Outstanding in Every Respect

Outstanding in every way. The highlight was breakfast which was one of the best in terms of variety and freshness. The dinner was also incredible with me ordering butter chicken multiple times and trying other local dishes.

The service and attentiveness of the staff were top notch. I ended up extending my stay for over a week due to the kindness of the staff and the phenomenal comfort and quality of the hotel. It felt like I was staying at a private estate and was part of the family. As a solo female traveler this was a great experience for me.

I recommend the massage services as they were out of this world! There is something very special about their massages. However, the pedicure services were acceptable by comparison (even when given by the same treatment provider). I believe they could benefit from some additional training for added comfort to take it to the next level like the massages are. For example, soaking the feet longer, resting the soaking bowl on a stool instead of the ground, two coats of polish and and overcoat, etc. This is just because the massage treatment was world class and the pedicure treatment could be improved to also be world class. That being said, the price was fair and this is not a criticism as much as room for improvement in an establishment that goes above and beyond in every way.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

This is a beautiful, elegant resort with old world charm.

Leisure Self

8/10

Excellent

02 Jan 2019

Verified traveler

The service of the staff in particular F & B Manager Nurbu Sherpa and the front desk staff Meena is excellent. The toilet overhead shower and floor mats need some cleaning and maintenance. Only shortfall is when there are events or functions on, the service can be slow. This aside, a very relaxing and beautiful place to spend in Kathmandu away from the dusty and hectic city area. Overall a great resort.

6/10

Pleasant

02 Sep 2018

Mahmoud

Not as we expected. Not worth the 5 stars. Tired property and dirty rooms. Cleanliness can be improved significantly. Hotel food was awful. Staff were very helpful and welcoming at anytime.

10/10

Exceptional

24 Aug 2018

Verified traveler

Wonderful hotel

Amazing service, spa and surroundings. Probably one of the best hotels in Kathmandu!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

08 Apr 2018

bala

Good

Excellent
Sorry
That’s enough
This is too much
You should stop this nonsense

6/10

Pleasant

16 Mar 2018

Marc

Peaceful location: nice spa, new chef needed

This is a large, historic hotel in a quiet area just outside of Kathmandu. It is a peaceful relief from the chaos of Kathmandu, but there is absolutely no alternatives to those provided by the hotel. This is a particular problem because the hotel food is terrible. A new chef is desperately needed. Easily the worst food we ate in Nepal. Also there is no place to walk/run outside the hotel. The two saving graces to our visit were: 1) the spa for the hotel is lovely. Sauna, Jacuzzi, pool are excellent. 2) There was an Indian wedding going on while we were there and joining in the celebration was a fabulous experience.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

27 Dec 2017

Dhiren Mansinh

Great property!

The hotel is very nice including the staff and hospitality. They go out of their way to help guests. The rooms are large and the property is well-maintained. The only downside is that the food is quite pricey..

Family

10/10

Exceptional

31 May 2017

Nithiyananthan

City-based resort in traditional design

As a resort, Gokarna offered traditional architecture and design with the attributes of a modern and sophisticated hotel. Its main highlights were its location within a forest reserve and its open spaces which encouraged exploring and relaxing in the open. The forest served a dual purpose of providing opportunities for guided walks and filtering the air pollution from the city. Its stand-alone sports complex offered a sizeable pool and gym, and the spa. Our room, a junior suite, was spacious with good views and provided all the amenities expected of a high-star hotel such as a safe, coffee/tea maker and fridge. All staff were friendly, helpful and resourceful. We had all our meals in the hotel. Both the buffet and ala carte menu offered a very wide range of Nepali and Western options. A good option if you want the experience of a resort in a city.

Partner

6/10

Pleasant

23 Apr 2017

kate

Nice hotel, beautiful staff.

Lovely staff and clean rooms. Amazing golf course! Very dated, however beautiful. Unfortunately I wouldn't class it as five star, and the coffee was terrible!

10/10

Exceptional

14 Feb 2017

Nirav

Deers, Golf, beautifully kept property

Amazing property , away from city hustle. Kathmandu town honestly doesn't have any merit for a stay. Good staff and overall a very pleasant stay.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Feb 2016

David

A wonderful hotel in a wonderful position.

A relaxing time with beautiful walks in the jungle and plenty of lovely space to sit and read

8/10

Excellent

07 Jan 2016

Sofia

A lovely place with Nepali identity

It was certainly a wonderful stay at Gokarna. Me and my husband visited for 5 days during Chrsitmas and could really enjoy ourselves. We loved the room and its furniture, and beautiful details. The location of the hotel was perfect for us since we wanted to get away from people and cities overall, and still be able to visit Kathmandu when we felt like it. We loved the Christmas dinner and especially the mulled wine. Overall the food lacked the kind of perfection we would need to give the hotel five out of five unfortunately. But what the food lacked, the staff certainly compensated. We have never anywhere seen such a personal but yet professional staff, from every person in the restaurant bars, house keeping, reception. Totally terrific! We also enjoyed the spa enormously, the staff was top notch and certainly did their best due to the loadsetting and petrol shortage. The spa in it self is wonderful, we loved the jacuzzi. Last we are very happy to see a hotel that is still Nepali in its identity and not trying to copy any other styles of design or professionalism.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

31 Dec 2015

Gérald

Nepal journey...

Good time out of time...

Partner

8/10

Excellent

22 Oct 2015

Verified traveler

The hotel is in a quiet and green location for Kathmandu. The staff is very helpful.
The macaques make it difficult to take advantage of the grounds.

8/10

Excellent

03 Oct 2015

Glenn

A very nice hotel, clean air and quiet after the dust and noise of Kathmandu.

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jun 2015

Carla

Pleasurable business trip

Gokarna is situated in a beautiful natural setting away from the noise and bustle of downtown. I spent hours and hours outside in the bar ar working on my computer using the Internet and enjoyed the fresh air and breezes. The staff was friendly and helpful and made the stay truly the most pleasant. Though I did not have time to go to the pool, it looks beautiful and the spa looked nice as well. Our end of the week conference went beautifully and the staff was attentive, pleasant and helped us greatly. The front desk, housekeeping and restaurant staff were all immensely pleasant and helpful making the stay incredibly enjoyable. I intend to return here on my next trip as well.

10/10

Exceptional

10 Apr 2015

tinytike

oasis in Kathmandu

Love this hotel. Staff goes way out of their way to ensure their guests' comfort and satisfaction. Rooms are terrific--spotless, awesome bathrooms with granite and gym-like water pressure (never an issue with hot water). Wifi works in rooms and all over the facility. Breakfast buffet is great--best made-to-order omelets I've ever had anywhere. 3 restaurants, 24 hr room service, free shuttle to and from Thamel, travel services, business center. It is quiet--birds, monkeys, deer next to the forest--even though it is minutes from Kathmandu proper. They even arrange forest walks and tours upon request. Great find in a city that is noisy and chaotic--we don't golf, but is supposed to be terrific and there are frequent tournaments there.

8/10

Excellent

04 Apr 2015

Verified traveler

A one night stay.. nothing to rave about

I stayed here on my one night in Kathmandu on the way back from Pokhara. The resort is beautiful and quiet for Kathmandu. The forest is lovely although the golf course gives it a different kind of character. The facilities are the same - beautiful old building with lovely wood, monkeys and deer, but the guests were loud and there were hidden charges in all the services they offered you. It seemed that everything had to be paid for and whoever served you wanted or expected huge tips. My room was very far away and I got moved to a lovely enormous room but had to pay a 30% upgrade charge. Very good spa - highly recommended.

10/10

Exceptional

17 Mar 2015

Sita

Nice hotel to be away from city

We stayed one more day on our own after staying 4nites with group.
All staffs are very nice and helpful, friendly Specially at the front desk.
It was very nice to have a yoga class during traveling. Tried twice
swimming pool and sauna are good, also.
gift shop people are very friendly, purchased several Nepal music
Hotel is in nice area away from city, nice to see monkeys and deers also.
It was comfortable place to stay in Nepal.

10/10

Exceptional

12 Mar 2015

Verified traveler

wonderful!

Excellent staff and grounds! The Hunting Lodge restaurant is probably the best in Kathmandu! I wish I had stayed there more days.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Jun 2014

Dr Mani Nayyar

Heaven of kathmandu

According to me i can never have a better place to live in Kathmandu. I had a RCI membership with Club Mahindra for Hyatt residency but by chance i missed a thought to stay there. What happens is always for good. I Really enjoyed the location, site scene and food of Gokarna resort. Really, it made my vacation more relaxing. Thank you Gokarna Team. Dr. Mani Nayyar

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

22 Jun 2014

DEEPAK

one of the best property....

best holiday hotel facility with friendly staff...

8/10

Excellent

14 Apr 2014

Neal

Superb loaction and fantastic service

The location was not too far from the airport, yet it was in the forested hills and it was wonderfully quiet and peaceful. The service was the best I've ever seen, including every staff member we came into contact with, bar none. I gave it an overall 4 stars instead of 5 simply because of some small issues with our bed and TV.

Family

8/10

Excellent

12 Apr 2014

Verified traveler

Beautiful forest surrounding the hotel

My husband and I had a wonderful experience at the hotel. The facilities were beautiful and the staff was great.

10/10

Exceptional

27 Mar 2014

Kriszta

Our stay was excellent, everyone was courteous and helpful. The grounds were lovely and the restaurants were varied with good food.

6/10

Pleasant

15 Mar 2014

Verified traveler

Did not meet our expectations

For the price we paid we would have expected something nicer.
There was constructions noise (hammering, drilling) for all the three days we stayed there. They offered us a different room, but it had the same noise issue. A third room they showed us was dark, ugly and had a small crappy mattress, but would have been the same price. So we had no other choice but staying in our original room.
The (deluxe) room itself was beautifully designed with a large window towards the court yard. We could see the monkeys in the morning. The bathroom was clean. The bath tub is basically like a tiny tiled pool, not sure how comfortable it would be to lie in there.
The Spa was not that nice: Mold on the ceiling, sand in the pools and the hot tubs were separated by gender (keep that in mind if you go there with your significant other).
Massage was very relaxing, but the flower bowl in the massage room had mold growing all over it.
It's difficult to get away from the place with a cab. We ask the reception to call a cab and it took and hour until the cab showed up. (Reception said it would be 15-20 minutes, but that's probably not their fault).
The food was mixed: Breakfast was very good, and the 6 course Nepali menu at the Hunter's lodge was also enjoyable. But another lunch we had (Cheese burger and corn casserole) tasted and looked like canned food.
Wireless is only free in the bar, wifi in the rooms is not free.

4/10

Poor

13 Mar 2014

Max

Great facility, poor restaurants, high price

We stayed there for a weekend, two couples and one infant. The location is really nice, immersed in lush green and mature forest, perfect for walks. There is also the golf course for those into the sport. Overall the experience was nice thanks to the location, room quality and very friendly and competent front desk staff. Our downside is that the two restaurants have much way to go to be at any level of quality service especially when considering the premium they charge.
We ate at the club restaurant and it took more than 45 minutes for 3 simple tuna baguettes and one paneer. Mind you, there were at most 3 tables so this is not because of coming at a busy time. We then had dinner at the main restaurant and here it was really bad, the food was tasteless, hygiene left much to be desired and the service was extremely slow and poor. A normal meal for 4 set us back over 11,000 NPR, which is a steal in any restaurant in Kathmandu.
On the positive side, when i reported the dissatisfaction to the front desk, they were very engaged, took notes while being apologetic and promising to take the issue up with management.
All in all, the place is great but they must really address the restaurant aspect as it is otherwise a shame for such a nice place as the price/quality ratio is simply not there.

10/10

Exceptional

24 Feb 2014

Z. Barany

Out of the way but great place

This is a top-quality resort but if you would like to go into Kathmandu or its suburbs be prepared for 30+ minute cab rides (or more expensive rides arranged by the hotel). Everything is so far that you are basically compelled to have breakfast and dinner at the GFR because getting out and back to it is such a production. Other than that, the only complaint I have that both of the nature walks I arranged were led by guides whose English was extremely difficult to understand (and I am very sympathetic the linguistic hardship).

10/10

Exceptional

14 Nov 2013

Robert & Val Platt

Great resort to relax

Extremely friendly and helpful staff, particularly Lesta, guest relations. Great place to relax and enjoy the yoga and spa after trekking to Everest.

10/10

Exceptional

06 Nov 2013

M Bloom

A welcomed escape from Kathmandu!

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the resort. The fact that it is about an hour taxi ride from Thamel (about 10 USD one way) is both its charm -- quiet, peaceful luxury without being over the top -- and its one drawback. The distance is not far from Thamel but the roads and the traffic make the trip longer than would seem necessary. After trekking to Everest base camp for two weeks. the resort was the perfect antidote!

8/10

Excellent

17 May 2013

Ravi

Kathmandu and Gokarn 2013

I would certainly recommend this hotel to prospective visitors. The rooms are clean, the staff extremely courteous and the location is tranquil and sylvan. The only, not so positive point, was that the food served in the restaurants could be better.

Family