Himalaya only · Saver trips from ₹7,500
Try "Spiti", "snow leopard", "Char Dham", "homestay", "Tiger's Nest"
Route · Nepal
Nepal's main tourist transfer: west out of the valley on the Prithvi Highway via Naubise and Mugling, along the Trishuli river and up to Pokhara. About 200 km, 7–8 hours by bus or car, or a 25-minute flight.
Photo: Utsab Raj Giri · CC BY-SA 4.0 · CommonsEvery way to go
| How | Time | Cost, indicative 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist bus | 7–9 h | ₹500–1,600 a seat (NPR 800–2,500) |
| Flight | 25 min (plus 2–3 h at airports) | ₹4,500–9,000 one way; fares vary by nationality |
| Private car | 6–8 h | ₹9,000–12,000 one way |
Tourist buses leave Sorhakhutte near Thamel at about 7 am and arrive at Pokhara's tourist bus park, a short taxi ride from Lakeside, in the afternoon. Cheaper buses have fixed seats and a lunch stop at a roadside restaurant; air-conditioned operators such as Greenline cost more and include a meal. Book a day ahead, more in October.
Several Nepali airlines fly Kathmandu–Pokhara through the day. Sit on the right side heading west for the Himalaya on a clear morning. Fares for foreign passports are usually higher than for Nepalis; SAARC fares sometimes apply. Weather delays are common in the monsoon and on hazy spring afternoons. Check current status before you travel.
A car with driver lets you stop at Manakamana cable car or Bandipur and travel at your own pace. It uses the same road as the buses, so it is no faster in traffic. Road widening near Naubise and Mugling has caused delays for years. Agree the price, tolls and stops before you start.
At each end
Photo: Gerd Eichmann · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
Stupas, a living goddess and the start of every trek
Photo: Utsab Raj Giri · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Commons
A lake town under the Fishtail and the Annapurnas
Questions
Usually 7–8 hours by tourist bus, sometimes 9–10 hours with roadworks or monsoon landslides. Buses leave Kathmandu around 7 am and arrive in mid-afternoon. Travel days around Dashain and Tihar are the slowest, with full buses and heavy traffic leaving the valley.
If you are short of time, yes: 25 minutes in the air against a full day on the road, with Himalayan views on clear mornings. Add airport time and the chance of weather delays. On a saver budget the tourist bus is far cheaper and the scenery along the Trishuli is good.
The left side, heading west, has more of the Trishuli river along the road. Mountain views are limited from the highway; the best Himalayan views come once you reach Pokhara or on the flight, sitting on the right.
Yes. Get off at Dumre, about 5 hours from Kathmandu, and take a local bus or jeep 8 km up to Bandipur. Spend a night or two, then continue to Pokhara, about 2–3 hours further west.
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