10 days
Nepal in 10 days
The one-week programme with two more stops: a night in the hilltop village of Bandipur on the way to Pokhara, and two nights in Chitwan for the rhinos.
- Length: 10 days
- Pace: Moderate
- Long journeys: 3 journeys of 3 to 7 hours
- Site entry fees: ≈ 8,600 NPR (≈ €50) (56 USD (≈ €50)) + safaris
The idea
Ten days let you see the three faces of Nepal that don't require trekking: the royal cities of the Kathmandu Valley, the hills and lakes facing the Annapurnas, and the jungle of the Terai plains. You break the Kathmandu–Pokhara journey with a night in Bandipur, and head down from Pokhara to Chitwan before returning.
The pace stays reasonable: never more than two nights in a row without a day “in place”, and journeys of only 3 to 7 hours. You return from Chitwan to Kathmandu by bus or, to save time, by plane from Bharatpur.
Day by day
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu
Visa on arrival, taxi to Thamel. Depending on the time, a walk through the Asan and Indra Chowk bazaars to Durbar Square. See Kathmandu.
Night: Kathmandu (Thamel)
Day 2: Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath
Swayambhunath early in the morning, Pashupatinath late in the morning, then Boudhanath on foot (30 to 40 min) to walk round the stupa at sunset.
Night: Kathmandu
Day 4: Bhaktapur, back to Kathmandu
Bhaktapur's squares early in the morning, Pottery Square; optionally, Changu Narayan. Back to Kathmandu in the afternoon and buy your bus ticket for the next day (getting off at Dumre).
Night: Kathmandu
Day 5: Kathmandu → Bandipur
7 am tourist bus towards Pokhara, get off at Dumre (4 to 6 hours), then jeep or local bus up to the village (30 to 40 min). Wander the car-free street and watch the sunset at the Tundikhel. See Bandipur.
Night: Bandipur
Day 6: Bandipur → Pokhara
Sunrise from Thani Mai hill, breakfast, then down to Dumre and a bus or taxi to Pokhara (2 h 30 to 3 hours). Evening by Phewa Lake. See Pokhara.
Night: Pokhara (Lakeside)
Day 7: Sarangkot and Phewa Lake
Sunrise at Sarangkot, rowing boat to the Tal Barahi temple then to the south shore, climb to the World Peace Pagoda. Optionally, paragliding in the afternoon.
Night: Pokhara
Day 8: Pokhara → Chitwan
Morning tourist bus (5 to 6 hours) to Sauraha. Walk through a Tharu village and sunset over the Rapti river. See Chitwan National Park.
Night: Sauraha (Chitwan)
Day 9: Safari in Chitwan
Canoe and walk with guides in the morning, jeep safari in the afternoon. Rhinos almost guaranteed, crocodiles on the sandbanks.
Night: Sauraha
Day 10: Chitwan → Kathmandu
Morning tourist bus (6 to 7 hours), or a 25-min flight from Bharatpur (30 min from Sauraha). If your international flight leaves that evening, fly in the morning and keep several hours' margin; the safest is to leave the next day.
Variations
- Without Bandipur: direct bus Kathmandu–Pokhara, and an extra day in Pokhara for paragliding or a walk to Dhampus.
- With a short trek: replace Chitwan with Poon Hill (3 to 4 days from Pokhara), and fly back from Pokhara. Permits, guides and programme: the Poon Hill trek.
- More mountains, less road: a night in Nagarkot and Dhulikhel instead of the night back in Kathmandu on day 4.
Transport
Kathmandu → Dumre (Bandipur)
Kathmandu–Pokhara tourist bus, getting off at Dumre. Then 30 to 40 min by jeep or local bus.
Pokhara → Chitwan (Sauraha)
Morning tourist bus, from Pokhara's tourist bus station.
Bharatpur → Kathmandu
Or a 6 to 7-hour tourist bus.
Entrance fees
| Site | Entry |
|---|---|
| The six main sites of the Kathmandu Valley | 5,600 NPR (≈ €32) |
| Chitwan National Park (one day of activities) | 2,000 NPR (≈ €12) |
| Sarangkot, World Peace Pagoda, boat | ≈ 1,000 NPR (≈ €6) |
| Total, excluding safaris | ≈ 8,600 NPR (≈ €50) ≈ 56 USD (≈ €50) |
Good to know
The stops
Kathmandu ValleyKathmanduTemples, stupas and bazaars: the capital and its three great sacred sites.Time needed: 2–3 daysFrom Kathmandu: you're thereDiscover
Kathmandu ValleyPatanThe city of Newar craftsmen, its royal square and its museum, the finest in the country.Time needed: 1 dayFrom Kathmandu: 20 to 30 minDiscover
Kathmandu ValleyBhaktapurThe best-preserved royal city in the valley, almost car-free.Time needed: 1–2 daysFrom Kathmandu: 45 min to 1 h 15Discover
HillsBandipurA car-free Newar hilltop town between Kathmandu and Pokhara.Time needed: 1–2 daysFrom Kathmandu: 5 to 6 h by roadDiscover
Below the AnnapurnasPokharaPhewa Lake, the Annapurnas as a backdrop, and the gateway to the treks.Time needed: 2–4 daysFrom Kathmandu: 25 min by plane, 6 to 10 h by busDiscover
TeraiChitwan National ParkRhinos, crocodiles and sal forests, in the southern plains.Time needed: 2–3 daysFrom Kathmandu: 6 to 7 h by busDiscoverYou get your visa on arrival, at Kathmandu airport or at the border: form, fees and pitfalls to avoid on our dedicated site.
Visa Nepal →Fancy a few days of walking? Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Langtang… permits, guides, transport and day-by-day itineraries on our trekking site.
Trek Nepal →Comments
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