Discover Nepal: Self-Launched Kathmandu to Chitwan Adventure
15 days · Nepal
Explore! charges £1,700
No-markup version: ~£812 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 15-day self-launched version of Explore!'s "Discover Nepal" group tour — same route from Kathmandu through Nagarkot, the Trisuli River, Gorkha, Pokhara, Bandipur and Chitwan National Park, but built for independent travellers. You'll book your own guesthouses and hostels, use tourist buses and shared jeeps instead of the private coach, and book safaris and rafting directly with local operators. This is the DIY, self-launched equivalent: same experiences, roughly half the price. Costs are approximate and based on budget-to-midrange backpacker rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport and take a prepaid taxi to the tourist hub of Thamel (around £4-5, 30 mins) — much cheaper than a hotel in Lazimpat where the tour starts. Check into a guesthouse and spend the evening wandering Thamel's bazaars, sorting a local SIM (Ncell or NTC, ~£3 for data), and eating dal bhat at a local restaurant. Organise your bus ticket for Nagarkot/Bhaktapur at a Thamel travel agent tonight.
🚌Airport prepaid taxi ~£4-5
🛏Guesthouse in Thamel (private room, ~£14)
- →Thamel bazaar wander
- →Buy local SIM card
- →Dal bhat dinner
Kathmandu: Durbar Square, Pashupatinath & Boudhanath
Kathmandu
Do the classic Kathmandu circuit independently. Start with a walk through the bazaar to Kathmandu Durbar Square (entry ~£6), then take a local taxi or ride-hailing app (Pathao is the local Uber) to Pashupatinath temple (entry ~£6) and on to Boudhanath stupa (entry ~£3). Join a free walking tour if you want the guide experience — tip around £5-8.
🚌Local taxis / Pathao app ~£6 total
🛏Guesthouse in Thamel (private room, ~£14)
- →Kathmandu Durbar Square
- →Pashupatinath Temple
- →Boudhanath Stupa
- →Optional free walking tour (tip-based)
Kathmandu to Bhaktapur & Nagarkot
Nagarkot
Take a local bus or shared taxi to Bhaktapur (~£1-2, 45 mins) and spend the morning exploring the beautifully preserved City of the Devotees (entry ~£10 for foreigners). In the afternoon, catch a local bus from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot (~£1, 1 hour). Check into a simple guesthouse with a rooftop and settle in for sunset over the Himalaya.
🚌Local bus Kathmandu-Bhaktapur-Nagarkot ~£3
🛏Guesthouse in Nagarkot (private room, ~£15)
- →Bhaktapur Durbar Square and pottery square
- →Sunset from Nagarkot rooftop
Nagarkot sunrise & hilltop walks
Nagarkot
Wake early for the sunrise from your guesthouse roof — the same view the tour guests get from The Fort Resort. Then walk the ridge trail to Nagarkot Tower and nearby hilltops for panoramic Himalayan views (free, 3-4 hours at your own pace). In the afternoon, walk down to a local village to see rural Nepali farm life. Cheap, slow, and one of the best days of the trip.
🚌On foot
🛏Guesthouse in Nagarkot (private room, ~£15)
- →Sunrise Himalayan viewing
- →Nagarkot Tower ridge walk
- →Village walk
Nagarkot to Kurintar & Trisuli rafting
Kurintar
Bus back down to Kathmandu's ring road, then take a local bus or shared jeep west along the Prithvi Highway to Kurintar (~£4-5, 3 hours). Book a half-day Grade III Trisuli River rafting trip directly with one of the riverside operators (around £20-25 including lunch, helmet and life jacket) — the same activity the tour sells as optional. Riverside guesthouses here are cheap and quiet.
🚌Local bus to Kurintar ~£5
🛏Riverside guesthouse in Kurintar (~£13)
- →Trisuli River whitewater rafting (Grade III)
- →Riverside sunset
Gorkha Durbar day trip
Gorkha
Take a local bus to Gorkha (~£2, 1.5 hours) and hike up the stone steps to Gorkha Durbar and the hilltop palace fort (entry ~£2), with big views of the Manaslu and Annapurna ranges. Explore the old bazaar and village lanes below. Return to Kurintar or stay overnight in a simple Gorkha guesthouse if you prefer a slower pace.
🚌Local bus to Gorkha return ~£4
🛏Riverside guesthouse in Kurintar (~£13)
- →Gorkha Durbar hike and palace fort
- →Village exploration
- →Annapurna/Manaslu viewpoints
Manakamana cable car & on to Pokhara
Pokhara
Bus to Kurintar's cable car base station and ride up to Manakamana Temple (~£7 return for foreigners) — a highlight of the tour that's easy to do solo. Continue west by tourist bus from Kurintar/Abu Khaireni to Pokhara (~£5-6, 3 hours). Check into a lakeside guesthouse in Lakeside and walk the shore of Phewa Tal at dusk.
🚌Cable car ~£7 + tourist bus to Pokhara ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Pokhara Lakeside (~£14)
- →Manakamana cable car and temple
- →Phewa Tal lakeside evening walk
Pokhara: World Peace Pagoda & Phewa Tal
Pokhara
Walk (or take a boat across the lake then hike up) through Gurung and Chettri settlements to the World Peace Pagoda — free and a lovely half-day. Row a boat on Phewa Tal (~£3/hour) and stay for the evening Aarti ceremony on the lakefront. Optional paragliding from Sarangkot can be booked locally for around £60-70 if you want the adventure add-on.
🚌On foot; optional boat hire ~£3
🛏Guesthouse in Pokhara Lakeside (~£14)
- →Hike to World Peace Pagoda
- →Boat on Phewa Tal
- →Evening Aarti ceremony
- →Optional paragliding
Pokhara: Mountain Museum & Tibetan settlement
Pokhara
Hire a scooter (~£8/day) or take local taxis to the International Mountain Museum (~£3 entry) and on to Tashiling Tibetan refugee settlement to see carpet-weaving and visit the monastery (free/donation). Finish with sunset at Sarangkot viewpoint or a lazy afternoon in Lakeside's cafés.
🚌Scooter hire or local taxis ~£8
🛏Guesthouse in Pokhara Lakeside (~£14)
- →International Mountain Museum
- →Tashiling Tibetan settlement and carpet weaving
- →Buddhist monastery visit
- →Optional Sarangkot sunset
Pokhara to Bandipur
Bandipur
Take a local bus from Pokhara to Bandipur (~£2, 2.5 hours), climbing to this beautifully preserved Newari hilltop town. Check into a heritage guesthouse and take a self-guided walking tour of the car-free bazaar, temples and viewpoint terraces. Sunset from the ridge above town is superb.
🚌Local bus Pokhara-Bandipur ~£2
🛏Heritage guesthouse in Bandipur (~£15)
- →Self-guided Bandipur bazaar walk
- →Newari temples and culture
- →Ridge-top sunset
Bandipur to Chitwan National Park
Sauraha, Chitwan
Bus down to Dumre then a local connection to Sauraha, the gateway village for Chitwan National Park (~£4, 3 hours). Book your safari package directly with a Sauraha operator or guesthouse — a 2-night package with jeep safari, canoe trip, jungle walk and full board typically runs £85-100 including park fees. Spend the afternoon birdwatching along the Rapti River.
🚌Local bus to Sauraha ~£4
🛏Safari lodge/guesthouse in Sauraha (~£16, included in package)
- →Rapti River birdwatching
- →Book 2-night Chitwan safari package
Chitwan National Park safari day
Sauraha, Chitwan
A full safari day: early morning dugout canoe trip on the Rapti River (crocodiles and birdlife), a guided jungle walk on foot with a park guide, and an afternoon jeep safari deep into the park looking for rhino, sloth bear, deer and — if you're lucky — tiger. All included in your package. Evening Tharu cultural dance show is free or a couple of pounds.
🚌Jeep safari and canoe included in package
🛏Safari lodge/guesthouse in Sauraha (~£16, in package)
- →Dugout canoe on Rapti River
- →Guided jungle walk
- →Afternoon jeep safari
- →Tharu cultural dance show
Sauraha to Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Take a tourist bus from Sauraha to Kathmandu (~£8-10, 6-7 hours) or fly from Bharatpur if you'd rather save the day (flights ~£60-70). Arrive in Thamel, check into a guesthouse and decompress with a rooftop dinner.
🚌Tourist bus Sauraha-Kathmandu ~£9
🛏Guesthouse in Thamel (~£14)
- →Rooftop dinner in Thamel
Kathmandu: Swayambhunath & Patan
Kathmandu
Climb the 365 steps to Swayambhunath monkey temple (~£3 entry) in the morning, then take a local bus or taxi to Patan (~£1.50) and explore the stunning Newari architecture of Patan Durbar Square and the Patan Museum (~£6 entry). Last-minute souvenir shopping in Thamel in the evening.
🚌Local bus/taxi to Patan ~£3
🛏Guesthouse in Thamel (~£14)
- →Swayambhunath Stupa
- →Patan Durbar Square and Museum
- →Thamel shopping
Depart Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Breakfast, pack, and take a prepaid taxi to the airport for your flight home. If you have a late flight, squeeze in one more Thamel café and a final momo lunch.
🚌Taxi to airport ~£4-5
🛏None (departure day)
- →Final momos in Thamel
Self-launched vs. Explore!
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Explore! | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£812 | £1,700 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £888 per person (52%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Explore!-style trips? Check them out here.~£812
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Discover Nepal: Self-Launched Kathmandu to Chitwan Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £812 per person for 15 days in Nepal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Explore!?+
Yes — Explore! charges around £1,700 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £812 — a saving of roughly £888 (52%) per person.
How long is the Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Nepal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Nepal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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