Explore Nepal Self-Launched: Kathmandu, Chitwan & Pokhara in 11 Days

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport. Take a prepaid taxi or local cab to Thamel (~£3-5). Check into a Thamel guesthouse and get orientated in Nepal's buzzing backpacker hub. In the evening, head to a local Nepali restaurant in Thamel for a traditional dal bhat dinner — many restaurants offer cultural dance shows for free or a small cover charge (~£5-8 per person). Try Bhojan Griha or similar heritage restaurants for an authentic welcome dinner with traditional dances.

🚌Prepaid airport taxi to Thamel (~£4)

🛏Thamel Eco Resort, Hotel Encounter Nepal, or similar budget guesthouse in Thamel (~£10-15/night)

• →Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, take a prepaid taxi to Thamel (~£4)
• →Check into a Thamel guesthouse or hostel
• →Welcome dinner at a traditional Nepali restaurant with cultural dance show (~£6-8)

Take a local bus or shared taxi from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur (~45 mins, £0.50-1 by public bus or ~£3 shared taxi). Spend the morning exploring Bhaktapur Durbar Square independently — entrance fee applies (~£10 for foreigners). Wander through Lion Gate, Bhairavnath Temple, Dattatreya Square, the Golden Gate, Batsala Temple, Nyatapola Temple, Potter's Square, and the 55 Window Palace. In the afternoon, take a local bus or shared jeep to Nagarkot (~1 hr, £1-2) for mountain views at sunset. Overnight in Nagarkot.

🚌Local bus Kathmandu–Bhaktapur (~£0.50-1); shared jeep Bhaktapur–Nagarkot (~£1-2)

🛏Club Himalaya Nagarkot or budget guesthouse in Nagarkot (~£12-18/night)

• →Local bus or shared taxi from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur (~£1-3)
• →Self-guided walking tour of Bhaktapur Durbar Square (entrance ~£10)
• →Visit Lion Gate, Bhairavnath Temple, Dattatreya Square, Golden Gate, Batsala Temple, Nyatapola Temple, Potter's Square, 55 Window Palace
• →Shared jeep or local bus to Nagarkot (~£1-2)
• →Sunset views over the Himalayas from Nagarkot

Rise early to catch the sunrise over the Himalayas from the hotel or nearby view tower — on clear days you can see Everest and the Annapurna range. After breakfast, take a shared bus or arrange a shared jeep down to the Trishuli River for a thrilling 3-hour white-water rafting session on Class 3-4 rapids. Several local rafting operators run day trips from the roadside (~£15-25 per person all-in, including equipment). You can book directly with operators at the river or via GetYourGuide. After rafting, relax on the river beach. Overnight at a riverside camp or guesthouse.

🚌Shared bus or jeep from Nagarkot to Trishuli River (~£3-5)

🛏Riverside camp or basic guesthouse near Trishuli (~£8-12/night)

• →Sunrise viewing from Nagarkot hotel or view tower (free)
• →Shared bus/jeep from Nagarkot down towards Trishuli River (~£3-5)
• →3-hour white-water rafting on Trishuli River, Class 3-4 rapids (~£15-25, book via GetYourGuide or direct with local operator)
• →Optional: swimming and games at the river beach

Take the tourist bus from near Trishuli/Mugling junction to Sauraha (Chitwan's main gateway) — approximately 4-5 hours total (~£5-8 by tourist bus, bookable at Thamel travel agents or online). Arrive mid-afternoon, check into a jungle guesthouse. In the evening, enjoy a Tharu cultural dance and stick dance show at a local cultural programme (~£3-5). Take a short village walk around Sauraha to get a feel for the local Tharu community.

🚌Tourist bus Trishuli/Mugling to Sauraha (~£5-8)

🛏Jungle guesthouse in Sauraha (e.g. Chitwan Jungle Lodge or similar, ~£12-18/night including meals)

• →Tourist bus from Trishuli/Mugling area to Sauraha, Chitwan (~£5-8, ~4-5 hrs)
• →Check into jungle guesthouse in Sauraha
• →Village walk around Sauraha
• →Tharu cultural dance show (~£3-5)

Full safari day in Chitwan! Start with an early morning canoe ride along the Rapti River past the Elephant Breeding Centre (~£5-8, bookable directly in Sauraha). Then join a shared 4WD Jeep Safari into Chitwan National Park to spot one-horned rhinos, gharial crocodiles, deer, and if you're lucky, Bengal tigers and wild elephants (~£25-35 for a half-day jeep safari, book via Klook or directly in Sauraha). In the afternoon, attend a free or low-cost slides/talk presentation about the park's flora and fauna. All meals typically included with jungle lodge packages.

🚌Local jeep and canoe within Chitwan (included in safari costs)

🛏Jungle guesthouse in Sauraha (~£12-18/night including meals)

• →Morning canoe ride along the Rapti River past Elephant Breeding Centre (~£5-8)
• →4WD Jeep Safari in Chitwan National Park (~£25-35, book via Klook or direct in Sauraha)
• →National Park entrance fee (~£10-15)
• →Flora and fauna presentation at local visitor centre (free or ~£1)

Wake up early for bird watching in the jungle around Sauraha — Chitwan is home to over 540 species including the Bengal florican and giant hornbill (guided birdwatching ~£5-10 or self-guided with binoculars). After breakfast, board the tourist bus to Pokhara (~5-6 hours, £6-10, bookable via your guesthouse). Arrive in Pokhara in the afternoon. Check into Lakeside accommodation and stroll along Phewa Lake's Lakeside strip for dinner and the evening atmosphere. Visit Davis's Fall en route or on arrival (~£1 entrance).

🚌Tourist bus Sauraha to Pokhara (~£6-10)

🛏Lakeside guesthouse or hostel in Pokhara (e.g. Zostel Pokhara or similar, ~£10-15/night)

• →Early morning bird watching in Chitwan jungle (~£5-10 with local guide or free self-guided)
• →Tourist bus from Sauraha to Pokhara (~£6-10, ~5-6 hrs)
• →Visit to Davis's Fall, Pokhara (entrance ~£1)
• →Evening lakeside walk along Phewa Lake

Take a local taxi or shared vehicle from Pokhara to the trailhead at Phedi (~£3-5). Begin the trek up to Dhampus village, a moderately challenging but highly rewarding 3-4 hour hike through rhododendron forests with stunning views of the Annapurna massif and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain). No guide is strictly required for this well-marked trail, but a local guide can be hired in Pokhara for ~£20-25/day if preferred. Overnight in a teahouse in Dhampus with dinner and breakfast included in teahouse rates. Spectacular sunset mountain views from the village.

🚌Local taxi Pokhara to Phedi (~£3-5)

🛏Teahouse in Dhampus (~£5-8/night, dinner and breakfast typically included in package ~£10-15 total)

• →Local taxi from Pokhara to Phedi trailhead (~£3-5)
• →Self-launched trek from Phedi to Dhampus (~3-4 hrs, well-marked trail)
• →Optional: hire a local guide in Pokhara (~£20-25/day)
• →Annapurna Conservation Area permit (~£20, required for trekking)

Rise before dawn and trek from Dhampus area up to Sarangkot (or arrange a taxi to Sarangkot viewpoint from Pokhara if starting fresh, ~£5). Watch the spectacular sunrise over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges — one of the most iconic views in Nepal (free, just get there by 5:30-6am). Then trek or take the trail down from Sarangkot into Pokhara (~2-3 hrs descent). Spend the afternoon at Phewa Lake — rent a rowing boat (~£3-5/hr) or join a shared boat to Tal Barahi Temple on the island (~£1). Optional: paragliding from Sarangkot is the most popular activity in Pokhara (~£60-80, bookable via Klook or GetYourGuide).

🚌Trek Dhampus–Sarangkot–Pokhara (on foot); local taxi if needed (~£3-5)

🛏Lakeside guesthouse in Pokhara (~£10-15/night)

• →Pre-dawn hike to Sarangkot viewpoint for sunrise over the Annapurna range (free)
• →Trek from Sarangkot down to Pokhara (~2-3 hrs)
• →Visit to Phewa Lake (Tal) — free to walk along the lakeside
• →Rowboat rental on Phewa Lake (~£3-5/hr)
• →Optional: paragliding from Sarangkot (~£60-80, book via Klook or GetYourGuide)

Take the tourist bus or public bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu (~7-8 hours, £6-10 tourist bus or £3-4 local bus — book tourist bus at Lakeside travel agents the night before). Alternatively, fly (~25 mins, ~£60-90 one-way, check Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines). On arrival in Kathmandu, drop bags at a Thamel guesthouse and make your way to Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) for sunset — a short taxi ride (~£3) or 20-minute walk from Thamel. Entrance fee ~£3. Explore the stupa, shrines, and resident monkeys with panoramic views over the Kathmandu Valley.

🚌Tourist bus Pokhara–Kathmandu (~£6-10) or domestic flight (~£60-90); local taxi to Swayambhunath (~£2-3)

🛏Thamel guesthouse or hostel (~£10-15/night)

• →Tourist bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu (~£6-10, ~7-8 hrs) OR domestic flight (~£60-90 on Buddha Air/Yeti Airlines)
• →Visit to Swayambhunath Buddhist stupa (entrance ~£3)
• →Sunset views over the Kathmandu Valley from Swayambhunath

Spend the day exploring two of Kathmandu's most sacred sites. Start at Pashupatinath Temple, the most important Hindu temple in Nepal, set along the Bagmati River (~£8 entrance for foreigners). Witness morning aarti rituals and the sacred ghats — a deeply moving, culturally rich experience. Then walk or take a short taxi (~£2) to Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (~£3 entrance). Circumambulate the stupa, visit the many monastery shops, and enjoy lunch at one of the rooftop cafes with stupa views. In the afternoon, explore Thamel for shopping, souvenirs, or simply relax at a rooftop café.

🚌Local taxi between sites (~£2-3 each); walking within Thamel

🛏Thamel guesthouse (~£10-15/night)

• →Visit to Pashupatinath Temple (entrance ~£8), including Bagmati River ghats and morning aarti
• →Visit to Boudhanath Stupa, UNESCO World Heritage Site (entrance ~£3)
• →Lunch at rooftop café near Boudhanath (~£4-6)
• →Optional: shopping for souvenirs and trekking gear in Thamel
• →Optional: spa or massage in Thamel (~£10-15)

Enjoy a final breakfast in Thamel. Depending on your flight time, use the morning for any last-minute shopping for pashminas, Thangka paintings, or trekking gear in Thamel's many markets. Consider a final coffee at a rooftop café with Himalayan views. Take a taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£4-6) — allow at least 3 hours before your international flight. Nepal does not disappoint on the way out — the flight path over the Himalayas is spectacular on clear days.

🚌Taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£4-6)

🛏Check out of Thamel guesthouse

• →Final morning shopping in Thamel for pashminas, crafts, and souvenirs
• →Optional: rooftop café farewell breakfast
• →Taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£4-6)