Himalaya Viewpoints: Kathmandu, Nagarkot & Pokhara on a Backpacker Budget
6 days · Nepal
Peregrine Treks and Expedition charges £2,200
No-markup version: ~£470 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the 6-day 'Himalaya Viewpoint Luxury Tour' from TourRadar operator Peregrine Treks and Expedition. Same spine — Nagarkot sunrise over the Himalaya, Bhaktapur's Durbar Square, Pokhara and Sarangkot, plus the Everest scenic flight and Kathmandu's UNESCO sites — but booked directly with guesthouses, local buses, and self-booked flights. Expect roughly a fifth of the group-tour price while keeping the big-ticket experiences (mountain flight, domestic flights, viewpoint sunrises). Costs are approximate backpacker/mid-range estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Kathmandu → local bus or taxi up to Nagarkot
Kathmandu / Nagarkot
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport, pick up a Nepali SIM at the terminal (Ncell or NTC, ~£3-5 for data), and take a prepaid airport taxi to the Ratna Park / Bhaktapur bus stand (~£2-3, or ~£8-10 direct to Nagarkot). Local buses from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot run hourly-ish along a dramatic ridge road (~60-90 min, under £1); a shared jeep is ~£3-4. Check into a ridge-side guesthouse in Nagarkot with a balcony facing the eastern Himalaya — book on Booking.com or Hostelworld two days ahead in season. Sunset from Nagarkot Tower viewpoint is free. Eat dal bhat at your guesthouse (~£3-4).
🚌Airport prepaid taxi ~£2-3 to Bhaktapur bus stand; local bus Bhaktapur–Nagarkot ~£0.80; or shared jeep ~£3.50
🛏Nagarkot ridge guesthouse, twin/double with mountain-view balcony (~£12-16/night)
- →Airport arrival and SIM card setup
- →Sunset at Nagarkot Tower viewpoint
- →Ridge walk through Nagarkot village
Nagarkot sunrise, then Bhaktapur Durbar Square and back to Kathmandu
Nagarkot / Bhaktapur / Kathmandu
Set an alarm for ~5:15am — from the ridge you can see a 200km sweep of the Himalaya including Langtang Lirung and, on clear days, Everest as a distant peak. Most guesthouses serve chai and breakfast on the roof terrace. Walk down to the bus stop and take the local bus to Bhaktapur (~45-60 min, ~£0.80). Entry to Bhaktapur Durbar Square is NPR 1,800 (~£11) for foreigners — buy at the gate, keep the ticket. Spend 3-4 hours on the squares, Nyatapola Temple, Pottery Square and the peacock window; try juju dhau (king curd, ~£1). Continue by local bus or shared taxi to Kathmandu (~£0.80-2). Base yourself in Thamel or Patan for the next nights.
🚌Local bus Nagarkot–Bhaktapur ~£0.80; local bus Bhaktapur–Kathmandu ~£0.80 (or shared taxi ~£2)
🛏Thamel or Patan guesthouse / budget hotel, private room (~£15-20/night)
- →Nagarkot Himalayan sunrise from the ridge
- →Bhaktapur Durbar Square (NPR 1,800 entry)
- →Nyatapola Temple and Pottery Square
- →Evening wander in Thamel
Fly or bus Kathmandu → Pokhara, then Sarangkot
Kathmandu / Pokhara / Sarangkot
Two options. Fast: Buddha Air / Yeti Airlines Kathmandu–Pokhara, ~25 min, ~£65-85 booked direct or via Klook/OTA — the left-hand side seats give Himalayan views on a clear morning. Cheap: a tourist bus from Kantipath/Sorakhkhabu at 7am, ~7-8 hours on the Prithvi Highway, ~£7-9 (book through your guesthouse). Local buses are cheaper still (~£4) but slower and more crowded. On arrival, take a local bus or shared jeep up to Sarangkot (~45 min, ~£1-2) or stay in Lakeside and go up next morning. Sunset from Sarangkot viewpoint over the Annapurna range and Phewa Lake; entry to the viewpoint area is small (~£1-2). Dinner in Lakeside (~£4-6).
🚌Domestic flight KTM–PKR ~£70 (booked direct) OR tourist bus ~£8; local bus/jeep Pokhara–Sarangkot ~£1.50
🛏Sarangkot guesthouse with Annapurna view (~£15-18) or Lakeside Pokhara hostel/guesthouse (~£8-12)
- →Kathmandu–Pokhara domestic flight (or scenic highway bus)
- →Sarangkot sunset over Annapurna and Phewa Lake
- →Lakeside Pokhara evening
Sarangkot sunrise and Pokhara at your own pace
Sarangkot / Pokhara
Sunrise from Sarangkot is the highlight — walk 20-30 min up from the road (or take a shared jeep, ~£3 return) to see Machhapuchhre and Annapurna South turn pink. Optional short ridge hike back down to Lakeside via Kaskikot (~2-3 hours, free and well marked). Afternoon free for add-ons all bookable locally or via Klook/GetYourGuide: paragliding (~£55-75), zip-lining, ultra-light flight (~£80-110), or boating on Phewa Lake (~£1.50/hour). Later take the bus or an afternoon flight back to Kathmandu (flight ~£70; tourist bus ~£8 overnight or next morning if you'd rather stay the night). Stay in Thamel again for the mountain flight.
🚌Shared jeep Sarangkot–Lakeside ~£3 return; flight PKR–KTM ~£70 OR tourist bus ~£8
🛏Thamel budget hotel / guesthouse, private room (~£15-20/night)
- →Sarangkot sunrise over the Annapurnas
- →Optional ridge hike Sarangkot to Kaskikot
- →Optional paragliding, ultra-light flight or Phewa Lake boating
- →Return to Kathmandu
Everest scenic mountain flight and Kathmandu Valley UNESCO sites
Kathmandu
Book the 1-hour Everest experience flight directly with Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines (or via Klook) — ~£130-160, morning departures only, weather dependent with free rebooking. You get a window seat guaranteed and a Himalayan map onboard. Afterwards, do the UNESCO circuit independently: Swayambhunath (monkey temple), Boudhanath Stupa (NPR 400 entry) for momos and butter lamps, and Pashupatinath (NPR 1,000) for the ghats and evening aarti. A taxi between them is £2-3 each hop, or use Pathao/InDrive rideshare (~£1.50); a full-day private car hire is ~£25 if you'd rather. Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square can be slotted in if you have energy (Patan NPR 1,000). Finish with a Thamel rooftop dinner.
🚌Taxi/rideshare between sites ~£6-8 total; or private car with driver ~£25 for the day
🛏Thamel budget hotel / guesthouse, private room (~£15-20/night)
- →1-hour Everest scenic mountain flight (~£140)
- →Swayambhunath Stupa
- →Boudhanath Stupa (NPR 400)
- →Pashupatinath Temple (NPR 1,000)
Departure from Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Breakfast, pick up any last souvenirs in Thamel (pashmina, singing bowls, tea — haggle), then take a prepaid taxi or Pathao to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£2-4, allow 45-60 min in traffic). If your flight is late, Asan Tole market and the Garden of Dreams (~£1.50) are easy final stops. Note: add your Nepal visa (15 days on arrival, USD 30 ≈ £25) and travel insurance separately.
🚌Taxi/Pathao to airport ~£3
🛏—
- →Thamel shopping
- →Optional Garden of Dreams or Asan Tole market
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Peregrine Treks and Expedition
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Peregrine Treks and Expedition | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£470 | £2,200 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,730 per person (79%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Peregrine Treks and Expedition-style trips? Check them out here.~£470
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Himalaya Viewpoints: Kathmandu, Nagarkot & Pokhara on a Backpacker Budget cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £470 per person for 6 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 Peregrine Treks and Expedition?+
Yes — Peregrine Treks and Expedition charges around £2,200 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £470 — a saving of roughly £1,730 (79%) per person.
How long is the Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.