Self-Launched Best of Nepal: Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara & Poon Hill Trek (12 Days)
12 days · Nepal
Luxury Holidays Nepal Pvt. Ltd charges £865
No-markup version: ~£524 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 12-day Nepal circuit: Kathmandu's UNESCO heritage sites, white-water rafting on the Trishuli, a jungle safari in Chitwan National Park, lakeside Pokhara, and the iconic Ghorepani–Poon Hill–Ghandruk trek. Everything the guided version does, but booked independently using local buses, tourist coaches, teahouses, and self-bookable activities — roughly a third of the operator's price.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Grab a pre-paid taxi (~NPR 700-1,000 / £5-7) to your hotel in Thamel. Pick up a Nepali SIM (Ncell or NTC, ~£2-3 with data) and sort any cash at an ATM — bring some USD/NPR cash as ATMs can be unreliable. Wander Thamel's lanes in the evening and grab your first dal bhat (~£2-3).
🚌Pre-paid airport taxi (~£5-7)
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Thamel (dorm £6-10, private £15-25)
- →Airport pickup by local taxi
- →Buy local SIM card
- →Evening wander around Thamel
Kathmandu UNESCO Heritage Day
Kathmandu
Self-guided heritage walk covering the four classic sites. Start at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) for city views, then Kathmandu Durbar Square, then take a local bus or taxi out to Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa. Entry tickets: Swayambhunath ~NPR 200, Durbar Square ~NPR 1,000, Pashupatinath ~NPR 1,000, Boudhanath ~NPR 400. A local guide can be hired on-site for ~£10-15 if you want extra context.
🚌Local bus / shared taxi between sites (~£3-5)
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Thamel
- →Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)
- →Kathmandu Durbar Square
- →Pashupatinath Temple
- →Boudhanath Stupa
Rafting on the Trishuli River
Charaudi
Book a shared rafting day trip out of Kathmandu or travel by tourist bus toward Charaudi and arrange rafting on arrival. The Trishuli offers fun Grade II-III rapids — perfect for beginners. Most operators include lunch by the river. Overnight in a riverside lodge or continue to a nearby guesthouse.
🚌Local bus Kathmandu to Charaudi (~£3-5, 3-4 hrs)
🛏Riverside lodge / budget guesthouse near Charaudi (£10-18)
- →White-water rafting on the Trishuli River (Grade II-III)
- →Riverside lunch
Charaudi to Chitwan National Park
Chitwan (Sauraha)
Continue by local bus or shared jeep to Sauraha, the gateway town to Chitwan National Park. Check into a budget jungle lodge. In the evening, watch a traditional Tharu stick dance performance (often free or a few hundred rupees at lodges).
🚌Local bus / shared jeep Charaudi to Sauraha (~£4-6, 3-4 hrs)
🛏Jungle lodge in Sauraha (£12-20, many include meals in packages)
- →Travel to Sauraha
- →Traditional Tharu dance cultural programme
Chitwan Jungle Safari Day
Chitwan National Park
Full day inside Chitwan. Most lodges sell a combined package (jeep safari, canoe ride, jungle walk, bird watching, elephant breeding centre) for around £35-50 including meals. Book direct with your lodge on arrival — this is always cheaper than a tour operator markup. Look out for rhinos, deer, crocodiles, and if lucky, a tiger.
🚌On foot / lodge vehicle (included in package)
🛏Jungle lodge in Sauraha
- →Jeep safari in Chitwan National Park
- →Canoe ride on the Rapti River
- →Guided jungle walk with a naturalist
- →Bird watching
- →Visit the elephant breeding centre
Chitwan to Pokhara
Pokhara
Take a tourist bus from Sauraha to Pokhara (~6-7 hrs, ~£7-10). Check into a guesthouse near Lakeside, then relax by Phewa Lake. Options include hiring a boat, café hopping along Lakeside, or a spa session. Paragliding can be booked a day ahead if you want it.
🚌Tourist bus Sauraha to Pokhara (~£7-10)
🛏Guesthouse near Lakeside, Pokhara (£8-15 dorm, £18-28 private)
- →Tourist bus to Pokhara
- →Relax and stroll along Phewa Lake
- →Lakeside café hopping
Pokhara to Ghorepani (Trek Day 1)
Ghorepani
Take a shared jeep or local bus from Pokhara to Nayapul (~1.5 hrs, ~£3-5), then trek via Birethanti and Tikhedhunga to Ulleri, then the famous stone staircase climb up to Ghorepani. Steep but short day of ~5-6 hours. You'll need your ACAP permit and TIMS card — arrange these at the Nepal Tourism Board office in Pokhara (ACAP ~NPR 3,000 / ~£18, TIMS ~NPR 1,000 / ~£6).
🚌Shared jeep Pokhara to Nayapul (~£3-5)
🛏Teahouse in Ghorepani (£5-10, basic twin rooms)
- →Shared jeep to Nayapul
- →Trek Nayapul → Ulleri → Ghorepani (5-6 hrs)
- →Teahouse overnight
Poon Hill Sunrise & Trek to Tadapani
Ghorepani / Tadapani
Set an early alarm (around 4:30am) and hike ~1 hour up to Poon Hill (3,210m) for sunrise over Annapurna South, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and Himchuli. Poon Hill entry is ~NPR 100. Hike back down, breakfast at the teahouse, then trek through rhododendron forests to Tadapani (~5-6 hrs).
🚌On foot (full trekking day)
🛏Teahouse in Tadapani (£5-10)
- →Sunrise hike to Poon Hill
- →Views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges
- →Trek Ghorepani → Tadapani through rhododendron forest
Tadapani to Ghandruk to Pokhara
Ghandruk / Pokhara
Descend through forest and villages to Ghandruk, one of Nepal's prettiest Gurung villages with grandstand views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. Explore Ghandruk's museum and stone-paved streets, then take a shared jeep from Ghandruk down to Pokhara (~2 hrs, ~£5-8). Back to a Lakeside guesthouse for a hot shower.
🚌Shared jeep Ghandruk to Pokhara (~£5-8)
🛏Guesthouse near Lakeside, Pokhara
- →Trek Tadapani → Ghandruk
- →Explore Ghandruk village
- →Shared jeep Ghandruk to Pokhara
Pokhara Sightseeing
Pokhara
Self-guided Pokhara day. Hire a scooter (~£6-8/day) or take a taxi to Devi's Falls, Gupteshwor Cave, and Bindabasini Temple, then enjoy a boat ride on Phewa Lake (~£2-3 for a rowboat, £5 with a boatman). Optional: paragliding from Sarangkot (~£55-75 if booked via GetYourGuide/Klook). Evening café-hopping or a spa session on Lakeside.
🚌Scooter rental or local taxi (~£6-10)
🛏Guesthouse near Lakeside, Pokhara
- →Devi's Falls
- →Gupteshwor Cave
- →Bindabasini Temple
- →Boat ride on Phewa Lake
- →Optional: paragliding from Sarangkot
Fly Pokhara to Kathmandu + Farewell Dinner
Kathmandu
Take a domestic flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu (Buddha Air / Yeti Airlines, ~25 min, ~£60-80 booked directly). Alternatively a tourist bus costs ~£7-10 but takes 6-8 hrs. Spend the afternoon on last-minute shopping in Thamel (pashminas, tea, trekking gear), then have a farewell dinner at a Nepali cultural restaurant like Nepali Chulo or Thamel House (~£10-15 with dance show).
🚌Domestic flight (~£60-80) or tourist bus (~£7-10)
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Thamel
- →Domestic flight Pokhara → Kathmandu
- →Last-minute shopping in Thamel
- →Farewell dinner with cultural performance
Departure from Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Breakfast at the guesthouse, then a pre-booked taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport for your departure. Allow 3 hours before an international flight. Visa note: Nepal visa on arrival for most nationalities is USD 30 for 15 days / USD 50 for 30 days.
🚌Taxi to airport (~£5-7)
🛏N/A — departing
- →Airport transfer
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. Luxury Holidays Nepal Pvt. Ltd
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Luxury Holidays Nepal Pvt. Ltd | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£524 | £865 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £341 per person (39%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Luxury Holidays Nepal Pvt. Ltd-style trips? Check them out here.~£524
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Best of Nepal: Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara & Poon Hill Trek (12 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £524 per person for 12 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 Luxury Holidays Nepal Pvt. Ltd?+
Yes — Luxury Holidays Nepal Pvt. Ltd charges around £865 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £524 — a saving of roughly £341 (39%) per person.
How long is the Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 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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