Self-Launched Discover Nepal: Kathmandu, Pokhara & Chitwan

Fly into Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Pre-arrange a taxi from the airport to your guesthouse in Thamel for around £5–8 (agree the price beforehand or use a prepaid airport taxi booth). Check into your Thamel guesthouse, get your bearings on the lively backpacker strip, and head out for a welcome meal of dal bhat at a local restaurant. Thamel is packed with excellent budget eateries — try OR2K or Yangling for a first-night introduction to Nepali and Tibetan flavours.

🚌Prepaid airport taxi to Thamel (~£5–8)

🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel in Thamel, e.g. Alobar1000 or Hotel Potala — approximately £10–15/night

• →Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport
• →Check into Thamel guesthouse
• →Evening stroll through Thamel
• →Welcome dinner of Nepali dal bhat at a local restaurant (~£3–5)

Spend the day exploring Kathmandu's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Start the morning at Boudhanath Stupa (entry ~£2), the holiest Tibetan Buddhist shrine outside Tibet — arrive early to watch pilgrims doing kora (circumambulation). Grab breakfast at one of the rooftop cafés overlooking the stupa. In the afternoon, take a local micro-bus or taxi (~£2–3 each way) to Bhaktapur, Nepal's best-preserved medieval city. Wander its wood-carved temples, pagodas, and Durbar Square (entry ~£12 for foreigners). Return to Thamel in the evening.

🚌Local micro-bus or taxi to Bhaktapur (~£2–3 each way)

🛏Thamel guesthouse (same as Day 1)

• →Boudhanath Stupa visit (~£2 entry)
• →Breakfast at a rooftop café near the stupa
• →Bhaktapur Durbar Square & temples (~£12 entry)
• →Explore Bhaktapur's pottery square and narrow lanes
• →Dinner back in Thamel

Start early with a visit to Swayambhunath (the 'Monkey Temple'), one of the oldest and most sacred Buddhist sites in Nepal (entry ~£2). The hilltop views over Kathmandu are superb. Hire a local taxi for a half-day to Pharping (~£15–20 for the taxi), a peaceful pilgrimage village southwest of Kathmandu. In the afternoon, check into a Buddhist monastery guesthouse — Pharping has several options including the Asura Cave retreat area. Opt in for evening chanting prayers with resident monks (usually free or a small donation). Dinner is simple vegetarian fare at the guesthouse.

🚌Taxi Kathmandu to Pharping (~£15–20 return, or hire for the day)

🛏Buddhist monastery guesthouse in Pharping — approximately £8–15/night including simple meals

• →Swayambhunath Temple visit (~£2 entry)
• →Drive to Pharping village
• →Visit Asura Cave & Vajrayogini Temple (free)
• →Check in to monastery guesthouse
• →Attend evening monk chanting ritual (donation ~£1–2)
• →Vegetarian dinner at guesthouse

Return to Kathmandu in the morning, then make your way to Pokhara. You have two options: fly (Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines, ~£55–70, book direct online — 25 mins) or take the tourist bus from the Greenline or Thamel bus park (~£8–12, 6–7 hours of scenic mountain road). The tourist bus is the classic budget traveller choice and the views are memorable. Arrive in Pokhara, check into a lakeside guesthouse on Phewa Lake, and enjoy a relaxed evening walk along the peaceful lakefront. Dinner at one of the lakeside restaurants.

🚌Tourist bus Kathmandu to Pokhara (~£8–12) or domestic flight (~£60)

🛏Lakeside guesthouse, e.g. Hotel Middle Path or Temple Tree area — approximately £12–18/night

• →Morning return from Pharping to Kathmandu
• →Travel to Pokhara by tourist bus (~£8–12) or domestic flight (~£60)
• →Check into Lakeside guesthouse
• →Evening lakeside stroll in Pokhara

Spend the morning out on Phewa Lake — hire a rowing boat for £3–5/hour and row across to the World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa) for panoramic Annapurna range views. Walk back along the forested ridge trail. In the afternoon, explore the International Mountain Museum (~£3 entry) to learn about Himalayan climbing history and Nepal's mountain culture. Book your Sarangkot sunrise hike for tomorrow morning (self-guided or via local guide — see Day 6). Enjoy a leisurely lakeside dinner watching the Himalayan reflection on Phewa at sunset.

🚌Walking and rowboat

🛏Lakeside guesthouse (same as Day 4)

• →Rowboat hire on Phewa Lake (~£3–5/hr)
• →Hike to World Peace Pagoda (free)
• →International Mountain Museum (~£3 entry)
• →Sunset dinner lakeside with Annapurna views

Rise at 4:30am and take a taxi up to Sarangkot viewpoint (~£5–7 one way, or hike up in ~1.5 hrs). Watch a spectacular sunrise over Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, and Machhapuchhre (Fishtail). The highest point is ~1,600m. Head back down for breakfast. In the morning, visit the Tashiling Tibetan Refugee Settlement, established in 1964. Walk through the camp's carpet-weaving workshops and monastery (free entry, donations welcomed). Have a traditional lunch at the settlement's restaurant — this directly supports the community. Afternoon free to explore Pokhara's old bazaar.

🚌Taxi to/from Sarangkot (~£10 return)

🛏Lakeside guesthouse (same as Days 4–5)

• →Pre-dawn taxi to Sarangkot (~£5–7)
• →Sunrise viewpoint over Annapurna Himalaya (free)
• →Visit Tashiling Tibetan Refugee Settlement (free)
• →Traditional lunch at the settlement restaurant (~£3–5)
• →Explore Pokhara old bazaar

Take the morning tourist bus from Pokhara to Sauraha, the gateway village for Chitwan National Park (~£8–10, approx. 4–5 hours). Book through your guesthouse or a Thamel agency in advance. Check into a jungle guesthouse or ecolodge on the park boundary. In the afternoon, visit the Elephant Breeding Centre (free or small donation) and take a short walk through Sauraha village. Brief orientation from your lodge about tomorrow's jungle activities. Dinner at your lodge.

🚌Tourist bus Pokhara to Sauraha (~£8–10)

🛏Jungle guesthouse or ecolodge in Sauraha, e.g. Travellers Jungle Camp or Chitwan Jungle Lodge — approximately £15–25/night

• →Tourist bus Pokhara to Sauraha (~£8–10, 4–5 hrs)
• →Check into jungle guesthouse/ecolodge
• →Visit Elephant Breeding Centre (free–£2)
• →Evening orientation walk through Sauraha village

Full day of wildlife activities in Chitwan, Nepal's oldest national reserve. Book a guided jungle walk (~£10–15) and canoe ride on the Rapti River (~£5) through your lodge — these are the best ways to spot one-horned rhinos, gharial crocodiles, deer, and birdlife. The park is also home to tigers and elephants, though sightings require luck. Alternatively, book a jeep safari (~£20–25/person) for deeper park access and better wildlife chances. Avoid elephant-back rides in line with ethical wildlife tourism principles — walking and jeep safaris are the responsible alternatives.

🚌Walking, canoe, optional jeep within the park

🛏Jungle guesthouse/ecolodge in Sauraha (same as Day 7)

• →Guided jungle walk in Chitwan (~£10–15 per person)
• →Canoe ride on Rapti River (~£5)
• →Optional: Jeep safari into the park (~£20–25)
• →Bird watching (over 600 species recorded)
• →Cultural Tharu village walk in the evening (free or small fee)

After an early breakfast and a final morning bird walk along the river, take the tourist bus back to Kathmandu (~£8–10, 4–5 hours) or fly from Bharatpur Airport (~£50–60, 25 mins — book via Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines). Arrive back in Kathmandu by early afternoon. Spend the evening in Thamel for last-minute souvenir shopping (pashminas, thangka paintings, trekking gear), and enjoy a final dinner at a rooftop restaurant. Try Krishnarpan at Dwarika's if you want a splurge, or head to OR2K for excellent vegetarian fare.

🚌Tourist bus Sauraha to Kathmandu (~£8–10) or domestic flight from Bharatpur (~£55)

🛏Thamel guesthouse, Kathmandu — approximately £10–15/night

• →Morning bird walk along the Rapti River
• →Tourist bus or flight back to Kathmandu
• →Thamel shopping for souvenirs and crafts
• →Final dinner at a rooftop Thamel restaurant

Check out and take a taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£5–8). Allow at least 3 hours before international departure. If your flight is late afternoon or evening, store your luggage at your guesthouse and spend the morning on any final sightseeing — Pashupatinath Temple (Hindu holy site on the Bagmati River, £2 entry for non-Hindus to the outer area) or a final spin around Boudhanath Stupa are great options. Depart Nepal with incredible memories.

🚌Taxi to airport (~£5–8)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Optional: Final morning visit to Pashupatinath Temple
• →Optional: Final Boudhanath Stupa walk
• →Taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£5–8)
• →Depart Kathmandu