Best Nepal Itinerary with Options
Day 1: Arrival Kathmandu
Where to stay: Thamel or Patan(Lalitpur)Durbar Square. Both are easily accessible by taxi for less than $10 USD from airport. Thamel for those who prefer the backpacking touristy areas. Thamel is great for nighlife, shopping, and meeting other backpackers. When in Thamel, I stay at the Fairfield by Marriott due to it’s quality location and quiet atmosphere. Yog hostel is a great place for backpackers in Thamel. Patan for those who want a quiet more authentic Nepali experience. Patan Durbar square is the most beautifully preserved historical area in Nepal, in my opinion. When in Patan, I stay at Hotel Traditional Stay in Patan Square due to it’s quality accommodation, location, and great food. Usually I split my time between Patan and Thamel when in Kathmandu. I prefer to spend my first two days of trip in Patan and my last day or two at the end of my trip in Thamel- for this itinerary we will assume Patan at the beginning and Thamel at the end.
What to do: Orientation walk around Patan. Marvel at Patan historical Durbar square and all it’s temples & bazaars. Head to a rooftop overlooking Durbar square and enjoy the views. Have some Mo-Mo’s and a Barasinghe beer. Usually take it pretty easy on day 1 and fight the jet lag after a long haul flight.
Day 2: Sightseeing Kathmandu
Where to Stay: Patan Durbar Square
What to do: Assuming you are pretty jet lagged and will wake up very early… Catch a taxi to Boudanath Stupa, one of the largest stupas in the world where Tibetan Buddhists monks have their morning rituals and circumnavigate the Stupa. As long as your are respectful and pay a small donation no harm in joining the monks circling the Stupa and spinning prayer wheels. Then either walk or taxi to Pashupatinath temple, where the sacred Hindu cremations take place. Walk along the backside of the temple complex overlooking the river and hang out with locals, monkeys, and cows. It is a very spiritual place and can be quite intense with bodies burning, monkeys begging, cows moo’ing & poo’ing, and Sadhu’s asking for money. After visiting two of the most spiritual places in Asia back to back I’m sure you’ve worked up an appetite. Head to Thamel for a street food tour or a roof top terrace meal. My local guide runs a great food tour of Thamel Nepal Tour .My favorite places to eat in Thamel are Orleans cafe, Fat Monks rooftop, and Yog rooftop. Hang out and wander around Thamel for as long as you have the energy then make your way back to Patan after a long day of sightseeing to relax and sleep.
Day 3 Optional Add on: If you have more time and want to see more of the Kathmandu Valley, I recommend adding a day trip to Bhaktakpur and Nagarkot. Nagarkot is a picturesque hill station located in the Bhaktapur district of Nepal, just a short distance from Kathmandu. Situated at an altitude of approximately 2,195 meters (7,200 feet), Nagarkot offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Himalayan mountain range, including iconic peak such as Mount Everest. The nearby ancient city of Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a beautiful Durbar square. The reason this is only an add on is I believe once you spend some time wandering around Patan Durbar square Bhaktapur Durbar square might feel a little repetitive. Nagarkot offers breathtaking views, but if you follow this itinerary you will have many breathtaking views for the entirety of the trip.
Day 3: Transfer to Bandipur
Journey: The journey can take 4-8 hours depending on whether you are using public transportation or have your own driver. Navigating public transportation in Nepal can be sketchy and challenging due dangerous road conditions and old overpacked public buses. Hiring a private driver can be quite expensive. I am biased, but I recommend joining our tour of Nepal if this itinerary intrigues you. Nepal Tour. We have a private mini-bus with highly trained & experienced driver. Enjoy epic views as we drive along the Trishuli River passing villages backed by steep rice terraces and the foothills of the Himalayas.
Where to Stay: Bandipur is very small and walkable. We always stay at Bandipur Village Inn an eco-resort perched in the foothills overlooking Bandipur’s rice terraces. Bandipur can feel a little sleepy and this hotel is a great place to embrace the relaxing vibes. It offers a great atmosphere with breakfast, small bar, comfy rooms with patios, garden terraces, and epic views.
What to do: Orientation walk around Bandipur and admire the amazing views while taking in the local village life. Walk around the temple complex & shop the bazaars. Get dinner at one of the hillside restaurants overlooking the countryside.
Day 4: Wander Bandipur
Where to stay: Bandipur Village Inn.
What to do: If you wake up around sunrise, right outside of Bandipur Village Inn is a park with views of Annapurna range. The sun rises over this view and it is arguably the best sunrise in the world. After breakfast, hike up to the Great Wall of Bandipur over looking the city. You will see expansive views of rice terraces with Annapurna in the background. If you are an avid hiker consider the challenging 5-7 hour roundtrip hike to Ramkot Village- a local village that can only be reached on foot. Spend the rest of the afternoon shopping around the bazaars and wandering around the ancient village, admiring the temples, villagers, and quaint ambiance. There are many restaurants that are perched on the hill with great views. I recommend getting dinner and drinks at one of the restaurants in the main strip of Bandipur village and watching sunset with a Bersinghe beer and Mo-Mo’s. There’s not much of a nightlife and Bandipur shuts down pretty early.
Day 5-7 optional add on: If trekking isnt your thing. Replace the below trek with a couple day stop in Chitwan national park before heading to Pokhara. The park is primarily known for its population of the critically endangered Bengal tiger and one-horned rhinoceros, both of which have successfully been protected and conserved within its boundaries. Visitors have the opportunity to embark on thrilling jungle safaris. Located in the Terai lowlands it is a much different ecosystem compared to the Himalayas.
Day 5: Transfer to Pokhara then Ulleri Village.
Journey: Transfer to Pokhara should take 2-5 hours depending on public vs private transport. If you join our tour after arrival in Pokhara we will make a 30 min transfer by 4X4 jeep to Ulleri Village where we acclimatize for the night in this sherpa village and get ready to start the trek tomorrow morning. If you do this independently you will need to spend a day or two in Pokhara getting your trek, permits, guides, and sherpa’s sorted.
Where to Stay: Teahouse Ulleri Homestay. Teahouses are village homestays along trekking routes in Nepal. They are basic accommodations that offer meals and drinking water. It’s like one step above a cabin, with running water, kitchens and decent bedding to keep you warm.
What to do: Relax, acclimate, enjoy the views, and enjoy a nice dinner.
Day 6: Trek to Ghorepani
Journey: Moderate 4-6 hours of ascending reaching an altitude of 2800M.
Where to Stay: Teahouse Homestay in Ghorepani village.
What to do: Trek through beautiful Himalayas passing monasteries, temples, and villages. Relax around the homestay meeting locals and other trekkers. Enjoy a communal dinner at the homestay.
Day 7: Summit to Poon Hill then Trek to Tadapani
Journey: Challenging sunrise summit to Poon Hill. 1-2 hour steep hike reaching 3210M. Trek back down to Ghorepani. Then start the slow decent to Tadapani. 5-6 hours down to 2600M.
Where to Stay: Teahouse Homestay in Tadapani village.
What to do: Morning sunrise summit to Poon Hill for best views on Annapurna range. Back to Ghorepani homestay for breakfast. Then trek to Tadapani village. Relax around the homestay meeting locals and other trekkers. Enjoy a communal dinner at the homestay.
Day 8: Trek to Ghandruk then transfer to Pokhara.
Journey: Moderate 3-4 hour descent. Then ~2 hour transfer by jeep back to Pokhara.
Where to Stay: Pokhara has a plethora of options. I like Hotel Lake star right next to Lake Phew.
What to do: Take in the last bit of the trek through the Himalayas and then take a much needed rest in Pokhara. Go out on the town to one of the many lakeside restaurants/bars to celebrate a once in a lifetime trek.
Day 9-17 optional add on: Continue trekking all the way to Annapurna base camp. Need to have ample time, a guide, snow gear, and strong endurance. Once you get to a certain altitude consider eating only vegetarian because the meat may not be prepared to western standards in high elevation villages. The Annapurna base camp is cheaper and less trafficked compared to Everest base camp.
Day 9: Enjoy Pokhara
Where to Stay: Pokhara has a plethora of options. I like Hotel Lake star right next to Lake Phew.
What to do: Wander around Pokhara. Go up to the World Peace Pagoda and giant Lord Shiva overlooking Pokhara. Get a trekkers recovery massage. Shop around the tourist district. Paddle Lake Phew, Enjoy the vibrant restaurant/bar scene.
Day 10: Domestic flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu
Journey: Flying from Pokhara to Kathmandu is affordable and quick. Nepal airlines don’t have the best safety ratings so if you’re scared to fly you can take a long bus journey back to Kathmandu.
Where to Stay: Thamel. Plenty of options either hotel or hostel in all price ranges and comfort levels.
What to do: Visit the Swayambhu Stupa, aka the monkey temple, overlooking the city. Wander around Thamel for any last minute souvenir shopping. Enjoy a night out in Thamel for your final night.
Day 11: Depart
Day 11-13 optional add on: For those looking for a cultural immersion I highly recommend a homestay in Panauti. With its well-preserved temples, narrow streets, and serene riverside setting, Panauti offers a glimpse into the authentic charm of a traditional Nepali town. You can easily experience everything in two days, and I think any more than two or three days you might start to get a little bored. Panauti is located approximately 32 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu, and it can be reached by a short drive from the capital city. The town is situated at the confluence of two sacred rivers, the Roshi and the Punyamati, which adds to its spiritual significance and natural beauty.