TravPa

Nepal

Explore Kathmandu's palace squares and great stupas, see the old royal towns of Patan and Bhaktapur, then fly to Pokhara for Phewa Lake and Annapurna sunrises.

Best timeMar to Apr, Oct to NovMoneyNepalese rupee (NPR)Plugs[plug types and voltage]Main airportKathmandu (KTM)
Approved by TravPa Editors, Nov 7, 2026
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Overview

Most first trips spend three days in the Kathmandu Valley: the old city and Swayambhunath, Bhaktapur 12 km to the east with Pashupatinath and Boudhanath on the way back, and Patan 5 km to the southeast. Flights to Pokhara take about 25 min, and tourist buses also run there by road.

The monsoon brings most of the year's rain from June to September, and Pokhara is much wetter than Kathmandu. Spring brings rhododendrons, and October and November have the clearest skies. Winters in the Kathmandu Valley are cold at night but bright by day.

When to go

BestGo with a plan
janColdfebColdmarBestaprBestmayHotjunRainyjulRainyaugRainysepRainyoctBestnovBestdecCold

Dashain, the longest Hindu festival in Nepal, falls in late September or October, when many people travel home. Tihar, the festival of lights, follows in October or November.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

[Photo: Pokhara]
Pokhara in 2 daysPhewa Lake, Tal Barahi Temple, World Peace Pagoda, Davis Falls, International Mountain Museum, Sarangkot, Bindhyabasini Temple, Begnas LakePacked pace
[Photo: Kathmandu]
Kathmandu in 3 daysKathmandu Durbar Square, Asan Bazaar, Swayambhunath, Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Patan Durbar Square, Garden of DreamsBalanced pace
[Photo: Nepal]
Nepal in 7 daysKathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Bhaktapur, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Patan, Phewa Lake, Sarangkot, Begnas LakeBalanced pace

Where to stay

KathmanduThamel for first-timers, close to Durbar Square and full of restaurants; Boudha for a quieter base by the great stupa; Patan (Lalitpur) for old courtyards and the Jhamsikhel restaurants.Best areas to stay in KathmanduHotels in Kathmandu
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PokharaLakeside (Baidam) for first-timers, by the boats and restaurants; the Old Bazaar for a traditional town feel; Sarangkot for sunrise over the mountains.Best areas to stay in PokharaHotels in Pokhara
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Getting around

  • Flights: Flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara take about 25 min, and Buddha Air alone runs more than 17 a day.
  • Tourist buses: Tourist bus services link Kathmandu with Pokhara and Chitwan by road.
  • Taxis: Taxis in the Kathmandu Valley have a taxi sign and a black plate, and no tip is expected.
  • In Kathmandu: Green Sajha buses run along the main roads of the valley and stop only at designated stops.

Before you go

Travel insuranceHealth insurance from home often doesn't cover care abroad. Check what your plan includes, then compare travel cover for your dates. Border officers may ask for insurance that covers healthcare and repatriation.
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Phone dataMobile data keeps maps, domestic flight changes and your NepaliPort registration at hand between Kathmandu and Pokhara.How a travel eSIM works
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