Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan

About

The classic first journey in Nepal, without the rush. A day in the old squares of Kathmandu, then the road west to Pokhara, by the lake under the Annapurnas, with time for a sunrise, a boat on the water and an easy walk in the hills. Then down to the lowlands and Chitwan National Park, for quiet mornings by the river, walks with a park naturalist and an evening in a Tharu village. Two nights in each place, so you can rest as well as see.

A private journey

Your holiday in Nepal, travelled your way

Namaste, and welcome to Nepal. A week or two here can feel like a race when you are one of thirty on a coach. With your own guide it becomes a journey: the same face every morning, a car that stops for tea in a village, a slow day when you need one, and someone who knows the country and wants you to feel at home in it. I would like you to go home feeling that Nepal was kind to you.

Just you, and the people you came with
No strangers to wait for, no group to keep up with.
The same guide from the first day to the last
You never start again with someone new.
Rest days when you want them
We add one, or move the plan, whenever you need it.
The country between the places
Villages, rivers and roadside tea, not only the famous sights.
Someone to look after the details
Tickets, permits, rooms and roads are arranged for you, so your mind is free.

With warmth, Rujan Neupane

Along the way

What this day is known for.

  1. The old squares and temples of the Kathmandu Valley
  2. Sunrise over the Annapurnas from Sarangkot
  3. A boat on Phewa lake and the World Peace Pagoda above it
  4. Chitwan National Parkrhinos, birds and the Rapti river
  5. An evening in a Tharu village
  6. Two nights in each placetime to rest
Jump to

Day by day, night by night

Where we go, how long on the road, and where you sleep each night.
KathmanduSTART · ENDPokhara2 NIGHTSSauraha2 NIGHTS
DayThe dayOn the roadThe nightRoom + meals
Day 1 KathmanduArrive, rest, and an easy walk in your hotel's neighbourhood.
  • Kathmandu
 Kathmandu Paid at cost
Day 2 Kathmandu ValleyKathmandu Durbar Square, Swayambhunath and Patan, slowly.
  • Kathmandu Durbar Square
  • Swayambhunath
  • Patan Durbar Square
 City day Kathmandu Paid at cost
Day 3 Kathmandu to PokharaBy road along the Trishuli river, with stops on the way. Or a short flight if you prefer.
  • Pokhara
 About 6 to 7 hours Pokhara Paid at cost
Day 4 PokharaSunrise at Sarangkot, a boat on Phewa lake and the walk up to the World Peace Pagoda.
  • Sarangkot
  • Phewa Lake
  • World Peace Pagoda
 Short drives Pokhara Paid at cost
Day 5 Pokhara, a free dayRest by the lake, or an easy village walk in the hills.
  • Pokhara
 Pokhara Paid at cost
Day 6 Pokhara to ChitwanBy road down to the lowlands and Sauraha, at the edge of the park.
  • Sauraha
 About 5 to 6 hours Sauraha Paid at cost
Day 7 Chitwan National ParkA canoe on the Rapti in the morning, a walk in the forest with a park naturalist, and the Tharu village in the evening.
  • Chitwan National Park
 Sauraha Paid at cost
Day 8 Chitwan, a second morningAn early jeep drive or walk in the park, then a quiet afternoon.
  • Chitwan National Park
 Sauraha Paid at cost
Day 9 Chitwan to KathmanduBy road back to Kathmandu, or a short flight from Bharatpur.
  • Kathmandu
 About 5 to 7 hours —
Lodging and mealsAt actual cost, per night, as the lodges charge. Not part of the guide fee; nothing added.
Change the loopAdd a night, drop a stop, end somewhere else: tell me, and I re-plan it with you.
The paceGentle. Road days of 5 to 7 hours, and days in each place with short walks and free afternoons.

Is this tour for you?

Walking, steps, heat and access, honestly.
First visitThe best-known places, with time to rest.
FamiliesGood for children; we keep road days short where we can.
Not forPeople who want to avoid other visitors: these are busy places.

Not sure? Tell me who is coming, and I'll tell you honestly. Write to me

The honest downsides

What I'd want to know before booking.
  • Pokhara, Sauraha and Thamel are busy and built up for visitors.
  • The road from Kathmandu is slow, with heavy traffic and roadworks.
  • Wildlife in Chitwan is never certain; some days you see little.
  • From April to June the lowlands are very hot; in the monsoon, parts of the park close.

More about this tour

Best time to go

October to March for clear mountains and pleasant lowlands.
  1. GoodJAN
  2. GoodFEB
  3. GoodMAR
  4. HazyAPR
  5. HazyMAY
  6. RainJUN
  7. RainJUL
  8. RainAUG
  9. GoodSEP
  10. BestOCT
  11. BestNOV
  12. BestDEC
Best: clear and mild Good: cool mornings or some haze Warm, hazy and dusty Monsoon: afternoon rain

From October to December the mountains are clearest from Pokhara. January and February are cool and foggy in the mornings in Chitwan. Spring gets hazy and hot.

Time of day

SunriseThe Annapurnas from Sarangkot
Early morningWildlife along the Rapti

Festivals worth planning for

Dashain and Tihar (October or November)Busy roads and closed offices, but lovely lights and kites

Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year; I confirm the date when you ask.

Before you go

The small practical things.
Road daysRoads are slow and winding; bring motion-sickness tablets if you need them.
ClothesLight clothes for the lowlands, a warm layer for the hills; shoulders and knees covered at temples.
CashRupees in small notes; cash machines are in the towns, not the villages.
WaterA refillable bottle; most hotels refill it.

Visiting with respect

These are living places of worship, not museums.
  • Walk clockwise around stupas and temples.
  • Ask before photographing people.
  • Take off shoes where you see others do it.
  • Dress modestly in villages and holy places.
  • In the park, keep quiet and follow the naturalist's word near animals.

Staying away: 8 nights

You pay me only my guide fee. Rooms and meals are paid at what they actually cost, with nothing added by me.
LodgingPaid at cost, as the lodge charges
MealsPaid at cost, where we eat

Where your money goes

Every amount, and who receives it. I charge only my guide fee; the rest is paid at cost.
WhatWho receives itAmountNote
Guide (me)Rujan NeupaneMy city day rate × days, and the overnight allowanceOne rate for 1 to 5 people
Car and driverA local driverWhat the driver chargesPaid at cost
Hotels and mealsThe hotels and restaurantsWhat they chargeYou pay directly; I never add anything
Entrance feesThe sites and parksSee my Entrance fees pagePaid at the gate, at cost
Park naturalist and activities in ChitwanThe park and local guidesWhat they chargePaid at cost

I don't sell packages. I guide, and I help you arrange the rest (rooms, transport, permits) at what it actually costs. If you would like it all put together as one package, ask me: I make one only on your request, and we confirm it by email.

Photo notes

From a guide who is also a photographer.
PokharaMachhapuchhre is clearest at dawn, reflected in Phewa lake on calm mornings.
ChitwanA longer lens for birds and rhinos; morning mist gives soft light.

The places in detail

The history and stories behind what you will see.

The journey

This tour joins Nepal’s three best-known places at a calm pace: the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and Chitwan National Park. Each place gets two nights, so you never pack every morning.

Chitwan National Park

Chitwan is a World Heritage Site and home to the greater one-horned rhinoceros, many birds and, rarely seen, the Bengal tiger. Walks inside the park are with a licensed park naturalist.

Fees

Entrance fees for Kathmandu’s sites and the park are on my Entrance fees page.

My promises

Written down, so you can hold me to them.
  • No pressureAsk me anything. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and I will never rush your decision.
  • Nothing hiddenEvery cost is written down before you pay anything, and nothing is added later without your agreement.
  • Your day, your paceWe stay longer where you want to, and skip what doesn't interest you.
  • Reviews as writtenEvery review here is published as the guest wrote it. I don't edit reviews or remove critical ones.

Before you go

What I would read first, from my own guides and tours.

Guides to read first

Stories from this tour

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need for Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan?

At least 8 or 9 days if you want to rest as well as see. Fewer days means more time in the car.

Can we fly instead of driving?

Yes, Kathmandu to Pokhara and Bharatpur to Kathmandu are short flights. They cost more and depend on the weather.

Will we see a rhino?

Often, but never certain. Tigers are rarely seen.

Is it good for children?

Yes. We keep road days short and the walks easy.

Reviews from guests who toured with me are published automatically, exactly as they wrote them. Reviews sent through the open form are checked for spam only.

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Plan it with me

Tell me how you'd like to spend the day. I'll plan the rest around you.

Rujan NeupaneTrekking & Tour Guide · Kathmandu

Send your date, group size and anything you'd like to see or skip, whichever way suits you.

Know your date already? Book me as your guide for this tour

More than 5 of you? Write to me. I guide up to 5 people at one rate. For a bigger group we can talk it through by email. I reply myself, usually within a day. On the trail there is often no network, so it can take a few days.

Verified credentials

My licences and training papers. Open any file to see the original.

Guide Association Membership

Some information on this page comes from Department of Immigration, Nepal · Nepal Tourism Board · UNESCO: Chitwan National Park · Chitwan National Park · Nepal Tourism Board.

Written 2 November 2026