Why this route works
Ten days is the right length for a first visit to Nepal. It is enough to see the three sides of the country most people come for, the temples and old cities of the Kathmandu Valley, the Himalaya above Pokhara and the wildlife of the Terai, without rushing, and it leaves room for a spare morning if a flight is delayed. We keep to three bases with two or three nights each and use short domestic flights where the roads are slow: Kathmandu to Pokhara takes about 25 minutes by air against 6 to 8 hours by road.
The plan works best from October to April. In autumn the mountain views are clearest; from February to April Chitwan is at its best for wildlife. It suits couples, families and older travellers, as there is no altitude to worry about: the highest point is Sarangkot, at about 1,600 m, or Australian Camp at about 2,060 m if you add the walk. Every day has a free afternoon or evening, and nothing starts before dawn except the mountain flight and the Sarangkot sunrise.
The plan at a glance
Hotels named are our usual choices; we adjust to your dates and availability.
| Day | Overnight | Main activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kathmandu (Dwarika's Hotel) | Arrive, settle in, evening at the hotel |
| 2 | Kathmandu | Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan |
| 3 | Kathmandu | Everest mountain flight, Bhaktapur, Boudhanath at dusk |
| 4 | Pokhara (Tiger Mountain or The Pavilions) | Fly to Pokhara, boat on Phewa Lake |
| 5 | Pokhara | Sarangkot sunrise, ridge walk, World Peace Pagoda |
| 6 | Pokhara | Dhampus and Australian Camp walk, or a spa day |
| 7 | Chitwan (Meghauli Serai) | Drive to Chitwan, canoe on the Rapti |
| 8 | Chitwan | Jeep safari, guided walk, Tharu village |
| 9 | Kathmandu (Dwarika's Hotel) | Fly to Kathmandu, Pashupatinath aarti, Krishnarpan |
| 10 | None | Depart |
Days 1 to 3: Kathmandu Valley
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, where we meet you after immigration, and make the short drive to Dwarika's Hotel in Battisputali. Indian nationals need no visa; most others take a visa on arrival, and the 15-day visa covers this plan (check current status before you travel). Keep the first day free to rest and walk the hotel's courtyards of salvaged Newari woodwork.
Day 2 begins at Swayambhunath at around 7 am, when local families walk the circuit around the hilltop stupa. Then comes Kathmandu Durbar Square, the Kumari Ghar and the market lanes of Indra Chowk and Asan. After lunch at a Newari kitchen, with samay baji or momo, cross the Bagmati to Patan for its Durbar Square, the Patan Museum and a metal casting workshop where statues are still made by the lost-wax method.
Day 3 starts early with the Everest mountain flight, about an hour along the Himalaya at dawn, back at the hotel for breakfast. Then drive about 13 km east to Bhaktapur for the Nyatapola temple, Pottery Square and a bowl of juju dhau, the sweet king curd. On the way back, stop at Boudhanath for the evening kora around the stupa and tea on a rooftop as the lamps are lit.
Days 4 to 6: Pokhara and the Annapurnas
Day 4 is a 25-minute flight to Pokhara, at 822 m; sit on the right-hand side, facing north, for the mountains. We stay at Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge, stone cottages on a ridge above the valley with views of Annapurna and Machapuchare, or at The Pavilions Himalayas, villas on an organic farm, for a quieter, spa-focused stay. In the afternoon, take a boat across Phewa Lake to the Tal Barahi temple on its island.
Day 5 starts with sunrise from Sarangkot, at about 1,600 m, when the first light catches Machapuchare (6,993 m), Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri. Later, take a guided walk through ridge villages, and visit the World Peace Pagoda above the lake or the International Mountain Museum.
Day 6 is flexible. Walkers drive to Dhampus and follow the trail to Australian Camp, at about 2,060 m, for a closer view of the Annapurnas; this needs an ACAP permit and a licensed guide (check current status before you travel). Others spend the day at the spa, paraglide from Sarangkot with a licensed operator, or visit the quieter Begnas Lake.
Days 7 and 8: Chitwan
Day 7 is the one long drive of the trip: about 150 km, 4 to 5 hours, from Pokhara down through the hills to the Terai plains, with a stop for lunch. We stay at Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari, on the Rapti River in western Chitwan, where the pool faces the river. It sits well away from the busier eastern side of the park around Sauraha, and its naturalists lead every outing. In the late afternoon, take a dugout canoe on the river, watching for mugger crocodiles, gharial and kingfishers.
Day 8 is a full day in the park, Nepal's first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A jeep safari at first light gives the best chance of greater one-horned rhinoceros, deer and, with great luck, a tiger. After lunch and a rest, take a guided walk with naturalists or visit a Tharu village to learn about the people of the Terai. We do not book elephant rides. The park fee for foreigners is about NPR 2,000 per day (check current status before you travel).
Days 9 and 10: back to Kathmandu
On Day 9, take a final morning walk or birding session, then drive 1 to 1.5 hours to Bharatpur for the 25-minute flight to Kathmandu. In the late afternoon, visit Pashupatinath, Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple, and watch the evening aarti on the banks of the Bagmati; non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple, but the riverside terraces are open. Finish with dinner at Krishnarpan, the Nepali tasting-menu restaurant at Dwarika's Hotel. Day 10 is departure, with time for a slow breakfast before the short drive to the airport.
If your flight leaves late on Day 10, there is time for a final morning: a walk through Asan market for spices and tea to take home, the Garden of Dreams near Thamel, or the Narayanhiti Palace Museum, the former royal palace. We arrange a late check-out where possible and leave for the airport about three hours before an international flight.
Variations on the plan
This plan is close to our 8-night Himalaya, lakes and rhinos journey, with one extra night for breathing space. It is easy to adjust:
For a slower pace, drop Chitwan and add a night each in Dhulikhel and Bandipur, so that the whole trip moves through the hills by road with short drives. For more wildlife, swap the third Pokhara night for a third night in Chitwan, which gives four safari outings instead of two. Keen walkers can replace the Pokhara sightseeing with Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge's guided walks on all three days, and photographers can add a second Sarangkot sunrise.
- Replace the mountain flight with an Everest helicopter tour, about 4 to 5 hours with a brief landing near Kala Patthar, for a closer view
- Swap one Kathmandu night for Dwarika's Resort Dhulikhel and its views and wellness programme
- Add a night in Bandipur, the car-free Newar hill town on the road between Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Add two nights in Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, between Chitwan and Kathmandu
- In March and April, add the four-day Poon Hill walk for the rhododendron forests
Cost, booking and packing
At the hotels named, a private version of this plan with car, guide and domestic flights runs from about ₹4,20,000 to ₹4,60,000 per person, twin sharing. Peak dates in October and November, a helicopter tour or extra nights raise the cost; international flights are extra. Book six to nine months ahead for October and November, when the best rooms fill first. Flights between Kathmandu, Pokhara and Bharatpur are short but depend on the weather, so we keep each transfer day light and hold a spare hour or two in the schedule.
Pack layers: mornings in Kathmandu and Pokhara are cool from November to February, while Chitwan is warm by midday. Bring comfortable walking shoes, a light rain jacket, modest clothes for temples, binoculars for Chitwan and a small daypack. Nepal Time is UTC+5:45, 15 minutes ahead of Indian time, and the currency is the Nepalese rupee; Indian rupee notes of 100 and below are widely accepted (check current status before you travel).
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is 10 days enough for Nepal?
Yes, for a first visit. Ten days lets you see the Kathmandu Valley's temples and old cities, the Annapurnas from Pokhara and the wildlife of Chitwan, with an Everest mountain flight, at a calm pace. You will not have time for a long trek, but you can add short walks. With two weeks you could add Lumbini, Bandipur or Dhulikhel.
What is the best route for a first trip to Nepal?
Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan is the classic first route, and for good reason. It combines heritage, mountains and wildlife, and short flights link Kathmandu with Pokhara, and Chitwan with Kathmandu. Only one long drive is needed, about 150 km from Pokhara to Chitwan. We suggest three nights in Kathmandu, three in Pokhara, two in Chitwan and a final night in Kathmandu.
Should I fly or drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara?
Fly, in most cases. The flight takes about 25 minutes, against 6 to 8 hours by road on the Prithvi Highway, which has long stretches of roadworks and heavy traffic. Driving makes sense only if you want to stop in Bandipur on the way, about 145 km from Kathmandu. Flights can be delayed by cloud, so keep the first afternoon in Pokhara light.
Can I see Everest on a 10-day trip?
Yes. The easiest way is the Everest mountain flight from Kathmandu at dawn, about an hour along the Himalaya without landing. For a closer look, swap it for a helicopter tour of 4 to 5 hours with a brief landing near Kala Patthar and breakfast at Hotel Everest View. Either fits into a Kathmandu morning. Both depend on clear weather, so plan a spare morning.
When is the best time for this 10-day plan?
October and November give the clearest mountain views and pleasant days across the route. February to April is also excellent, with better wildlife sightings in Chitwan and rhododendrons in the hills, though haze builds from mid-April. December and January work but are cool in the mornings. We avoid June to September, when monsoon cloud hides the peaks and some Chitwan lodges close.
Is this itinerary suitable for children and older travellers?
Yes. There is no altitude risk, as the highest point is about 1,600 m at Sarangkot, or 2,060 m if you add the Australian Camp walk. Most transfers are short flights, the walks are optional and every day has free time. Children enjoy the canoe trips and jeep safaris in Chitwan. Older travellers can ask us for rooms with fewer steps.
How much does a 10-day luxury trip to Nepal cost?
At the hotels named, with a private car and guide and domestic flights, a 10-day, 9-night trip runs from about ₹4,20,000 to ₹4,60,000 per person, twin sharing. Peak dates in October and November, a helicopter tour instead of the mountain flight, or extra nights at Dhulikhel raise the cost. International flights are extra. We quote each trip privately.
Do I need a visa for this trip?
Indian nationals do not need a visa for Nepal and can travel on a passport or voter ID. Most other nationalities take a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport: USD 30 for 15 days, which covers this plan, or USD 50 for 30 days. Fill in the online form before you fly and carry exact US dollar notes. Check current status before you travel.
Can I add a trek to this plan?
You can add walking without changing the shape of the trip. The simplest is the day walk to Australian Camp from Pokhara. With three or four extra nights, the Poon Hill loop from Nayapul fits well. Or replace Chitwan with our short walk to Namche Bazaar in the Everest region, which needs four nights there. All need permits and a licensed guide.
