The only Nepal guidebook you will ever need
Nepal, known as the birthplace of Buddhism, is a magical country full of culture and offers a lot of wild adventures. With this 10-, 14-, and 21-day guide, you'll explore the country's cities, food, and natural resources. This Nepal travel guide will lead you through this beautiful country.
The best time for a Nepal trip:
The best time to travel to Nepal to see as much as possible and to go hiking is in spring or autumn, provided the weather conditions allow it.
Things to remember on your Nepal adventure:
- Avoid the tap water; buy bottled water for your daily drinking needs.
- Nepal is very crowded most of the time, so you should either rent cars or book and board the buses early
- Get a Nepalese SIM card directly at the airport
- The average expenses in Nepal for 10 days are around. 220€ (NPR 29,000) per person.
- If you're going hiking, make sure you have the right clothes and accessories with you. Some necessary items are sleeping bags, warm clothes, jackets, walking shoes/boots, sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, a camera, a first aid kit, flashlights with extra batteries and necessary hygiene items and cosmetics.
- To go trekking in Nepal you need a permit, a TIMS card. You can get this permit at the tourism office in Kathmandu or Pokhara. you should also get an ACAP permit to hike in the Annapurna region.
- Trekking in Nepal can be very dangerous, make sure your travel insurance covers all possible scenarios.
Day 1: Kathmandu
Overnight: In a hotel near the airport
Start your trip in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. Your flight will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport. Check into your hotel and rest up for an exciting trip through Nepal. There are several hotels no more than 30 minutes from the airport.
Day 2 & 3: Discover Kathmandu
Day 2
On your second day, visit the three most popular temples in Kathmandu – Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple. These sites are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Boudhanath and Swayambhunath are ancient stupas and important sites of Buddhism. Pashupatinath Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva and is one of the most impressive religious sites in Nepal. The easiest way to get here is by car. Rent a car and drive to these sites, which are located near the hotel. You should definitely visit these three places on your Nepal trip.
Day 3
On your third day you will drive to the town of Bhaktapur. This place is famous for its art and architecture. While you are here, be sure to check out Bhaktapur Durbar Square (NPR 1500). It is one of the historic sites that was built in the 15th century. Century were built. Due to its cultural background and the art in the palace, this is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Just a few meters away from the palace is the Nyatapola Temple. The five-story temple was built in the early 18th century. Built in the seventeenth century by King Bhupatindra Malla.
From Bhaktapur after lunch you drive to Patan, also known as Lalitpur. The place is only 15 minutes away. Here you can see Patan Durbar Square (NPR 1000), which is also known for its art and architecture. Discover the Patan Museum, which is located in the palace. The palace is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and displays the sacred art of Nepal. Visit the Krishna Mandir, this is a popular site in the city of Patan and was built in the 17th century. Century. Finish your visit in Kathmandu and go to the hotel.
To visit these world heritage sites you have to pay the mentioned fee. For travelers from SAARC nations this will be comparatively low.
Day 4 & 5: Chitwan
Day 4
Your next stop is Chitwan. From Kathmandu you can easily get to Chitwan by bus and arrive here at Sauraha bus station. Rent a car and drive to Chitwan National Park, the most visited National Park and a World Heritage Site. The entrance fee is approx. 1500 NPR (plus taxes) per day. The park is home to Bengal tigers, elephants, crocodiles, rhinos and about 400 other species of jungle creatures. Here's what you can try here:
Day 5
Explore the local Tharu villages and talk to the local people. Experience the cultural programs that are organized here. Most of the time traditional dances are performed by the villagers.
Overnight stay: in a jungle lodge or in a resort.
Day 7 & 8: Pokhara
After your approx. Having spent 2 days in Chitwan, you will now make your way to Pokhara. Here you will experience breathtaking landscapes. To get here you should take a car, as it is the fastest and easiest option. Pokhara is one of the must-dos on your Nepal trip, due to its religious sites and caves with scenic views.
Day 7
On your first day in Pokhara, visit Phewa Lake. This freshwater lake is a popular place for tourists and again a must-see, which you should not miss on your Nepal trip. Take a boat ride.
Day 8
Leave early in the morning to see the sunrise in Sarangkot. This region is popular for its scenic views of the Annapurna peaks, sunrise and lush green surroundings. After breakfast visit the International Mountain Museum. Here you can discover the history of the Himalayas and see exhibits of the flora and fauna of Nepal. The entrance fee is about. 500 NPR (approx. 3,50€). At the museum there are some galleries, a restaurant and a garden.
Later you will visit the Devi's waterfalls, which are within walking distance from the museum. The cascading waterfall is almost 500 feet long and runs through many tunnels and caves. Near the waterfall is the Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave, which is said to be the longest cave in Nepal and you should definitely visit it. Mahendra Cave is a huge limestone cave and is one of the most visited caves in Nepal. The entrance fee is 100 NPR (equivalent to approx. 70 cents). Spend another hour exploring this cave before heading back to the hotel. You will have enough time to explore all these places as they are all close to each other.
Overnight: in a boutique hotel in the area
Day 9 : Lumbini
After your visit in Pokhara you travel to Lumbini. A Nepal trip is not a real Nepal trip without visiting the birthplace of Buddha, the most revered god in Nepal. It is best to take a car again for this part of the trip, because the drive takes only 3.5 hours. Lumbini is known for its many Buddha pilgrims and is an important place for Buddhists as Buddha is believed to have been born here.
Visit the Sacred Garden and the Maya Devi Temple. This garden is the actual birthplace of Lord Buddha. Right next to the garden is the Maya Devi Temple, which is again a World Heritage Site and an important part of Buddha worship. Next to the temple you will find the Sacred Pond and while passing by, you can admire the Ashoka Pillar. All these places, so close to each other, give a feeling of peace and relaxation. Again you have to pay a small entrance fee before entering the temple.
Overnight: Stay at an inn in the area
Day 10: Departure
After your 10-day Nepal trip, travel from Lumbini to Gautam Buddha International Airport in Siddarthanagar. The airport is also called Bhairawaha Airport and is only a 20 minute drive from Lumbini. You can leave Nepal comfortably from here.
Here you can also drive back to Kathmandu, which takes about five hours. 5 hours. There you will board a plane at Tribhuvan International Airport and leave Nepal with a last view of the capital.
The 14 – day travel guide:
Nepal is known as one of the best places for adventure and an ecotourism destination for many tourists. You can not discover every Nepalese wonder in only 10 days. So here is a 14-day guide for you, if you really want to see it all.
Khopra Danda Hike
Nepal is definitely the perfect place for adventure. If you have spent more than a week in Nepal, then a hike should now be on your schedule. After your visit to Lumbini, you will drive to Khopra Danda Trek. This hike offers easy trails for families and children. Here in Khopra Danda you will see impressive landscapes and mountains. These treks are called ridge walks and have been recently introduced as "community lodge treks" where you stay at private lodges. After your stay in Lumbini you will fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
Day 11: From Pokhara to Ghandruk | Ghandruk to Tadapani (2 hours hike)
From Pokhara you will drive to Ghandruk. On your trip you will pass by the Rhododendron Forest. This forest is full of pines and oaks. Take a moment and let the view work its magic on you. After lunch you hike to Tadapani. You will walk through rhododendron forests and have a unique view of the peaks of Annapurna (I, II, III and South). You will spend the night after the hike in Tadapani.
Overnight stay: stay in a lodge in Tadapani
Day 12: Tadapani to Bayli Kharka (4 hours hike) | Bayli Kharka to Khopra Danda (2 hours hike)
The next day you can hike another five hours to Bayli Kharka and have a good lunch here. Afterwards you will hike further through the forests of Chistibang to reach Khopra Danda. You are in ca. two hours there. From here you can see the peaks of Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri and southern Annapurna. Enjoy the view before heading to your lodge for the night.
Overnight stay: Khopra Communkty Lodge
Day 13: Khopra Danda to Swanta (4 hours trek) | Swanta to Ghorepani
(4 hours hike)
After you make it to the top of the ridge, follow the trail to a small village called Swanta. Here you can visit a community cheese factory to taste some cheese. After you have filled your bellies, hike on to Ghorepani. Spend the night here.
Overnight: Hotel in Ghorepani
Day 14: Hike to Poonhill and back to Pokhara
On your last day you will visit Poonhill (3.210m) in the early morning to enjoy the view of the peaks of Dhaulagiri, Dhampus and some others. Poonhill is only 45 minutes drive from Ghorepani. After spending some time in Poonhill you will take a jeep back to Pokhara. From Pokhara you drive back to Kathmandu and fly back home from Tribhuvan International Airport the next day.
Overnight: Boutique hotels nearby
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21 – Days – Guide
A three-week Nepal trip is the best way to discover all the cultural and natural wonders in Nepal. Nepal is a country made for adventurers and if you have 21 days for your Nepal adventure, then you should definitely do the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek for one week. You can only get here by air. So take a flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara and start your next adventure in Pokharara.
The Annapurna Base Camp Trek is said to be one of the most popular treks in Nepal, in addition to being the shortest. This captivating trek will let you experience impressive mountains and wild nature, it will also give you an insight into the life of the local people in the Himalayas. For overnight stays, you should look for private lodges or tea houses that you will find along the trek.
Day 15: Pokhara to Ghandruk | Ghandruk to Sinuwa
From Pokhara you drive to Ghandruck, since you have already visited this village you can start right away. Hike ca. 6 to 7 hours from Ghandruck to Sinuwa. On the way you will be able to enjoy beautiful views. Stay for one night in Sinuwa.
Day 16: Sinuwa to Darauli
Start your day with a 6 hour hike to Darauli. On the way you will see a lot of Nepalese flora and fauna and the landscapes will captivate you. Darauli is known for its lush bamboo forests. Spend some time in Darauli before you go to bed.
Day 17: Darauli to ABC
From Darauli you will pass Machhapuchhre Base Camp. Once there, you will have an impressive view of Annapurna South, Gangapurna and many other mountains. After you have burned the landscape into your memory, you will make your way to Annapurna Base Camp. Here you will spend the night in a lodge.
Day 18: ABC to Bamboo via MBC
On this day you will hike again for 6-7 hours, from ABC you will hike back to Machhapuchhre Base Camp and from there on to Bamboo. This peak is located at an altitude of 2430m. On your way you will see the peaks of Himchuli, Annapurna, Barahi Shikhar and many other mountains. Spend the night in Bamboo.
Day 19: Bamboo to Kyumi
The next day you will hike from Bamboo to Jhinu Danda. It will take you about 4-5 hours to cover the distance. This small village is located at an altitude of 1690m and its main attraction are the hot springs. Enjoy a swim in the warm water and rest your tired feet.
Day 20: Jhinu to Siwai | Siwai to Pokhara
On your last day on the ABC trek you will leave Jhinu and hike for 4 hours to Siwai. From Siwai you will take a jeep or a car and drive back to Pokhara. Overnight stay in Pokhara.
Overnight: Boutique hotel in the area
Day 21: Pokhara to Kathmandu
From Pokhara you drive back to the capital to travel from Tribhuvan International Airport to your next destination.
This Nepal travel guide should help you plan your next adventure. We hope you now have a better idea of what you can experience in beautiful Nepal.
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