Nepal: Kathmandu and Pokhara
Nine days between the temples of the valley and the lakes beneath the Annapurnas
Nepal packs a lot into a small area. Kathmandu is four nights of living temples, stupas and medieval royal squares, with Patan and Bhaktapur a short drive away. A 25-minute flight then takes you to Pokhara, a lakeside town with the Annapurna range standing behind it, where the pace is slower and the days are for boats, viewpoints and walking. The itinerary stays at hotel level throughout; the Poon Hill trek is offered as an add-on for those who want to walk.
This is a starting-point itinerary — we adapt every detail to your travel dates, interests, pace, and group. Speak to our concierge to begin.
Indicative price
from €150 per person per day
For 2 travellers sharing a room, from published entry-level hotel rates and ground costs read on 10 October 2026. How we calculate it
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Marco Setti
East Asia Specialist
Your specialist
“Culture trips in Asia work best when the pace allows you to actually absorb a place. I design them with breathing room built in.”
Speak with MarcoIncluded
- 8 nights' accommodation in one of the hotels named
- Domestic flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Private car and English-speaking guide on five sightseeing days
- A named Excurze concierge before and during the trip
Each stage has two or three hotels we know well. We propose the one that fits your dates and budget, and swap it if you prefer another.
Kathmandu4 nights
Heritage
The Dwarika's Kathmandu
Battisputali, near Pashupatinath
A hotel built around restored Newari carved timber and brickwork.
Luxury
Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
Boudha, next to the great stupa
A larger international hotel within sight of Boudhanath.
Pokhara3 nights
Boutique
Temple Tree Resort & Spa
Lakeside
A resort of low buildings and gardens near Phewa Lake.
Luxury
Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge
Ridge above the valley
A mountain lodge with views of the range; closed from mid-June to mid-September.
Kathmandu1 night
Luxury
Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
Boudha, next to the great stupa
A larger international hotel within sight of Boudhanath, convenient for an early flight.
Kathmandu
Arrive in Kathmandu
Private transfer to the hotel
Rest, or a first walk through the nearby streets
Sleep: Kathmandu (4 nights)
Kathmandu
Boudhanath and Pashupatinath
Boudhanath, one of the largest stupas in the world, in the morning light
Pashupatinath, the Hindu temple complex on the Bagmati River; non-Hindus view it from the opposite bank
Dinner of Newari dishes
Sleep: Kathmandu
Kathmandu valley
Patan and Bhaktapur
Patan's Durbar Square and its museum
Bhaktapur, the best-preserved of the three royal squares
Pottery Square, where bowls are shaped and dried in the open
Sleep: Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Swayambhunath and Kathmandu's old centre
Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa with its prayer flags
Kathmandu Durbar Square and the Thamel streets
Free afternoon
Sleep: Kathmandu
Kathmandu, Pokhara
Fly to Pokhara
Morning flight, about 25 minutes
Phewa Lake by boat in the afternoon
Dinner by the water
Sleep: Pokhara (3 nights)
Pokhara
Sunrise at Sarangkot
Before dawn, by car to Sarangkot for the first light on the Annapurna range
Breakfast back at the hotel
The World Peace Pagoda in the afternoon
Sleep: Pokhara
Pokhara
A free day
Options: a short walk in the foothills, a cooking class or the spa
Tibetan settlement visit and the old bazaar
Sleep: Pokhara
Pokhara, Kathmandu
Fly to Kathmandu
Morning flight, or a last morning by the lake
Evening in Kathmandu for last shopping
Sleep: Kathmandu (1 night)
Kathmandu
Departure
Transfer to the airport
Ghorepani and Poon Hill sunrise trek
A short teahouse trek from Pokhara for the sunrise over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. It adds three to four days.
A sightseeing flight from Kathmandu along the Himalayan range, in the early morning.
Chitwan National Park
Two nights in the lowland jungle for wildlife, reached by road or a short flight.
Add Bhutan
A flight links Kathmandu with Paro, so the two kingdoms combine well.
Best time to go
October to November, and March to April
Clear skies and the best views of the mountains. October is the busiest month. In spring the rhododendrons flower in the foothills. Domestic flights can be delayed by weather at any time of year, so we build a spare day into the plan where we can.
Less suited: June to September, the monsoon, when cloud hides the mountains and roads can be cut
from €150 per person per day
This is an indication, not a quote. It adds up the lowest published entry-level rates we found for the hotel we priced at each stage, plus the cost of a private guide and car, divides by 2 travellers and 9 days, and rounds up to the next €50. Peak-season rates, larger rooms and the other hotels named above will change it. Your quote will be built on your dates.
| Item | Rate | In euros |
|---|---|---|
Kathmandu, 5 nights at The Dwarika's Kathmandu (Heritage Deluxe room, from; 4 + 1) The Dwarika's, rooms and suites | 207.45 USD × 5 | €926 |
Pokhara, 3 nights at Temple Tree Resort & Spa (from) momondo, Temple Tree Resort & Spa | 122 USD × 3 | €327 |
Domestic flights, Kathmandu to Pokhara and back, foreign-national fare (top of the 2026 range), per person per flight Intrekking, Kathmandu to Pokhara flight | 135 USD × 4 | €482 |
Private car and English-speaking guide, 5 sightseeing days (3 in the Kathmandu valley, 2 around Pokhara); the rate is for a Kathmandu day tour Green Valley Nepal Treks, Kathmandu day tour | 95 USD × 5 | €424 |
| Total for 2 travellers | €2,158 | |
| Per person per day (€2,158 ÷ 2 ÷ 9), rounded up to €50 | €150 | |
The figure covers
- 5 nights at The Dwarika's Kathmandu and 3 nights at Temple Tree Resort & Spa; Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge costs more (around US$460 to US$580 a night), which would raise the figure
- Return domestic flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Private car and guide on five sightseeing days
Not included
- International flights and the airport transfers
- Monument entry tickets, the Nepal visa and meals not included in the hotel rate
- The optional modules (including the trek) and tips
Converted at the European Central Bank reference rates of 9 October 2026. Hotel rates come from third-party booking and guide sites and change with dates and availability; each line links to the page we read.
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