The short answer
Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan is the classic first-timer route. It gives culture, mountains and wildlife without any trekking. Add Bandipur, Lumbini or Nagarkot if you have extra days.
A good first itinerary leaves breathing space. Fewer places, each with enough time, beat a long list of one-night stops.
Key facts
- Core
- Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan
- Days
- 7 to 10
- Extras
- Bandipur, Lumbini, Nagarkot
How it works
- Days 1 to 3: KathmanduArrive and rest, then Boudhanath and Pashupatinath, Durbar Square and Swayambhunath. Add Patan or Bhaktapur on day three if you have energy.
- Days 4 to 6: ChitwanDrive or fly, then two nights in the jungle with a guided walk, a canoe and a jeep safari.
- Days 7 to 9: PokharaLake, Sarangkot sunrise and a spare day for weather. Fly back to Kathmandu for your onward flight.
A sample shape for ten days
Spend three or four nights in Kathmandu for Swayambhunath, Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and a day in Bhaktapur or Patan. Then fly or drive to Pokhara for two or three nights of lake, views and a short walk.
Finish with two nights in Chitwan for a jungle safari, canoe ride and village walk, then return to Kathmandu or fly out from Bharatpur or Kathmandu. This pace includes rest and is realistic for most people.
Adding and trimming
With extra days, add Bandipur for an old Newar hill town, Nagarkot for sunrise, or Lumbini for the Buddha's birthplace. With fewer days, drop Chitwan and keep Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Check the season before you decide: Chitwan is best in the cooler, drier months, and mountain views are clearest in autumn and spring. Keep a spare day before your flight home.
Insider tip
The mistake is to add too many places; the best routes leave room.
Avoid this
Do not squeeze three regions into five days.
Related questions
Is ten days enough?
Yes, comfortably. Seven works if you cut one stop.
What if I have an extra day?
Add Bandipur on the way to Pokhara, or Nagarkot for a viewpoint night near Kathmandu.
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