The short answer
Think in five pieces: the Kathmandu Valley for heritage, Pokhara for lakes and mountain views, the Terai plains for jungle and sacred sites, the middle hills for quiet towns, and Mustang for high-desert pilgrimage.
Nepal is narrow but steep, so each region feels like a different country. Most first trips use two or three of them, joined by a short flight or one good road, rather than all five.
Key facts
- Kathmandu Valley
- Temples, old royal towns
- Pokhara
- Lake, views, adventure
- Terai
- Chitwan, Bardia, Lumbini, Janakpur
- Hills
- Bandipur, Gorkha, Ilam, Rara
- Mustang
- Muktinath and the Kali Gandaki
How it works
- Sort by what you came forHeritage points to the valley, lakes and views to Pokhara, animals to the Terai, quiet to the middle hills and altitude to Mustang or the Khumbu.
- Choose two anchorsTwo regions joined by a short flight or one good road beat five regions joined by long drives.
- Add one wildcardA hill town, a lake or a pilgrimage stop gives the trip a story. Bandipur, Tansen and Rara are popular choices.
What each region gives you
The Kathmandu Valley packs three royal cities, ancient stupas and Hindu temples into a small area, and is the cultural heart of the country. Pokhara, a lake town under the Annapurna range, is the place for views, boating, gentle walks and adventure sports.
The Terai, the southern plains, holds Chitwan and Bardia for rhinos, deer and birdlife, and Lumbini and Janakpur for pilgrimage. The hills between give small towns such as Bandipur, Gorkha and Tansen their slow, old-world feel, and Mustang opens a dry, high landscape around Muktinath.
How the regions connect
Flights link Kathmandu with Pokhara in around half an hour, and roads join most of the other places, though journeys are slower than the map suggests. The Terai is best reached by road from Kathmandu or Pokhara, or by a short flight to places like Bhairahawa for Lumbini.
Mustang needs a flight to Jomsom or a long road journey and is best in the drier, clearer months. Match regions to seasons: the Terai is pleasant in winter, the hills and mountains shine in autumn and spring, and Mustang stays drier than most places in the monsoon.
Insider tip
Most first trips use two or three of these, not all five.
Avoid this
Do not try to cover every region in ten days.
Related questions
Is Nepal bigger than it looks?
It is narrow but steep, so kilometres understate time. A 200 km road journey can take most of a day.
Which region suits a short trip?
Kathmandu plus Pokhara, joined by a 25-minute flight, is the most reliable short combination.
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