Quick answer
Six days in Nepal covers Kathmandu, Pokhara and a mountain-view night at Nagarkot. Spend two days on Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Patan, drive to Pokhara via the Manakamana cable car, catch sunrise at Sarangkot, then fly back for Bhaktapur and a Nagarkot sunset. Land costs start around ₹32,000 per person for 4★ hotels and a private car.
The route
- Kathmandu
- Manakamana
- Pokhara
- Kathmandu
- Bhaktapur
- Nagarkot
- Kathmandu
Day-by-day plan
- 1
Day 1
Arrive in Kathmandu and Pashupatinath aarti
Morning: Land at Tribhuvan International Airport. Indians clear immigration with a passport or voter ID — no visa needed.
Afternoon: Check in and rest; change money or pick up a local SIM.
Evening: Evening aarti on the Bagmati ghats at Pashupatinath, which starts around sunset.
Stay: Kathmandu (Thamel, Lazimpat or near Pashupatinath)
Indian ₹100 notes are accepted widely; carry some Nepali rupees for small purchases.
- 2
Day 2
Kathmandu valley sights
Morning: Swayambhunath at opening time, then Kathmandu Durbar Square and the Kumari Ghar.
Afternoon: Patan Durbar Square and the Patan Museum.
Evening: Boudhanath at dusk, walking the circuit with pilgrims.
Stay: Kathmandu
If you want the Everest mountain flight, book it for this morning so day 6 is a fallback.
- 3
Day 3
Drive to Pokhara via Manakamana
Morning: Leave by 7 am. Stop at Kurintar for the Manakamana cable car and temple.
Afternoon: Continue to Pokhara; the full drive is about 200 km and takes six to eight hours with stops.
Evening: Walk along the Lakeside promenade.
Stay: Pokhara (Lakeside)
The Prithvi Highway is winding — carry motion-sickness tablets.
- 4
Day 4
Sarangkot sunrise and Phewa Lake
Morning: Sunrise over the Annapurnas from Sarangkot, then Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave.
Afternoon: Boat to Tal Barahi temple on Phewa Lake, or a tandem paragliding flight.
Evening: World Peace Pagoda for sunset, then dinner by the lake.
Stay: Pokhara (Lakeside)
- 5
Day 5
Fly to Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Nagarkot
Morning: Twenty-five-minute flight back to Kathmandu.
Afternoon: Bhaktapur's squares, the Nyatapola temple and juju dhau in a clay pot.
Evening: Drive up to Nagarkot (about 45 minutes) for sunset over the Himalaya.
Stay: Nagarkot
- 6
Day 6
Nagarkot sunrise and departure
Morning: Sunrise from the hotel terrace, then drive down via Changu Narayan temple.
Afternoon: Last-minute shopping in Thamel or at Boudhanath.
Evening: Fly home. Reach the airport three hours before departure.
Allow at least 90 minutes from Nagarkot to the airport in daytime traffic.
Why this route?
Kathmandu and Pokhara are the two places nearly every first-time visitor wants, and Nagarkot adds a quiet mountain-view night close to the airport. Driving to Pokhara lets you stop at Manakamana; flying back saves a second long road day. In clear October–November or March–April weather, you see the Himalaya on four of the six days.
How to adapt this plan
- Senior citizens: fly both ways to Pokhara, skip the Swayambhunath steps by using the western road entrance, and add the Everest mountain flight.
- Families with children: swap paragliding for boating and add the Pokhara International Mountain Museum.
- Pilgrims: add Muktinath with two extra nights — a flight from Pokhara to Jomsom and a jeep up — or time your trip for Maha Shivaratri at Pashupatinath.
- Monsoon months: fly both ways, as landslides can close the highway. See the best time to visit Nepal.
What this itinerary costs
Land cost starts at about ₹32,000 per person for five nights in 4★ hotels with breakfast, a private car shared by two, the Pokhara–Kathmandu flight, the cable car and entry fees. Return flights from Delhi add ₹10,000–18,000. See the Nepal trip cost guide, where to stay in Kathmandu and things to do in Nepal.
Indians need no visa for Nepal, but airlines check ID strictly — carry a passport or voter ID. Details are in the Nepal visa guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is six days enough for Nepal?
Should I drive or fly between Kathmandu and Pokhara?
Can I use Indian rupees in Nepal?
How we checked this page
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
