Nepal travel
One Week in Nepal: Two Itineraries That Work
Seven days in Nepal, two ways: Kathmandu and Pokhara for mountains and lakes, or Kathmandu and Chitwan for culture and wildlife — with realistic travel times.
By Shiva GiriPublished 5 min readFacts checked
A week in Nepal goes quickly, and travel between regions takes time — roads are slow and mountain weather can delay flights. The best one-week trips pick two bases rather than four. Here are the two combinations we recommend most.
Itinerary A — Kathmandu and Pokhara (mountains and lakes)
- Arrive in Kathmandu; rest and visit Budhanilkantha Temple.
- Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath.
- Patan and Bhaktapur.
- Fly to Pokhara (25–30 minutes); boat ride on Phewa Lake.
- Sarangkot sunrise, World Peace Pagoda, Davis Falls.
- Adventure day: paragliding, rafting or a hike.
- Fly back to Kathmandu and depart (or stay a final night with us).
Itinerary B — Kathmandu and Chitwan (culture and wildlife)
- Arrive in Kathmandu; rest and visit Budhanilkantha Temple.
- Kathmandu's sacred sites.
- Patan and Bhaktapur.
- Drive to Chitwan (about 5 hours); canoe ride on the Rapti River.
- Jeep safari and jungle walk.
- Bird watching and a Tharu village visit.
- Return to Kathmandu by road or a short flight from Bharatpur.
Short on time? A first trek in a week
Our Poon Hill trek is 6 days from Kathmandu — enough for a real Himalayan trek, rhododendron forest and a sunrise at 3,210 m, with a spare day for Kathmandu.
Frequently asked questions
Is one week enough for Nepal?
It's enough for Kathmandu plus one other region, or for a short trek such as Poon Hill. For Everest Base Camp you need about two weeks.
