How to Go Pokhara from Kathmandu

Pokhara is the second-biggest city in Nepal. It is a beautiful lake city less crowded than the capital, Kathmandu. Most travelers who visit Nepal plan to go to Pokhara, but not everyone knows about traveling there from Kathmandu. This post provides detailed information on how to go to Pokhara from Kathmandu, which can be the best guide to organizing transportation and things easily.

There are several options for traveling from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Most travelers in Nepal land at the Kathmandu International Airport. People going on Everest, Manaslu, Langtang, and Kanchenjunga treks don't have to go to Pokhara, but some might like to if they have free time after visiting the other regions.

Compared to Kathmandu, Pokhara is a beautiful, quiet, and clean city in Nepal. Most visitors love Pokhara more while traveling in Nepal. How about traveling to Pokhara from Kathmandu? You have several choices, which you can choose according to your time, interest, and budget, to go to Pokhara from Kathmandu.

You can use overland roads or airways to get there. Of course! Traveling on a plane costs more than driving on a bus. In this post, we have clarified below what airways and overland travel to Pokhara from Kathmandu are.

Kathmandu to Pokhara Flight 

Kathmandu to Pokhara Flight

A 25- to 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara is the quickest option for travel. Several airline companies operate Flights to Pokhara from Kathmandu every morning to late evening to connect these two major cities in Nepal. You can get the earliest plane to Pokhara at 7:00 am; the late one is at 4:00 pm.

Kathmandu to Pokhara Flight Fare and Availability

The airfare for the flight to Pokhara from Kathmandu varies depending on the season and availability. Because of the high demand, it costs more during the high tourism season and the Nepalese festivals than at other regular times. Also, the Flight Fare to Pokhara differs for Nepali and South Asian nationalities (India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan) and travelers from other countries.

A one-way flight to Pokhara costs 133 USD for tourists. However, the Fare for Nepalese and Indians is around 5,500 NPR per person. You might get it cheaper if you book in advance and have a big group sometimes. Please note that the Flight Fare can be changed frequently. Also, the weather and visibility can affect the flight schedule, so it may sometimes be delayed or canceled.

You must check in at the airport airline counter at least one hour before the Flight time, which takes place at Tribhuvan International Airport's domestic terminal. Please book the seat on the right-hand side of the plane because you can see stunning views of Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, and the Annapurna massif from a long distance.

Note: Please do not book your flight on the same day as your international arrival to Pokhara or the final departure home after Pokhara. Sometimes, international flights cannot land at the regular time, and domestic flights are also affected by bad weather.

Kathmandu-Pokhara Tourist Bus

The driving distance to Pokhara from Kathmandu is 200 kilometers on the Prithvi Highway. It takes around seven hours to drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Travel by Tourist Bus if there is no obstruction on the driving road. Sometimes, landslides and road accidents affect travel hours.

We also offer the best price on Tourist Bus tickets from Kathmandu to Pokhara and from Pokhara to Kathmandu. Remember us for the Tourist Bus service if you travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara for the Annapurna treks.

The Tourist Bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara leaves Sorakhutte Bus Station at 7 a.m. every day and 7:30 a.m. from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

A luxurious Tourist Bus service provides travelers with comfortable folding seats and beautiful valleys, traditional villages, rivers, waterfalls, farming terraces, and other natural views from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Depending on their services and comfort, different tourist buses are available at varying costs.

Frolic Adventure provides a tourist bus service from Kathmandu to Pokhara or from Pokhara to Kathmandu. You can contact us anytime for a Tourist Bus Ticket. The ticket cost depends on the Bus type, so we provide the cost details below in this post.

VIP Sofa Deluxe Bus

Kathmandu to Pokhara, Traveling by tourist bus is the most common way most travelers take it. Driving by Bus through the hillside road is an adventure so that you might need a luxurious Bus with a comfortable seat.

This Sofa Deluxe bus is air-conditioned and has a sofa and toilet inside. However, the other regular tourist buses also have air conditioning and luxurious seats for travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara or from Pokhara to Kathmandu. This VIP Sofa Deluxe Tourist Bus costs 1600 NPR for Nepalese, 1800 NPR for Indians (SAARC Nationalities), and 1850 NPR for other travelers.

AC Deluxe Regular Tourist Bus

Kathmandu to Pokhara tourist bus Travel

Many tourist buses from Kathmandu to Pokhara Travel are on the AC Deluxe, which departs at 7:00 a.m. from Sorakhutte, Kathmandu. Suppose you are taking a Tourist Bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu. In that case, the last stop is Balaju, about 15 minutes north (walking time) from Thamel.

We arrange this Regular AC Deluxe Tourist Bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara at the best price. It costs 1200 NPR for Nepalis and 1300 NPR for other travelers. You must contact us at least 20 hours earlier for the Tourist Bus reservation. You can make a direct Call or WhatsApp reservation at +9779851043624 for the Tourist Bus to Pokhara from Kathmandu. You can make the payment in cash or online through this link.

How do I go to Sorakhutte Bus Station?

Sorakhutte is close to the Tourist hub of Thamel, so most Nepalese travelers stay in Thamel before traveling to Pokhara. If you stay in Thamel, you can walk to the north, which takes 10–15 minutes. You can hire a taxi or cycle a rickshaw if you have heavy bags, which may cost around 300 NPR. Suppose you are staying out of Thamel and driving to Pokhara from Kathmandu on a tourist bus from Sorakhutte Bus Station. In that case, you must take a taxi and arrive before 7:00 a.m.

What do you expect from Kathmandu to Pokhara Tourist Bus Travel?

• You will have a 2:2 folding, comfortable seat.
• Drive with an air conditioner.
• A bottle of mineral water
• Experienced driver and helpful helper
• Three stops for breakfast, lunch, and the toilet along the highway drive
• Beautiful views of rivers, valleys, farming terraces, traditional local settlements, the daily activities of villagers, and more natural attractions

Public Day/Night Bus and Van from Kathmandu to Pokhara

There are a lot of public buses and vans that leave Kathmandu and Pokhara every day. The Day Buses and Vans leave early, around 6:00 a.m., and you get them until 3:00 p.m. every half an hour. The public bus is more comfortable than the Vans, but the Van reaches Pokhara faster than the Bus to Pokhara from Kathmandu.

You have an LED TV on the Public Bus to watch videos and movies. However, the videos and movies are in Nepali and Hindi. You might not understand, but you will enjoy the rhythm. These Buses and Vans depart from BG Mall, Gongabu, Gongabu Public Bus Station, and Kalanki in Kathmandu. You can use these places to get Public Transportation to Pokhara from Kathmandu; you can take a taxi from your hotel and buy a ticket there. The Public Bus and Van cost you around 1000 NPR.

If you are traveling with limited time and want to Travel to Pokhara from Kathmandu on the same day of your international arrival or would like to experience the night Bus, you also have it. The Night Bus leaves Kathmandu's new Bus Station and BG Mall at 8:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. from Kalanki Chowk. It costs around 1300 NPR to travel by night bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara.

Hire a Private Transport to Travel to Pokhara from Kathmandu

Kathmandu to Pokhara private transport

Suppose you are uncomfortable traveling on a big bus with many people and would like to travel luxuriously to Pokhara from Kathmandu. In that case, it is better to Hire Private Transport. Suppose you Hire a private car, jeep, Van, or Bus according to your group. In that case, you can stop anywhere if you see something exciting and beautiful, such as natural and cultural attractions.

Also, if you Hire Private transportation from Kathmandu to Pokhara, you will be on time to start your Travel. You can have breakfast at the hotel and depart after eight in the morning. A Private car costs 17000 NPR, a Jeep 20000 NPR, a van 28000 NPR, and a bus 45000 NPR to Travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara. There might be flight cancellations due to bad weather, so you can also hire private transport to Pokhara. We arrange private cars, vans, Jeeps, and buses anytime from Kathmandu so you can contact us by phone or WhatsApp at +977 9851043624.

Note: The highway sometimes stays blocked for a few hours due to landslides and road accidents, which may obstruct the traveling hours.

Travel to Pokhara through Annapurna Circuit Trekking.

You can Travel to Pokhara after the Annapurna Circuit Trek. You can start this long and adventurous trek from Kathmandu by driving to Bhulbhule and walking through the mountain trails following Chamje, Chame, Manang, and Throng La Pass, then directly to Pokhara. Alternatively, you can trek for a few more days in Kaligandaki Valley, visit Pon Hill, and then walk to Nayapul before driving to Pokhara.

Suppose you need more time to complete the whole Annapurna Circuit Trek. In that case, you can also do half-circuit trekking by flying out to Pokhara from Jomsom. A complete circuit trek is about 16 days from Kathmandu to Pokhara, but you can make it in a 10–12-day half-circuit tour with the flight out.

You can also Travel to Pokhara after the Manaslu Circuit Trek. You start trekking to Manaslu from Kathmandu by driving through the hillside road to Soti Khola. Then, wander through the traditional villages, following the Budhi Gandaki River to Samagaun and Samdo. After that, you cross Larke La Pass and meet the main trail to the Annapurna Circuit. You can trek to Bhulbhule in 2-3 days or drive directly to Beshihahar from Dharapani. You get a bus to drive to Pokhara from Besisahar, which takes around 5 hours.

Why Travel to Pokhara from Kathmandu?

Pokhara is the most admirable city in Nepal for visitors. There are many beautiful sites and things to do, so you can visit Pokhara to see beautiful lakes and magnificent mountain views, have a sunrise tour, and chill after a long Himalayan trek. You can also do paragliding, ultra-gliding, bungee jumping, and other excursions. Most of the trekking in the Annapurna Region begins in Pokhara, so you must Travel there if you would like to trek in the Annapurna.

Places to Visit While You Travel in Pokhara

• Visit Fewa, Begnas, and other beautiful lakes.
• World Peace Stupa and Pumdikot
• Saranktot and Kahu Dharahara
• International Mountain Museum
• Gupteshwor, Mahendra, and Bat (Chamere) Caves
• Seti River Gorge
• Binduwasini Temple
• Davis Falls (Patale Chhango)
• Tal Barahi Temple

Things to do while you travel to Pokhara

• Boating on Fewa and Begnas Lakes
• Paragliding and ultra-gliding for mountain flight
• Pokhara day tour
• Sunrise and sunset views with stunning mountain views from Sarangkot and Kahu Dharahara
• Helicopter tour to Annapurna base camp, Mardi Himal, and Muktinath
• Bungee jump
• Cable car to Sarangkot
• Yoga retreat meditation
• Hot-air ballooning
• Zip lining
• Day hikes

Trekking Routes to the Annapurna Region from Pokhara

Annapurna base camp

Most of the Trekking Routes in the Annapurna Region start from Pokhara. What are the trekking destinations that began in Pokhara? Check them below:

1. Annapurna Base Camp Trekking
2. Poon Hill Trekking
3. Short Annapurna Base Camp Trekking
4. Mardi Himal Trekking
5. Dhampus Sarangkot Trekking
6. Mohare Danda Trekking
7. Khopra Danda Trekking
8. Sikles Trek
9. Panchase Trek
10. Jomsom Muktinath Trekking
11. Upper Mustang Trekking
12. Dhaulagiri Circuit Trekking

When is the Best Time to Travel to Pokhara from Kathmandu?

Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) are the Best Times to Travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara, but you can travel all year. Also, December can be the best month because the temperature is neither cold nor hot. You can now see magnificent mountain views from the city while traveling to Pokhara.

Also, you face some of the biggest festivals in October and November, like Dashain and Tihar (Diwali). If you travel in February and April, you will see some entertaining street festivals in Pokhara. The autumn and spring seasons are highly recommended if you plan a trek to the Annapurna Region.

FAQs on Kathmandu to Pokhara Travel

Is there a train to Pokhara from Kathmandu?

There is no train to Pokhara from Kathmandu, so you must fly or drive, take a tourist bus, a public bus, or a van, or hire private transportation.

How long does it take to drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu?

Driving by Bus to Pokhara takes between 7 and 6 hours by car, jeep, and Van.

What is the flight duration from Kathmandu to Pokhara?

It takes 25–30 minutes to fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara.

What about the Kathmandu-Pokhara flight cancellation?

There have been a few flight cancellations, but some have been canceled due to lousy weather and delays caused by weather and air traffic.

Are there road accidents on the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway?

There are a few accidents sometimes on the road, but tourist buses are safer than public transport.

How safe is it to fly from Kathmandu to Pokhara?

Flying is safe, but there is never 100% safety everywhere.

Conclusion

If you travel to Nepal, we suggest Pokhara because it is a quiet, clean, and beautiful city. There is an international airport, but no international airlines operate flights to it. You must land at Kathmandu International Airport and take another transport to Travel to Pokhara from Kathmandu.

To visit this calm city, you can Fly or Drive to Pokhara from Kathmandu. You have several options. There are daily Tourist bus services, public bus services, Van Services, and night bus Services from Kathmandu. You can also hire Private transportation if you like comfort. Travel if you miss the flights due to bad weather conditions.

Frolic Adventure arranges all kinds of transportation to get to Pokhara from Kathmandu. Or we are happy to provide any helpful information for you. You can contact us by phone or WhatsApp at any time at +977 9851043624.