Best Nepal Tour: Kathmandu Pokhara Chitwan Tour

Kathmandu’s temples, Chitwan’s wildlife and Pokhara’s mountain views make an ambitious six-day route through three very different parts of Nepal. I like that this is a private tour for your group, and that it pairs cultural stops with time for a jeep safari, canoeing and a sunrise lookout.

I also like the practical range: airport pickup and drop-off are included, as are twin-share hotels in Chitwan and Pokhara. The trade-off is the pace. You’ll spend substantial time on the road, and Kathmandu accommodation, many meals and heritage-site entrance fees are not covered.

At a glance

• Four major Kathmandu sights: Visit Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and Patan Durbar Square on the first day.
• A full Chitwan wildlife day: The plan includes a jeep safari, with canoeing and a jungle walk among the activities.
• Pokhara’s lake and mountain views: See Phewa Lake, visit several local sights and head to Sarangkot for sunrise.
• Private group, not a shared departure: Only your group takes part, with tourist bus or private-car transport described for the road legs.
• $600 per person, with important extras: Chitwan and Pokhara hotels are included, but Kathmandu lodging, several meals and entrance fees are not.
• Check the final-day plan: The day-six description covers Sarangkot sunrise and a return to Kathmandu, while the stop is labelled Thamel.

A quick tour through Nepal’s contrasts

This package connects Kathmandu, Chitwan and Pokhara in six days. That is a useful snapshot if you have limited time and want more than temples or mountain scenery alone. Kathmandu brings religious landmarks and old royal architecture; Chitwan shifts the focus to wildlife; Pokhara offers a lake, waterfalls, caves and a Himalayan viewpoint.

I see the strongest value in the variety and the private format. You can travel with your own group rather than joining strangers, and the package arranges airport transfers, hotels in two of the three destinations, and ground staff wages and insurance. That can reduce the work of coordinating a multi-stop trip.

The cost is $600 per person. It is not an all-inclusive price, though. You’ll need to budget separately for Kathmandu accommodation and food, meals in Pokhara beyond breakfast, heritage-site entrance fees in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and your international flight and Nepal visa. A flight back to Kathmandu from Pokhara is also extra. Before paying, ask which road transport option is included and confirm the hotel and meal arrangements for your dates.

Day one: Kathmandu’s sacred sites and old royal city

The first day packs four substantial stops into one cultural circuit. Pashupatinath Temple sits beside the Bagmati River, about five kilometres east of the city centre. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is an important Hindu pilgrimage site. Allowing two hours gives you time to take in the temple complex and its setting, though the tour does not include its entrance fee.

Swayambhunath, often called the Monkey Temple, takes about an hour. The hilltop site is known for its religious art and architecture, with views across Kathmandu Valley. Monkeys are part of the scene, so keep food tucked away and give them space. The stop is listed as free.

Next comes Boudhanath, a large stupa said to date to the fifth century. Its scale and Buddhist character offer a striking contrast with Pashupatinath. The plan allows two hours here, also without an admission charge listed.

The day ends at Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur, a UNESCO World Heritage site with an old royal palace and Malla-era architecture. This is another two-hour stop, and its entrance fee is not included. Four major sites make for a rewarding introduction, but it is a packed day. If you like lingering in museums or taking long breaks, you may wish you had more time.

Days two and three: Chitwan’s forests and river

After breakfast on day two, you travel to Chitwan by tourist bus or private car. The road journey takes you away from the capital and into a different setting, but the precise travel time is not provided. Once you reach your hotel, you receive the schedule for the Chitwan activities. Lunch is included, and the first day’s plan also refers to a tour, though the description is cut off before it names the activity. Ask the operator for that day’s exact schedule.

Day three is the main wildlife day. A jeep safari takes you into Chitwan National Park, with canoeing and a jungle walk also listed among the possible activities. The park is known for its flora and fauna, and the animals you may look for include one-horned rhinos, elephants, Bengal tigers, crocodiles and birds. Wildlife sightings are never a sure thing, so treat the safari as time in a protected natural area, not a guaranteed checklist.

The range of activities is a plus. A jeep lets you cover more ground than a walk, while a canoe offers a different view of the park’s waterways. A jungle walk brings you closer to the forest, but follow your guide’s instructions carefully. The itinerary does not specify how long each activity lasts or whether every activity is included in the price, so confirm both before setting out.

The Chitwan stay includes a tourist hotel or resort in a twin-share room, with breakfast. Two dinners are included in the overall package, but the meal schedule is not fully itemized. A past trip has been associated with Unique Wild Resort, where the property was noted for air conditioning, a pool and good food. That is a useful lead, not a promise that you will stay there; confirm your actual accommodation.

Day four: A long road to Pokhara

After breakfast, you leave Chitwan for Pokhara by tourist bus or private car. The listed duration is 12 hours, so plan for a full day in transit rather than an afternoon of sightseeing. The drive is described as passing hills, rivers and wooded areas. It can be scenic, but a long road day is still a long road day, especially if you are hoping to arrive ready for a packed evening.

This transfer is where the tour’s pace becomes most noticeable. A private group can make the trip feel more flexible, but the transport mode matters: a private car and a tourist bus are different experiences. Ask which one is included, how stops are handled and where you will be dropped in Pokhara.

The package covers a twin-share hotel or resort in Pokhara and breakfast. Food beyond breakfast is not included there, so plan to pay for lunches and dinners yourself. The listed sights are spread across town, which makes it useful to know whether your local sightseeing transport is arranged or whether you’ll need to organize it separately.

Day five: Phewa Lake, caves and waterfalls

Phewa Lake is the natural centrepiece of Pokhara’s sightseeing day. The itinerary allows an hour at the lake, where the water can reflect the surrounding hills and the distinctive Fishtail Mountain. Talbarahi Temple sits on an island in the lake, and boating is available in Pokhara, though this package does not say that a boat ride is included. Ask if you want to make time for one.

Gupteswar Gupha, a cave associated with worship of Lord Shiva, is near Devi’s Fall. The cave is described as about three kilometres long, but the tour stop is one hour, and the admission fee is excluded. Devi’s Fall, also known locally as Patale Chhango, gets 30 minutes. The water disappears into a gorge, making this a short stop rather than a major outing.

You also visit Bindhya Basini Temple, dedicated to the goddess Bhagabati, and Seti River Gorge. Each stop is allowed about half an hour. At the gorge, the Seti River cuts through a deep channel; its name means white in Nepali. Taken together, these places show different sides of Pokhara, from religious sites to dramatic water features. Still, the schedule is brisk, and entrance fees for relevant Pokhara attractions are not included.

Pokhara has adventure sports such as paragliding, zip-lining, bungee jumping, mountain biking and ultralight flights. They are described as options in the area, not activities included in this tour. If one is a priority, ask whether there is room in the schedule and arrange it separately rather than assuming it is part of the package.

Day six: Sarangkot sunrise and the journey onward

The final morning is meant for Sarangkot Hill, a popular viewpoint for sunrise and mountain views. The plan says you return to the hotel for breakfast afterward, then continue to Kathmandu by tourist bus or private car, or fly at an extra cost. An early start is essential for sunrise, and mountain views depend on the conditions that morning.

There is a small but important itinerary wrinkle: the day’s stop is labelled Thamel, but its description is about Sarangkot and returning to Kathmandu. Thamel is in Kathmandu, so the heading and the route description do not quite match. Confirm the actual endpoint, drop-off and transport plan before departure. The itinerary gives the day a 12-hour duration, which suggests this is not simply a short sunrise outing.

What the $600 price covers, and what it doesn’t

The $600 per-person price includes airport pickup and drop-off, twin-share hotel or resort stays in Chitwan and Pokhara with breakfast, ground staff salaries and insurance, government taxes and official expenses. The package also lists lunch, three breakfasts and two dinners. Since the exact meal days are not spelled out, check how those meals fit with the hotel breakfasts and the drive schedule.

The value is strongest if you want the operator to connect the three regions and arrange the main lodging and transfers. It is less straightforward if you expect one price to cover every cost. Kathmandu accommodation and food are excluded, as are food in Pokhara beyond breakfast, heritage-site entrance fees in Kathmandu and Pokhara, international airfare and the Nepal entry visa. Some activities and optional adventure sports may also require separate payment, so ask for a cost breakdown.

The tour is private, which means only your group participates. That is helpful for families or friends who want to travel together, though private does not automatically mean a custom itinerary. Confirm how much flexibility you have around stops, meals and departure times.

Shepherd Holidays is the operator. Guides Bhim and Ankita have been associated with the company’s tours, and the team has also been praised for being easy to contact. Those names do not guarantee a particular guide for your dates, so ask who will lead your trip and how to reach the team while you are on the road.

Who should choose this tour?

I’d consider this tour if you have six days, want a quick introduction to several parts of Nepal and are comfortable with long drives. It suits people who value a ready-made route and a private group, especially if wildlife, cultural landmarks and mountain scenery all belong on the same trip.

It is less suitable if you want slow mornings, long visits at each temple or several open days for hiking and adventure sports. The road transfers take a meaningful share of the schedule, and the Kathmandu day is full. If you have more time, adding a night in one or more places would make the route less hurried.

Before you book, get clear answers on three points: what transport is included, which hotel you will use in each town, and what the two Chitwan days actually contain. Also confirm the final-day route and budget for excluded meals and entrance fees. The tour can be a practical way to connect Nepal’s major contrasts, as long as you treat $600 as the starting point for the full trip budget rather than the total cost.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately six days.

How much does it cost?

The listed price is $600 per person.

Is this a shared group tour?

No. It is a private tour, and only your group participates.

Which hotels are included?

A tourist hotel or resort in Chitwan and Pokhara is included, with twin-share rooms and breakfast. Kathmandu accommodation is not included.

Are meals included?

The package lists lunch, three breakfasts and two dinners. Food in Kathmandu and food in Pokhara beyond breakfast are not included.

Are entrance fees included?

No. Entrance fees at heritage sites in Kathmandu and Pokhara are excluded.

What activities are planned in Chitwan?

The itinerary includes a jeep safari and lists canoeing and a jungle walk among the jungle and non-jungle activities.

How can I travel from Pokhara back to Kathmandu?

The plan describes travel by tourist bus or private car. Flying back is also an option at an extra cost.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded. If bad weather cancels the experience, you are offered another date or a full refund.