Kathmandu → BhaktapurCar · 48m · Taxi, per vehicle
Bhaktapur → DelhiFlight via Kathmandu · 7h 48m · Bus to Kathmandu, then Air India / IndiGo / Nepal Airlines
About this circuit
Nepal's classic loop: through Kathmandu to Pokhara for Phewa Lake, Sarangkot and the Annapurnas; the tourist bus down to Sauraha for jeep safaris and canoe trips in Chitwan; on to Kathmandu for Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Durbar Square; and medieval Bhaktapur to finish.
Why it matters
Pashupatinath, the great Shiva temple on the Bagmati, draws Hindu pilgrims from across India, and the stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath are the heart of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO site, has one of the largest populations of one-horned rhinos.
Stop by stop
How the 8 days split across the 4 stops, and what each one costs on the ground for two.
Nepal's second tourist city, on Phewa Lake with Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) and the Annapurnas a few tens of kilometres away. Lakeside is relaxed, walkable and full of cafés, and it is the start of every Annapurna trek. Boat to the Tal Barahi temple, walk up to the World Peace Pagoda, paraglide from Sarangkot, and see the gorges and caves (Davis Falls, Gupteshwor Mahadev). Indian and vegetarian food is easy in Lakeside.
Don't miss: Rowing boat to Tal Barahi Temple · Sunrise on Machhapuchhre from Sarangkot.
How long: 3 days, which is the recommended stay.
Pokhara International Airport (PKR), 4 km
3 days for two from ₹10,541 · ₹27,540 mid-range — stay, food, local travel and entry; the journey here is extra
Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO site in the lowland Terai, has one of the largest populations of one-horned rhinos and a growing number of tigers. Sauraha, on the Rapti River at the park's edge, is the base: jeep safaris, canoe trips past gharials, guided jungle walks and Tharu village evenings. It is 5-7 hours by tourist bus from Kathmandu or Pokhara, or a short flight to Bharatpur. The park is best from October to March; the monsoon floods the river and limits the jungle trips.
Don't miss: One-horned rhinos from a jeep safari · Dugout canoe past gharials and mugger crocodiles.
How long: 1 day here; on its own Chitwan (Sauraha) is worth 2 — add a day if you can.
Bharatpur Airport (BHR), 15 km
1 day for two from ₹12,512 · ₹16,071 mid-range — stay, food, local travel and entry; the journey here is extra
Nepal's capital and the arrival city for almost every flight from India. Pashupatinath, the great Shiva temple on the Bagmati, draws Hindu pilgrims from across India; the stupas of Boudhanath and Swayambhunath are the heart of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal; Durbar Square holds the old royal palace and the Kumari's house. Thamel is the backpacker and trekking quarter, where permits, gear and Indian and vegetarian restaurants are all within a few streets. Traffic and dust are heavy; the valley is best seen early in the morning.
Don't miss: Evening aarti at Pashupatinath · Boudhanath Stupa at dusk.
How long: 3 days, which is the recommended stay.
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), 6 km
3 days for two from ₹12,640 · ₹30,741 mid-range — stay, food, local travel and entry; the journey here is extra
The third of the valley's old royal cities, 13 km east of Kathmandu and the best preserved: brick lanes, pottery squares and pagoda temples with no traffic in the core. The five-roof Nyatapola temple and the 55-window palace face Durbar Square. Stay a night to see it after the day-trippers leave, and eat juju dhau, the king of curds. The heritage ticket is checked at the gates and valid for a week with your passport or ID.
Don't miss: Five-storey Nyatapola Temple · Palace of 55 Windows.
How long: 1 day, which is the recommended stay.
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), 11 km
1 day for two from ₹2,983 · ₹6,322 mid-range — stay, food, local travel and entry; the journey here is extra
What it costs
from ₹35,740 a person
The whole 8-day trip as the planner prices it in October, for two sharing at budget stays: flights from India and back, travel between the stops, stays, food, getting around, entry fees and the planner's buffer.
October to April is the season (Chitwan to March); from June to September cloud hides the Himalaya, landslides slow the highways and Chitwan's jungle trips are cut back, and Dashain and Tihar (late September to November) fill the buses
Entry rules
No visa needed
Carry your Indian passport or your original Election Commission voter ID card. Aadhaar is not accepted as a travel document for Nepal, and airlines refuse boarding on it.
Checked 2026-10; confirm with the embassy before you fly.
Make it yours
Opens in the planner with all 4 stops, suggested days and your home city pre-filled, in October. Swap anything.
