A Nepal itinerary works cleanly at three lengths — 7 days for Kathmandu and Pokhara, 10 days to add Muktinath pilgrimage or Chitwan wildlife, 14 days for the full Pashupatinath-Muktinath yatra plus the Annapurna Sanctuary trek base. Anything shorter than 7 days is rushed; anything longer than 14 should split into Mustang trekking or Everest Base Camp expeditions. The 10-day shape is our most-booked Nepal version since 2020. Day-by-day below for each length, with the variations for pilgrimage focus, wildlife focus or trekking focus.
The 7-day Nepal itinerary — Kathmandu + Pokhara
Seven days is the minimum useful Nepal trip. You get Kathmandu (UNESCO heritage, monastery and temple culture), the flight or drive to Pokhara, and 2-3 days at Pokhara (lakes, mountain views, optional day trips). No high-altitude trekking, no Muktinath pilgrimage. Ideal for first-time visitors or pre/post a Sikkim or Bhutan trip.
- Day 1 — Arrive Kathmandu (KTM). Hotel check-in in Thamel. Evening: Thamel walk, optional Boudhanath stupa kora at sunset.
- Day 2 — Kathmandu UNESCO circuit: Pashupatinath morning, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Durbar Square. Full day with vehicle.
- Day 3 — Drive Kathmandu → Pokhara (8 hours, 200 km) OR fly (25 min, ₹6,500-9,500 each way). Evening at Phewa Lake.
- Day 4 — Pokhara: Sarangkot dawn for Annapurna view, World Peace Pagoda, Davis Falls, Mahendra Cave. Evening at lakeside.
- Day 5 — Pokhara: Begnas Lake day trip OR International Mountain Museum + Tibetan Refugee Camp at Tashi Palkhel. Optional paragliding from Sarangkot.
- Day 6 — Return Pokhara → Kathmandu (8 hours drive or 25 min flight). Last evening at Thamel.
- Day 7 — Departure flight from KTM.
The 10-day Nepal itinerary — add Muktinath OR Chitwan
Our most-booked Nepal trip. Adds either the Muktinath yatra (for Hindu pilgrims) or Chitwan wildlife safari (for nature travellers) to the base 7-day Kathmandu-Pokhara plan. Pick one based on your interests; doing both compresses the trip too much.
10-day with Muktinath (pilgrimage focus)
- Days 1-2 — Kathmandu UNESCO circuit (same as 7-day)
- Day 3 — Drive/fly to Pokhara
- Day 4 — Pokhara: Sarangkot dawn, World Peace Pagoda
- Day 5 — Drive Pokhara → Jomsom (7 hours)
- Day 6 — Jomsom → Muktinath darshan → back to Jomsom (4-5 hours total)
- Day 7 — Drive Jomsom → Pokhara
- Day 8 — Pokhara: rest day, Begnas Lake OR International Mountain Museum
- Day 9 — Return to Kathmandu
- Day 10 — Departure
10-day with Chitwan (wildlife focus)
- Days 1-2 — Kathmandu UNESCO circuit
- Days 3-4 — Pokhara highlights
- Day 5 — Drive Pokhara → Chitwan (5-6 hours)
- Day 6 — Chitwan National Park: jungle drive, canoe ride on the Rapti river, elephant breeding centre, Tharu village walk
- Day 7 — Chitwan: morning jungle walk OR bird-watching, afternoon return to Kathmandu (5-6 hours)
- Days 8-9 — Kathmandu rest + Bhaktapur Durbar Square (3rd UNESCO site)
- Day 10 — Departure
The 14-day Nepal itinerary — full pilgrimage or trekking
Two routes for 14 days: the full pilgrimage circuit (Pashupatinath + Muktinath + Chitwan + Lumbini), or a serious trekking trip (Annapurna Base Camp 10-day trek + Kathmandu base). Pick based on whether you want religious depth or mountain depth.
14-day pilgrimage circuit
- Days 1-2 — Kathmandu: Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Durbar Square
- Days 3-7 — Pokhara + Muktinath circuit (as above)
- Days 8-10 — Drive to Lumbini (Buddha's birthplace, UNESCO World Heritage Site, 6 hours from Pokhara). Mayadevi Temple, Ashoka Pillar, the international monastery zone
- Days 11-12 — Drive to Chitwan, jungle safari
- Day 13 — Drive back to Kathmandu
- Day 14 — Departure
14-day trekking focus
- Day 1 — Arrive Kathmandu
- Day 2 — Kathmandu UNESCO highlights, gear shopping in Thamel
- Day 3 — Fly to Pokhara, permit processing (ACAP + TIMS)
- Days 4-12 — Annapurna Base Camp trek (9-day walking portion)
- Day 13 — Return Pokhara, hot shower, lake-side dinner
- Day 14 — Fly Pokhara → Kathmandu, depart
Variations
- Honeymooners — focus on Pokhara (lakeside resort like Temple Tree or Fishtail Lodge), skip Chitwan, add Bandipur (medieval hill village 4 hours from Pokhara)
- Families with kids under 10 — drop Muktinath (altitude), add Chitwan (kids love the elephants), keep the Kathmandu UNESCO short to 1 day
- Photographers — add a Sarangkot overnight (sunrise from the hilltop hotel instead of the early-morning drive), add Bandipur for the heritage architecture
- Budget travellers — bus instead of flights, ₹600 hotels in Thamel instead of mid-range, total trip cost drops 40-50 per cent
- Repeat visitors — skip Kathmandu standard circuit, add Bandipur (medieval village), Gorkha (Shah dynasty origin), or the Manaslu Circuit trek
Cost ranges
- 7-day Kathmandu + Pokhara: ₹32,000-55,000 per person (two sharing, mid-tier hotels)
- 10-day with Muktinath: ₹45,000-75,000 per person
- 10-day with Chitwan: ₹42,000-68,000 per person
- 14-day pilgrimage: ₹65,000-1,10,000 per person
- 14-day trekking (with ABC): ₹85,000-1,40,000 per person including trek operator
- Add international flights: ₹8,000-22,000 per person from major Indian cities
- Premium tier (Dwarika's in Kathmandu, Fishtail Lodge in Pokhara): add ₹15,000-30,000 per person