✨ First-Time Visitors📍 Kathmandu 📍 Pokhara 📍 Nepal🔄 Updated 31 Oct 2026⏱ 5 min read

5 Days in Nepal: Kathmandu & Pokhara Itinerary (2026)

Temples, royal squares, Himalayan sunrises and a lake city: the best of Nepal in five easy days

5 Days
15 stops
2 bookable experiences
From $ 10.00

💡 Quick answer

With 5 days in Nepal, spend days 1–2 in Kathmandu (Swayambhunath, Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath), visit Patan on the morning of day 3 and fly to Pokhara, see Sarangkot sunrise, Phewa Lake and the World Peace Pagoda on day 4, and go paragliding before flying back to Kathmandu on day 5.

Route: Kathmandu → Patan → Pokhara → Kathmandu
Best season: Oct–Nov and Mar–Apr
Difficulty: Easy
Transport: Private car + two short flights
Budget: About USD 430–830 per person
Sites: 10+ including 5 UNESCO monuments

Overview

Five days in Nepal is enough to see the two places almost every first-time visitor wants: Kathmandu, with its temples, royal squares and living traditions, and Pokhara, the lake city beneath the Annapurna range. This plan gives you two and a half days in the Kathmandu Valley, a short flight west, and two days of mountains, lakes and sunsets in Pokhara, without rushing and without a single long bus ride.

The 5-day route at a glance

Day 1 – Arrive in Kathmandu: airport pickup, Thamel and sunset at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple).
Day 2 – Kathmandu’s sacred sites: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath.
Day 3 – Patan, then fly to Pokhara: Patan Durbar Square in the morning, a 25-minute flight, and an evening in Lakeside.
Day 4 – Pokhara highlights: Sarangkot sunrise, Davis Falls, a boat on Phewa Lake and sunset at the World Peace Pagoda.
Day 5 – Fly, then head home: paragliding or a lakeside morning, then the flight back to Kathmandu for your international connection.

Why this route works

Most of Nepal’s famous sights cluster in two places 200 km apart, and the road between them takes 6–8 hours. Flying Kathmandu–Pokhara costs a little more but turns a lost day into a 25-minute hop, which is what makes five days feel relaxed. Each day starts early, when the light is best and traffic is light, and ends close to your hotel.

Who this itinerary suits

It is designed for first-time visitors, couples, families and anyone combining Nepal with India or another trip in Asia. Walking is easy throughout. If you have more time, add a trek: the Annapurna Base Camp Trek starts from Pokhara, and the Everest Base Camp Trek starts with a flight from Kathmandu. Short on time but want Everest? Swap day 5 for the Everest Base Camp helicopter tour, back in Kathmandu by lunchtime.

Before you go

Most visitors get a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport; read our Kathmandu Airport guide and book a private airport transfer to Thamel so someone is waiting with your name. Buy a local SIM at the airport (see our SIM card guide), carry rupees in small notes for tickets (see money in Nepal), and check Is Nepal safe? for the current situation. Book the Kathmandu–Pokhara flights early in October–November and March–April.

Want more detail?

Each part of this trip has its own day-by-day guide: 1 day in Kathmandu, 2 days in Kathmandu, 3 days in Kathmandu, 1 day in Pokhara and 2 days in Pokhara. For background, see our Kathmandu guide, Pokhara guide and Nepal travel guide.

5 Days plan

🗓 5 Days✨ First-Time Visitors📍 Kathmandu 📍 Pokhara 📍 Nepal

Day 1Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu, Thamel and Swayambhunath

Land, settle in and see your first stupa at sunset.

Arrival
Airport pickup and check-in
Clear immigration at Tribhuvan International Airport, buy a local SIM in the arrivals hall, and meet your driver for the 20–40 minute ride to Thamel. Check in, freshen up and change some money.

💡 Tip: Get your visa fee ready in cash (USD is easiest) to speed up the queue.
🎟️ Book this part of your day
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Afternoon
Walk around Thamel
Stretch your legs in Thamel's maze of lanes: trekking shops, bookshops, singing bowls and pashmina. Stop for momos and a masala tea, and get used to the traffic and the colour.

💡 Tip: Shops are not fixed price. A friendly counter-offer of about two-thirds is normal.
Evening
Sunset at Swayambhunath
Take a taxi to Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) about an hour before sunset. Climb the steps, walk around the stupa with its painted Buddha eyes, and watch the city lights come on below. Return to Thamel for a first dinner of dal bhat.

💡 Tip: Keep food and sunglasses in your bag. The monkeys are quick.
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Day 2Day 2: Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath

Kathmandu's three greatest sites in one well-planned day.

Morning
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Walk 20–30 minutes from Thamel through Asan and Indra Chowk, the old market crossroads, to Kathmandu Durbar Square. See the Kumari Ghar (home of the living goddess), the Kasthamandap pavilion, Taleju Temple and the palace courtyards rebuilt after 2015.

💡 Tip: Photos of the Kumari are not allowed. Bring your passport or a copy for the ticket.
Afternoon
Newari lunch and Pashupatinath
Eat a Newari lunch: bara, choila and beaten rice. Then drive to Pashupatinath, Nepal's holiest Hindu temple, and walk the ghats and temples along the Bagmati River. Non-Hindus can't enter the main temple but can see it from across the river.

💡 Tip: Be respectful at the cremation ghats and don't photograph mourners.
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Evening
Boudhanath at sunset
Drive 10–15 minutes to Boudhanath, one of the largest stupas in the world. Walk the kora clockwise with pilgrims and monks, spin the prayer wheels, and watch the butter lamps being lit from a rooftop café. Dinner in Boudha or back in Thamel.

💡 Tip: Monastery doors around the square are usually open in the late afternoon; step inside quietly.

Day 3Day 3: Patan, then Fly to Pokhara

The finest royal square in the valley, a short mountain flight, and your first evening by the lake.

Morning
Patan Durbar Square and Patan Museum
Drive 25–30 minutes to Patan and arrive by 8:30. See the stone Krishna Mandir, the royal baths, the Golden Temple, and spend an hour in the Patan Museum, the best introduction to Nepali art. Book a private taxi with driver so your driver can take you straight on to the airport.

💡 Tip: Patan is close to the airport, which makes it the perfect last stop before your flight.
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Afternoon
Flight to Pokhara
Take an early-afternoon flight from Kathmandu's domestic terminal to Pokhara International Airport (about 25 minutes). Sit on the right-hand side heading west for views of the Himalaya on clear days. Transfer 15–20 minutes to Lakeside.

💡 Tip: Allow at least 1.5 hours at the domestic terminal; mountain flights are sometimes delayed by weather.
Evening
Lakeside, Pokhara
Walk along Phewa Lake as the sun goes down behind the hills, then have dinner at a lakeside restaurant. Try a Thakali set or fresh fish, and book tomorrow's early taxi to Sarangkot with your hotel.

💡 Tip: Lakeside is safe and relaxed in the evening, with plenty of live music.
🎟️ Book this part of your day
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Day 4Day 4: Sarangkot Sunrise, Phewa Lake and the Peace Pagoda

Pokhara's classic day: the Annapurnas at dawn and the lake at sunset.

Early morning
Sunrise at Sarangkot
Leave at about 5:00 for Sarangkot (around 1,600 m) and watch Machhapuchhre, Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri turn pink, then gold. Have tea at the top before heading down for breakfast.

💡 Tip: Bring a warm layer; it's cold before sunrise.
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Morning (late)
Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave
Visit Davis Falls, where the river vanishes into the ground, then the sacred Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave opposite, with its view of the waterfall from below.

💡 Tip: The cave steps are wet; wear shoes with grip.
Afternoon
Boat to Tal Barahi Temple
After lunch in Lakeside, hire a rowing boat to Tal Barahi, the island temple in the middle of Phewa Lake, with Machhapuchhre reflected in the water on clear days.

💡 Tip: Life jackets are provided; wear one.
Evening
Sunset at the World Peace Pagoda
Have the boatman drop you on the far shore and climb 30–45 minutes to the World Peace Pagoda for sunset over the lake and the Annapurnas. Farewell dinner in Lakeside.

💡 Tip: Leave soon after sunset so you're off the forest trail before dark, or arrange a taxi from the road.

Day 5Day 5: Paragliding, Flight to Kathmandu and Departure

One last view of the mountains, from the air if you like, before heading home.

Morning
Tandem paragliding or a slow lake morning
Pokhara is one of the world's best paragliding sites: 20–30 minutes over the lake with the Annapurnas beside you, landing on the shore. If flying isn't for you, take a boat at sunrise or visit the International Mountain Museum.

💡 Tip: Book paragliding a day ahead, and keep an hour spare in case the weather delays take-off.
Afternoon
Fly back to Kathmandu
Fly back to Kathmandu (about 25 minutes). If your international flight is the same evening, connect directly at the airport; otherwise, spend a last evening in Thamel shopping for souvenirs.

💡 Tip: Leave at least 3–4 hours between your domestic arrival and an international departure, in case of weather delays.
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Plan Your 5 Days in Nepal

Budget, transport and where to stay for Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Five-Day Budget

Per person, excluding international flights

Domestic flights and hotels are the biggest costs. Everything else is good value.

Item	Budget	Comfort
Hotels (4 nights, per person sharing)	USD 60	USD 300
Kathmandu–Pokhara flights (return)	USD 220	USD 240
Airport and city transport	USD 50	USD 100
Entry fees (8 sites)	USD 40	USD 40
Meals	USD 60	USD 150
Total	about USD 430	about USD 830
Paragliding (optional)	—	USD 75–110

Where to Stay

The most practical bases

Stay central so you spend your time sightseeing, not in traffic.

Nights	Where	Why
Nights 1–2	Thamel, Kathmandu	Walking distance to restaurants and Durbar Square; 20–40 min from the airport
Nights 3–4	Lakeside, Pokhara	On the lake, close to boats, cafés and the Sarangkot road
Alternative	Patan or Boudhanath	Quieter heritage hotels for nights 1–2

Getting Around

Times between every stop

Use a private taxi with driver in Kathmandu and taxis or walking in Pokhara. Fly between the two cities.

Route	Time
Kathmandu airport to Thamel	20–40 min by car
Thamel to Pashupatinath	25–35 min by car
Patan to Kathmandu airport	20–30 min by car
Kathmandu to Pokhara	25 min flight (6–8 h by road)
Pokhara airport to Lakeside	15–20 min by car
Lakeside to Sarangkot	30–40 min by car

Where to Eat

One dish to try each day

Every stop has its own food.

Day	Try	Where
Day 1	Momos and dal bhat	Thamel
Day 2	Bara and choila (Newari)	Near Durbar Square
Day 3	Yomari or a Newari khaja set	Patan
Day 4	Thakali set, lake fish	Lakeside, Pokhara
Day 5	Farewell momos and souvenir shopping	Thamel

Frequently asked questions

Is 5 days enough for Nepal?

Five days is enough for Kathmandu and Pokhara at a comfortable pace: the main temples and royal squares, Himalayan sunrise views and Phewa Lake. You need more time for a trek such as Everest Base Camp (12–14 days) or Annapurna Base Camp (about 7–12 days).

What is the best 5-day itinerary for Nepal?

Two and a half days in Kathmandu (Swayambhunath, Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Patan), a short flight to Pokhara, then Sarangkot sunrise, Phewa Lake, the World Peace Pagoda and optional paragliding.

Should I fly or drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara?

With five days, fly. The flight takes about 25 minutes, while the road takes 6–8 hours each way. Flying saves almost a full day.

How much does a 5-day Nepal trip cost?

Roughly USD 430–830 per person excluding international flights, depending on hotels. That covers hotels, two domestic flights, transfers, entry fees and meals. Paragliding adds about USD 75–110.

When is the best time for 5 days in Nepal?

October to November and March to April, for clear mountain views and pleasant temperatures. December to February is cold but often clear; June to September is monsoon, with rain and cloud.

Can I see Everest on a 5-day trip?

Yes. Replace day 5 with the Everest Base Camp helicopter tour from Kathmandu, which lands near Everest Base Camp and returns by lunchtime, or take a mountain flight from Kathmandu early in the morning.

Can I add Chitwan to this itinerary?

Chitwan National Park needs at least two extra days. With five days, it's better to focus on Kathmandu and Pokhara; with seven, add a jungle safari in Chitwan.

Do I need a guide for this itinerary?

No. The route is easy to do independently with taxis and domestic flights. A licensed city guide adds a lot of meaning at Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and Patan.