Nepal Itinerary 7 Days: Kathmandu, Pokhara & Chitwan

Seven days does not sound like much for a country with eight of the world's highest peaks, but a well-planned Nepal itinerary for 7 days can still deliver the three things most first-time visitors come for: the temple-dense Kathmandu Valley, the lakeside calm of Pokhara, and a taste of subtropical wildlife in Chitwan. The trick is to be honest about what one week allows. You will not summit anything, and you will spend real time in transit, but you can come home with a genuine sense of the place rather than a blur of airport lounges.

This guide lays out a realistic route, the transport that connects each stop, the fees you should budget for, and the trade-offs if you would rather trek than safari. Everything here is built around independent travel, though it works just as well if you hire a guide or book a package.

Key takeaways

• A balanced 7-day trip covers the Kathmandu Valley (2-3 days), Pokhara (2 days), and Chitwan (1-2 days), with travel days woven between them.
• Most visitors get a tourist visa on arrival; the 15-day option easily covers a one-week trip.
• Flying Kathmandu to Pokhara takes about 25 minutes versus 6-8 hours by tourist bus — flying buys back nearly a full day.
• Foreigner entry to Chitwan National Park is NPR 2,000 per person per entry (as of 2026).
• Autumn (Sep-Nov) and spring (Mar-May) offer the clearest skies and most stable weather.
• If a short Himalayan walk matters more than wildlife, swap Chitwan for the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek.

The shape of the week

The classic loop links Nepal's three most accessible highlights. Distances are short on a map but slow on the ground, so the plan deliberately uses flights and tourist buses to keep travel from eating the trip.

Day 1:    Arrive Kathmandu, settle into Thamel
Day 2:    Kathmandu Valley — old city + a major stupa
Day 3:    Kathmandu Valley — Patan or Bhaktapur, then fly/bus to Pokhara
Day 4:    Pokhara — lake, viewpoints, easy pace
Day 5:    Pokhara to Chitwan (Sauraha)
Day 6:    Chitwan — jungle activities
Day 7:    Return to Kathmandu, depart

This is a circuit, not an out-and-back, so you are rarely retracing steps. If your international flight leaves early on day 7, build in the return to Kathmandu the evening before. For a slower, two-week version of the same idea, see the two-week Nepal itinerary.

Before you go: visa, timing, and season

Tourist visa on arrival

Citizens of most countries can collect a tourist visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. According to Nepal's Department of Immigration, the standard tourist visa fees are USD 30 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, and USD 125 for 90 days, all multiple-entry (as of 2026). For a one-week trip the 15-day visa is plenty.

Practical notes:

• Carry the fee in cash; major currencies are accepted, but small, clean US dollar bills are simplest.
• Your passport should be valid for at least six months.
• You can fill the application form online before you fly or at a kiosk on arrival to shorten the queue.

For a fuller walkthrough, see the dedicated guide to Nepal visa on arrival.

When to come

The two prime windows are autumn (roughly September to November) and spring (roughly March to May). Autumn follows the monsoon, so the air is washed clean and mountain views are at their sharpest; spring brings warmer days and blooming rhododendron on the hills. The summer monsoon (late May to August) means heavy rain and hazy skies, while deep winter is cold at altitude though still fine in the lowlands. The best time to visit Nepal guide breaks this down month by month.

Days 1-3: Kathmandu Valley

The valley packs seven UNESCO World Heritage monument zones into a compact area, so two to three days lets you see the headline sites without rushing.

Day 1 — Arrival

Most international flights land in the afternoon or evening. Take a taxi to Thamel, the main tourist quarter, check in, and keep the first night low-key: a short walk to get your bearings and an early dinner. Jet lag plus altitude (Kathmandu sits around 1,400 m) is a poor combination for an ambitious first day. If you need a base, the where to stay in Kathmandu guide covers the main neighbourhoods.

Day 2 — Old city and a stupa

Spend the morning walking from Thamel through the markets of Asan and Indra Chowk to Kathmandu Durbar Square, the old royal plaza. In the afternoon, head to Swayambhunath, the hilltop stupa often called the Monkey Temple, for valley views and your first taste of Buddhist Nepal.

Day 3 — Patan or Bhaktapur, then onward

Use the morning for one more heritage city: Patan, just across the river, for its dense temple square and Newari lunch, or Bhaktapur for the largest and best-preserved old town. Then transfer to Pokhara in the late afternoon, or take the morning bus and arrive in time for sunset on the lake.

| Kathmandu site | Type | Time needed | | --- | --- | --- | | Durbar Square + old city walk | Heritage, markets | Half day | | Swayambhunath | Hilltop stupa | 2-3 hours | | Patan Durbar Square | Heritage, museum | Half day | | Bhaktapur | Heritage old town | Half to full day | | Boudhanath | Large stupa, cafes | 2-3 hours |

For more ideas if you have spare time, see things to do in Kathmandu.

Getting to Pokhara: fly or bus

Pokhara is about 200 km west of Kathmandu, but the mountain road makes that a long drive. You have two sensible options.

| Option | Time | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Flight | About 25 minutes in the air | Saves most of a day; pricier; weather can delay | | Tourist bus | About 6-8 hours | Comfortable coaches, lunch stop, far cheaper |

On a 7-day plan, the flight is the time-efficient choice because the road can take the better part of a day once stops and traffic are counted. If budget matters more than time, the tourist bus is a perfectly good experience and a chance to see the countryside. Full details are in the Kathmandu to Pokhara tourist bus guide.

Days 4: Pokhara

Pokhara is the country's relaxation capital, set beside Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range rising behind it on clear mornings. After the intensity of Kathmandu, a slower day here is welcome.

Good ways to spend the time:

• A morning trip to Sarangkot for a Himalayan sunrise, weather permitting.
• A row or paddle on Phewa Lake to the island Tal Barahi temple.
• The World Peace Pagoda on the ridge above the lake, reachable on foot or by short boat-and-walk.
• Lakeside cafes and easy bike rides for the afternoon.

Pokhara is also the launch point for the region's treks, so it is the natural pivot if you decide to swap wildlife for walking. See things to do in Pokhara for the full list.

Days 5-6: Chitwan National Park

A road transfer south brings you to Sauraha, the gateway village for Chitwan National Park, one of Asia's better-known reserves for one-horned rhinoceros and, with luck and patience, Bengal tiger.

Fees and what to expect

Foreigner entry to the park is NPR 2,000 per person per entry, with children under 10 admitted free (as of 2026), per the Nepal Tourism Board. Most lodges arrange permits and activities for you, so you rarely buy the permit yourself.

Typical activities over a full day include:

• A jeep safari into the core zone for wildlife spotting.
• A dugout canoe ride on the Rapti River, good for crocodiles and birds.
• A guided nature walk or birdwatching session.
• A visit to a nearby Tharu village to learn about local culture.

Note that the park follows responsible-wildlife rules; foot safaris and vehicle routes are guided for safety. For a deeper look at planning a visit, read the Chitwan safari guide.

Day 7: Back to Kathmandu and departure

From Chitwan you can drive back to Kathmandu (a half-day journey) or, if your budget allows and a flight is available, fly out from nearby Bharatpur to save time. Aim to be back in the capital with a comfortable buffer before your international flight, since road timings in Nepal are not guaranteed. If you land an extra few hours, Thamel is the place for last-minute shopping — see what to buy in Nepal for ideas worth packing.

A trekking alternative for the same week

If your heart is set on walking in the mountains rather than spotting rhinos, restructure the week around Pokhara instead of Chitwan:

Day 1:    Arrive Kathmandu
Day 2:    Kathmandu Valley sightseeing
Day 3:    Fly/bus to Pokhara
Days 4-6: Ghorepani Poon Hill trek (short loop)
Day 7:    Return to Kathmandu, depart

The Ghorepani Poon Hill trek is one of Nepal's most popular short treks, with a famous sunrise viewpoint over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. It is achievable for fit beginners and fits a one-week trip in a way that base camp treks simply do not. A full Annapurna or Everest base camp trek needs more days for the walk itself plus acclimatisation, so leave those for a longer return visit.

Budgeting and logistics tips

You do not need a precise spreadsheet, but fix the non-negotiable costs first — visa, park entry, and intercity transport — then plan rooms and meals around your style. A few habits that smooth a short trip:

• Book the Kathmandu-Pokhara flight early in peak season; seats and good weather slots fill up.
• Keep a buffer on day 7. Treat your last full day as flexible in case of a road delay or a weather-grounded flight.
• Carry some cash. Cards work in cities, but rural lodges and park villages often run on cash.
• Learn a few words. A simple namaste and dhanyabaad go a long way; the phrases every trekker should know post is a quick primer, and the site's phrasebook has more.

For a broader sense of what a trip adds up to, the Nepal trip cost guide is a useful companion.

Sources

• Nepal Department of Immigration — Tourist Visa
• Nepal Department of Immigration — Visa Fee and Documents
• Nepal Tourism Board — Park Entry Fees
• Nepal Tourism Board — Chitwan National Park