Kathmandu to Pokhara: distance, bus, flight or car
About 200 km on the Prithvi Highway, or 25 minutes in the air.
Pokhara is about 200 km west of Kathmandu on the Prithvi Highway. By private car the drive usually takes 6 to 8 hours with a tea and lunch stop, a tourist bus takes about 7 to 8 hours, and a flight takes about 25 minutes. There is no train. Our private car between Pokhara and Kathmandu is NPR 15,600 one way (NPR 20,400 by SUV), per vehicle with a driver, and it lets you stop at Bandipur or the Manakamana cable car on the way.
Bus, flight or car: which is best?
| Way | Time | Good for | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | About 25 minutes in the air, plus the airports | Speed, and the Himalaya from the window | Air tickets |
| Private car or jeep | Usually 6 to 8 hours | Comfort, luggage, families, stops where you like | NPR 15,600 by car, all prices |
| Tourist bus | About 7 to 8 hours | The lowest fare | Bus tickets |
Car prices are ours: one way between Pokhara and Kathmandu, per vehicle with a driver, VAT excluded. Bus and plane fares change; ask us for the day’s fare.
If time matters most, fly. If you are three or four people with bags, a private car often costs little more per person than flying and takes you door to door. If you are on a tight budget, take a tourist bus: it is the cheapest way and perfectly fine in daylight.
The road from Kathmandu to Pokhara
The whole way is the Prithvi Highway, Nepal’s busiest road. You climb out of the Kathmandu valley, drop to the Trishuli river and follow it west, then the Marsyangdi, before the last climb to Pokhara. In order:
- Leaving Kathmandu: the slowest part, with traffic at the edge of the valley. Leave early.
- Along the Trishuli river: rafting camps and roadside restaurants; Malekhu is known for fried river fish.
- Kurintar: the cable car up to the Manakamana temple.
- Mugling: where the road to Chitwan turns south. Tea and lunch stops are around here.
- Dumre: the turn for Bandipur, 30 minutes up the hill.
- Damauli, then the last stretch to Pokhara; Lakeside is on the far side of town.
Parts of the highway have been under widening work for years, and work zones can add an hour or more. In the monsoon, June to September, landslides sometimes block the road for a few hours, so allow spare time if you have a flight to catch.
Stops worth making on the way
Bandipur
A Newar hill town of old brick houses and car-free lanes, about 2.5 to 3 hours from Pokhara. Stay a night with our Bandipur overnight trip (US$ 120 per person for two).
Manakamana cable car
From Kurintar, a cable car rides up to the hilltop temple of Manakamana, the goddess who grants wishes. Allow about two hours for the visit.
Malekhu
A riverside stop famous for small fried river fish, a classic snack on this road.
Gorkha
A detour north of the highway to the hilltop palace of the Shah kings, where the unification of Nepal began.
Tell us the stops you want when you ask, and we include them in the written price.
Flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara
- Flights take about 25 minutes. For the mountains, sit on the right side of the plane going to Pokhara, and on the left coming back.
- Morning flights are the most reliable. Cloud in the monsoon and haze or fog in winter can delay flights, so do not plan a tight connection.
- You land at Pokhara International Airport, usually 20 to 30 minutes from Lakeside. Our airport car to Lakeside is NPR 1,200.
- Domestic flights have stricter baggage limits than international ones. Check your ticket.
The tourist bus
Tourist buses leave Kathmandu early in the morning and stop for breakfast and lunch on the way. They arrive at Pokhara’s tourist bus park, a short taxi ride from Lakeside. In October and November, book a day or two ahead. We book seats for you on our bus tickets page.
Our tip: Take a seat on the left side of the bus from Kathmandu for the river views, and keep a warm layer handy: the air conditioning can be strong.
A private car or jeep with a driver
A car takes up to 4 people with 2 medium suitcases, an SUV up to 6, a tourist van 10 to 15. One way between Pokhara and Kathmandu: NPR 15,600 by car, NPR 20,400 by SUV, NPR 26,400 by tourist van and NPR 48,000 by mini bus. Shared by four, the car is NPR 3,900 each.
The driver picks you up at your hotel, you choose where to stop, and nobody waits at a bus park. Our prices are for trips from Pokhara; for a pickup in Kathmandu, ask us and we arrange it.
Pokhara to Kathmandu, and on to Chitwan
Going back works the same way. Leave Pokhara early: traffic entering Kathmandu is slow in the late afternoon. Many travellers go on to Chitwan instead: Pokhara to Sauraha is usually 4 to 5 hours, NPR 13,200 by car, and from there back to Kathmandu. See our Nepal itineraries for the order that keeps the driving short.
How to book
- Send us your tripYour date, pickup place, number of people and bags, on WhatsApp.
- Get a written priceWe reply with the vehicle and the price in writing.
- ConfirmA small advance, around 10 to 20 percent, may be asked for some trips. There is no online payment.
Ask on WhatsAppQuestions people ask
How far is Pokhara from Kathmandu?
About 200 km by road on the Prithvi Highway. By car it usually takes 6 to 8 hours with stops; by plane about 25 minutes.
What is the best way to go from Kathmandu to Pokhara?
Fly if you are short of time, take a private car for comfort and stops, or a tourist bus for the lowest fare. All three are common and safe in daylight.
How much is a private car from Kathmandu to Pokhara?
Between Pokhara and Kathmandu our one-way price is NPR 15,600 by car, NPR 20,400 by SUV, NPR 26,400 by tourist van and NPR 48,000 by mini bus, per vehicle with a driver. For a pickup in Kathmandu, ask us.
Is there a train from Kathmandu to Pokhara?
No. There is no railway to Pokhara; you go by road or by plane.
How long is the flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara?
About 25 minutes in the air. Sit on the right side for the mountains.
Can we stop at Bandipur or Manakamana on the way?
Yes. Tell us when you ask and we include the stops in your quote. Manakamana needs about two hours; Bandipur is best with a night.
Is the road safe in the monsoon?
The highway stays open most days, but from June to September landslides can close it for a few hours. Travel in daylight and allow spare time.