Attention! This is probably the most updated writing you could ever find online. This article contents all available travel options between Kathmandu and Pokhara. Enjoy reading!
Contents
Kathmandu to Pokhara by Flight
Every day in the morning from 08: 00 AM to until 03: 30 PM, different airlines fly to Pokhara. As one of the most popular touristic city in Nepal. Buddha Air, Yeti Air, and other companies operate more than 10 flights a day. The duration is roughly 25 minutes of flying time from Kathmandu. This is by far the fastest and easiest way for the city. If you wish, Pokhara City Tour can then be done in even one day from Kathmandu if you chose the flight option.
For some travelers with limited time in Nepal and looking to go to Pokhara, the good news is, you can actually fly there. And it will probably be the shortest flight you may have experienced as it is not even 30 minutes!! A mere 26 minutes to be exact. The waiting at the airport and probably the time to find a cab and drive to the airport would take much longer.
The domestic airport in Kathmandu
Before we dive into the details about the Pokhara flight, let me first orient you with the aviation capabilities of Nepal. There is only one international airport in the whole country, Kathmandu, and it is likely one of the smallest in the world. You could maybe say it is only half, as it needs to share the runway with domestic flights too. The airport is very simple yet functional. The good thing about this is that you don’t have to walk miles and miles to get to your gate, and I could assure you that you will not be lost.
The airport may be tiny, but there is always someone to assist you everywhere. It is also very cultural, and I like that upon arrival, the airport bus takes you directly to the immigration section where travelers get their visa, one escalator down, and you are in the baggage area, and then 5 minutes walk after, and voila, you are outside!! Yes, there isn’t much inside the airport, which is a good thing! Anyways, who wants to spend time at the airport when there is so much to see and experience outside! Now, back to Pokhara flight.
How to connect to a domestic flight from an international trip to Nepal?
If you just arrived in the country and has to take a domestic flight within a short timeframe, you are in luck because as mentioned above, the local airport is connected to the TIA (short for Tribhuvan International Airport). When you exit the main arrival gate and head north towards the coffee shops, ATM and a Western Union bank (this should be on your right), you will see one small red building – this is the domestic terminal. It is only about 7-10 minutes’ walk from the international flight’s arrival gate.
How much is the Kathmandu to Pokhara flight fare?
Unlike in other countries, the flight fare in Nepal is fixed, meaning it doesn’t vary on a daily basis. An exception to this would be when the fuel cost is unstable. They do allow for some inflationary increases year on year, but you should generally find it the same any day of the year. Although the cost is supposed to be ‘fixed’, the ticket prices could vary in the market if you buy from an agency. I think I am being too honest here.
Okay, let me explain the standard cost first. There are 2 different types of flight costs – local and foreign. The standard local cost for a one-way ticket is USD 45 per person and this cost applies to all Nepali and Indian citizens (Note: Indian tourists are treated as locals in Nepal). Any other country has to pay the standard one-way cost of USD 125 per person. However, different agencies provide varying offers and discounts based on the season.
How to book a Kathmandu Pokhara flight at a cheap cost?
I will share with you the secrets of the trade. If you go through online, for example, Buddhaair.com, you have no choice but to pay the full amount of USD 125 (USD 45 for Nepali / Indian) to get a one-way ticket. But if you wish to get the same flight at a much lower cost, then you should approach a local travel company. The reason is that airlines keep track of how many flight tickets each travel company like us purchased from them annually. Based on that, we get roughly 10-15% discount and we pass on the discount to our clients. And usually, the discount is much higher during the offseason (January-February, May-September, December)
How and with who to book the flight ticket to Pokhara?
Every travel company in Nepal could sell a flight ticket to you. But the question is, how much discount can they offer? Of course, not everyone can provide discounts of 10% – 20%. We advise that you do your research and check with them how much the price would be. Please also note that very few companies in Nepal have online payment facilities. Please don’t expect a booking platform such as Expedia.com or Skyscanner.com. By online, this means you can inquire to them by email and they could process your order – (assuming you provide some form of payment through PayPal or bank transfer). As far as I know, only Buddhaair.com can offer online ticket reservation using major debit and credit cards.
How can we offer a 10 – 15% cheaper flight ticket to Pokhara?
We are not a big company but because of the number of ticket sales we have throughout the year (and our outstanding partnership with the flight companies), we are able to provide 10-20% discount on a round trip flight ticket to Pokhara from Kathmandu, and also in the easiest and safest payment gateway. We are available by USD bank transfer for the USD account holder. GBP account transfer for the GBP account holder and. PayPal for the rest of the world on a 0% service fee. If you think this is the easiest gateway to reserve the flight ticket, please send us your requirements via email and we could agree on the best way for the payment. We will also be able to confirm your ticket in a couple of hours and send your ticket by email.
Note: The discount offer only applies to the foreign traveler, It doesn’t apply to the local passenger including Indian citizen. The discount It may also vary by season and month of the year. 
What to see and how many days to spend in Pokhara?
As mentioned above, Pokhara is less than 30 minutes by plane. Although it is very short to fly, traveling there by road could take up to 8 hours depending on road and traffic conditions. Of course, the most cost-efficient way to get there is by bus. However, if you have a short timeframe, and do not have the full day to allocate to traveling, then the flight option is probably the best for you.
In season time (March-April and October-November) when the weather is clear, a one-day Pokhara tour from Kathmandu is possible and worth a try. The mountains are usually visible in the morning and covered by clouds in the afternoon. Having said that, we would still recommend spending a minimum of one night in Pokhara. This allows you to see more of the city including short hiking and trekking around Pokhara, sunrises (which it is famous for) and a panoramic view of the Himalayas. The sunset in Phewa Lake or Stupa hill and a visit to the temple in the middle of the Phewa lake are some of the things you shouldn’t miss in Pokhara. If you want us to suggest an itinerary for you depending on how many days you may have, please feel free to Contact Us (nestadventure@gmail.com) or provide your comment below.
Tourist Bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara
Where is the Tourist Bus station in Kathmandu?
What time the Tourist Bus departs from Kathmandu?
How much is the bus fare from Kathmandu to Pokhara?
Here is the list of companies for your reference (note that prices are subject to change):
Standard tourist bus company (8USD- 10USD)
Deluxe Tourist Bus Company (15USD – 25 USD)
- Baba Adventure
- Greenline Travel & Tours
- Mountain Overland Tours
- Golden Travel & Tours
Super Deluxe Tourist Bus Service (USD 25 to USD 30)
- Jagadamba Travels
- Travel Nepal Bus
How to book the bus ticket or with whom?
How long is traveling time to Pokhara from Kathmandu?
Pokhara city is only 210km far from Kathmandu by distance, but due to the hilly road condition, it will take more time than you expected. Travel time is about 6 to 7 hours. However, it is worth noting that the view is simply breathtaking and you get to experience the road of Nepal and drive around the mountain area for a scenic view.
Super Deluxe bus Travel Nepal Bus in operation
Very recently, another bus company, Travel Nepal Bus, also started the operation of a similar type of deluxe tourist bus with its limited seating (one with 10 seats and another bus with 16 seats), inside the toilet/washroom and reclining sofa-like seats. It even features a minibar for guests who would like to enjoy the ride with a few sips. This super deluxe bus from Travel Nepal Bus also comes with a separate smoking room on board.
Currently, the ticket priced at USD 25 per person for tourists and NPR 2,000 for Nepalese. Considering the service, this price is cheaper compear to Jagadamba Travel. If you a person who would love extra adventure on the road of 6-7 hours ride we recommend taking these buses instead of comfort.
How to make a reservation?
There are three ways to make reservations for the Travel Nepal Bus ticket:
- Walk into the office locations of Global Vacation Tour and Baba Adventure. Please note that these two tour companies jointly own the Travel Nepal Bus.
- Ask a travel agent in Nepal to arrange this for you.
- (For Nepalese only) If you have the e-Sewa account, the ticket can be purchased online from the bus company’s website.
Night Tourist Bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara
Tourist buses to Pokhara with toilet and washroom inside
- Jagadamba Travel
- Travel Nepal Bus/Global Vacation Tour
- Debit Travel
Tourist bus with a smoking room on board
In 2019 There are few bus company’s buses which also comes with a smoking room on board. Such as Travel Nepal recently offers bus with smoking facilities on board. Especially the route like Kathmandu to Pokhara or Kathmandu to Lumbini involves at least 8-9 hours of journey. Having smoking facilities onboard may sound fancy for the smoker but may not pleasant sounds for non-smokers. However, the separate chamber for smoker allows enjoying their smoking while others enjoy the facilities such as a washroom, mini bar, Wifi, etc.
(Updates: Travel Nepal Bus has recently suspended smoking facilities onboard until the further notice.)
How to make a reservation?
For non-Nepalese, the easiest way to book a bus ticket might be through a travel agency. It is important to note that none of those buses has a secure online booking system and some information may not be available from the company websites such as the physical office location (but please see tip below on how to find them!). A vast majority of tickets are purchased through a local travel agent.
By coincidence, it happens that two of these companies, Travel Nepal Bus (operated by Global Vacation Tour) and Debit Travel, are just right next to our office, NEST Adventure. If you want to visit their office location to book a ticket, you can follow the Google map of our company, NEST Adventure. Debit Travel is on the right side of our office and Travel Nepal Bus/Global Vacation Tour on the left side. Of course, we are also more than happy to assist if you need our help in making the reservations for you.
Local Bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara
Where is the Local bus station in Kathmandu?
What is the departure time schedule of the Local bus?
How much is the local bus fare to Pokhara?
1. Departure is on time (always around 7 AM). Passengers are not allowed to get off anywhere in the middle of the journey.
2. There are stopovers for lunch and breakfast only, in tourist restaurants, so costs are higher than in local places.
3. The seat is more comfortable and has more legroom
4. As a tourist bus, it is mostly (if not all) tourists.
5. The last stop is the Pokhara tourist bus station very near Lakeside.
6. More expensive than a local bus, but faster and hassle-free travel.
7. Wi-Fi and air condition also available on some buses.In Local Bus
1. Departure and arrival time is not certain. As it has several stops throughout the journey either to pick up the passenger or to let them off.
2. They also have stopovers for food and toilet breaks.
3. The local bus seat is very small and probably not enough leg room if you are tall.
4. You can taste the real local food and can mingle with local people.
5. You will have to get off in a local area called “Prithivi Chok” and have to travel again by bus/taxi or on foot if you wish to get to “Lakeside”.
6. Cheaper than the Tourist Bus, but could take about 1-3 hours longer
7. Don’t expect Wi-Fi or air condition.
Kathmandu to Pokhara by Private Car
Train from Kathmandu to Pokhara
There is another popular post from virtualtourist.com; probably this post has more topics about the journey to Pokhara. The traveler’s writing about a different topic like Pokhara airport. Pokhara tourist Bus Park, flight ticket and cost from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Pokhara-Kathmandu. If you just want to stroll around Pokhara this post gives you some idea on how to rent a bike. Trip advisor Travel forum question of “riding the bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara” by BEACH LOVA1 from Texas question about the cost and Journey to Pokhara. There are many travelers giving their opinion and recommendation. Although the cost and pricing are not updated the opinions from travelers could be always your inspiration for your traveling.
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