Where to visit If you only have 4 nights, 5 days in Nepal? It might be a common question for short time travelers while planning Nepal itinerary. The answer is either you will explore some of the iconic world heritage sites in Kathmandu and probably quick sightseeing around Pokhara and Nagarkot. Or short hiking around Pokhara and Kathmandu if you are hiking enthusiastic.
When travelers imagine Nepal, they would think of the Himalayas and the old civilization from ancient history. In the last post, we talked about 3 days of Nepal itinerary. However, If you have 5 days, you may have little more flexibility and options compear to the 3 days itinerary.
Things to keep in mind, the longer the days cheaper, the cost of the trip will become, especially If you are willing to experience the tourist bus ride or even a local bus. Generally speaking, a majority of visitors would have an image in their mind of seeing a mountain close up. But is it possible to combine both highlights of the city and mountain at the same time? Here in this article, I will give you some options so it might help while planning Nepal itineraries.
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4 Night 5 Days Itinerary in City And Hill Station
The only international airport in Nepal is in Kathmandu. So, your journey begins to and from here. As Kathmandu city is tiny, the activities you do around also depends on what time you arrive and depart. For example, If you arrive early in the morning, you can start the tour around Kathmandu stright from the airport on your first day. Or if your departure flight is late in the afternoon, you can begin the sightseeing early in the morning and have it dropped in the airport on your departure day.
Highlights
- 3 of the major city in Nepal (Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Nagarkot)
- 3 of the major hill station (Stupa hill, Sarangkot and Nagarkot,)
- Some of the iconic sites of Nepal is combined
- No hiking requires, Ideal for Children, Families with senior citizen
- 90% activities in nature and mountain view
- Transportation combined in flight, overland, and private car. Which allows you to enjoy the landscape through a different angle.
- Relatively cheaper with maximum available activities
- 2 nights in Pokhara, allowing visitors extra time to enjoy and have quite a time after the tour.
Here is the Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu and visit 4 of the major world heritage sites in private cars (Shyambhunath, Patan, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath). It takes about 6 hours to complete — overnight in Kathmandu. To follow this itinerary, you should arrive on the morning flight on the same day or the day before.
Day 02: Early flight to Pokhara and sightseeing in the city (David falls, Gupteshor cave, Mountain Museum, Seti George, Old Pokhara town, Mahendra Cave) And Himalayas sunset tour from Stupa in the evening. Overnight in Pokhara. On a clear day flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara offers some of the most spectacular mountain views of Annapurna, Manaslu, Langtang and Ganesh Himal range. SO, flying to Pokhara not only saves time while moving one city to another but also offers an incredible mountain view of the Himalayas.
Day 03: Early Sarangkot Himalayas sunrise tour and Paragliding options. Boating in the Phewa Lake, hike around the lake, local market, shopping, and free day in the afternoon is the way to enjoy the Pokhara tour. In a way to say, Sarangkot sunrise is something no one would miss while traveling Pokhara. The early morning drive will let you experience the views of Himalayas from Sarangkot while in the afternoon, you will visit some of the iconic attractions in Pokhara. If you are an adventure lover, there is nothing more beautiful than gliding down to Pokhara from Sarangkot by Paragliding.
Day 04: Pokhara to Kathmandu on a tourist bus (6-7 hour) and Nagarkot in a private car. The total journey will take about 8-9 hours, but this is the cheapest option and the way to enjoy the landscape of Nepal via overland. Considering the flight cost, you can take the flight back to Kathmandu and transfer back to Nagarkot. Overnight in Nagarkot.
It might be hell of a journey for someone who is not used long ride, but you have the options to go on a long ride in a lower price or go comfortable by taking a short flight back to Kathmandu. This is the perfect way to enjoy the scenery of Nepal via overland If you are willing to compromise.
Day 05: At Nagarkot, you will enjoy the early sunrise view of the Himalayas from the rooftop of your hotel. Depending on the weather, you will see some of the most spectacular views of the Himalayas from Nagarkot. After breakfast, you can continiue sightseeing in Bhaktapur, which is on the way to Kathmandu airport before call off your home sweet home.
Note: Be mindful, the itinerary above is for the full 5 days. So, you need to make sure the arrival day should be early and departure day should be late in the afternoon; otherwise, you might not be able to cover all the activities as I mention here. In order to get the precise itinerary and things that you can include, please contact us with your arrival and departure date and time so we can suggest and customized that suits in your timeframe.
4 Nights 5 Days Combine Hiking and City Tour Around Kathmandu
There are a lot of options and activities you can combine to meet your expectations. For example, combining Kathmandu city tour with hiking around Kathmandu valley or Pokhara city and combine hike around are the options. The itinerary below for 4 night 5 days comes with an opportunity to hike around Kathmandu Valley and the iconic world heritage sites in the city.
Highlights
- 70% of the days you will spend in nature by doing hiking
- Chances to enjoy the most incredible mountain views in the world.
- 2 night 3 days Hiking included
- Some of the most iconic world heritage sites in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur is part of this itinerary.
- Ideal for hiking enthusiastic
- Two of the famous city Kathmandu and Nagarkot on this itinerary
- Hiking is relatively easy but fitness required for at least 7-8 hours of hike
- Here is the Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu and visits the locals market and free day. If you are arriving at midday and haven’t got much of a time to complete the major attraction, you can explore some of the places by yourself. It is about 2-3 hours of self excursion. Visit a local Market, Ahsan, Indra Chok, Darbar Square, Dreams of Garden and walk around Thamel.
Day 02: Kathmandu to Sundarijal and hike to Chisapani. There is a local bus available to reach Sundarijal or simply take a private car for convenient options. It’s about 5-6 hours of gradual hike to Chisapani from Sundarijal in Shivapuri National Park. The first part of the hike takes you to the village call Mulkharkha. After lunch in Mulkharka, you can continiue hike to Chisapani at 2,100m and spend overnight. Chisapani is a small mountain village from where you can observe the mountain view of Langtang range, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Annapurna in the far end. And Everest mountain range also called Mahalangur range.
Day 03: Chisapani to Nagarkot. It is about 7-8 hours of hikes through the Shivapuri National Park, Ghule, Chauki Bhanjnag, Rani Pauwa. In the first couple of hour, you will hike through the lush rain forest in Shivapuri National Park before reaching Ghule. After Lunch at Ghule, you will mostly walk through the local village called Chauki Bhanjnag, Rani Pauwa, and finally overnight in Nagarkot. Part of the trail required to walk in the motorable road.
Day 04: Nagarkot to Kathmandu via Changunarayan and Bhaktapur. Nagarkot is a popular hill station to observe the sunrise. Early in the morning, you will wake up for sunrise views in the Himalayas. And literally, each window will offer the mountain view or the rooftop of the hotel (make sure to reserved the one with best views). After breakfast, you will hike down to Changunarayan, one of the world heritage sites and end hike there. You will either take the local bus to Bhaktapur or a private car for a convenient option to returned Kathmandu. Overnight in Kathmandu. 
Day 05: Wake up early and visit 4 of the major world heritage sites in private cars (Shyambhunath, Patan, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath). It takes about 6 hours to complete — overnight in Kathmandu. If you have flight late in the afternoon on the same day, you can make it, or you may need to consider leaving on the following day. Alternatively, if you arrive early on the first day, you can do this activity right after your arrival.
4 Nights 5 Days Combine Hiking and City Tour Around Pokhara
This option might be an ideal plan but for among the most expensive. Due to it is required to take the flight both way to and from Pokhara. However, If you extend your visit to Nepal for at least one week and use the tourist bus, it will be one of the cheapest options too. It makes a significant difference, especially when it comes to saving time. A flight option may seem expensive, but it will allow you to include more activities in a short time. But Local bus or tourist bus takes almost two full days to get to Pokhara, and Back to Kathmandu means you will spend more time inside the bus then doing activities itself. The itinerary below gives you some idea.
Day 01: Visit 4 of the major world heritage sites in private cars (Shyambhunath, Patan, Pashupatinath, and Boudhanath). It takes about 6 hours to complete — overnight in Kathmandu.
Day 02: Kathmandu to Pokhara on an early flight and hike to Dhampus. Overnight in Australian Camp. You will take a taxi/car from Pokhara airport Phedi and then about 5/6 hours of trek to get to the camp. It is a relatively easy hike.
Day 03: Dhampus to Naudada hike and take a taxi to Sarangkot. Sarangkot is one of the most popular hill stations for sunrise and sunset view of the Annapurna range. Overlooking view of Pokhara city and hundreds of gliders are gliding in Sarangkot’s sky every day. If you are one of them, this is the right spot to take a chance to paraglide here.
Day 04: Hike down to Pokhara or glide down If you love Paragliding. Pokhara sightseeing in the afternoon. You have the options to enjoy in Pokhara by visiting (David falls, Gupteshor cave, Mountain Museum, Seti George, Old Pokhara town, Mahendra Cave). Or If you just want to relax by doing some independent walk around the lakeside, boating in Phewa lake, that is also an alternative option. If you don’t have much of time, you can catch the late flight to Kathmandu as well.
More Options Available in Pokhara
There are multiple options available in Pokhara for short hiking. However, the option above is one of the popular combining a destination like Dhampus and Sarangkot. In the other logical way, being a popular route with incredible mountain views of the surrounding Dhampus and Sarangkot hike doesn’t require a National Park Permit and TIMS. Other options could be: Poon Hill trek, Ghandrul Trek, etc. But this area needs a permit.
Conclusion
There are many ways to spend 4 night 5 days in Nepal. However, the one above we just discussed is only a few of them. The itinerary and activities will depend on your available days from the starting to the end. If you don’t know what to do and where to go in Nepal during the time of 4 night 5 days, you can send us an email with exact available time frame, so we can take a look and try to fit what you can do. It will also help me to understand if you include your interest, budget, mode of transportation, and the categories of the hotel or a per-day budget.
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