5-Day Nepal Itinerary from India — Short Trip, Big Experiences

A 5-day Nepal itinerary is all you need to experience the best of this Himalayan kingdom — ancient temples, mountain panoramas, adrenaline activities, and lakeside evenings. For Indian travelers working around limited leave, five days hit the sweet spot: long enough to cover Kathmandu and Pokhara properly, short enough to fit into a long weekend plus three days of casual leave.

Nepal sits just an hour from Delhi or Mumbai by air, no visa paperwork before you fly (Indians get a free visa on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport), and the currency exchange rate makes every rupee go further. This guide breaks down every day hour by hour, lists costs in INR, and gives you honest alternatives so you can tailor the trip to your travel style.

Before you go, read our complete Nepal visa guide for Indian citizens and get a realistic sense of how much a Nepal trip costs from India.

5-Day Nepal Itinerary Overview

Here is the full plan at a glance before we go day by day.

Day	Base	Key Highlights
Day 1	Kathmandu	Arrive, Thamel orientation, Boudhanath Stupa at sunset
Day 2	Kathmandu Valley	Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Patan Durbar Square
Day 3	Pokhara	Fly to Pokhara, Phewa Lake boating, Lakeside walk, Peace Pagoda
Day 4	Pokhara	Sarangkot sunrise, paragliding, Davis Falls, Mahendra Cave
Day 5	Kathmandu / Departure	Morning views, fly back to KTM, Thamel shopping, depart

This route is designed so you spend two nights in Kathmandu, two in Pokhara, and use Day 5 as a travel-and-depart day. If you can squeeze in a sixth night, use it in Pokhara — the lake town rewards slow mornings.

Day 1 — Arrive in Kathmandu

Getting There from India

IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet, and Nepal’s own Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines operate direct flights from Delhi (DEL → KTM, ~1.5 hrs), Mumbai (BOM → KTM, ~2.5 hrs), Bangalore, Kolkata, and Varanasi. Book at least three to four weeks out for fares between ₹6,000–₹14,000 return, depending on the season. Morning departures from Delhi get you into Kathmandu by 10 AM — ideal for this itinerary.

At Tribhuvan International Airport, Indian citizens show their Indian passport and receive a free visa on arrival for stays up to 30 days. Keep two passport-size photos handy; the process takes 20–40 minutes depending on the queue.

Afternoon — Settle into Thamel

Thamel is Kathmandu’s traveler hub: a dense grid of guesthouses, restaurants, gear shops, and money changers. Book a hotel here for easy access to everything. A reliable mid-range option (think clean rooms, hot water, rooftop breakfast) runs ₹2,500–₹4,500 per night for an Indian traveler. Budget guesthouses start at ₹1,200.

After checking in, spend an hour simply walking the lanes. Exchange cash at one of the licensed money changers along Thamel Marg — the rate is better than the airport. At the time of writing, 1 INR ≈ 1.6 NPR, so ₹5,000 Indian gives you roughly NPR 8,000, enough for two full days of food and local transport.

For lunch, try OR2K on Thamel Road — excellent dal bhat and momos, large portions, around NPR 600 (≈ ₹375).

Evening — Boudhanath Stupa at Sunset

4:30 PM — Take a taxi or three-wheeler to Boudhanath (Boudha). The fare should be NPR 300–400 from Thamel (≈ ₹190–₹250). Arriving in the late afternoon means the light is golden, the monks are returning for evening prayers, and the butter lamp sellers are setting out their wares around the stupa’s base.

Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in the world and a living religious site — not a museum. Walk the circumambulation path (always clockwise), spin the prayer wheels, and sit for a while at one of the rooftop cafes overlooking the mandala. The entry fee is NPR 400 (≈ ₹250) for foreigners; Indian citizens pay the same.

7:00 PM — Head back to Thamel for dinner. Thamel Kitchen and The Third Eye are both strong choices for North Indian and Nepali dishes if you prefer familiar flavors on night one.

Pro tip, Day 1: Withdraw Nepalese rupees from the ATM at the arrivals hall before exiting the airport — the rate is standard and saves time. Most ATMs dispense up to NPR 10,000 (≈ ₹6,250) per transaction.

Day 2 — Kathmandu Valley Exploration

Kathmandu Valley holds three UNESCO World Heritage sites that are must-visits on any Nepal itinerary: Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Patan Durbar Square. Each takes 1.5–2 hours to do justice. Hire a private car and driver for the day — around $30–40 (≈ ₹2,500–₹3,300) for up to four passengers — so you are not waiting for taxis between sites.

Morning — Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)

7:30 AM — Start early. The light on the valley is cleanest in the first two hours after sunrise, and the temple is quieter before the day-trippers arrive. The 365-step climb to the top is the classic approach, though a road entrance exists for those who prefer it.

The stupa’s all-seeing eyes look out over Kathmandu in all four cardinal directions. A mix of Buddhist and Hindu shrines covers the hilltop, along with the resident rhesus macaques that give the site its popular name. Budget 90 minutes here. Entry: NPR 200 (≈ ₹125) for SAARC nationals including Indians.

Mid-Morning — Pashupatinath Temple

10:00 AM — Drive to Pashupatinath on the Bagmati River. This is one of the most sacred Shiva temples in the world and draws pilgrims from across South Asia. Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple complex, but the outer precincts, ghats, and cremation platforms along the river are open and deeply moving to observe. Sadhus in saffron sit in meditation near the entrance — you can photograph them with permission and a small offering.

The Bagmati ghats are where Hindu cremations take place openly, as they do at Varanasi’s ghats. Approach with respect: no selfie sticks, no pointed cameras at active ceremonies. Entry to the outer areas: NPR 1,000 for foreigners/SAARC nations (≈ ₹625).

Afternoon — Patan Durbar Square

12:30 PM — Grab lunch near Pashupatinath, then drive 20 minutes south to Patan (Lalitpur). Patan Durbar Square is arguably the finest medieval courtyard in the Kathmandu Valley: intricately carved pagoda temples, the old royal palace, and the Patan Museum (one of South Asia’s best small museums, covering art and metalwork from the 6th century onward).

Budget 2 hours here. Walk slowly — every doorway and courtyard tells a story. The adjacent Mangal Bazaar lanes have some of the best quality traditional metalwork, thangka paintings, and pashminah shops in Nepal. Entry: NPR 1,000 (≈ ₹625).

Optional add-on: If your group is keen on ancient architecture, drive 30 minutes further east to Bhaktapur Durbar Square. It is denser and more intact than Patan and Kathmandu Durbar Squares combined. However, adding it makes for a very full day — save it if you have a third Kathmandu night.

Evening

6:00 PM — Return to Thamel. Try Chez Caroline or Himalayan Java for coffee and pastries before dinner. For dinner, Krishnarpan at Dwarika’s Hotel is a special-occasion Nepali fine dining experience (book ahead, ₹3,500–₹5,500 per person with set course meal).

Pro tip, Day 2: The Kathmandu Valley sites have a combined entry pass (NPR 2,000) that covers Swayambhunath, Patan, and Bhaktapur. Ask for it at the first site you visit — it saves queuing at each gate.

Day 3 — Fly to Pokhara

Morning — The Mountain Flight

6:30 AM — Check out of your hotel and head to Tribhuvan Airport’s domestic terminal. The Kathmandu–Pokhara flight on Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines takes just 25–40 minutes and costs NPR 7,000–10,000 one-way (≈ ₹4,375–₹6,250) booked in advance online. Book this as soon as you confirm your India–Nepal flights — seats sell out weeks ahead on weekends and holidays.

On a clear morning, the left-side window seats (A/B) give you a close-up view of the Annapurna range — including Machapuchare (Fishtail Mountain) and Dhaulagiri — as you descend into Pokhara. It is one of the most scenic domestic flights in Asia.

If your budget is tight, the Greenline Tourist Bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara is a comfortable option: AC coach, seat reservation, lunch included at a resort en route, and costs about NPR 2,000 (≈ ₹1,250). The journey takes 6–8 hours, so you would need to depart by 7 AM and arrive mid-afternoon. It works on a 6-day version of this itinerary; on 5 days, fly.

Afternoon — Phewa Lake & Lakeside

9:30 AM — Land in Pokhara. The Pokhara Airport is 3 km from the Lakeside district; a taxi costs NPR 400–500 (≈ ₹250–₹315). Check into your hotel — Lakeside (Baidam) is the area to stay, walkable to the lake, restaurants, and activity booking offices.

11:00 AM — Walk to the Phewa Lake boat ghat and rent a wooden rowboat: NPR 800–1,000 per hour (≈ ₹500–₹625), or hire a boatman to row you for NPR 1,200 return. Row or drift across to the Tal Barahi Temple, a small two-tiered pagoda sitting on an island in the middle of the lake. It is dedicated to the goddess Barahi and is one of the most photogenic spots in all of Nepal.

2:00 PM — Lunch at one of the Lakeside rooftop restaurants facing the water. Fish tikka from Phewa Lake is a local specialty — try it at Caffe Concerto or Moondance Restaurant. Budget NPR 600–800 per person (≈ ₹375–₹500).

3:00 PM — Walk the Lakeside promenade north toward Damside. The strip has gear rental shops if you want to book tomorrow’s paragliding, souvenir stalls, and good cafes. Stop at World Peace Pagoda in the late afternoon — either hike up the hill trail (45 min) or take a boat across and walk up (30 min). The pagoda was built by Japanese Buddhist monks and the sunset panorama of Pokhara, the lake, and the Annapurna range behind it is one of the defining memories of this itinerary.

Pokhara evenings are relaxed: linger over dinner, watch the mountains go pink at dusk, and sleep early — tomorrow’s Sarangkot sunrise starts at 5:30 AM.

Pro tip, Day 3: Book your paragliding slot for tomorrow morning the moment you arrive in Lakeside. Reputable operators (Sunrise Paragliding, Blue Sky Paragliding) fill up by evening. Tandem flights run NPR 8,000–12,000 (≈ ₹5,000–₹7,500).

Pokhara is also covered in detail on our Pokhara destination page.

Day 4 — Pokhara Adventure Day

This is the most packed and most memorable day of the trip. Start before dawn.

Pre-Dawn — Sarangkot Sunrise

5:00 AM — Your hotel can arrange a jeep or taxi to Sarangkot viewpoint for NPR 1,000–1,500 return (≈ ₹625–₹940). The 15-minute drive climbs 1,600 metres above sea level to a ridge above Pokhara. By 5:30 AM, you are standing in the cold with dozens of other early risers, watching the first light strike the Annapurna range: Annapurna I (8,091m), Annapurna II, III, IV, Hiunchuli, and the perfect pyramid of Machapuchare directly in front of you.

The 20-minute window when the peaks turn from pale grey to rose to vivid orange-gold is why people fly to Nepal. No photograph fully captures it. Entry to the viewpoint: NPR 50 (≈ ₹32).

Morning — Paragliding over the Valley

7:30 AM — Return to Lakeside and meet your paragliding operator. Tandem paragliding launches from the Sarangkot ridge (you can combine the sunrise trip and paragliding pickup in one taxi run). The flight lasts 20–30 minutes, soaring over Phewa Lake with the Annapurnas as a backdrop.

Certified operators use modern equipment and EN-certified tandem wings. Your pilot handles everything; you just sit in the harness and look around. The landing zone is on the lakeside flat near Camping Chowk. See our paragliding guide for operator recommendations and what to wear.

If paragliding is not for you, alternatives at the same budget level include:

• Zip-lining: the Pokhara Zipline is 1.8 km long, Nepal’s longest, NPR 6,000 (≈ ₹3,750)
• White-water rafting on the Seti or Kali Gandaki rivers: half-day trips from NPR 2,500 (≈ ₹1,560)
• Mountain biking to Sarangkot and back: rental NPR 800/day, guide optional

Afternoon — Caves, Falls & Tibetan Camp

11:00 AM — After breakfast (you have earned it), hire a taxi for the afternoon loop. Four sites in 3–4 hours:

Davis Falls (Devi’s Fall) — A waterfall that disappears underground through a sinkhole. Best visited between June and October when the monsoon swells it to a thundering cascade; in winter it is narrower but still eerie. Entry NPR 50 (≈ ₹32).

Gupteshwor Cave — Directly across the road from Davis Falls. A 300-metre limestone cave system sacred to Shiva, with a natural stone shivalinga deep inside and a secondary viewing point for Davis Falls from underground. Entry NPR 200 (≈ ₹125).

Mahendra Cave — 5 km north of Lakeside, a longer stalactite cave with a Buddhist shrine inside. Take a torch; the cave floor is uneven. Entry NPR 100 (≈ ₹63).

Tashi Palkhel Tibetan Refugee Camp — One of the largest Tibetan settlements outside Tibet. The camp has a working gompa (monastery), a carpet-weaving centre where you can watch artisans at work and buy directly, and a small tea shop. There is no entry fee; buy something at the workshop as a gesture of support.

5:30 PM — Back to Lakeside. Tonight is your last night in Pokhara — splurge a little. Caffe Concerto on the lake does excellent wood-fired pizza (surprisingly good). Or try Nepali Kitchen for a proper thali: rice, dal, two vegetable preparations, pickle, and papad, served with refills, NPR 800 (≈ ₹500).

Pro tip, Day 4: The taxi driver you hire for the afternoon cave loop will offer to wait at each site. Agree on a fixed rate upfront — NPR 1,500–2,000 for the full loop including waiting time (≈ ₹940–₹1,250) — rather than running the meter.

Day 5 — Return to Kathmandu & Departure

Early Morning — Last Look at the Mountains

6:00 AM — Wake up before the haze builds. From most Lakeside hotels’ rooftops or balconies, the Annapurnas are visible on clear mornings without going to Sarangkot. Spend 30 minutes with a coffee watching the peaks. This quiet moment is as good as any structured activity.

Morning — Fly Back to Kathmandu

8:00 AM — Check out and head to Pokhara Airport. Book the 9:00 or 10:00 AM flight back to Kathmandu (same airlines, same fare range as the outbound). The 30-minute flight gives you a full Kathmandu afternoon before your international departure.

11:00 AM — Land at Tribhuvan, drop your bags at a left-luggage counter (NPR 100–200 per bag) or at a Thamel hotel if you have a late flight.

Afternoon — Thamel Shopping & Farewells

11:30 AM — Thamel is one of the best places in South Asia to buy quality outdoor gear, pashmina shawls, thangka paintings, singing bowls, and handmade paper products. A few buying guidelines:

• Pashmina: Real pashmina (from Himalayan mountain goat fiber) costs NPR 2,500–6,000 (≈ ₹1,560–₹3,750) for a shawl. Anything cheaper is likely a blend. The Pashmina Association showrooms near Thamel Chowk are reliable.
• Thangka paintings: Certified thangkas from the Thangka Art Gallery carry a certificate of authenticity. Budget NPR 3,000–15,000 (≈ ₹1,875–₹9,375) depending on size and detail.
• Singing bowls: Hand-hammered antique bowls cost NPR 2,000–8,000; machine-made bowls NPR 500–1,500. Tap the rim and listen — a good bowl rings for 10+ seconds.
• Spices and teas: Himalayan timur pepper, yak butter tea packets, and Ilam first flush teas are excellent lightweight gifts. Available at the Thamel supermarkets for NPR 300–800.

1:30 PM — Lunch at Rosemary Kitchen on Jyatha Tole, a reliable Thamel staple with good dal bhat and continental options. NPR 600–800 per person.

3:00 PM — Head to the airport. International check-in at Tribhuvan opens 3 hours before departure. Allow 45 minutes for the taxi from Thamel in afternoon traffic (it can spike on city roads).

Pro tip, Day 5: Nepal’s departure tax is included in most airline tickets. If yours is not, there is a counter inside the terminal. Keep NPR 2,700 (≈ ₹1,700) aside just in case — though most international bookings from India include it automatically.

What This 5-Day Nepal Itinerary Costs

All figures are per person for an Indian traveler, based on mid-2025 pricing. Budget = dormitory/budget guesthouse; Mid = private hotel room, sit-down meals; Comfort = 3-4 star hotel, occasional splurges.

International Flights (Delhi–Kathmandu–Delhi)

• Budget: ₹8,000–₹10,000 (book 4–6 weeks out)
• Mid: ₹10,000–₹14,000
• Comfort: ₹14,000–₹22,000 (full-service, flexible)

Internal Flight (Kathmandu–Pokhara–Kathmandu)

• ₹8,750–₹12,500 return (NPR 14,000–20,000)
• Tourist bus alternative: ₹2,500 return

Accommodation (4 nights)

• Budget: ₹1,000–₹1,500/night × 4 = ₹4,000–₹6,000
• Mid: ₹2,500–₹4,500/night × 4 = ₹10,000–₹18,000
• Comfort: ₹5,000–₹9,000/night × 4 = ₹20,000–₹36,000

Food (all meals, 5 days)

• Budget: ₹600–₹900/day × 5 = ₹3,000–₹4,500
• Mid: ₹1,200–₹1,800/day × 5 = ₹6,000–₹9,000
• Comfort: ₹2,000–₹3,500/day × 5 = ₹10,000–₹17,500

Activities & Entry Fees

• Kathmandu temple entries (Day 1–2): ≈ ₹1,500
• Paragliding: ₹5,000–₹7,500
• Phewa Lake boat: ₹500–₹625
• Cave and falls entries: ≈ ₹250
• Sarangkot taxi: ₹625–₹940
• Total activities: ₹8,000–₹11,000

Transport in Nepal (taxis, auto-rickshaws)

• ≈ ₹800–₹1,500/day × 5 = ₹4,000–₹7,500
• Private car + driver (Kathmandu sightseeing day): ₹2,500–₹3,500

Total Estimated Cost Per Person

• Budget traveler: ₹35,000–₹45,000
• Mid-range traveler: ₹55,000–₹75,000
• Comfort traveler: ₹90,000–₹1,30,000

For a deeper breakdown by category including seasonal price variation, see our full Nepal trip cost from India guide.

Tips for Getting the Most from 5 Days in Nepal

Book Internal Flights the Moment You Confirm Your India Tickets

The Kathmandu–Pokhara sector is operated by a handful of small carriers on small aircraft. Seats sell out weeks in advance on weekends, public holidays, and during peak tourist months (October–November, March–April). Budget carriers have non-refundable fares, so confirm your dates are solid before booking.

Start Every Day Before 8 AM

The Himalayan ranges are clearest in the morning before the valley haze and afternoon clouds build up. Sarangkot after 8 AM often means blocked peaks. Boudhanath without the midday crowd is a completely different experience. The entire itinerary is structured around early starts — lean into it.

Pack Light and Carry-On Only

The domestic aircraft on the Kathmandu–Pokhara route have a strict 15 kg checked baggage and 5 kg carry-on limit. Thamel is full of gear shops if you realize you need something after landing. A 30–40L backpack and one small daypack is the ideal setup for 5 days.

Use Rupees, Not USD

While some hotels quote in USD, paying in Nepalese rupees at the live exchange rate is almost always cheaper. Exchange at licensed money changers (not hotels) or withdraw from Standard Chartered, NIC Asia, or Himalayan Bank ATMs for decent rates.

Altitude Is Not an Issue on This Route

Kathmandu sits at 1,400m and Pokhara at 820m — low enough that altitude sickness is not a concern for this specific itinerary. If you are extending the trip toward Nagarkot (2,175m) or short trekking, drink extra water and ascend slowly. See our best time to visit Nepal guide for seasonal planning including monsoon and snow conditions.

Download Maps.me or OsmAnd Offline

Nepal’s mobile data coverage is decent in cities but spotty between them. Download the Kathmandu and Pokhara offline maps before you fly. The maps include walking paths, ghat names, and smaller temples not on Google Maps.

Alternative 5-Day Nepal Itineraries

The Kathmandu–Pokhara circuit is the classic choice, but it is not the only option. Two alternatives worth considering:

Variant A: Kathmandu + Chitwan National Park

Swap Pokhara for Chitwan National Park in the southern Terai. The one-way drive takes 5–6 hours from Kathmandu (tourist bus: NPR 800, ≈ ₹500) or 25 minutes by flight to Bharatpur Airport.

Chitwan is Nepal’s premier wildlife destination: home to one-horned rhinos, Bengal tigers, gharial crocodiles, and over 600 bird species. A 2-night stay in the buffer zone gives you a jeep safari, a canoe ride on the Rapti River, elephant observation (sanctuary visits rather than rides at responsible operators), and a Tharu cultural evening show.

This variant suits travelers who prioritize wildlife over adventure sports. Budget NPR 10,000–25,000 (≈ ₹6,250–₹15,600) for a 2-night jungle package from a reputable eco-lodge.

Variant B: Kathmandu + Nagarkot + Poon Hill Express

For those who want a taste of trekking without committing to a full trek: spend Day 2 evening at Nagarkot (2,175m, 32km east of Kathmandu) for a close-up Everest-range sunrise, then fly to Pokhara on Day 3 and take the Poon Hill Express Trek — a compressed version of the classic trek that covers the Ghorepani–Poon Hill viewpoint (3,210m) in 2 days instead of the standard 4.

This route requires a good fitness base and prior trekking experience. You will need a TIMS card (Trekkers’ Information Management System) and Annapurna Conservation Area entry permit, both obtainable in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Our Poon Hill trek guide has the full logistics.

For a more relaxed 7-day version of the Nepal itinerary that includes Chitwan, Patan in depth, and a Poon Hill approach without rushing, see our 7-day Nepal itinerary from India.

You can also explore our curated Kathmandu–Pokhara Cultural Discovery 7-Day tour package if you prefer an organized trip with accommodation, guides, and internal transfers included.

For destination-specific planning, visit our Kathmandu destination guide and Pokhara destination guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 5 days enough for Nepal?

Five days is enough to cover Kathmandu and Pokhara — the two most rewarding destinations for a first visit — without feeling rushed, provided you use the internal flight rather than the bus between the two cities. You will not do any significant trekking in 5 days, but you can do a short guided hike near Pokhara or a sunrise walk at Sarangkot. For trekking, plan for at least 8–10 days.

Do Indians need a visa for Nepal?

Indian passport holders do not need a separate visa to enter Nepal. You can enter with a valid Indian passport or a valid Election Commission ID card. There is no advance visa application required. See our Nepal visa guide for Indian citizens for the full entry rules, including land crossing requirements.

What is the best time for a 5-day Nepal trip from India?

October and November are the best months: clear skies, crisp air, and the Himalayan views are at their sharpest after the monsoon has cleared the haze. March and April are the second-best window, with blooming rhododendrons in the hills. Avoid July and August for this itinerary — the monsoon brings heavy rain, flights get delayed, and Sarangkot views are often blocked by clouds for days at a stretch. For more detail, read our best time to visit Nepal guide.

How much does a 5-day Nepal trip cost from India?

A mid-range 5-day trip from Delhi — including return flights, internal Kathmandu–Pokhara–Kathmandu flights, 4 nights in private hotel rooms, all meals, and activities like paragliding — typically costs ₹55,000–₹75,000 per person. Budget travelers can do it for ₹35,000–₹45,000 by using the tourist bus and budget guesthouses. See the cost breakdown section above for category-by-category figures.

Which airline flies Kathmandu to Pokhara?

Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines are the main carriers on this route, with multiple daily flights taking 25–40 minutes. Book on their official websites or via reputable third-party portals. Shree Airlines also operates the sector. Always check the airline’s baggage allowance at booking — most allow 15 kg checked + 5 kg carry-on on domestic routes.