The most famous places to visit in Nepal are Kathmandu and its valley, Pokhara, Chitwan National Park, Lumbini, the Everest region and the Annapurna region. With one week most visitors choose Kathmandu, Pokhara and either Chitwan or a short trek.
Cities and culture
- 1. Kathmandu: the capital, with seven World Heritage monument zones in the valley, including Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and the three Durbar Squares. Two to three days.
- 2. Bhaktapur: the best-preserved medieval city, 13 km from Kathmandu. Half a day to one day.
- 3. Patan: the city of fine arts, with a beautiful palace square and museum. Half a day.
- 4. Bandipur: a hilltop Newar town between Kathmandu and Pokhara, with a traffic-free main street and Himalayan views. One night.
- 5. Tansen (Palpa): an old hill town on the road from Pokhara to Lumbini, known for its brassware and dhaka cloth.
Lakes and views
- 6. Pokhara: Nepal's second city, on Phewa Lake at about 820 m, with Machapuchare and the Annapurnas reflected in the water. Boating, the World Peace Pagoda, sunrise from Sarangkot, caves, paragliding and the start of most Annapurna treks. Two to three days.
- 7. Nagarkot and Dhulikhel: easy sunrise viewpoints near Kathmandu.
- 8. Rara Lake: the largest lake in Nepal, at about 2,990 m in the remote north-west, for those with time and a taste for quiet. See the Rara Lake trek.
Wildlife and the plains
- 9. Chitwan National Park: sal forest and grassland in the lowlands, home to the one-horned rhinoceros, deer, crocodiles and a healthy tiger population. Jeep safaris, canoe rides and walks from Sauraha or Meghauli. Two nights.
- 10. Bardia National Park: bigger, wilder and less visited than Chitwan, in the far west, and often called the best place in Nepal to look for tigers.
- 11. Lumbini: the birthplace of the Buddha, with the Maya Devi temple, the Ashoka pillar and monasteries built by many countries in a peaceful garden zone. One day.
- 12. Janakpur: the birthplace of Sita, with the white Janaki Mandir, important to Hindu pilgrims from India and Nepal.
Mountains and treks
- 13. The Everest region (Khumbu): Sherpa villages, monasteries and the highest mountains on Earth. A week reaches Namche and Tengboche, and two weeks reach Everest Base Camp.
- 14. The Annapurna region: the widest choice of treks, from Poon Hill in four days to Annapurna Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit.
- 15. Mustang and Muktinath: the dry country behind the Annapurnas, with the Muktinath temple at 3,710 m, Jomsom, Kagbeni and the walled town of Lo Manthang in Upper Mustang.
Also worth knowing: Langtang, the nearest trekking valley to Kathmandu, and the holy lake of Gosaikunda.
Sample plans by length of stay
- 4 to 5 days: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Nagarkot, with a mountain flight.
- 7 days: Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan, the classic triangle.
- 8 to 10 days: Kathmandu and Pokhara with the Poon Hill trek.
- 12 to 14 days: Kathmandu plus Annapurna Base Camp, or Kathmandu plus the Everest View trek and Chitwan.
- 16 days or more: Kathmandu plus Everest Base Camp, with a day or two to rest at the end.
When to visit
October and November have clear skies and festivals. March and April are warm, with rhododendrons in the hills. December to February is cool and clear, excellent for Chitwan, Lumbini and the cities. June to September is the monsoon: green, quiet and cheaper, with some road delays, and the right time for Upper Mustang.
Getting around Nepal
Flights link Kathmandu with Pokhara (25 minutes), Bharatpur for Chitwan, Bhairahawa for Lumbini and Lukla for Everest. By road, Kathmandu to Pokhara is about 200 km and takes six to eight hours, and Kathmandu to Chitwan five to six. Tourist buses are comfortable and cheap; a private car costs more and saves time. Roads are slow, so plan fewer places and enjoy them properly.
For Indian travellers
Indian citizens need no visa and can enter with a valid passport or voter ID. Indian rupees in notes of 100 are widely accepted, and larger notes may not be. UPI works in some places, but carry cash as well. Direct flights reach Kathmandu from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Varanasi. See Nepal trek planning.
Places most visitors miss
- Ilam: tea gardens on green hills in the far east, close to Darjeeling in landscape and mood.
- Gorkha: the old hilltop palace from which Nepal was unified, between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Begnas and Rupa lakes: quieter than Phewa, a short drive from Pokhara.
- Ghandruk: a stone-built Gurung village facing Annapurna South, reachable in a day from Pokhara. See the Ghandruk trek.
- Kalinchowk: a hilltop shrine with snow in winter, popular with Nepali visitors. See Kalinchowk.
Adventure beyond trekking
Nepal is also known for white-water rafting on the Trishuli and Bhote Kosi rivers, paragliding from Sarangkot above Pokhara, mountain biking in the Kathmandu Valley and Mustang, zip-lining and bungee jumping, and helicopter flights to Everest and Annapurna. Most of these fit into a single day between other plans.
Common questions
What is Nepal famous for?
Mount Everest and the Himalaya, the birthplace of the Buddha at Lumbini, the temples of the Kathmandu Valley, trekking and the rhinos and tigers of Chitwan.
Which is the most beautiful place in Nepal?
It is a matter of taste. Pokhara is the usual answer for a town, and the Annapurna Sanctuary, Gokyo Lakes and Rara Lake are among the most beautiful mountain places.
How many days are enough for Nepal?
Seven days cover Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. Add four to five days for a short trek and ten or more for a base camp trek.
What are the top 10 places to visit in Nepal?
Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan, Pokhara, Chitwan, Lumbini, Nagarkot, Bandipur, the Everest region and the Annapurna region.
Heights, dates, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
