How do I get to Pokhara from Kathmandu?

Heading to Pokhara from Kathmandu? You're in for a treat! Known as the "City of Lakes," Pokhara is a gem in Nepal's crown, boasting eight pristine freshwater lakes, including Phewa, Begnas, and Rupa. 

Beyond its lakeside charm, Pokhara is an adventurer's paradise, home to the world's steepest zipline, the Zipflyer, and a renowned paragliding hub. If you're up for it, you can also navigate the rapids of the majestic Seti Khola. For those seeking a cultural experience, the city doesn't disappoint with its collection of temples and museums, including the Tal Barahi Temple and the International Mountain Museum.

Now that we have praised the city so much, you might be thinking, Okay, so How do I get to Pokhara? Well, let us tell you how. Two main modes of transportation are available from Kathmandu, departing for Pokhara, namely by air and by road. 

Kathmandu to Pokhara by Flight:

As of 2023, no international flights land directly in Pokhara. Although the Sichuan Airlines from China carrying some Nepalese and Chinese passengers made a successful landing on June 21, it reportedly had some payload issues, and other airlines have not initiated anything yet. So, the gateway to Pokhara for both international and domestic tourists as of now is the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu. 

Many domestic airlines fly to Pokhara daily, like Nepal Airlines, Yeti Airlines, Buddha Airlines, Simrik Airlines, etc. The flight to Pokhara is around 30 minutes. The first flight of the day is around 6:30 a.m., and the last flight of the day is timed around 8:15 p.m. Talking about the costs of the ticket, it varies with the airline, time of boarding, and class of the flight. The average approximated price for a one-way ticket (adult) is $50 to $150 for economy class and $150 to $250 for business class.

Tip: Some airlines do have students, infants, and other occasional discounts, so make sure to check for the available discounts and confirm the price from the airline itself before booking.

Kathmandu to Pokhara by road:

You can take a public vehicle, take the tourist bus, or reserve a jeep or taxi to get into transportation by road. 

The safest yet most affordable option is to take the tourist bus. The bus park to catch the tourist bus is located at Sorhakhutte, which is 6 km / 3.72823 miles away from the Tribhuvan International Airport. The approximate cost of the tourist bus is around $10 to $30. These buses have 32 total seats and have well-equipped AC that is only operated during summer. 

You will need to book your seat on the tourist bus beforehand; you can either visit the ticket offices themselves or ask the travel agencies to do it for them. The better and cheaper option is the travel agency as they have more experience and will help you make the best choice under your budget. 

Another option is to go to Sorkhakhutte itself and bargain right then and there with the bus operators as there are many vacant seats (except for the peak seasons), but only opt for it if you are confident in your negotiating skills. 

The journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara by tourist bus is about 7 hours to 8 hours long. The duration of the ride may differ a bit depending on traffic, road conditions, and the season (as there is more traffic during the peak seasons). 

The first bus leaves from Kathmandu to Pokhara around 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., and the last bus leaves around 8 p.m. (differs with the bus company). The last stop of the bus is about 45 minutes away from the lakeside by foot. Taking the local bus to the lakeside is another option, it is only about 7 minutes long and costs 15 to 20 Nepali rupees (0.11 USD).

The other public vehicles from Kathmandu to Pokhara (not the tourist bus) are stationed at Kalanki by the name of Dhunge Adda station. This station is operated and managed by Sajha Yatayat and is 12 km / 7.45645 miles away from the Tribhuvan International Airport. 

The Pro of the local bus is more affordable price, and the con is less comfortable seats without any AC even during the summer. These buses usually take about 7 hours to 8 hours to reach Pokhara city. Local buses from Kalanki (Dhunge Adda station) leave only once daily, around 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. 

The approximate cost of these local buses is around $5 to $10. You can go to the Dhunge Adda station and get a ticket for the same day (if available) or you can reach out to them via travel agents. These local buses are mostly available on the go from the station, so it is okay for you to go there early in the morning and negotiate your way out. If you do not want to rush the process, then confirm the ticket a day or two before the actual ride to Pokhara.

Lastly, let's get to reserving a jeep or taxi from Kathmandu. There are companies that are dedicated to providing you with services where you can reserve taxis, jeeps, Scorpios, and other minivans for different places; Pokhara is one of them. To book the vehicle of your choice, you can go to the companies directly or do it the old-fashioned way by hiring a travel agent. 

Some companies also offer online booking, so just go to the web and search for a taxi or jeep from Kathmandu to Pokhara, select the company after viewing a few of their profile, and proceed further with the booking. The price for reserving a vehicle varies with the duration you want it for, but the estimated price for the Pokhara ride is around $130. 

As soon as you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport, you will see tons of taxis there. You could try to get one of them to take you to Pokhara, but most of them hesitate to agree to a trip that long, in ca

so they do agree, they charge more than required, so this is not the wisest thing to do. With reserved vehicles, the ride to Pokhara is a little faster compared to buses, it lasts around 6 hours as the food breaks are shorter. If you carry some snacks with you there is no need to take one at all. Therefore, time and comfort reserving a taxi/jeep is the best but not so much for your pocket and safety.

Also Read: 

Best Short Treks from Pokhara

Best Newari Restaurants In Pokhara

Some advice for your Kathmandu to Pokhara journey:

• If you have made up your mind to get a bus ticket the same day, then leave the margin of at least 30 minutes to reach the station around  5:00 am to 6:30 am.

• During winter, even the buses accommodated with AC do not operate it, so make sure to keep yourself warm and wear a few layers of clothes.

• Buses do not stop mid-ride if you feel thirsty or hungry. They only stop at their designated stops for breakfast and lunch breaks. So, carry bottled water to avoid dehydration during summer and some lukewarm water during the winter. Do carry some light snacks so you do not starve.

• In local buses, there tend to be seat mishaps very often. In simple words during peak seasons, intentionally or unintentionally, one seat can be booked under more than one name, and when you go to claim the seat, it creates a big hassle. In case one encounters this misfortune without any hesitation, go to the nearest police station or even to the Nepal Tourism Board. Make sure you are refunded and now take another vehicle.

• Most of the domestic airlines flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara have a weight limit for luggage of 20 kg and 5 kg for hand carry. So, pack your bags accordingly.

• Talking about luggage, in buses, the bags of everyone on the bus are kept together in the cargo, which is usually at the back or side of the bus. Hence, do not keep fragile and valuable objects in the luggage. Carry a medium-sized handbag, and keep your valuables and important documents there, and never let it get out of your sight.

• The road from Kathmandu to Pokhara is well-maintained and is not very risky Still, during monsoon, there is a chance of getting caught mid-journey since floods and landslides can damage the road. Do your investigation beforehand and make sure the roads are in good condition. Do avoid travelling by bus, even flights (if you can) on days with heavy rainfall.

• While booking your ticket from travel agencies, make sure they have all the authority needed and are not just scamming you.

• Have some USD converted into Nepali money and carry cash with you for when you have to pay the bus fare and other services.