How to go to Pokhara from Kathmandu – Nepal Guide

Pokhara is the second biggest city in Nepal. It is famous of it’s beautiful lake – Phewa Lake and the awesome himalayas view.  You could do trekking, paragliding, boating, cycling in this town. If you just arrived in Kathmandu and want to go to Pokhara, there are 5 transportation modes that you could use to get to this beautiful city:

• Tourist Bus

You could find this bus from Kantipath Rd everyday at 7 am and it costs NRS 600-700 (around USD 6). This bus is very comfortable. It stops twice along the way to Pokhara (first stop for breakfast and second stop for lunch). It takes approx. 8 hours to reach Pokhara. If you want to go to Pokhara that day, make sure you come to Kantipath Rd at 7.00 am.,or you would need to wait other buses the next day.

• Local Bus

This is the bus that local people usually use. It costs NRS 400-600 (around USD 4). This bus leave the bus station every 15 minutes and it takes 10 hours to reach Pokhara.

• Micro Bus

This is a minibus with capacity of 8 people. The minibus would leave after all of the seats is taken. You could find them in Kalanki Bus Park, Kathmandu. It costs NRS 800-1000 (aroung USD 8) and it takes 6 hours to reach Pokhara.

• Taxi

Taxi is an expensive choice. It costs NRS 5000 (around USD 45) and it takes 8 hours to Pokhara (same as the tourist bus). You could find taxi everywhere in Kathmandu, usually they are waiting for passengers in Thamil Chowk area.

• Airplane

Airplane is the fastest transportation choice to reach pokhara. It costs USD 100-150 per flight.

I suggest you to take the tourist bus to go to Pokhara. It is safe and so comfortable. If you are an adventurer, you could socialize with the locals and other travelers. Along the way to Pokhara, you could try nepalese local food, because the bus stops twice in restaurants who serve the local food. When I was there, I took this bus to go from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Here is some personal tips if you want to go to Pokhara by land ( tourist bus, local bus, minibus, or taxi):

• Always bring your toilet paper. You dont know when “it” comes. I was in an urge situation before and the bus stopped in a gas station and guess what, no toilet paper, no water, only one secret hole inside the toilet. Hahaha.
• Take your motion sickness medicine. If you have a weak stomach, I suggest you to take this medicine before you leave Kathmandu to prevent vomiting an nausea. I was there in 2015 and the road isn’t really good. I slept all the way to Pokhara.
• Bargaining all the time. Bargain, bargain, bargain. That was all I do to save up some money. When I just arrived in Kantipath Rd, they told me to pay NRS 900 for the bus tickets, after some bargaining process (hahaha) I got it for NRS 600. You could save up NRS 300 to buy your breakfast on the way.
• If you love to walk, don’t take taxi from Mustang Bus Park, Pokhara. When I just arrived in Mustang Bus Park, Pokhara, all of the taxi drivers offered me a taxi to Phewa Lake Side (hostels and hotels area). They said I just need to pay ONLY NRS 800. That was too much because it only 1 km distance and you could walk to reach there for 15 minutes or less.