10 Days in Nepal: Culture, Wildlife and Himalayan Views

Spending 10 days in Nepal lets you mix temples, wildlife and mountains without rushing. This 10-day itinerary is our most popular for international visitors, because it covers the country's three signature experiences (ancient culture, jungle safaris and Himalayan scenery) at a pace that leaves room to breathe. Below you will find a detailed day-by-day plan, transport options, costs, seasonal advice and ways to adjust the route for families, couples, adventure seekers and slow travellers.

Paragliders flying above a lake and hills in Pokhara

10 days in Nepal at a glance

Days	Plan	Where you sleep
1–3	Kathmandu and the valley	Kathmandu
4–5	Chitwan National Park	Jungle lodge
6–7	Pokhara	Lakeside hotel
8–9	Poon Hill trek (short version)	Tea houses
10	Return to Kathmandu and depart

Video: Solo Traveller's Guide to Nepal | 10 Days Itinerary + Travel Tips (What’s Next Ab? on YouTube)

Days 1–3: Kathmandu and the valley

Day 1: arrival. Meet your driver at the airport, transfer to your hotel and spend the afternoon resting. In the evening, take a gentle walk in Thamel, change money and eat your first dal bhat. If you land early, add a visit to Boudhanath for the late-afternoon kora, when pilgrims circle the stupa and butter lamps are lit.

Day 2: sacred Kathmandu. Start at Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) for morning light over the valley, then visit Kathmandu Durbar Square and nearby temples. After lunch, go to Pashupatinath, Nepal's holiest Hindu site, on the Bagmati River. Read our Kathmandu guide and UNESCO sites guide for details and etiquette.

Day 3: Patan and Bhaktapur. Spend the morning in Patan (Lalitpur), known for its Newar metalwork, and the afternoon in Bhaktapur, a medieval town of brick squares and pottery workshops. Try juju dhau (king curd) and watch the potters at work.

Worshippers crowded around a pagoda-style temple

Days 4–5: Chitwan National Park

Travel by tourist bus or private car (5–6 hours) to Chitwan in the lowland Terai, or fly to Bharatpur and transfer. Check in to your jungle lodge, then join an afternoon activity such as a guided walk or a visit to a Tharu village.

On day 5, take a morning jeep safari for one-horned rhinos, deer and, with luck, a glimpse of a tiger, followed by a canoe ride on the Rapti River in search of gharial crocodiles and birds. Chitwan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a good lodge will include a naturalist guide. Choose lodges that avoid elephant riding and bathing; read our Chitwan guide for tips on responsible wildlife tourism. If you would like better odds of seeing a tiger and have more time, consider Bardia instead.

Days 6–7: Pokhara

Drive (about 4–5 hours) or take a short flight to Pokhara. Pokhara is a laid-back lakeside city with the Annapurna range as a backdrop.

Day 6. Wake early for sunrise at Sarangkot, then spend the afternoon boating on Phewa Lake to the island temple, or visit the World Peace Pagoda. In the evening, enjoy lakeside cafés.

Day 7. Choose between paragliding, a zipline, a cycling trip or a gentle hike. Visit the International Mountain Museum if you want context for the next day's trek. See things to do in Pokhara for more ideas.

Days 8–9: Poon Hill trek (short version)

Drive to Nayapul and trek to Ulleri or Ghorepani on day 8, climb Poon Hill for sunrise on day 9 and descend to Nayapul to return to Pokhara. A two-day version is tight, so many travellers extend it to four or five days, but it offers a real taste of the Himalaya. Learn more in our Poon Hill guide.

If you would rather skip trekking, replace days 8–9 with a relaxed Pokhara stay, a lakeside yoga retreat (yoga guide) or a visit to Bandipur.

Day 10: return and departure

Fly or drive from Pokhara to Kathmandu, and transfer to the airport for your flight. Keep a buffer: if you fly, book an afternoon rather than a morning departure from Pokhara so you reach Kathmandu with several hours to spare.

Getting between places

Kathmandu to Chitwan: tourist bus or private car, 5–6 hours.
Chitwan to Pokhara: private car or bus, 4–5 hours.
Pokhara to Kathmandu: flight (25 minutes) or road (6–8 hours).
Within cities: taxis and ride apps.

Domestic flights are subject to weather delays, so avoid tight connections. A private car with a driver is the most comfortable and flexible option.

Budget

Mid-range travellers should plan USD 1,200–2,000 per person excluding international flights. A rough breakdown:

Item	Typical cost (USD)
Hotels and lodges (9 nights)	450–800
Chitwan package (2 nights)	150–300
Transport (buses, car, one flight)	150–350
Food	150–250
Poon Hill guide, permits	150–250
Entry fees, activities, tips	150–300

Use our daily budget guide to adjust for your style.

When to go

October–November and March–May offer the clearest views and best trekking conditions. Winter is good for Chitwan and Pokhara, with colder mornings and clear skies. The monsoon is wetter but quieter. See the best time to visit Nepal for the full picture.

Sample daily rhythm

Ten days is long enough to relax into travel. A typical day starts with breakfast around 7:30, sightseeing or a transfer in the morning, a long lunch, an afternoon activity and an early evening. Aim for no more than one big transfer day in a row, and build in at least one free afternoon in Kathmandu and one in Pokhara. If you are tired or the weather turns, shorten the day: Nepal rewards flexibility more than a rigid schedule.

What makes this route work

The sequence matters. Starting in Kathmandu lets you recover from the flight and learn the basics of local customs before heading into quieter areas. Chitwan gives you a warm, low-altitude break before the hills. Pokhara is an easy, scenic base, and Poon Hill works best near the end, once you have adjusted to the pace of travel. The route also keeps your long drives to three days, which you can reduce further by flying.

Variations on the 10-day route

Family version. Skip the trek and add a second night in Pokhara and an easy ridge walk at Dhampus; see our family guide.
Honeymoon version. Add a private heritage tour, a hilltop night at Nagarkot or Bandipur and a lakeside spa day; see the honeymoon guide.
Adventure version. Replace Chitwan with rafting on the Trishuli and extend the trek to Annapurna Base Camp if you have extra days.
Culture version. Replace Chitwan with Lumbini (Lumbini guide) and add a day trip to Bandipur.
Luxury version. Upgrade hotels and add a helicopter flight; see the luxury guide.

Logistics tips

Book domestic flights and Chitwan lodges early for October and April.
Keep a spare day before international departures.
Pack for both heat (Chitwan) and cool mornings (Pokhara and Poon Hill); see the packing list.
Arrange your visa and insurance before you travel.

A closer look at the money

Where does the budget go? Hotels and lodges take the largest share, followed by transport and food. Chitwan packages are good value because they include meals and activities. The Poon Hill trek is the cheapest "mountain" element you can add, because it needs no flight or restricted-area permit. If you want to save, choose guesthouses in Kathmandu, travel by tourist bus between cities and eat local; if you want to splurge, upgrade the Pokhara hotel, add a helicopter flight or book a private guide.

What to book in advance

In autumn and spring, book international and domestic flights, Chitwan lodges and your Poon Hill guide at least two to three months ahead. In winter and the monsoon, you can book closer to travel dates, and you may find discounts. A flexible agency can secure the best lodges and adjust the plan to weather and transport conditions, while an independent traveller may find the same options with more effort. Either way, keep documents, insurance and payment confirmations in one folder, on paper and on your phone.

Weather planning for each stop

Kathmandu is mild in spring and autumn and cold on winter mornings. Chitwan is hot and humid from April and pleasant from October to February. Pokhara is warm, with clear mornings and afternoon cloud; in the monsoon it is very wet. At Poon Hill, mornings are near freezing in winter and cold in spring and autumn. Pack layers, a rain jacket and sun protection, and check forecasts for each stop before you travel. Our seasonal guide breaks down weather by region and month.

Bookable version

Our Kathmandu–Pokhara Luxury Tour and Chitwan Jungle Safari can be combined into this route, and our team can add the Poon Hill trek. Contact us for a custom quote.