Nepal is a stunningly beautiful country with unforgettable views of nature along with world-class hiking opportunities. The best time to visit Nepal is either in the spring (between March and May), or autumn (from September to November). Kathmandu has the only international airport (KTM) in Nepal, but domestic flights are available between KTM and Pokhara (PKR). One should plan to visit both Kathmandu and Pokhara during the Nepal trip to enjoy different scenic nature.
Nepal VISA
For US citizens, I recommend getting the Nepal VISA on arrival and make sure to bring some cash in US dollars for the application fee ($35-50 depending on the length of stay). No photographs are required for VISA upon arrival and you can make the process faster by filling out all your details online 15 days before your arrival date (link).
Award booking flights to Nepal
Aeroplan
Qatar Airways business class is the most luxurious way to reach Nepal (book early for the award space).
Kathmandu Accommodations
Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
Hyatt Regency (https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/kathm-hyatt-regency-kathmandu) is a fantastic place to stay in Kathmandu and suites are priced at just 8K points.
Hilton Hotels
IHG Hotels
Fairfield by Marriott
Fairfield by Marriott (https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/ktmfi-fairfield-kathmandu/overview/) is another place to stay with points.
Kathmandu to Pokhara and Chitwan
Pokhara and Chitwan are in different directions (see image below) from Kathmandu and sightseeing can be done as long day trips.
Kathmandu to Pokhara flights
You can choose to drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara, which may take 7 hours to cover a distance of 125 miles. You can hire a private car and driver for a low price in Nepal.
Pokhara Accommodations
It is easy to find several excellent hotels in Pokhara for reasonable prices (Booking.com).
Multi-day Trekking in Kathmandu & Pokhara
Trekking tourism is very popular in Nepal and the country has several reasonably priced guiding companies. Travelers interested in multi-day treks should look into “Teahouses”, which are small mountain lodges located along several popular trails (Everest, Annapurna and Langtang). Teahouses are all-inclusive, low-cost accommodations to stay for 1-2 nights and meet other travelers. Some of the most popular multi-day treks are listed below:
- Everest Base Camp – 14-16 Days
- Annapurna Circuit – 12-16 Days
- Annapurna Base Camp – 7-10 Days
- Everest Three Passes Loop – 18-20 days
- Langtang Valley – 7-9 Days
- Manaslu Circuit – 16-18 Days
- Gokyo Lakes – 10-12 Days
- Upper Mustang – 10-12 Days
- Poon Hill – 4-5 Days
Day Hikes in Kathmandu & Pokhara
| Kathmandu | Pokhara |
| Nagarkot Trek | Dhampus Trek |
| Chandragiri Trek | Thulakot Hill Trek |
| Champa Devi Hill Trek | Sarangkot-Naudanda Trek |
| Nagarjuna Hill Trek | Peace Pagoda Trek |
| Ranikot Village Trek | Kahun Danda Trek |
| Phulchowki Trek | Peace Stupa Trek |
| Shivapuri Peak Trek |
(Google Maps Kathmandu Day Hikes) (Google Maps Pokhara Day Hikes)
Everest Scenic Flights
Everest pass-by scenic flights are available for travelers not interested in doing multi-day treks with a typical cost of $100-120 (https://www.viator.com/tours/Kathmandu/Everest-Scenic-Flight/d5109-29135P15).
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour
The Mount Everest Base Camp helicopter touchdown tour is a pricier option ($1600) for interested travelers (https://www.viator.com/tours/Kathmandu/Everest-base-camp-helicopter-landing-group-flight-tour-with-breakfast-at-Everest/d5109-100427P4).
Nepal Scenery
Conclusion
A trip to Nepal must be in the bucket list of all nature lovers and travelers need not have advanced mountaineering skills or experience in multi-day trekking. We were able to visit this beautiful country on our way to Bhutan and just enjoyed doing several day hikes near Kathmandu and Pokhara.