How to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu?

Nepal is a popular trekking destination for many travelers. Thousands of trekkers plan and visit Nepal each year. But they do so to either go to Annapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp. At least most of the time. Thus, if you are among those who plans on trekking inside Annapurna region. You must be aware that Pokhara is the place you will need to reach in order to begin your quest. And if you want to know how to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu after your arrival. Then hear me out because I’m here to answer that question for you.

First and foremost, tourism in Nepal depends both on Kathmandu and Pokhara. However, for those traveling to Annapurna Base Camp or any other place inside Annapurna region. They must first reach Pokhara from Kathmandu. And the easiest way to do so is by taking a flight. The flight normally takes about 25 to 30 minutes to reach Pokhara. When you keep the distance between Kathmandu and Pokhara in mind, then taking a flight can be the first choice.

But with quick travel comes the burden of paying huge sum of money. So just for your understanding, let me show you how much the airlines charge you for your flight to Pokhara. A normal individual traveler might need to pay up to 150 US dollars for just a one-way ticket. And if you book your flight through an agent then the cost can rise significantly more. Besides that, flights are majorly impacted by the weather. This means that your flight might get delayed or cancelled. It specially happens often during monsoon season when the rain becomes unpredictable. Nevertheless, if you have got very less time to use then flying to Pokhara might not be that bad. Moreover, being a very popular touristic city, Pokhara has a lot of flights scheduled for it.

If flying doesn’t suit you then don’t worry. You can just take a local bus, micro, private taxi or a tourist bus instead. They all follow the same old highway to Pokhara from Kathmandu. So, it will on average take you about 7 to 8 hours to reach Pokhara. But you should know that each has their own perks and drawbacks. Like if you take a local bus it will be much slow and be overcrowded. This might not be tasteful for some trekkers. Furthermore, it will cost you about 40 to 60 US dollars. Or you can just take a private taxi which charges up to 30 US dollars for the whole ride.

Personally, I would suggest taking a tourist bus rather than the others. They aren’t much expensive than their counterparts and yet they are very comfortable to ride in. If there are no major issues, it can only take 6 hours to reach Pokhara. However, it is highly suggested to consider landslide and road blockage in mind while traveling via road in Nepal. Lastly, I just want to say that, you yourself can choose what’s the best for you. And there’s n one stopping you from making those decisions. Just take everything in account while planning your travel pans to Pokhara.