Himalayan Golden Triangle: Kathmandu, Pokhara & Chitwan (Self-Launched)
7 days · Nepal
World Travel Experiences charges £560
No-markup version: ~£307 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of the classic 7-day Nepal circuit: Kathmandu's temples and stupas, river rafting on the Trishuli, sunrise over the Annapurnas at Sarangkot, lakeside Pokhara, and jungle safari in Chitwan National Park. Instead of a guided group coach, you'll use Nepal's excellent tourist buses, cheap domestic flights or local jeeps, plus locally bookable guides and safaris. Expect guesthouses and budget hotels of similar standard to the original 3-star tour, with rafting, jeeping and Chitwan activities arranged direct or via GetYourGuide/Klook. Costs are approximations for a solo traveller and exclude international flights and insurance.
Day-by-day
Arrive Kathmandu — Pashupatinath & Boudhanath
Kathmandu
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) and grab a prepaid taxi to Thamel or the old town (~£4-6). Check into a Thamel guesthouse, then walk or take a short taxi to Pashupatinath Temple (foreigner entry ~£7.5) in the afternoon to see the ghats and evening aarti. Finish the day at Boudhanath Stupa (~£2.5 entry), circling with pilgrims at dusk and eating momos on one of the rooftop cafes. Buy a local SIM with data at the airport or in Thamel (~£3-5).
🚌Prepaid airport taxi ~£4-6; local taxis or walking in the city ~£3
🛏Budget guesthouse/boutique hotel in Thamel or old town, twin/private room (~£15-20)
- →Pashupatinath Temple (self-entry, ~£7.5)
- →Boudhanath Stupa kora walk and rooftop momos
- →Thamel orientation wander and SIM purchase
Kathmandu to Pokhara via Trishuli River rafting
Trishuli River / Pokhara
Book a tourist bus Kathmandu-Pokhara (~£7-10, 7-8 hours) or, better, a combined bus-plus-rafting package offered by Thamel agencies (~£25-30 including lunch) that drops you at Charaundi for ~3 hours of Class II-III rafting from Charaundi to Fishling, then continues you on to Pokhara. Alternatively take a 25-minute domestic flight KTM-PKR (~£65-90, book on Buddha Air/Yeti Airlines direct). Arrive Pokhara, walk Lakeside, and book tomorrow's Sarangkot sunrise and Chitwan transport with a local agent.
🚌Tourist bus with rafting drop-off ~£25-30, or flight ~£65-90
🛏Lakeside guesthouse in Pokhara, private room (~£12-18)
- →Trishuli River rafting (Charaundi to Fishling, self-booked package)
- →Lakeside Pokhara evening stroll
Sarangkot sunrise, Pokhara sightseeing & Phewa Lake
Pokhara
Hire a taxi or share a jeep up to Sarangkot for sunrise over the Annapurnas (~£10-12 return, split with others; entry ~£1.5). Back for breakfast, then do a half-day self-guided temple and cave loop: Bindhyabasini Temple, Seti River Gorge, Davis Fall (~£1.5), Gupteshwor Cave (~£1.5) and the Tibetan refugee village at Tashiling. In the afternoon rent a rowing boat or pedal boat on Phewa Lake (~£3-5/hour) and walk up to the World Peace Pagoda. Optional add-on: paragliding from Sarangkot (~£60-75 booked direct or via GetYourGuide).
🚌Shared taxi/jeep to Sarangkot ~£10-12 return; local taxis ~£5
🛏Lakeside guesthouse in Pokhara, private room (~£12-18)
- →Sarangkot sunrise viewpoint
- →Bindhyabasini Temple, Seti Gorge, Davis Fall, Gupteshwor Cave, Tibetan village
- →Phewa Lake boating and World Peace Pagoda walk
- →Optional paragliding ~£60-75
Pokhara to Chitwan — Tharu village & sunset
Chitwan (Sauraha)
Take a tourist bus from Pokhara to Sauraha/Tadi Bazaar for Chitwan (~£6-8, 5-6 hours). Check into a Sauraha guesthouse or jungle lodge and arrange your park package locally (guide, permits, canoe and jeep safari) — packages run roughly £25-40 per day including meals. In the late afternoon walk through a Tharu village, catch sunset over the Rapti River and watch a Tharu stick-dance cultural show in the village hall (~£1-2).
🚌Tourist bus Pokhara-Sauraha ~£6-8; local rickshaw ~£1-2
🛏Sauraha guesthouse/jungle lodge, private room (~£12-18)
- →Tharu village walk
- →Rapti River sunset
- →Tharu cultural dance show
- →Book Chitwan safari package locally
Full-day Chitwan National Park safari
Chitwan National Park
Full day of jungle activities with a licensed local guide (book direct with your lodge or via Klook): an early-morning canoe trip down the Rapti River for crocodiles and kingfishers, a jungle walk, and a jeep safari into the park core zone for one-horned rhino, deer, monkeys and possibly sloth bear or tiger. Note that elephant-back rides are increasingly discouraged on welfare grounds — choose the jeep safari option. Optionally visit the elephant breeding centre at Khorsor or the Gharial crocodile breeding centre. Park permit and guide are included in most lodge packages; bring cash.
🚌Walking and lodge-run jeep transfer ~£3
🛏Sauraha guesthouse/jungle lodge, private room (~£12-18)
- →Canoe trip on the Rapti River
- →Jungle walk with licensed guide
- →Full-day jeep safari in Chitwan National Park
- →Elephant breeding centre or Gharial crocodile centre
Chitwan to Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Morning birdwatching or a lazy riverside breakfast, then return to Kathmandu. Options: tourist bus Sauraha-Kathmandu (~£8-10, 6-7 hours) or a short flight from Bharatpur to Kathmandu (~£65-90, book direct with Buddha Air/Yeti). Back in Kathmandu, spend the late afternoon in Patan Durbar Square (~£7.5) or wander Asan Bazaar and shop for pashmina and handicrafts in Thamel.
🚌Tourist bus ~£8-10, or Bharatpur-Kathmandu flight ~£65-90; local taxi ~£3
🛏Budget guesthouse/boutique hotel in Thamel or old town (~£15-20)
- →Morning birdwatching on the Rapti
- →Patan Durbar Square or Asan Bazaar exploration
- →Thamel shopping
Kathmandu old town and departure
Kathmandu
Use the morning for Kathmandu Durbar Square (~£7.5) and the Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) stupa (~£2.5), ideally with a locally hired guide (~£15-20 for a half day, split if you team up with others). Optional sunrise Everest scenic mountain flight (~£150-175 direct with Buddha Air/Yeti) if you're happy for an early start. Then take a taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport for departure.
🚌Taxi to airport ~£4-6; local transport ~£3
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Kathmandu Durbar Square
- →Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)
- →Optional Everest scenic flight ~£150-175
- →Local half-day guide ~£15-20
Self-launched vs. World Travel Experiences
| This itinerary (self-launched) | World Travel Experiences | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£307 | £560 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £253 per person (45%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more World Travel Experiences-style trips? Check them out here.~£307
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Himalayan Golden Triangle: Kathmandu, Pokhara & Chitwan (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £307 per person for 7 days in Nepal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with World Travel Experiences?+
Yes — World Travel Experiences charges around £560 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £307 — a saving of roughly £253 (45%) per person.
How long is the Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Nepal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Nepal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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