Nepal Express: Self-Launched 10-Day Adventure

Welcome to Nepal! On arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), take a pre-paid taxi from the official taxi desk in the arrivals hall to your hostel in Thamel — the backpacker hub of Kathmandu (~£5-7, around 30-45 mins). Check in, freshen up, and head out to explore the neighbourhood. This evening, make your way to Patan Durbar Square (about 20 mins by local bus or taxi, ~£1-2) for an atmospheric first evening. Grab a meal at one of the many budget restaurants lining the square — try a dal bhat set for around £2-3.

🚌Official pre-paid taxi from KTM airport to Thamel (~£5-7). Local bus or taxi to Patan (~£1-2).

🛏Thamel Eco Resort or similar hostel/guesthouse in Thamel, Kathmandu — dorm from ~£8/night, private twin from ~£15-18/night

• →Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM)
• →Take official pre-paid taxi to Thamel (~£5-7)
• →Check in and explore Thamel neighbourhood
• →Evening stroll around Patan Durbar Square
• →First meal in Nepal — try dal bhat at a local restaurant

Start your morning with an optional Everest mountain flight — bookable directly with airlines such as Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines from Tribhuvan Airport (~£130-150pp). Back in the city, head to Patan Durbar Square for a self-guided walking tour of the Royal Palace complex, Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar), Patan Museum, and Kumari Chowk. Entry to Patan Durbar Square costs around £8 for foreigners. In the afternoon, take a taxi or local bus to Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), a UNESCO World Heritage Site with panoramic views over the city (~£2 entry). The rest of the day is yours — consider a visit to Bhaktapur Old Town (~£10 entry, 30 mins by local bus) or the sacred Pashupatinath Temple complex (~£10 entry) if your budget allows.

🚌Local buses and taxis around Kathmandu (~£3-5 total for the day).

🛏Thamel Eco Resort or similar hostel/guesthouse in Thamel, Kathmandu — dorm from ~£8/night, private twin from ~£15-18/night

• →Optional: Everest mountain flight with Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines (~£130-150, book direct at airport or online)
• →Self-guided walking tour of Patan Durbar Square, Royal Palace, Golden Temple & Patan Museum (~£8 entry)
• →Visit Kumari Chowk — the courtyard of the living goddess
• →Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) — UNESCO World Heritage stupa (~£2 entry)
• →Optional: Bhaktapur Old Town excursion (~£10 entry, local bus ~£1)
• →Optional: Pashupatinath Ghats & Temple (~£10 entry)

Take a local bus from Kathmandu to Sanga (around 45 mins, ~£1) where your hike to Panauti begins. The 11km trail takes 4-5 hours through stunning countryside, past Brahmin and Tamang communities, and villages rarely visited by foreign travellers. The trail has been developed relatively recently and is straightforward to follow — download the route on Maps.me or AllTrails before you leave. You'll pass a giant statue of Shiva at Sanga before descending through terraced farmland into Panauti. On arrival, check in to the Panauti Community Homestay, a women-led initiative started in 2013. Book directly via their Facebook page or through local guesthouses in Kathmandu (~£10-15pp/night including dinner and breakfast). Enjoy a home-cooked evening meal with your host family.

🚌Local bus Kathmandu to Sanga ~£1. Hike 11km to Panauti (no transport cost).

🛏Panauti Community Homestay — ~£10-15pp/night including dinner & breakfast. Book via their Facebook page or ask guesthouses in Thamel to assist.

• →Local bus from Kathmandu to Sanga (~£1, 45 mins)
• →11km hike from Sanga to Panauti through countryside and Tamang villages (4-5 hours)
• →Pass the giant Shiva statue at Sanga
• →Arrive in Panauti — one of Nepal's oldest medieval towns
• →Check in to Panauti Community Homestay (book direct)
• →Evening home-cooked meal with host family

Explore the Panauti region on two wheels today. Rent a bicycle in Panauti town (~£3-5/day) and follow the circular route through the old bazaar, Indreshwor Temple (one of Nepal's tallest pagoda temples), and Tri-beni Ghat on the river. From there, cycle through orange farms to beautiful Sunthan village, then on to Khopasi — a quaint Newari town where you should stop for a cup of Nepali masala chai (~£0.30). On the way back, stop at a local silk farm to learn about silk production. The afternoon is free to explore Panauti's winding medieval streets at your own pace. Enjoy another evening home-cooked meal with your host family.

🚌Bicycle hire ~£3-5 for the day. All cycling — no motorised transport needed.

🛏Panauti Community Homestay — ~£10-15pp/night including dinner & breakfast.

• →Rent a bicycle in Panauti town (~£3-5/day)
• →Self-guided cycle tour: Panauti Old Bazaar → Indreshwor Temple → Tri-beni Ghat
• →Cycle through orange farms to Sunthan village
• →Continue to Khopasi Newari town for Nepali masala chai
• →Visit a local silk farm on the return route
• →Free afternoon to explore Panauti old town
• →Evening meal with host family

Today's journey to Bandipur is one of Nepal's most scenic drives. Take a local bus from Panauti back to Kathmandu (~£1), then a tourist or local bus from Kathmandu's Gongabu Bus Park towards Dumre on the Prithvi Highway (~£4-6, around 4-5 hours). From Dumre, take a shared jeep or local bus up the winding mountain road to Bandipur (~£1-2, 30 mins). The road runs alongside the Trishuli River past stone villages and rice terraces. On arrival, take a self-guided orientation walk around Bandipur's preserved Newari old town — a pedestrianised gem with cobblestone streets, carved wooden balconies, and sweeping Annapurna views. Grab dinner at one of the charming hilltop cafes.

🚌Local buses and shared jeep: Panauti→Kathmandu→Dumre→Bandipur, total ~£6-9pp.

🛏Old Bandipur Inn or Bandipur Guesthouse — budget private twin ~£12-18/night.

• →Local bus Panauti to Kathmandu (~£1)
• →Tourist/local bus Kathmandu (Gongabu Bus Park) to Dumre (~£4-6, 4-5 hours)
• →Shared jeep or local bus Dumre to Bandipur (~£1-2, 30 mins)
• →Self-guided orientation walk of Bandipur's Newari old town
• →Explore cobblestone streets, wooden balconies and viewpoints
• →Dinner at a hilltop café with Annapurna Mountain views

Today is a highlight of the entire trip. Set off early on foot from Bandipur along local village trails towards Ramkot (approximately 7km, 4-5 hours round trip). The trail offers staggering panoramic views of the entire Annapurna Range — bring your camera and plenty of water. Along the way you'll pass traditional Nepali homes, small rural communities, the old hilltop fort of Purano Kot, and a temple where locals pray for rain. The destination is Ramkot village, home to the Magar Tribe — an ancient community with Mongol roots, whose traditional round houses remain largely untouched by modern development. Take time to wander the village and interact with locals before making your own way back to Bandipur on foot or by local transport. No guide is strictly necessary for this trail but a local guide can be hired in Bandipur for ~£10-15 if preferred.

🚌Hike on foot from Bandipur (~no cost). Optional shared transport back if needed (~£1-2).

🛏Old Bandipur Inn or Bandipur Guesthouse — budget private twin ~£12-18/night.

• →Self-guided hike from Bandipur to Ramkot village (~7km, 4-5 hours return)
• →Panoramic views of the Annapurna Mountain Range
• →Visit the old fort of Purano Kot
• →Rain prayer temple visit
• →Explore Ramkot village and meet the Magar Tribe community
• →Optional: hire a local guide in Bandipur (~£10-15)

Head back down to Dumre by shared jeep (~£1-2, 30 mins) and pick up a tourist or local bus onwards to Pokhara (~£3-5, 2-3 hours). Pokhara is Nepal's adventure capital — a stunning lakeside city with Annapurna peaks as a backdrop. Check in to your guesthouse in the Lakeside neighbourhood (Baidam), drop your bags, and take a self-guided orientation walk along the shores of Lake Phewa. Hire a rowing boat on the lake (~£3-5/hour) for gorgeous mountain reflections on the water. Browse the lakeside market, grab a coffee at one of the many cafes, and soak it all in. If you want the full adrenaline experience, book paragliding over the lake for tomorrow through a local operator in Lakeside (~£55-75, bookable on GetYourGuide or direct with operators like Sunrise Paragliding).

🚌Shared jeep Bandipur to Dumre ~£1-2. Local/tourist bus Dumre to Pokhara ~£3-5.

🛏Hotel Butterfly or similar Lakeside budget guesthouse, Pokhara — private twin ~£12-18/night.

• →Shared jeep from Bandipur to Dumre (~£1-2, 30 mins)
• →Local/tourist bus from Dumre to Pokhara (~£3-5, 2-3 hours)
• →Check in to Lakeside (Baidam) neighbourhood guesthouse
• →Self-guided orientation walk along Lake Phewa shoreline
• →Hire a rowing boat on Lake Phewa (~£3-5/hour)
• →Explore Lakeside market and cafes
• →Book optional paragliding for tomorrow if desired (~£55-75)

Rise early for the Sarangkot sunrise walk — one of the most spectacular experiences in Nepal. Take a taxi or shared jeep to the base of Sarangkot (~£2-3) then walk up to the viewpoint in time for sunrise over the Annapurna Himalayas (~30NPR entry, roughly £0.20). Allow 2.5 hours for the walk back down through lush farms and forest into Pokhara. Later in the day, consider walking or taking a boat to the World Peace Pagoda on the southern hill above the lake (~1000-1500NPR entry per group, or ~£6-9). In the afternoon, treat yourself to a lakeside massage (~£8-12), join a drop-in yoga class (~£5-7), or browse the market for souvenirs. This evening, grab drinks at one of the famous lakeside bars — Busy Bee Bar or Club Amsterdam are popular with travellers.

🚌Taxi/shared jeep to Sarangkot ~£2-3. Walking and local taxis around Pokhara ~£2-4.

🛏Hotel Butterfly or similar Lakeside budget guesthouse, Pokhara — private twin ~£12-18/night.

• →Early morning taxi/shared jeep to Sarangkot base (~£2-3)
• →Sarangkot sunrise viewpoint walk — Annapurna Himalaya panoramas (~£0.20 entry)
• →2.5-hour walk back down through farms and forest
• →Optional: World Peace Pagoda hike or boat trip (~£6-9 for the group entry)
• →Optional: paragliding over Lake Phewa (~£55-75, book with Sunrise Paragliding or via GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: lakeside massage (~£8-12) or drop-in yoga class (~£5-7)
• →Lake Phewa boat ride (~£3-5/hour)
• →Evening drinks at a lakeside bar

Time to make your way back to Kathmandu. The scenic overland route runs through verdant valleys, terraced hillsides, and Himalayan scenery — take the tourist bus from Pokhara's tourist bus park (~£7-10, around 7-8 hours) or splash out on a domestic flight with Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines (~£50-80, 25 mins, bookable direct online) if you'd prefer to save time. Arrive back in Kathmandu and check in to your Thamel guesthouse. Spend the evening exploring Thamel's streets — grab momos (Nepali dumplings) at a local joint (~£1-2), pick up last-minute souvenirs at the bazaars, or revisit a favourite sacred site. Raise a glass of tongba or Everest beer to an incredible Nepal adventure!

🚌Tourist bus Pokhara to Kathmandu ~£7-10 (recommended for scenery). Domestic flight alternative ~£50-80.

🛏Thamel Eco Resort or similar hostel/guesthouse in Thamel, Kathmandu — dorm from ~£8/night, private twin from ~£15-18/night.

• →Tourist bus Pokhara to Kathmandu (~£7-10, 7-8 hours) OR domestic flight (~£50-80, 25 mins)
• →Check in to Thamel guesthouse on return to Kathmandu
• →Dinner of momos at a local restaurant (~£1-2)
• →Final evening souvenir shopping in Thamel bazaars
• →Optional: revisit Pashupatinath or Boudhanath Stupa

Your Nepal adventure comes to an end today. Check out of your accommodation and make your way to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Take a pre-paid taxi from Thamel (~£5-7, allow 45-60 mins — traffic can be heavy). If you have a late flight, leave your bags at the guesthouse (most will store luggage for free) and squeeze in a final morning visit to Boudhanath Stupa — one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (~£3 entry, just 20 mins from Thamel by taxi). Safe travels, and start planning your next adventure!

🚌Pre-paid taxi Thamel to KTM airport ~£5-7.

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Check out of Thamel accommodation
• →Optional: final morning visit to Boudhanath Stupa (~£3 entry, 20 mins by taxi)
• →Pre-paid taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£5-7)
• →Depart Kathmandu