Nepal: Mountains and Temples — Self-Launched

Fly into Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) and make your way to Thamel, Kathmandu's backpacker hub. Pre-book a taxi from the official prepaid taxi counter outside arrivals (~£5–7), or haggle a metered cab. Check into your hostel or guesthouse, rest up, and wander Thamel's narrow streets for an introductory dinner. Try a dal bhat at a local restaurant for under £2.

🚌Prepaid airport taxi to Thamel (~£5–7)

🛏Zostel Kathmandu or similar hostel dorm in Thamel (~£8–12/night)

• →Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport
• →Transfer to Thamel neighbourhood by prepaid taxi (~£5–7)
• →Orientation stroll around Thamel — gear shops, street food, and atmosphere
• →Dal bhat dinner at a local restaurant

Spend the day exploring Kathmandu's UNESCO World Heritage Sites on foot and by local transport. Start at Patan Durbar Square (entry ~£6), admiring the Newari pagoda-style temples and the Royal Palace. Pop into Kumari Chowk — home to Nepal's living goddess — and, if she is receiving visitors, receive a blessing. In the afternoon, hop in a shared taxi or walk to Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple), one of the valley's oldest and most atmospheric shrines (entry ~£2). Optional: extend the day with a visit to Bhaktapur Durbar Square (~£12 entry, worth every penny) or the sacred Pashupatinath Temple (~£5 for non-Hindus to view from the ghats).

🚌Walking and shared taxis between sites (~£2–4 total)

🛏Zostel Kathmandu or similar hostel dorm in Thamel (~£8–12/night)

• →Walking tour of Patan Durbar Square and Newari temples (~£6 entry)
• →Visit Kumari Chowk — Nepal's living goddess
• →Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) — ancient hilltop stupa (~£2 entry)
• →Optional: Bhaktapur Durbar Square by local bus (~£12 entry + ~£1 bus)
• →Optional: Pashupatinath Temple cremation ghats (~£5 entry)

Take a local bus or shared jeep from Kathmandu's City Bus Park to Sanga (~45 mins, ~£1). From here, lace up your boots for a scenic half-day hike through the countryside and traditional villages, descending to the ancient Newari town of Panauti. Book a community homestay independently in Panauti — several families offer accommodation through local guesthouses and community tourism networks. Pitch in with your host family to help prepare a traditional Newari dinner: a genuine cultural exchange and a highlight of any Nepal trip.

🚌Local bus Kathmandu → Sanga (~£1), hiking to Panauti

🛏Community homestay in Panauti (~£10–15/night, dinner included)

• →Local bus from Kathmandu to Sanga (~£1)
• →Half-day countryside hike from Sanga to Panauti through villages and terraced farmland
• →Check into a community homestay in Panauti (~£10–15/night including dinner and breakfast)
• →Cook and eat traditional Newari dishes with your host family

Rent a bicycle locally in Panauti (~£3–5/day) and spend the morning cycling through three indigenous towns: Panauti, Sunthan, and Khopasi. Explore small temples, pedal through orange farms, and learn how silk is produced from silkworms. Stop at a local tea house for a cup of Nepali masala chai. Return to your homestay for a home-cooked lunch, then enjoy a free afternoon to wander Panauti's ancient lanes and stone courtyards before another dinner with your hosts.

🚌Bicycle rental (~£3–5)

🛏Community homestay in Panauti (~£10–15/night, dinner included)

• →Hire a bicycle in Panauti (~£3–5/day)
• →Cycle through Panauti, Sunthan, and Khopasi — temples, farms, and silk production
• →Nepali masala tea stop at a local tea house
• →Free afternoon to explore Panauti's historic old town
• →Home-cooked dinner with homestay family

Catch a local bus from Panauti back to Kathmandu's Kalanki area, then connect to a tourist or local bus towards Dumre along the Prithvi Highway (~4–5 hrs, ~£4–6). From Dumre, share a jeep up the hill to the car-free hilltop village of Bandipur (~£2). The road hugs the Trishuli River, passing ancient stone villages backed by steep rice terraces and mountain peaks. Settle into a guesthouse in Bandipur's beautifully preserved old bazaar and take an evening orientation walk through its Newari architecture and local temples.

🚌Local bus + shared jeep (~£7–9 total)

🛏Bandipur Village Resort Guesthouse or similar (~£12–18/night)

• →Morning local bus from Panauti → Kathmandu Kalanki (~£1)
• →Tourist/local bus Kathmandu → Dumre along Prithvi Highway (~£4–6, ~4–5 hrs)
• →Shared jeep Dumre → Bandipur (~£2, ~30 mins)
• →Orientation walk around Bandipur's car-free historic bazaar
• →Explore Newari architecture, local temples, and mountain viewpoints

Rise early for sunrise over the Annapurna range — the panoramic views from Bandipur's hilltop are genuinely world-class. Spend the morning hiking local trails through small communities, passing the ruins of Purano Kot (the old fort), and visiting small hillside temples. The trails are well-marked and easy to follow independently. Return to town for lunch at a local restaurant and enjoy a free afternoon for more exploration, shopping for local handicrafts, or simply soaking in the mountain atmosphere.

🚌On foot

🛏Bandipur Village Resort Guesthouse or similar (~£12–18/night)

• →Sunrise viewpoint over the Annapurna Himalayan range
• →Self-guided hike along Bandipur hilltop trails — Purano Kot fort ruins and temples
• →Walk through small communities on the hillside
• →Lunch at a local Bandipur restaurant (~£2–4)
• →Free afternoon for handicraft shopping or relaxing with mountain views

Descend to Dumre by shared jeep (~£2) and pick up a local or tourist bus to Pokhara (~2–3 hrs, ~£3–5). Arrive in Pokhara's Lakeside district — one of Nepal's most beloved towns, set on the shores of the serene Phewa Lake with Annapurna as its backdrop. Check into a lakeside guesthouse, then take an afternoon stroll along the lakeshore. Rent a rowing boat (~£5/hr) or simply sit at a lakeside café and enjoy the mountain reflections. In the evening, Lakeside's restaurant strip is perfect for a relaxed dinner.

🚌Shared jeep + local bus (~£5–7 total)

🛏Hotel Middle Path & Spa or similar lakeside guesthouse (~£12–18/night)

• →Shared jeep Bandipur → Dumre (~£2)
• →Local/tourist bus Dumre → Pokhara (~£3–5, ~2–3 hrs)
• →Stroll along the shores of Phewa Lake
• →Rent a rowing boat on Phewa Lake (~£5/hr)
• →Optional: visit Peace Pagoda across the lake by boat and foot (free, donation welcome)
• →Lakeside dinner with Annapurna views

Start before dawn and take a taxi to Sarangkot hill for a spectacular sunrise over the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges (~£3–5 taxi). If you're feeling brave, book a tandem paraglide from Sarangkot directly with a local operator — this is one of the best paragliding spots in the world and can be booked independently for around £55–70 (avoid tourist-desk markups by booking at the launch site or via Frontiers Paragliding directly). Alternatively, simply hike back down to Lakeside and spend the day kayaking, cycling around the lake, visiting the International Mountain Museum (~£5), or taking a short hike to Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave (~£1 each).

🚌Taxi to Sarangkot (~£3–5), walking and cycling locally

🛏Hotel Middle Path & Spa or similar lakeside guesthouse (~£12–18/night)

• →Pre-dawn taxi to Sarangkot for Himalayan sunrise (~£3–5)
• →Optional: tandem paraglide from Sarangkot with a local operator (~£55–70)
• →Optional: kayaking on Phewa Lake (~£5–8/hr)
• →Optional: International Mountain Museum (~£5 entry)
• →Optional: Davis Falls and Gupteshwor Cave (~£1–2 each)
• →Optional: Everest Mountain Flight from Pokhara Airport (~£130–160, bookable direct with airlines)

Choose your return to Kathmandu: the scenic tourist bus takes ~7–8 hrs and costs ~£6–10, or splurge on a 25-minute domestic flight (~£40–60 with Buddha Air or Yeti Airlines — book a few days ahead online). Arrive back in Thamel for your final night. Spend the evening revisiting your favourite spots, picking up last-minute souvenirs from Ason Market or Indra Chowk, and enjoying a farewell dinner — try a rooftop restaurant in Thamel for momos (dumplings) and a cold Everest beer.

🚌Tourist bus (~£6–10) or domestic flight (~£40–60)

🛏Zostel Kathmandu or similar hostel dorm in Thamel (~£8–12/night)

• →Tourist bus or domestic flight Pokhara → Kathmandu (~£6–10 bus or ~£40–60 flight)
• →Last evening stroll through Thamel and Ason Market
• →Farewell dinner at a rooftop Thamel restaurant — momos and Everest beer
• →Last-minute souvenir shopping at Indra Chowk bazaar

Check out of your guesthouse and head to Tribhuvan International Airport. Allow plenty of time — the airport can be busy, and security queues move slowly. If your flight is late in the day, store luggage at your guesthouse and take one last wander through Thamel or grab breakfast at a rooftop café. Prepaid taxis to the airport from Thamel cost ~£5–7. Safe travels!

🚌Prepaid taxi to airport (~£5–7)

• →Check out and store luggage if needed
• →Final Thamel breakfast at a rooftop café
• →Optional: last visit to Boudhanath Stupa — the largest in Nepal (~£3 entry)
• →Prepaid taxi to Tribhuvan International Airport (~£5–7)