How to Get from Pokhara to Chitwan (By Bus, Flight)

Looking for information on how to get from Pokhara to Chitwan?

I’ve got you covered! I live in Nepal and getting from Pokhara to Chitwan is easy although it may take up to 8 hours by bus.

Chitwan National Park is one of the most popular places to see wildlife in Nepal. Although it takes around 8 hours to get there by bus, it is still considered as one of the places that is reached more easily if you want to see wildlife.

Chitwan is 145 km from Pokhara and you can either get there by bus or plane. The bus takes around 7-8 hours and costs Rs. 800-900. The flight takes 20 minutes from Pokhara to Bharatpur (Chitwan) and costs USD 73 for foreigners. Once in Bharatpur, there are frequent local buses from Bharatpur to Sauraha.

Here is all the information you need on how to get to Chitwan!

Pokhara to Chitwan Distance

Chitwan is around 145 km from Pokhara and it takes 8 hours to get there by bus, while the flight takes only 20 minutes to Bharatpur (Chitwan).

How to Get from Pokhara to Chitwan

The closest town to Chitwan National Park is Sauraha and this is where most travellers stay. Sauraha has many hotels, restaurants and safari tour operators you can choose from.

There are regular, daily buses and flights that connect Pokhara and Chitwan. The bus takes around 8 hours and the flight takes 20 minutes to reach Chitwan.

Pokhara to Chitwan Bus

Pokhara to Chitwan Bus Time

All the buses going to Sauraha (Chitwan) leave around 7 am from the Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara.

The Pokhara Tourist Bus Park is about 30 minutes’ walk from Lakeside. There are also many taxis around in the morning if you prefer to take a taxi.

It is recommended to arrive at the bus park 30 minutes before the departure time to make sure you locate the bus.

In total, it takes around 7-8 hours to get from Pokhara to Sauraha (Chitwan) by bus. Once in Chitwan, the bus usually drops people in different stops in: Aaptari, Bharatpur, Ratnanagar and with the final stop being at the Tourist Bus Station in Sauraha.

Pokhara to Chitwan Bus Ticket Price

The Pokhara to Chitwan tourist bus ticket costs Rs. 800-900. The tourist buses go from Pokhara to Sauraha (which is the main tourist town for starting the jungle safaris).

Tourist Buses in Nepal

The tourist buses are considered the safest buses in Nepal. Nepal has mountainous roads so when you travel long distances by bus, sometimes it can take up the whole day.

The tourist buses are more comfortable than local buses but as the bus journeys can take long, sometimes, even the tourist buses can feel uncomfortable. This is due to the bumpy roads and long hours on the bus.

Usually, most tourist buses have an AC or fans during the hotter months and a 1L bottled water is always included in the ticket.

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How to Buy the Tourist Bus Ticket from Pokhara to Chitwan

If it’s your first time in Nepal, the easiest way to get a bus ticket is if you buy it at a travel agency or ask your hotel to arrange it for you.

Travel Agency: There are many travel agencies in Pokhara selling tourist bus tickets. It is quick and easy to buy the ticket through an agency, though usually they will charge a higher price as they also add commission to the price.

At Your Hotel: Most of the hotels in Pokhara can also arrange a bus ticket for you. Just ask at the reception and they will be able to get the bus ticket for you.

Online on BusSewa: It is also possible to buy bus tickets online on BusSewa.com. The platform is easy to use and you can pay for the ticket with an international bank card. It is usually best to just buy the bus ticket 1-2 days ahead of travel and here you can read my tips and tricks for booking bus tickets online in Nepal.

Browsing Bus Tickets Online in Nepal

If you just want to browse bus tickets online, you can also use BusSewa.com. BusSewa is a great platform and easy to use. You can use it to browse bus schedules, tickets and prices, even if at the end you prefer to buy the bus ticket from a travel agency in person.

Pokhara to Chitwan Flight

The closest airport to Chitwan National Park is the Bharatpur Airport. It only takes 20 minutes by flight from Pokhara to Bharatpur, and once you get to Bharatpur, there are local buses to Sauraha that take about 1 hour.

There are daily, regular flights between Pokhara and Bharatpur so it is easy to take a flight there.

Your best option is to book a flight for the morning. Flights often get delayed in Nepal due to bad weather, thus, the earlier flight you book, the sooner you get to Chitwan even if flights are delayed.

Pokhara to Chitwan Flight Time

It only takes 20 minutes to get from Pokhara to Bharatpur by plane. Once you arrive in Bharatpur, you can get a local bus to take you to Sauraha. The local bus takes around 1 hour to get from Bharatpur to Sauraha.

Pokhara to Chitwan Flight Ticket Price

The flight from Pokhara to Bharatpur costs USD 73 (approximately Rs. 9,800) for foreigners and Rs. 3,500 for Nepali citizens.

How to Buy Flight Tickets in Nepal

Buddha Air is considered as one of Nepal’s more trusted airlines. Check out Buddha Air’s website for prices and booking tickets.

Hotels in Chitwan

Not sure where to stay in Chitwan? Here are my top recommendations for every budget:

Best Things to Do in Chitwan

There are so many things to do in Chitwan and even if you don’t want to go on a jungle safari, you can easily spend a few days relaxing in Sauraha.

Here are some of the best things to do in Chitwan:

• Go on a jungle safari (walking or by jeep)
• Canoe on the Rapti River
• Cycle to the 20,000 Lake (Bis Hazari Lake)
• Sunset Point

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Nepal Transport Guide

Looking for information on how to get to other destinations in Nepal? Check out my transport guides:

• How to Get from Kathmandu to Pokhara
• How to Get from Pokhara to Kathmandu
• How to Get from Chitwan to Pokhara
• How to Get from Kathmandu to Chitwan
• How to Get from Chitwan to Kathmandu
• How to Get to Bardia National Park
• How to Get to Bandipur
• How to Get to Janakpur
• How to Get to Tansen (Palpa)
• How to Get to Lumbini
• How to Get to Gorkha
• How to Get to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

FAQs: How to Get from Pokhara to Chitwan

How do I get from Pokhara to Sauraha?

Chitwan is 145 km from Pokhara and you can get there either by bus or plane.

The bus takes around 7-8 hours and costs Rs. 800-900. The flight takes 20 minutes from Pokhara to Bharatpur (Chitwan) and costs USD 73 for foreigners. Once in Bharatpur, there are frequent local buses from Bharatpur to Sauraha.

How long is the bus ride from Pokhara to Chitwan?

The bus ride from Pokhara to Chitwan takes between 7-8 hours. The buses leave around 7 am from the Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara and usually arrive in Sauraha (Chitwan) by 2-3 pm.

There are many roadworks going on in Nepal so road travel can sometimes take even longer. Usually, if you check on google maps how long the bus journey should take, double it up and that’s how long the bus journey will take in Nepal.

How is the road from Pokhara to Chitwan?

The main highway connecting Pokhara to other cities in Nepal has been under construction for years, and in addition, the roads are bumpy and go through mountainous areas.

The road conditions are being improved, nevertheless, you should prepare there may be delays on the road. At best, the bus trip takes 7-8 hours from Pokhara to Chitwan.

Is 1 day enough for Chitwan?

1 day is very tight to see everything in Chitwan, but if you only 1 one day to spend in Chitwan, you can still buy a package to go on a jungle safari and canoe on the Rapti River.

If you plan to travel to Chitwan by bus, you should also plan 2 days for travel to and from Chitwan. So in this case, your visit would be 2 days of travel + 1 day in Chitwan.

Which is better, Pokhara or Chitwan?

Pokhara and Chitwan have different attractions to offer so it depends what you prefer.

Pokhara is a chill resort town with a lake and known for its hiking and trekking routes, while Chitwan is a great place if you want to go on a jungle safari to spot wildlife.

Some of the best activities in Pokhara include boating on Phewa Lake, paragliding, hiking and trekking. There are short hiking routes near Pokhara but there also some of the most popular trekking routes, such as Annapurna Base Camp, Mardi Himal and Poon Hill.

In Chitwan, you can go on jungle safaris (walking or by jeep) and canoe on the Rapti River. Sauraha (Chitwan) also has some nice restaurants and there is also a sunset point where it is nice to chill to see the sunset with some good food and drinks.

What is the distance from Pokhara to Chitwan?

The distance between Pokhara and Chitwan is 145 km. Due to the mountain roads and roadworks, even shorter distances take double the amount of time.

Is there a night bus from Pokhara to Chitwan?

No, there is no night bus between Pokhara and Chitwan. There are only two tourist buses per day going from Pokhara to Chitwan and they both leave around 7 am in the morning.

What is the price of the tourist bus ticket from Pokhara to Chitwan?

The tourist bus ticket costs Rs. 800-900 from Pokhara to Chitwan. There are only two tourist buses per day that go from Pokhara to Chitwan and they both leave around 7 am in the morning.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Chitwan is 145 km from Pokhara and you can either get there by bus or plane. The main tourist town near Chitwan National Park is Sauraha and that’s where all the travellers stay.

The tourist buses and planes leave daily, on a frequent schedule from Pokhara to Chitwan.

The bus takes around 7-8 hours and costs Rs. 800-900 from Pokhara to Chitwan. The roads can be bumpy, so it is best to book bus tickets in the front of the bus. It is because when the roads are bumpy, it feels much worse in the back of the bus.

The flight takes 20 minutes from Pokhara to Bharatpur (Chitwan) and costs USD 73 (approximately Rs. 9,800) for foreigners and Rs. 3,500 for Nepali citizens. Once in Bharatpur, there are frequent local buses from Bharatpur to Sauraha.

Your best option is to book a flight for the morning. Flights often get delayed in Nepal due to bad weather, thus, the earlier flight you book, the sooner you get to Chitwan even if flights are delayed.