How to Travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu (By Bus, Flights)

ByTravelling Mandala Updated on

Want to know how to travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu?

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! I have visited Pokhara many times and here is all the information you need on how to get from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

Kathmandu is 200 km from Pokhara and you can travel either by bus or flight. The bus takes around 8-9 hours and costs Rs. 1,000-2,000. The flight takes 25 minutes from Pokhara to Kathmandu and costs USD 102 for foreigners.

Both the flights and buses have a frequent, daily schedule. The bus rides can be long but if you want to save time, there are many flights that operate between the two cities.

The morning buses leave every morning from the Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara around 7 am. While, you also have the option for night buses from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

Pokhara to Kathmandu Distance

Kathmandu is 200 km from Pokhara by road and it takes around 8-9 hours to get there by bus.

The highway used to be under construction and at that time, the journey took around 10-12 hours. As the highway is almost completed, the travel time has slightly reduced.

However, there can still be delays due to traffic, so it is usually best to consider that the bus journey will take the whole day and if you get to Pokhara in less than 10 hours then it’s a success. 

How to Travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu

To get from Pokhara to Kathmandu, you can either go by bus or flight. Kathmandu and Pokhara are two of the biggest cities in Nepal and are connected by daily buses and flights.

Pokhara to Kathmandu Bus

Taking a sofa seat bus is one of the best ways to travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu.
Baba Adventure (sofa seat bus), Nepal
Buses in Nepal.
Buses in Nepal

There are both morning and night buses that operate between Pokhara and Kathmandu. The morning buses leave around 7 am and the night buses leave around 8 pm from Pokhara.

Pokhara to Kathmandu Bus Time

Pokhara to Kathmandu Bus (Daytime):

The day buses leave between 6-8 am from the Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara and takes 8-9 hours to reach Kathmandu.

Pokhara to Kathmandu Night Bus:

The Pokhara to Kathmandu night buses leave around 7-8 pm in the evening and arrive in Kathmandu around 6 am the next morning. The night buses also leave from the Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara.

The Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara is about 30 minutes’ walk from Lakeside. If you don’t want to walk, you can take a taxi to get there. Usually, there are lots of taxis in Pokhara all day.

It is best to arrive at the bus park about 30 minutes before the departure time to make sure you locate your bus and get your assigned seat.

Pokhara to Kathmandu Bus Ticket Price

The price of the tourist bus ticket from Pokhara to Kathmandu is between Rs. 1,000 – 2,000.

The cheaper tickets are for general tourist or Deluxe buses, while the slightly more expensive (Rs. 1,600-2,000) are for the more comfortable sofa seat type of buses.

The sofa seat tourist buses are run by Swift Holidays and Baba Adventure.

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 to Kathmandu

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 Kathmandu Bus Journey

Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara, Nepal.
Tourist Bus Park, Pokhara

The highway connecting Pokhara to Kathmandu is one of the most frequently travelled route by travellers as it connects two of the biggest and touristy cities of Nepal.

The road connecting the two towns has been under construction for years and it is now almost completed. With the completion of the road, it now takes around 8-9 hours by bus.

Nevertheless, if the traffic is bad, the bus journey can take anywhere between 10-12 hours.

Usually, most tourist buses have an AC or fans working during the hotter months. In addition, there is also a 1 litre bottled water included in the price of the ticket that is distributed to the passengers once the journey starts.

Pokhara to Kathmandu Bus Travel Tips

  • Book seats in the front of the bus: The bus ride can get very bumpy especially if you sit in the back, so it is best to sit in the front seats of the bus.
  • Take some snacks with you: The bus will stop for lunch and toilet breaks but it is nice to have some snacks with you (you never when the next break will be).
  • Book Sofa seat buses for more comfort: Some bus companies (Swift Holidays, Baba Adventure) run sofa seat buses. They are more comfortable than other tourist buses.
  • Expect to be on the bus for the whole day: The bus journey now should take around 8-9 hours as the highway between Kathmandu and Pokhara is almost completed. However, there can be bad traffic so it is better to go for the bus trip with the mindset that the trip can take all day.

Pokhara to Kathmandu Flight

Although the majority of people travel by bus in Nepal, there are many daily flights that connect Pokhara to Kathmandu.

Flying is a much quicker and comfortable option as opposed to taking the bus through the bumpy and dusty mountain roads. So, if you are short on time, flying is a good option.

Pokhara to Kathmandu Flight Time

The flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu takes only 25 minutes. Kathmandu and Pokhara are two of the biggest cities in Nepal and there are many regular, daily flights that connect the two cities.

Pokhara to Kathmandu Flight Ticket Price

The price of a flight ticket from Pokhara to Kathmandu costs USD 102 (Rs. 14,000) for foreigners and Rs. 4,200 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 schedules and prices.

Tips for taking a flight in Nepal

Book a morning flight

The earlier your flight is, the most chance you have of flying out that day. Flights often get delayed or cancelled due to bad weather. 

Once the weather clears, they start the flights take off in the order they were supposed to fly. 

This means that if you were going to fly on the first flight in the morning, your flight will be the first one to fly out. If you were on a later flight, your flight might get delayed to the next day.

Hotels in Kathmandu

Looking for a place to stay in Kathmandu? Here are my top recommendations for hotels in Kathmandu for every budget:

📍 Best Hostel: Flock Kathmandu

📍 Best Mid-Range Hotel: Bodhi Boutique Hotel

📍 Best High-End Hotel: Hotel Barahi Kathmandu

Best Things to Do in Kathmandu

There are so many things to do in Kathmandu and here are some of the best activities to do:

Nepal Transport Guide

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

FAQs: How to Travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu

How do I go from Pokhara to Kathmandu?

There are two main options to travel from Pokhara to Kathmandu:

  1. Day and Night Buses: There are frequent, daily buses between Pokhara and Kathmandu. The tourist bus ticket from Pokhara to Kathmandu costs around Rs. 1,000-2,000.
  2. Flights: There are also daily flights connecting Pokhara and Kathmandu. The flight ticket from Pokhara to Kathmandu costs USD 102 for foreigners.

How long does it take to go from Pokhara to Kathmandu by bus?

It takes around 8-9 hours to reach Kathmandu from Pokhara by bus. It usually takes the whole day due to the roadworks on the highway.

How is the road from Kathmandu to Pokhara?

The road between Kathmandu and Pokhara has been under construction for years. However, the road is now almost ready and the bus ride is better and a little bit faster.

When the road was under construction, the journey between Kathmandu and Pokhara took around 10-12 hours. With the road being almost ready, it now takes around 8-9 hours.

How long is the flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu?

The flight from Pokhara to Kathmandu is only 25 minutes long. It is much faster than taking the bus, although it is also a bit pricier. It costs USD 102 for foreigners one-way.

How far is Pokhara to Kathmandu by train?

There is no train service between Pokhara and Kathmandu. In fact, there is not really any train service in Nepal.

Nepal only has 1 railway station in Janakpur. Janakpur is in south of Nepal, close to India. The railway connecting Janakpur to India is very short, with only a few small trains operating each day. Most people who use this railway are those commuting for work between Nepal and India.

Conclusion

Kathmandu is 200 km from Pokhara and you can travel either by bus or flight. The bus takes around 8-9 hours and costs Rs. 1,000-2,000. The flight takes 25 minutes from Pokhara to Kathmandu and costs USD 102 for foreigners.

Both the flights and buses have a frequent, daily schedule. The bus rides can be long but if you want to save time, there are many flights that operate between the two cities.

The morning buses leave every morning from the Tourist Bus Park in Pokhara around 7 am. While, you also have the option for night buses from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

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