How to go from Kathmandu to Pokhara

Buddha Air, Yeti Air, and Simrik Air

There is a special fare for Indians, which is just slightly more than the Nepali fare.

It will be 1.75 times the Nepali fare, but you should have been in Nepal for a minimum of six months on a non-tourist visa. Also, foreign cockpit crew flying different aircraft in domestic route will get this fare.

A child’s fare is applicable for children in between the ages of 2 and 12 years. This is calculated at 33% less than the adult fare.

If your child is less than 2 years of age, then it is considered an infant and only 10% of the adult fare is charged.

You will be considered the same nationality as of the country that issues your refugee identification card and pays accordingly.

If you have an NRN identity card issued by the Government of Nepal, then you can pay the normal Nepali fare. Otherwise, the foreign tourist fare will be applicable.

You need to have a passport or nationality certificate issued by Nepalese government otherwise USD / Foreign fare is applicable

Any valid photo identity.

There are six different fare category, for Y class fare weight limit is 20 kilo, for A & B it is 15 kilo and for C, D & E it is 10 kilo. Please check at the time of booking. There is also a difference in allowance on different route sectors.

This is a normal fare ticket.
10% cancellation charge if you cancel 11 hours before the flight time.
33% cancellation charge if you cancel within 11 hours from the flight time.
You cannot cancel 2 hours before the flight time.
You can reschedule anytime 11 hours before the flight.

This is the Apex fare ticket.
25% cancellation charge if you cancel 11 hours before the flight time.
50% cancellation charge if you cancel within 11 hours of the flight time
You cannot cancel 2 hours before the flight time.
One time rescheduling can be done up to 11 hours before the flight and subject to availability of the same class of seat.
An open ticket cannot be issued for Apex fare ticket.

This is a Bravo fare ticket.
The only fuel charge is refundable if you cancel 11 hours before the flight.
The open ticket cannot be issued for Bravo fare ticket.
It will be sold on a first come first serve basis.

These are Charlie, Delta, and Echo Fare tickets.
Open tickets cannot be issued for these fare classes.
It will be sold on a first come first serve basis.
No cancellation and no rescheduling is available.

Please see your options in question 11 above, different class tickets have different cancellation and reschedule policies.

Airlines will not provide any kind of accommodation or compensation in case of cancellation of the flight. However, they will try to get you on the earliest available flight. Y & B class fare will get first priority.

No, once issued domestic tickets cannot be transferred to another person.

1 hour before the flight time.

No, there are a different tourist and local bus stations in both Kathmandu and Pokhara.

In Kathmandu, the tourist buses depart from Kantipath/ Jamal. 90% of the buses depart from here at 7:00 am. But some bus companies have their own station and leave at a slightly different time.

Please ask your travel agent when buying your tickets. In Pokhara, there is a tourist bus station near Lakeside. Check at the time of buying your ticket.

In Kathmandu, they depart from Gongabu New Bus Park or Kalanki. In Pokhara, they depart from Prithvi Chowk. Please check the map for the locations.

It depends on the hotel you choose, but most of the hotels in Pokhara are in Lakeside, and it is around a twenty to thirty minutes walk from the station. There are many taxis at the bus station also. The rate is fixed for Lakeside at Rs200.

It is slightly far from the tourist bus station. Expect to pay around Rs 300 by taxi to go to Lakeside.

It is very close; from any part of Thamel, it will take 15 minutes to walk there. There are many taxies and rickshaws, so expect to pay approximately Rs 150.

It is to the north of Thamel. By walk, it will take you 30 minutes. Expect to pay Rs 200 to Rs 250 by taxi.

For the local buses, it is the same station in both cities. Tourist buses also arrive and depart at the same place in Pokhara. But in Kathmandu, it is different for tourist buses. Departure is in Kantipath/Jamal, but on arrival in Kathmandu, tourist buses stop in Shorkhutte, northwest of Thamel. It is a 10-minute walk from Shorkhutte to Thamel.

Yes, ask your hotel or travel agency for a free copy of a city map. You can also access an online Kathmandu City Map here.

Tourist buses depart only in the morning between 7 and 8 o’clock. However, local buses depart frequently. Some faster minibusses and some big (40-plus seats) buses depart almost every hour for Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu.

For a tourist bus, it will take in between seven to eight hours, and for the local bus, it will take between six to seven hours. Also, there are 14 seater Toyota jeeps, which go fast, within five to six hours only.

You can travel from Kathmandu to Pokhara overnight with a local bus, but with the tourist bus, you can travel only in the daytime.

Important Note: While the local buses might look attractive in terms of their price and speed compared to tourist buses, please remember the reason for that is overcrowding (hence lower prices) and high speed (hence shorter travel time). In addition, the tourist buses stop at ‘better’ restaurants/ toilet facilities. But mainly, tourist buses are safer!

Depending on your budget and group size, different models of private cars are available for Kathmandu to Pokhara. The most common models are Swift Desire, Fiat Linea, Ford Classic, Skoda Rapid, and Volkswagen. Mahindra Scorpio and Avanza are the available SUVs and Toyota Hiace is available if you require 14 seats.

Up to four people can fit in a car, whereas an SUV can accommodate up to seven people. The Toyota Hiace can accommodate up to 14 people comfortably.

Private transport is faster than the bus, it will take approximately six hours to travel by car between Kathmandu and Pokhara. But you are also free to make many stops to take photographs or eat snacks. So the travel time depends on you!

No, you cannot rent a car without a driver in Nepal. When we talk about ‘car hire’ here, it always includes the driver and his costs.

Yes. The majority do. But there will be an additional charge. Please let the travel agent or hotel know when you book your car.

For a car, it is an additional 25 % of the cost; for SUV, it is 15 %, and 10% for 14 seaters Toyota.

For a car, expect to pay between $90 to $100 USD (depending on the model of the car and facilities), and for an SUV, it is around $150. The price triples for a 14-seater Toyota – around $200.

Yes, you can ask to stop anywhere. However, if you want to stop for a long time, you might need to pay the waiting charge. For example, there is a temple on the highway reached by cable car, or if you have arranged for a couple of hours of whitewater rafting– you will need to ask the car to wait for a few additional hours, and there will be an additional charge. Please let them know at the time of booking, if possible.

You can do that. Normally to hold the car for a night, you need to pay an overnight charge. After paying the overnight charge, you can return on the same route without additional cost.

For example, you rent a car from Kathmandu to Pokhara; if you pay an overnight charge, you can return to Kathmandu without additional cost! But do check this is indeed the case with the company you are using and check the overnight charge in advance.

If you want to drive, say Kathmandu to Pokhara overnight, then on to Tansen. Then yes, you will have to pay an additional car hire fee.