Kathmandu and Pokhara are joined by one road — the Prithvi Highway — and one short flight. The road is slow and often being rebuilt; the flight is quick and weather-dependent. Here is how to decide.
At a glance
- Cheapest
- Tourist bus
- Fastest
- Flight
- Most flexible
- Private car
- Bus departs
- ~7 am, Kantipath
- Arrives
- Tourist Bus Park
Tourist bus
The default. Tourist buses leave Kathmandu from the Kantipath / Sorhakhutte area near Thamel around 7 am, stop once or twice for food, and arrive at the Pokhara Tourist Bus Park (near Prithvi Chowk, south of Lakeside) in the afternoon. Scheduled time is around seven hours; in practice six to nine depending on roadworks, landslides in monsoon and the traffic getting out of Kathmandu.
Several operators run this route; the "deluxe" services have better seats, air-conditioning and sometimes a snack. Book a day ahead in season through your hotel or any agency; you don't need to go to the bus park. From the Pokhara bus park to Lakeside is a short taxi ride. TODO: confirm current fares for standard and deluxe services.
Flying
Around 25 minutes in the air on a small turboprop, with the Himalaya out of the right-hand windows on the way west. Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Shree Airlines fly the route many times a day. Flights land at Pokhara International Airport, the new airport that opened on 1 January 2023 south-east of the city, roughly 20–30 minutes by taxi from Lakeside. TODO: confirm all scheduled domestic flights now use the new airport and that the old one is closed to passenger traffic.
Fares for foreign nationals are higher than for Nepalis and vary by airline and season. TODO: add an indicative range. Morning flights are less likely to be delayed by cloud; in monsoon, expect delays and occasional cancellations.
Private car or jeep
A hired car with driver does the road in five to seven hours, leaves when you want, and can stop at Manakamana (the cable-car temple) or Bandipur on the way. It costs several times the bus but split between three or four people it is reasonable. Arrange through a hotel or agency the day before. TODO: confirm typical one-way price.
Which one?
| Bus | Flight | Private car | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 6–9 h | 25 min + airports | 5–7 h |
| Cost | Low | High | Medium (shared) |
| Views | River and hills | Himalaya from the air | Best — you can stop |
| Reliability | Good; monsoon landslides | Weather-dependent | Good |
My honest answer: bus one way for the road, fly the other for the mountains, if the budget stretches.
Other routes in
From Chitwan (Sauraha) tourist buses take around 4–5 hours. From Lumbini around 6–8 hours. From India, the road via Sunauli/Bhairahawa reaches Pokhara in a long day. Pokhara International Airport was built to take international flights; scheduled international services have so far been limited. TODO: check whether any international routes are currently operating.
Questions I get asked
Is the Kathmandu–Pokhara road safe?
It is a busy two-lane highway with sections under reconstruction. Tourist buses and hired cars have a reasonable record; avoid night buses and don’t travel during heavy monsoon rain if you can help it.
Is there a train?
No. Nepal has no passenger railway on this route.
Can I take the bus at night?
Night buses exist but are not recommended — slower driving in the dark on a mountain road, and you miss the scenery.