Nepal Travel Itinerary: 10 Days, 2 Weeks, 3 Weeks Plans

How long do you need in Nepal? The honest answer: as long as you have. Nepal rewards slow travel — the more time, the deeper the experience. But for most travellers, the choice is between 10 days, 2 weeks or 3 weeks. Here are the three itineraries I recommend most often.

Nepal Itinerary Quick Comparison

Duration	Budget (USD)	What You Can Do	Best For
10 days	$700–$1,500	Kathmandu + 1 short trek + Pokhara or Chitwan	First-time visitors, time-limited
2 weeks	$1,200–$2,500	Kathmandu + 1 main trek + Pokhara + Chitwan	Most travellers, balanced itinerary
3 weeks	$2,000–$4,000	Kathmandu + 1 long trek + Pokhara + Chitwan + Lumbini	Serious trekkers, full experience

10-Day Nepal Itinerary (Kathmandu + Poon Hill Trek + Pokhara)

Day	Activity	Location
1	Arrive Kathmandu, settle in, explore Thamel	Kathmandu
2	Kathmandu sightseeing (Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath)	Kathmandu
3	Drive to Pokhara (tourist bus, 6–7 hours)	Pokhara
4	Drive to Nayapul, trek to Ulleri (1,960 m)	Ulleri
5	Trek to Ghorepani (2,850 m)	Gharepani
6	Sunrise at Poon Hill, trek to Tadapani	Tadapani
7	Trek to Ghandruk, drive back to Pokhara	Pokhara
8	Pokhara relaxation (Phewa Lake, World Peace Pagoda)	Pokhara
9	Fly or bus back to Kathmandu	Kathmandu
10	Final shopping, depart Kathmandu	Kathmandu

Budget: $700–$1,200. Includes flights from Kathmandu to Pokhara ($110 one-way, optional), Poon Hill trek ($200–$300), accommodation ($15–$30/night), food ($15–$25/day), permits ($40).

2-Week Nepal Itinerary (Kathmandu + Annapurna Base Camp + Chitwan)

Day	Activity	Location
1	Arrive Kathmandu	Kathmandu
2	Kathmandu sightseeing + trek preparation	Kathmandu
3	Fly to Pokhara, drive to Nayapul, trek to Ghandruk	Ghandruk
4	Trek to Chhomrong (2,170 m)	Chhomrong
5	Trek to Dovan (2,600 m)	Dovan
6	Trek to Deurali (3,200 m)	Deurali
7	Trek to ABC (4,130 m) via Machhapuchhre Base Camp	ABC
8	Descend to Bamboo (2,300 m)	Bamboo
9	Trek to Jhinu Danda (hot springs), drive to Pokhara	Pokhara
10	Pokhara relaxation	Pokhara
11	Drive to Chitwan (5 hours)	Chitwan
12	Chitwan safari (jeep, canoe, Tharu village)	Chitwan
13	Drive back to Kathmandu	Kathmandu
14	Final shopping, depart Kathmandu	Kathmandu

Budget: $1,500–$2,500. Includes ABC trek ($600–$800), Chitwan safari ($200–$300), domestic flights ($220 return Kathmandu-Pokhara), accommodation, food, permits. See our Annapurna Circuit vs ABC guide for the trek details.

3-Week Nepal Itinerary (Kathmandu + Everest Base Camp + Chitwan + Lumbini)

Day	Activity	Location
1	Arrive Kathmandu	Kathmandu
2	Kathmandu sightseeing + trek preparation	Kathmandu
3	Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding	Phakding
4	Trek to Namche Bazaar	Namche Bazaar
5	Acclimatization in Namche	Namche Bazaar
6	Trek to Tengboche	Tengboche
7	Trek to Dingboche	Dingboche
8	Acclimatization in Dingboche	Dingboche
9	Trek to Lobuche	Lobuche
10	Trek to Gorak Shep, EBC, return to Gorak Shep	Gorak Shep
11	Sunrise at Kala Patthar, descend to Pheriche	Pheriche
12	Trek to Namche	Namche Bazaar
13	Trek to Lukla	Lukla
14	Fly to Kathmandu	Kathmandu
15	Rest day in Kathmandu	Kathmandu
16	Drive to Chitwan	Chitwan
17	Chitwan safari	Chitwan
18	Drive to Lumbini	Lumbini
19	Lumbini exploration	Lumbini
20	Fly from Bhairahawa to Kathmandu	Kathmandu
21	Final shopping, depart Kathmandu	Kathmandu

Budget: $2,500–$4,000. Includes EBC trek ($1,500–$1,800), Chitwan safari ($200–$300), Lumbini visit ($100–$200), domestic flights ($300+), accommodation, food. See our EBC day-by-day guide for the trek details.

Which Itinerary Should You Choose?

Choose 10 Days if:

• It is your first time in Nepal
• You have limited annual leave
• You want a relaxed pace
• You want to see Kathmandu and do a short trek
• Budget is $700–$1,500

Choose 2 Weeks if:

• You want a more immersive Nepal experience
• You want to do a serious trek (ABC, Mardi Himal, Helambu)
• You want to combine trekking with safari
• Budget is $1,500–$2,500

Choose 3 Weeks if:

• You want to trek to EBC, Manaslu, or Annapurna Circuit
• You want to see all of Nepal's main regions (mountains, jungle, birthplace of Buddha)
• You have the time and budget for a deeper experience
• Budget is $2,500–$4,000

Other Itinerary Options

Kathmandu + Everest Heli Trek (5 Days)

Short on time? Fly to Lukla, trek to Namche (2 days), and take a helicopter flight over EBC and Kala Patthar. $2,500–$3,500 per person.

Annapurna Circuit Trek (16 Days)

The classic Annapurna Circuit + Thorong La crossing. See our Annapurna Circuit vs ABC guide.

Manaslu Circuit Trek (17 Days)

A quieter alternative to Annapurna Circuit, with the 5,106 m Larkya La pass. See our Manaslu Circuit guide.

Best Itineraries by Interest

Interest	Recommended Itinerary	Duration
Trekking (first time)	Poon Hill + Kathmandu	10 days
Trekking (iconic)	Everest Base Camp	14 days (incl. trek)
Trekking (longer)	Annapurna Circuit or Manaslu Circuit	17 days
Trekking (remote)	Kanchenjunga BC or Upper Dolpo	22–24 days
Culture	Kathmandu Valley + Bhaktapur + Bandipur + Lumbini	10 days
Wildlife	Kathmandu + Chitwan + Bardia	10 days
Photography	Kathmandu + Poon Hill + Bandipur	10 days
Spiritual	Kathmandu + Lumbini + Boudhanath	10 days
Mixed	Kathmandu + trek + Chitwan	14 days

Itinerary Planning Tips

1. Build in 1–2 buffer days — flights get cancelled, delays happen
2. Allow 2 days in Kathmandu at the start for permit and gear arrangement
3. Allow 1 day in Kathmandu at the end for unexpected delays
4. Don't try to combine EBC + Annapurna in one trip — pick one
5. Allow 1 rest day after each trek before moving on
6. Use flights for long transfers (Kathmandu-Pokhara, Bhairahawa-Kathmandu)
7. Book domestic flights and Lukla flights in advance

Sample Itinerary Variations

• Photography-focused: Kathmandu (3 days) + Bandipur (1 night) + Poon Hill (4 days) + Pokhara (2 days)
• Family-friendly: Kathmandu (3 days) + Pokhara (3 days) + Poon Hill (4 days) + Chitwan (3 days)
• Spiritual: Kathmandu (4 days) + Lumbini (2 days) + Boudhanath (1 day) + Kopan Monastery course (7 days)
• Wildlife: Kathmandu (3 days) + Chitwan (3 days) + Bardia (4 days) + Pokhara (3 days)

Whether you have 10 days or 3 weeks, Nepal has the perfect itinerary for you. The key is to focus on one or two main experiences rather than trying to see everything. For more on planning, see our best time to visit Nepal guide and our Nepal travel budget guide.