Kathmandu to Pokhara
Your options
Ways to make the journey
25 min
Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines fly between Kathmandu and Pokhara many times a day, with the best mountain views from the right-hand side on the way to Pokhara. Morning flights are most reliable; afternoon cloud and wind cause delays, especially in spring and the monsoon. Allow about three hours door to door from Dwarika's to your Pokhara lodge, including check-in and transfers. Baggage allowances on domestic flights are lower than international ones, so pack light.
6–8 h
The Prithvi Highway climbs out of the Kathmandu Valley at Nagdhunga, drops to the Trishuli River and follows it west through Mugling and Dumre before rising to Pokhara. Trucks, roadworks and landslides make the timing unpredictable, and the monsoon can add hours. We use experienced drivers in comfortable vehicles, stop for lunch on the way, and suggest a night at Bandipur to split the journey into two easy halves.
7–9 h
Air-conditioned tourist buses leave Kathmandu early each morning for Pokhara, with fixed stops for breakfast and lunch. They are cheap and generally safe but slow, with limited legroom and no flexibility to stop where you like. We do not recommend them for our guests except for travellers who specifically want the experience, and even then we would book the best available coach and arrange private transfers at each end.
Worth a stop
- Kurintar for the Manakamana cable car
- Bandipur hilltop bazaar
- Trishuli River rafting near Charaudi
- Dumre
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
Is it better to fly or drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara?
Fly, unless you want to stop on the way. The flight takes 25 minutes against 6–8 hours by road, and the Prithvi Highway is often slowed by trucks, roadworks and, in the monsoon, landslides. Driving makes sense if you break the journey at Bandipur or ride the Manakamana cable car, turning a long day into two short ones with a night in a hill town.
How long is the drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara?
About 200 km, usually 6–8 hours by private car on the Prithvi Highway. Delays at Nagdhunga, roadworks and slow trucks along the Trishuli River can add an hour or more, and monsoon landslides occasionally close the road for longer. We start early, stop for lunch near Kurintar or Mugling, and suggest a night at Bandipur if you prefer shorter days.
Which side of the plane should I sit on from Kathmandu to Pokhara?
Sit on the right-hand side flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara, and on the left-hand side flying back. On clear mornings that side faces the Himalaya, with the Ganesh, Manaslu and Annapurna ranges along the way. Seats on domestic flights are often unassigned or allocated at check-in, so our team checks you in early to request the mountain side.
Are Kathmandu to Pokhara flights often delayed?
Delays are common, especially after mid-morning, in spring haze and during the monsoon, when cloud and wind affect both airports. Cancellations are less frequent but happen. We book morning flights, avoid tight onward connections on the same day, and can switch you to a private car if the weather keeps flights grounded for long.