Kathmandu to Pokhara: Distance, Travel Time and the Best Way to Go

Kathmandu and Pokhara are Nepal’s two great travel hubs, and almost every visitor travels between them at least once. They are only about 145 km apart as the crow flies, but the road twists through river valleys for roughly 200–206 km, and the journey takes anything from 25 minutes in the air to nine hours or more on a bus.

This guide compares every option — flight, tourist bus, local bus, private car or jeep and motorbike — with realistic times and prices, explains exactly what the Prithvi Highway is like in 2026 (including the new Nagdhunga tunnel and this year’s Krishnabhir collapse), and suggests the best places to stop along the way.

Prices are approximate (October 2026) and change with fuel prices and season.

How far is Kathmandu from Pokhara?

By road, Kathmandu to Pokhara is about 200–206 km. The route leaves the Kathmandu valley over the Nagdhunga pass to Naubise, then follows the Prithvi Highway — 174 km from Naubise to Pokhara — west along the Trishuli river to Mugling, and up the Marsyangdi and Madi valleys via Dumre and Damauli.

Kathmandu sits at about 1,400 m and Pokhara at about 820 m, but the highway itself drops to around 300–400 m along the Trishuli, so it is hot and humid in the valleys even in winter.

The road in 2026: what has changed

The Nagdhunga tunnel

Nepal’s first road tunnel, 2.8 km long under the Nagdhunga ridge, opened on trial to cars, jeeps and vans (up to nine seats) in August 2026, bypassing 19 hairpin bends on the old road. Tolls are charged. Motorbikes, trucks and pedestrians are not allowed, so riders still use the old road over the pass — which is now quieter.

Widening between Naubise and Mugling

The Naubise–Malekhu section is being widened; by mid-2026 around 60% was complete, with single-lane bottlenecks remaining at several places including Galchhi, Malekhu and Jawang Khola. Expect dust, short gravel sections and occasional holds.

Mugling to Pokhara

The Mugling–Pokhara road has been upgraded to four lanes over much of its length; the eastern half (Abukhaireni–Jamune) was blacktopped in 2025, and the western half to Pokhara is still in progress. It is now the easiest part of the journey.

Option 1: Flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara

Domestic airlines — principally Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Shree Airlines — fly between Kathmandu and Pokhara many times a day; in peak periods there can be around 50 flights a day. Flight time is about 25–30 minutes.

• Kathmandu: flights leave from the domestic terminal of Tribhuvan International Airport. Arrive at least an hour before departure; security queues can be slow.
• Pokhara: since January 2023, domestic flights use the new Pokhara International Airport, east of the city. The old airport near Lakeside has closed. A taxi to Lakeside takes about 20–30 minutes.
• Fares: foreigners pay a separate, higher fare than Nepali citizens — roughly USD 90–125 one way, more in peak season.
• Views: sit on the right-hand side flying to Pokhara for views of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu and the Annapurnas on a clear morning.
• Delays: fog in winter mornings and cloud in the monsoon cause frequent delays. Do not book a tight onward connection.

Option 2: Tourist bus

Tourist buses are the most popular way to travel. They leave Kathmandu at around 7–7:30 am, mostly from the tourist bus park area at Sorhakhutte/Kantipath near Thamel, and arrive at Pokhara’s tourist bus park in the afternoon. From there a taxi to Lakeside costs a few hundred rupees.

• Standard tourist bus: around NPR 800–1,200. Reclining seats, stops for breakfast and lunch.
• Deluxe/VIP or “sofa” bus: around NPR 2,000–2,800, with wider seats, air-conditioning and usually lunch included.
• Journey time: 7–9 hours, longer with road works or landslides.
• Booking: through any travel agent or hotel in Thamel, or online. Book a day ahead in October–November.
• Tips: sit on the right for river views, keep valuables with you, and take motion-sickness tablets if you need them — the road is winding.

Several companies run the route; check current operators and departure points when you book, as services change.

Option 3: Local bus and night bus

Local buses and microbuses leave from Kathmandu’s Gongabu (New Bus Park) and Kalanki throughout the day and night. They are the cheapest option but stop frequently, are often crowded and are less comfortable for luggage. Night buses exist, but we do not recommend them: most serious accidents in Nepal happen after dark.

Option 4: Private car or jeep

A private car with a driver costs roughly USD 90–150, with larger jeeps and 14-seat vans more. It takes 6–8 hours and lets you leave when you want and stop wherever you like — Manakamana, Bandipur or Gorkha make it a day out rather than a transfer. Split between three or four people, it is good value. Cars and jeeps can use the new Nagdhunga tunnel, which saves time leaving Kathmandu.

Option 5: Riding a motorbike from Kathmandu to Pokhara

Riding the Prithvi Highway on a Royal Enfield turns a long transfer into one of the highlights of a Nepal trip. You need a full motorcycle licence and an International Driving Permit; no other permits are required.

• Leave early: be on the road by 7 am to get out of the valley before the traffic builds. Motorbikes must use the old road over the Nagdhunga pass, not the tunnel.
• Ride defensively: this is Nepal’s busiest road. Trucks and buses overtake on blind bends; keep left and use your horn on corners.
• Break the journey: stop overnight in Bandipur, 8 km up from Dumre, for sunrise over the Annapurnas and Manaslu.
• Fuel: plentiful all the way — the one route in Nepal where you do not need to plan fuel stops.
• One-way rental: rent in Kathmandu and drop the bike in Pokhara for a fee, or keep it for Mustang.

We run this as a three-day guided ride — Kathmandu to Pokhara by motorbike — or you can self-ride with a bike from a Kathmandu rental shop, dropping it with our Pokhara rental partner. New to riding in Nepal? Read riding a motorbike in Nepal as a foreigner.

The best stops between Kathmandu and Pokhara

• Trishuli river — rafting put-ins and riverside resorts around Charaudi and Kurintar; a half-day rafting trip is easy to add.
• Malekhu — famous for fried river fish; a classic snack stop.
• Manakamana cable car — at Cheres near Kurintar, about 106 km from Kathmandu. The 2.8 km cable car climbs in about 10 minutes from 258 m to about 1,300 m to the hilltop temple of Manakamana, a wish-fulfilling goddess. Allow 2–3 hours.
• Mugling — the halfway town where the road to Chitwan splits off; many lunch stops.
• Gorkha — a 24 km detour from Abukhaireni to the hilltop palace of Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified Nepal in the 18th century.
• Bandipur — the best overnight stop: a car-free Newari trading town on a ridge above Dumre, with 18th–19th century houses, Thani Mai temple and sunrise views of the Himalaya.
• Damauli — a lively bazaar at the confluence of the Madi and Seti rivers.

Is there an alternative route?

The Prithvi Highway is the only direct road. When it is blocked, traffic is diverted via the south — Kathmandu to Hetauda, then west to Narayangadh and north to Mugling — which adds several hours. Smaller vehicles and motorbikes can use the Tribhuvan Highway (Rajpath) via Daman to Hetauda, a spectacular switchback road in its own right, but it is not suitable for buses and large vehicles. Riders on our Nepal Highlights tour use these roads as part of a loop.

Best time to travel

During Dashain and Tihar (October–November), huge numbers of Nepalis travel home and buses sell out days ahead.

Pokhara to Kathmandu

Everything above works in reverse. Tourist buses leave Pokhara’s tourist bus park at around 7–7:30 am; flights leave Pokhara International Airport through the day. On the road, the climb back into the Kathmandu valley over Nagdhunga can be slow in the afternoon, so aim to arrive before 4 pm.

Which option should you choose?

There is no single best way — it depends on your time, budget and how much you want to see.

• Short trip, limited days: fly. You lose half a day to airports either way, but you gain most of a day compared with the road.
• Backpacker budget: take a standard tourist bus. It is comfortable enough, cheap and stops for meals.
• Families and groups of three or more: hire a private car or jeep. Per person it costs little more than a deluxe bus, and you control the stops.
• Travelling with lots of luggage or trekking gear: road. Domestic flights have strict baggage limits (often 15–20 kg) and charge for excess.
• Motion sickness: fly, or sit near the front of a bus and take tablets. The road is very winding between Naubise and Mugling.
• You want the journey to be part of the trip: drive or ride, and stop overnight in Bandipur. This is the option most travellers wish they had chosen.

If you are heading on from Pokhara to Mustang, Muktinath or the Annapurna Circuit, consider renting a bike in Kathmandu for the whole trip — the motorbike rental in Nepal guide explains one-way and multi-week hires.

Safety on the Kathmandu–Pokhara road

Nepal records around seven road deaths a day, and the Prithvi Highway is its busiest route. The main risks are overtaking on blind bends, overloaded vehicles, tired drivers on night buses and landslides in the monsoon. A few simple choices reduce the risk considerably:

• Travel in daylight. Avoid night buses.
• Choose a reputable tourist bus company or a recommended driver rather than the cheapest option.
• Wear a seatbelt where fitted; ask the driver to slow down if needed.
• In the monsoon, keep a buffer day before international flights in case the road is blocked.
• On a motorbike, wear full protective gear, ride well within your limits and assume every vehicle coming round a bend is on your side of the road.

Arriving in Pokhara

Pokhara is the gateway to the Annapurnas and Mustang, and the most relaxed city in Nepal. Most visitors stay at Lakeside, on the shore of Phewa Lake, with easy access to boating, the World Peace Pagoda, Sarangkot for sunrise over Machhapuchhre and Annapurna, paragliding and the International Mountain Museum.

From Pokhara, the classic next step for riders is the road north to Jomsom and Muktinath — read the Pokhara to Muktinath road guide and the Mustang travel guide.