Trek Highlights
- 7-day private cultural tour combining Kathmandu (4 nights) and Pokhara (2 nights). The classic Nepal trip for travellers who want the cultural and scenic highlights without high-altitude trekking.
- Kathmandu sightseeing: Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square. Six UNESCO World Heritage sites over two sightseeing days.
- Pokhara: Sarangkot sunrise viewpoint, Phewa Lake and Tal Barahi Temple boating, Davis Falls, Gupteshwor Cave, World Peace Pagoda. Lake-side accommodation throughout.
- English-speaking guide, twin-share hotels with attached bath. Kathmandu to Pokhara and back by road: local vehicle on Budget, shared tourist vehicle on Standard, private vehicle on Luxury.
- 10% deposit to lock dates, balance paid in person in Kathmandu.
- Every booking helps fund our Nagarjun Learning Center work at Saldum, where 70 children are taught by one dedicated teacher.
Why I built this tour the way I did
I am Shreejan, the co-founder of The Everest Holiday. The 7-day Kathmandu and Pokhara tour is what I recommend to first-time visitors to Nepal who want a cultural and scenic experience without the time or altitude commitment of a Himalayan trek. The route covers two cities many first-time visitors want to see, with the cultural highlights of the Kathmandu valley and the lake-side relaxation of Pokhara in a single trip.
In Kathmandu you visit six UNESCO World Heritage sites over two sightseeing days: Boudhanath Stupa (one of the largest stupas in the world), Pashupatinath Temple (a major Hindu temple on the Bagmati River), Swayambhunath (the old Buddhist stupa on a hill above Kathmandu), Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square. These sites are part of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage listing of 1979.
In Pokhara the focus shifts from cultural sites to scenic relaxation: the Sarangkot sunrise viewpoint above Phewa Lake (Annapurna and Machapuchare panorama on clear mornings), boating on Phewa Lake to the Tal Barahi temple, Davis Falls, Gupteshwor Cave, and the World Peace Pagoda on the south side of the lake. Pokhara is best enjoyed slowly, and two nights gives you a little time to relax by the lake after a full sightseeing day.
Your tour is private by default: your pace, your rest stops, your own party only. Fixed departures are there if you would like company. Your guide is with you throughout the 7 days.
Every booking on this trip helps us pay the teacher’s salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum, where 70 children get free education. The salary is currently funded out of my own pocket. Your trip is what makes that sustainable.
Kathmandu and Pokhara Tour at a glance
| Duration | 7 days, Kathmandu to Kathmandu |
|---|---|
| Route | Kathmandu and Pokhara |
| Style | Private or small group, easy, no trekking |
| Accommodation | Comfortable hotels, included |
| Good for | Culture in Kathmandu and lakeside Pokhara with Annapurna views |
| Best months | October to November and March to April |
Best time for the Kathmandu and Pokhara Tour
| Season | Months | What it is like | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn | October to November | Clearest mountain views after the monsoon, and the main festival season | Best overall |
| Spring | March to April | Warm, rhododendron in the hills, skies usually clear | Great |
| Winter | December to February | Cool and clear in the hills, cold mornings, quieter | Good |
| Monsoon | June to mid-September | Warm and green, but cloud often hides the mountains | Fair |
Travelling as a group?
Bring your own group — friends, family, a club, a university society, your workplace, or a cause you are raising money for — and any of the three comfort levels can run as a private group on your own dates. Private or group, the price per person is the same; we never put strangers in your group. The more of you there are, the less each person pays:
| Group size | Budget (per person) | Standard (per person) | Luxury (per person) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | US$1,525 | US$2,245 | US$3,915 |
| 2-4 people | US$749 | US$1,355 | US$1,799 |
| 5-8 people | US$700 | US$1,265 | US$1,685 |
| 9-12 people | US$660 | US$1,195 | US$1,585 |
| 13-20 people | US$630 | US$1,140 | US$1,515 |
The organiser travels free. Get fourteen or more paying people together and whoever organised the group joins the trip free. The one thing the organiser still pays is their own entrance fees at the sites, since those are fixed costs we pay out for every person, and we cover the rest. Your departure is guaranteed on your own dates — from a solo traveller up to a group of twenty, and we never merge you into another trip.
Planning a group? Message me on WhatsApp with the trip, roughly when, and how many of you, and I will send you a price and a plan.
Compare Our Three Packages
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $749 | $1,355 | $1,799 |
| Meals | Breakfast only (BB basis) | All meals included (B/L/D) | All meals (B/L/D) |
| Hotel | Tourist hotel | 3-star hotel | Luxury hotel |
| Transport | Local vehicle | Shared tourist vehicle | Luxury private vehicle |
| SIM data | SIM only | Limited data | Unlimited data |
| Best for | Budget-conscious travellers | Comfortable touring | Premium experience |
Himalayas for Every Budget — same destinations, same safety, three comfort levels.
This carefully planned 7-day tour package of Nepal is one way to see the country's most popular areas, combining cultural experiences with beautiful views of the Himalayas. Start in Kathmandu by visiting historic UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the holy Pashupatinath Temple, the famous Boudhanath Stupa, and the old Kathmandu Durbar Square. The trip goes on with a beautiful drive to the lakeside city of Pokhara, which is a top spot for outdoor tourism. Here, enjoy the peace of a boat trip on Phewa Lake, where you can see unobstructed views of the Annapurna range. Then, from Sarangkot, watch a beautiful sunrise over the Himalayas. This tour is perfect for people who are coming to Nepal for the first time or with their family. It offers a complete experience of the country's beautiful nature and rich history without the need for difficult hikes.
Major highlight
- Swayambhunath, or the "Monkey Temple": an old hilltop stupa with views over the city, home to many monkeys.
- The Boudhanath Stupa is one of the biggest round stupas in the world and is the heart of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.
- Pashupatinath Temple: A holy Hindu temple complex on the Bagmati River, where bodies have been burned for centuries.
- Kathmandu Durbar Square: A historic palace group with shrines, detailed wood and stone architecture, and the living goddess Kumari.
- Thamel District: A lively and busy centre for tourists to shop, eat, and feel the energy of the city.
- Phewa Lake Boat Trip: Enjoy a peaceful rowboat ride with the clear reflection of the Annapurna range in the water.
- Explore Natural Sites: Visit intriguing caves and the powerful Davis Falls (also called Devi’s Fall).
- It's great for first-time travellers, families, and anybody who wants to see Nepal’s culture and scenery in one easy trip.
7 Days Kathmandu, Pokhara Tour Overview
Take a traditional 7-day trip through the heart of Nepal. It's a great way to get to know a country where old customs and natural beauty coexist. This carefully planned journey is your ticket to the heart of the Himalayas. It includes a mix of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, peaceful lakeside spots, and Himalayan views. This journey is for people who want to explore Nepal's most popular places deeply and memorably without having to trek.
Our journey starts in Kathmandu, the lively capital city, where centuries-old temples and palaces lie in the middle of busy streets. You'll visit holy places like Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple) and the old Durbar Squares, where you can experience the city's regal and spiritual past. The trip then takes you on a beautiful drive to Pokhara, Nepal's adventure capital, which is located next to the peaceful Phewa Lake and has amazing views of the Annapurna mountain range.
You'll exchange old courtyards for fresh mountain air in Pokhara, where you can see the World Peace Pagoda and the mysterious Gupteshwor Cave. One of the best parts of the trip is the morning trip to Sarangkot, a hill town famous for having the best views of the Himalayas at sunrise, including a view of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges on a clear day. This journey perfectly combines the living culture of Kathmandu Valley with the peaceful beauty of Pokhara, making for a memorable Himalayan vacation.
Reminder
For a smooth and easy start, we recommend arriving in Kathmandu by 4 PM the day before we leave. This gives you enough time for a trip briefing with your guide and to make sure you have everything you need before the tour starts.
Online briefing
This online meeting serves as our first coffee before the trip! This online meeting is your opportunity to learn about everything that will happen on the trip. We'll discuss what to bring, what each day on the route will be like, and how it will feel. After you book, we'll send you an email with a couple of times when we can talk. We'll set up our pre-adventure meeting as soon as you submit the papers we need. Also, our tour itinerary includes your hotel nights in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Extra nights before or after the tour are not included. If you want extra nights, tell us during the online meeting, with your budget and the hotel standard you would like. We will arrange it for you.
Your Tour, Our Family
Shreejan Simkhada runs The Everest Holiday, and his family has guided in the Himalayas for three generations. His grandfather arranged expeditions. His father served at the Nepal Tourism Board. Shreejan personally designs every itinerary and hand-picks the guide for your group.
Your guide will be one of our government-licensed, English-speaking guides, trained in first aid. Shreejan briefs every guide personally before your tour begins.
Need anything? WhatsApp Shreejan directly: +977 9810351300.
Why Travellers Trust Us
Personal attention from a family company. Shreejan Simkhada and Shamjhana Basukala founded The Everest Holiday in 2016 to give travellers the kind of warm, personal experience that big agencies cannot. When you book with us, you are not a number in a spreadsheet. You are a guest in our family.
Government registered (147653/072/073), TAAN Member #1586. Every guide is government-licensed. We respond within 30 minutes during Nepal business hours.
Over 300 reviews on TripAdvisor, Google and Trustpilot. Four-time TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice winner (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024).
Difficulty: Easy
A relaxed cultural tour with no trekking required. The itinerary involves gentle sightseeing, short walks around heritage sites, and comfortable vehicle transfers between Kathmandu and Pokhara. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels — from children to grandparents. The highest point is Sarangkot viewpoint (1,592 m), reached by a short drive, not a hike.
Your Tour Funds Children's Education
A portion of every booking supports the Nagarjun Learning Center, founded by our family. Today, 70 children receive free education and hot meals daily at our flagship centre in Saldum Village, Dhading District. We have also provided free medical care to 600+ people and reached 275+ women through support programmes. The centre is verified and listed on the UN Partner Portal.
When you travel with us, your holiday leaves Nepal better than you found it.
Solo Travellers Welcome
Solo travellers are welcome. Your tour is private by default, so you travel with your own guide. Groups are kept small, from 1 to 20 people.
If you would like company, ask us to list your dates as a fixed departure on our website so other solo travellers can join you.
