Nepal tour package or DIY? Kathmandu and Pokhara compared
By Ganesh ·
A 6-day Nepal package from India costs about ₹25,000–₹50,000 per person; doing Kathmandu and Pokhara yourself costs about ₹18,000–₹40,000. No visa needed for Indians. Costs, ID rules and a 6-day plan.
The short answer: a 6-day Nepal tour package from India (Kathmandu and Pokhara, sometimes Chitwan) usually costs about ₹25,000–₹50,000 per person including flights, or less by road. Planning it yourself typically costs ₹18,000–₹40,000 per person. Indians don't need a visa or even a passport for Nepal, the rupee is easy to use, and buses, flights and hotels are simple to book, so Nepal is one of the easiest DIY trips abroad for Indians.
All prices are approximate, per person, for two people sharing. Check current ID and currency rules with Nepal's immigration department or the Indian embassy in Kathmandu before you go.
What a typical Nepal package includes
- Return flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi or another city to Kathmandu, or a road trip via the Sonauli, Raxaul or Kakarbhitta borders.
- Hotels in Kathmandu and Pokhara, with breakfast.
- A private car or tourist bus between them, and guided sightseeing: Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Durbar Squares, Phewa Lake, Sarangkot sunrise.
- Optional add-ons: Chitwan safari, the Manakamana cable car, a mountain flight past Everest, Muktinath by flight or jeep.
What it costs to do it yourself
| Item | Approximate cost per person |
|---|---|
| Return flights to Kathmandu | ₹8,000–₹20,000 (or ₹1,500–₹4,000 by train/bus to the border plus a bus onwards) |
| Visa | Not needed for Indians; carry a passport or voter ID |
| Hotels, 5 nights (shared) | ₹5,000–₹14,000 |
| Kathmandu ↔ Pokhara (tourist bus each way, or a flight) | ₹1,500–₹3,000 by bus, ₹8,000–₹14,000 by air |
| Entry fees (Durbar Squares, stupas) | ₹1,000–₹2,500 |
| Paragliding in Pokhara (optional) | ₹6,000–₹9,000 |
| Food and local taxis | ₹4,000–₹7,000 |
| Total | about ₹18,000–₹40,000 |
Package vs DIY side by side
| Package | DIY | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost, 6 days | ₹25,000–₹50,000 | ₹18,000–₹40,000 |
| Paperwork | None | None, no visa for Indians |
| Transport | Private car, fixed stops | Tourist bus, domestic flight or hired car |
| Best for | Pilgrims (Pashupatinath, Muktinath), seniors | Couples, friends, trekkers |
Who should pick which
- Pick a package for a pilgrimage with elderly parents (Pashupatinath, Muktinath, Janakpur), or if you want a car and driver for the winding Kathmandu–Pokhara highway.
- Go DIY if you'd like to linger in Pokhara, add a short trek (Poon Hill, Australian Camp), or travel overland on a budget.
A sample 6-day DIY plan
- Day 1: Fly into Kathmandu; evening aarti at Pashupatinath.
- Day 2: Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square; Thamel in the evening.
- Day 3: Bhaktapur Durbar Square, then the tourist bus or a short flight to Pokhara.
- Day 4: Sarangkot sunrise over the Annapurnas, Phewa Lake boating, World Peace Pagoda.
- Day 5: Paragliding or a half-day hike to Australian Camp; Davis Falls and Gupteshwar cave.
- Day 6: Fly back to Kathmandu and home (or stop at Patan if time allows).
Tips
- October–November and March–April have the clearest mountain views; the monsoon (June–September) hides the peaks and slows the roads.
- Indian notes of ₹100 and below are widely accepted; rules for larger notes have changed over the years, so check before carrying them.
- Book the left side of the plane from Kathmandu to Pokhara for mountain views.
- Aadhaar alone may not be accepted as ID; carry a passport or voter ID card.
FAQ
How much does a Nepal trip from India cost?
About ₹18,000–₹50,000 per person for 6 days, depending on whether you fly or go by road, and on hotels.
Do Indians need a passport for Nepal?
No visa is needed. A valid passport or voter ID card works as identity proof; children need their own ID.
Is a Nepal package worth it?
For pilgrimages and seniors, yes. For everyone else, Nepal is easy and cheap to do on your own.
You can plan this Nepal trip on Sancharees and share it with your family or friends.
Photo: Calmness of Phewa lake by Q-lieb-in, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
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