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Nepal

Nepal packs a valley of old royal cities, a lakeside gateway to the Annapurnas, jungle in the Terai and the highest trails in the world into a country that is slow to cross. These guides help you decide how many of those to combine, which permits and bookings come first, how flights, buses and roads connect them, and which season suits the route, with itineraries of seven, ten and fourteen days.

Kathmandu Valley Pokhara and the Annapurnas The Terai: Chitwan and Lumbini The Everest region

Phewa Lake and the Annapurna range · Pokhara, Nepal

Destination guides

Each guide helps you decide whether a place fits your trip, how long to stay, where to sleep, what to eat and how to get there.

Kathmandu Valley

Three old royal cities and a hill-top viewpoint, close enough to see from one base.

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Swayambhunath stupa with gilded spire, painted eyes and prayer flags against a blue sky

Bagmati · 3 nights in Kathmandu

Kathmandu

Kathmandu's four sacred sites in three days: what each costs, where to stay, getting in from the airport and the cautions that change a plan.

The long brick facade of the Palace of 55 Windows with carved wooden window frames

Bagmati · Half a day from Kathmandu, or 1 night in the old town

Bhaktapur

Half a day or a night in Bhaktapur: the Durbar Square ticket, Nyatapola, Pottery Square, Changu Narayan, juju dhau and the way from Kathmandu.

Patan Durbar Square with the stone Krishna Temple and pagoda temples under a blue sky

Bagmati · Half a day from Kathmandu; a night in Patan is optional

Patan

Half a day in Patan (Lalitpur): Durbar Square and Patan Museum on one ticket, the Golden Temple, Mahabouddha, the metalwork and the ride from Kathmandu.

Snow-capped Himalayan range beyond a stone terrace at Nagarkot

Bagmati · 1 night on the ridge, or a day trip in daylight

Nagarkot

Whether to sleep a night in Nagarkot or visit for the day, how to get there from Kathmandu, which season gives the clearest views, and the hill walk to Changu Narayan.

Pokhara and the Annapurnas

A lake town with mountain views, and the short and long treks that start from it.

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Phewa Lake with the Annapurna range and the peak of Machhapuchhre beyond, seen from the hills above Pokhara

Gandaki · 3 nights in Lakeside; add one night either side of a trek

Pokhara

How many nights Pokhara needs, where to sleep, Phewa Lake, Sarangkot by daylight, the International Mountain Museum, flight or bus from Kathmandu and the Annapurna treks.

Snow-covered peaks of the Annapurna range seen between fir trees from Poon Hill at Ghorepani under a clear blue sky

Gandaki · 3 to 4 days on the trail, plus a night in Pokhara before and after

Poon Hill Trek

Poon Hill from Pokhara: three to four days from Birethanti to Ghandruk, the guide and TIMS rule, the ACAP permit, the sunrise, the season and the lodges.

Snow-covered Annapurna massif seen from Annapurna Base Camp under a blue sky, with golden grass in the foreground

Gandaki · 7 to 8 days on the trail for the direct walk, 10 to 12 with Poon Hill, plus a night in Pokhara before and after

Annapurna Base Camp Trek

The Annapurna Base Camp trek from Pokhara: direct and Poon Hill routes, guide and TIMS rule, ACAP permit, altitude at 4,130 m and season.

The Terai: Chitwan and Lumbini

Wildlife in the lowland national park and the birthplace of the Buddha.

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Wooden canoes and polers on the Bhude Rapti River near Sauraha, with trees on the far bank

Bagmati · 2 nights in Sauraha, a third for Beeshazari Lake and Meghauli

Chitwan

How many nights Chitwan needs, the park permit and other fees, jungle activities from Sauraha, getting there from Kathmandu, the seasons and mosquitoes.

The white Mayadevi Temple at Lumbini beside its pond

Lumbini · 1 night; a second night if you add Kapilavastu or Ramagrama

Lumbini

One night in Lumbini: the Maya Devi Temple ticket, the Ashoka Pillar, the monastery zones, Kapilavastu and the 35-minute flight from Kathmandu.

The Everest region

The trek to Everest Base Camp: flights to the mountains, permits and altitude.

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Tengboche Monastery in front of Mount Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam under a blue sky

Koshi · 15 days from the flight to Lukla to the flight back (14 nights on the trail), plus two spare days and a night or two in Kathmandu either side

Everest Base Camp Trek

The Everest Base Camp trek from Lukla: 14 nights on the trail, the Lukla and Ramechhap flights, the guide and TIMS rule, the park permit, season and altitude.

Make the important choices first

Entry, trekking permits, seasons, transport and the bookings that shape the route.

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The Kathmandu Valley seen from a hill above it, with housing spread across the valley floor and green hills under scattered cloud

Nepal · A week for the Kathmandu Valley and one more region; ten days for the valley, Pokhara and Chitwan; two weeks to add Lumbini or a short trek

First trip to Nepal

Choose the length, route and season of a first Nepal trip: what a week, ten days or two weeks hold, what to book first, and the altitude, water, air and road advice.

A Shree Airlines twin-propeller Dash 8 on the ground at Tribhuvan International Airport with hills and a snow line behind

Bagmati · Entry planning before the flight; the length of stay is up to you, to a cap of 150 days in a visa year

Entering Nepal

Entering Nepal: who needs a visa, the 15-, 30- and 90-day visas, passport rules, the 150-day cap, the cash declaration and the steps through Kathmandu airport.

A Shree Airlines Dash 8-400 taking off at Tribhuvan International Airport with hills behind

Bagmati · Short flights between the main hubs; allow a full travel day for an intercity bus transfer

Transport in Nepal

Which Nepal legs to fly and which to ride: domestic airlines, Lukla via Ramechhap, tourist buses to Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini, and city taxis.

Snow-covered Machhapuchhre and neighbouring peaks reflected in the still water of Phewa Lake, framed by trees

Nepal · Season choice for a trip of any length

Best time to visit Nepal

Choose your Nepal season: autumn and spring trekking windows, the Everest months, monsoon road risk, winter in the valley, Terai heat and Kathmandu air.

Lawns, an amphitheatre-shaped garden terrace and a white pavilion in the Garden of Dreams, Kathmandu

Bagmati · Seven bases, one to three nights each

Where to stay in Nepal

Pick a base in Nepal: Thamel, Patan, Bhaktapur, Nagarkot, Lakeside, Sauraha or Lumbini, with the nights to book, the way there and one hotel's own rate.

Colourful entrance gate of Sagarmatha National Park with painted wooden eaves and a blue sky

Bagmati · Arrange the agency, guide and TIMS card before the trek starts; trek lengths are in each trek guide

Trekking Permits in Nepal

Permits for Poon Hill, Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp, plus the Annapurna Circuit and restricted areas: licensed guide, TIMS, ACAP and park fees.

Routes with time to stay

Seven-, ten- and fourteen-day plans with their nights and transfer days.

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Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre seen from Sarangkot under a clear blue sky

Bagmati and Gandaki · 7 days / 6 nights: Thamel 2, Pokhara 2, Thamel 2

Nepal in seven days

A seven-day Nepal plan: two nights in Thamel, two in Pokhara, two back in Thamel, with both flights, site fees and a budget for two.

The white dome and gilded spire of Swayambhunath stupa with prayer flags under a blue sky

Bagmati · 10 days / 9 nights

Nepal in 10 days

Nine nights through the Kathmandu Valley, Nagarkot, Pokhara and Chitwan, with the flights to book first, named hotels and a dated budget for two adults.

A blue-roofed house and a stack of firewood in Ghandruk with the snow-covered Annapurna peaks behind under a bright blue sky

Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini · 14 days / 13 nights

Nepal in 14 days

Thirteen nights from Patan to the Poon Hill trail, Chitwan and Lumbini, with three domestic flights, one road day, named hotels and a dated budget for two adults.

Discover another destination

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Kiyomizu-dera in autumn · Kyoto, Japan

Japan

Plan a Japan trip around places you want to experience. Explore regional food, practical itineraries, local culture and tours from Hokkaido to Okinawa.

Wat Arun · Bangkok, Thailand

Thailand

From Bangkok's riverside temples to northern mountain towns and island beaches.

Rice terraces · Bali, Indonesia

Indonesia

Start in Bali, then discover Java's cultural cities and the islands beyond.

Hoi An · Vietnam

Vietnam

Connect Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City through food, heritage and coastal stops.

Gyeongbokgung Palace · Seoul, South Korea

South Korea

Explore Seoul's neighbourhoods, Busan's coast and Jeju's volcanic landscapes.

Xinyi District and Taipei 101 from Elephant Mountain · Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwan

Follow night markets, tea traditions and mountain scenery from Taipei to the east coast.

Petronas Twin Towers · Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Malaysia

Combine Kuala Lumpur, Penang's food scene, island escapes and Borneo's forests.

Marina Bay Sands and the ArtScience Museum · Singapore

Singapore

A compact city journey through hawker food, gardens and distinctive neighbourhoods.

Big Lagoon · El Nido, Palawan, Philippines

Philippines

Build an island journey around Cebu, Palawan and Bohol's beaches and landscapes.

Angkor Wat and its reflection · Siem Reap, Cambodia

Cambodia

Explore Angkor, Phnom Penh and the riverside towns of Cambodia.

Wat Xieng Thong · Luang Prabang, Laos

11Luang Prabang

Laos

Plan a journey through Luang Prabang, Vientiane and the landscapes of Laos.

Central and Victoria Harbour from the Kowloon side · Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Explore Hong Kong’s harbour, neighbourhoods and outlying islands.

Senado Square in the historic centre · Macau

13Historic Centre

Macau

Explore Macau’s historic streets, Taipa and Coloane.