Getting around · Beni
How to Get to Beni
How to reach Beni — bus or jeep from Pokhara via Kushma, with times, routes and onward-road tips.
Beni is reached by road from Pokhara, roughly three to four hours west via Kushma in Parbat district. There is no commercial airport in town, so the journey is overland, with regular buses and shared jeeps making the run. From Beni, the rough mountain road continues up the Kali Gandaki toward Tatopani, Jomsom and Muktinath.
From Pokhara
The standard approach is from Pokhara, about 75 to 80 kilometres west but around three to four hours on winding hill roads. The route runs through Kushma in Parbat, famous for its dizzying suspension bridges over the river gorges. Buses depart through the day, and shared or private jeeps are faster and more flexible — useful if you plan onward travel into the hills the same day.
Buses and jeeps
Regular buses run between Pokhara and Beni, and you can also hire a private jeep, which is quicker and better for the rough roads beyond town. Beni is the main jeep hub for the western hills: this is where you arrange transport up the Kali Gandaki gorge or out toward Dhorpatan, so it pays to ask around at the bazaar jeep stand on arrival.
Onward from Beni
From the confluence, the road climbs the gorge toward Tatopani, Jomsom and Muktinath — see the Beni to Jomsom and Muktinath road. Trekkers headed for the Dhaulagiri Base Camp circuit or the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve also organise their onward jeeps and porters here.
Getting around once you arrive
Beni's bazaar is compact and best explored on foot — the market, the confluence and the jeep stand are all within easy reach. For excursions to Galeshwor Dham or the Tatopani hot springs, arrange a local jeep or bus. Plan onward travel with our guide to getting around Nepal, and once you've arrived, sort a base with where to stay in Beni.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Beni?+
Beni is reached by road from Pokhara, roughly three to four hours west via Kushma in Parbat district. Regular buses and shared jeeps make the trip, and from Beni the rough mountain road continues up the Kali Gandaki toward Tatopani, Jomsom and Muktinath.
How far is Beni from Pokhara?+
Beni is about 75 to 80 kilometres west of Pokhara by road, but the winding hill route means a journey of around three to four hours by bus or jeep. The road passes through Kushma in Parbat, known for its high suspension bridges over the gorges.
Is there an airport at Beni?+
There is no regular commercial airport at Beni. The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Pokhara International Airport, from where you continue overland by road via Kushma. Onward from Beni, Jomsom has a small airstrip serving the upper Kali Gandaki valley.
How do you get from Beni to Dhaulagiri or Dhorpatan?+
Both routes start from Beni. For Dhaulagiri Base Camp, the trail begins from villages reached by jeep beyond Beni; for Dhorpatan, jeeps run on a long, rough road over the hills toward Burtibang. Arrange transport and porters in Beni before setting out.
