Travel guide · Nepal
The Perfect 2-Week Nepal Itinerary
Fourteen days to do Nepal properly — the Kathmandu Valley, a Chitwan safari, Pokhara and a week-long Annapurna trek.
Two weeks is the length most experienced visitors recommend for a first trip to Nepal. It lets you give equal weight to culture, wildlife and the mountains, finishing with a genuine multi-day Himalayan trek rather than just a day hike. This plan front-loads the cities and saves the trek for the second half.
The short answer
Spend days 1 to 3 in Kathmandu, then days 4 to 5 in Chitwan for safari. Move to Pokhara on day 6, then walk the Annapurna Base Camp trek across days 7 to 13 before flying back to Kathmandu on day 14. Swap in the shorter Mardi Himal trek if you want extra rest days.
Day-by-day plan
Days 1 to 3: Kathmandu Valley
Ease in with the spiritual heavyweights — Boudhanath and Swayambhunath stupas, the riverside cremation ghats of Pashupatinath, and the carved courtyards of Kathmandu Durbar Square. Set aside half a day for medieval Bhaktapur, the best-preserved of the valley's three royal cities. Use the third day to collect your trekking permits and rent or buy any missing kit — down jacket, sleeping bag, trekking poles — in the gear shops of Thamel.
Days 4 to 5: Chitwan safari
Travel south to Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO-listed reserve in the steamy Terai lowlands. Spend a full day on a jeep safari and a dugout-canoe trip along the Rapti River, with a strong chance of seeing one-horned rhinos, spotted deer, marsh crocodiles and a wealth of birdlife. An evening Tharu stick-dance show introduces the culture of the indigenous people of the plains.
Day 6: Travel to Pokhara
Drive or fly west to Pokhara, Nepal's relaxed lakeside town and the gateway to the Annapurna region. Relax along Phewa Lake, do your final trek preparation, leave a bag of city clothes at your hotel and get an early night before hitting the trail.
Days 7 to 13: Annapurna Base Camp trek
Drive to the trailhead and climb steadily through the Gurung village of Ghandruk, the hillside settlement of Chhomrong and the dripping bamboo of the Modi Khola gorge into the Annapurna Sanctuary. Reach base camp at 4,130 metres, ringed by a sunrise amphitheatre of peaks including Annapurna I and the sacred Machhapuchhre. Descend the same valley, with an optional soak in the riverside Jhinu Danda hot springs on the way out. Build acclimatisation and a weather buffer into these days rather than racing the schedule.
Day 14: Return and depart
Fly from Pokhara back to Kathmandu in the morning, leaving plenty of margin before your international flight. If your trek ran ahead of schedule, use the spare hours for last-minute shopping in Thamel.
What to know before you go
Visit Kathmandu first so you can arrange permits and gear, then trek in the second half — that way any weather delay falls at the end where a buffer can absorb it. Two weeks is comfortable for Annapurna Base Camp, but it leaves little slack if you also want Chitwan, so do not try to bolt on a second trek. Reasonable hill fitness, broken-in boots and a slow ascent matter far more than speed: these trails are strenuous rather than technical, and rushing the altitude is the single most common mistake.
Make it work
If you would rather have lighter days, swap Annapurna Base Camp for the five-day Mardi Himal trek and add two relaxed days in Pokhara. Compare the options in our guide to the best treks in Nepal, and plan your transfers with getting around Nepal. For a shorter trip drop back to the 10-day Nepal itinerary; with more time, the three-week Nepal itinerary opens up Everest and the wilder ranges.
Frequently asked questions
Is two weeks enough for Nepal?+
Two weeks is ideal for a complete first trip. It comfortably fits the Kathmandu Valley, a Chitwan safari, Pokhara and a proper five- to seven-day Himalayan trek such as Annapurna Base Camp or Mardi Himal, with buffer time for weather. It is the most rewarding length for most travellers.
Which trek fits a two-week Nepal trip?+
Annapurna Base Camp (around 7 days) and Mardi Himal (around 5 days) are the best fits, as both start near Pokhara and reach genuine high mountain scenery. Everest Base Camp is possible but tight in two weeks once you account for flights and acclimatisation, so it suits three weeks better.
Can I do Everest Base Camp in two weeks?+
It is possible but leaves almost no margin. The trek itself takes about 12 days round trip from Lukla, and weather often delays the mountain flights. In two weeks you would skip Chitwan and Pokhara entirely. For a relaxed trip with cities included, choose an Annapurna trek instead.
Should I trek before or after visiting the cities?+
Visit Kathmandu first to arrange permits and gear, then trek in the second half so you finish near your departure with a buffer. Putting the trek late also means any acquired fitness peaks at the right time and a weather delay does not derail the rest of your sightseeing.
How fit do I need to be for a two-week trek?+
Reasonable fitness is enough for routes like Annapurna Base Camp or Mardi Himal. You walk five to seven hours a day on stone steps and trails, so regular hill walking beforehand helps. These treks are strenuous rather than technical, and careful acclimatisation matters more than speed.
