Getting around · Nepal
Nepal Transport Routes
Tourist buses, local buses, private jeeps and domestic flights — the main Nepal travel routes from Kathmandu and Pokhara, with times and costs.
Distances in Nepal look short on a map but take far longer on the ground because of mountainous terrain and winding, often congested roads. Your main options are tourist buses, local buses, private cars or jeeps and domestic flights — and the right choice depends on your budget, your schedule and how rough the road is.
The short answer
Between the big tourist towns, take a tourist bus for value or a private jeep with driver for flexibility. For long distances or roadless regions, fly to save a day, but build in buffer days for weather delays. Local buses are the cheapest way to reach villages but are slow and crowded.
The main hubs
Almost everything radiates from two cities. Kathmandu is the primary hub, home to the international airport and the main bus parks. Pokhara is the gateway to the Annapurna region and the second-busiest transport centre. Plan your routes around these two and the rest of the country opens up.
Your options
- Tourist bus: Daily fixed services between hubs, with assigned seats, air-conditioning and rest stops. The best value for long journeys.
- Local bus: Far cheaper, stops everywhere, gets crowded and takes longer, but reaches places tourist buses skip.
- Private car or jeep: Most flexible and comfortable, ideal for groups, rough roads and trek trailheads — you set the pace and stop for photos.
- Domestic flight: Fastest for big distances such as Pokhara, Bharatpur (Chitwan), Bhairahawa (Lumbini) and Lukla, but prone to weather delays.
Popular routes
The busiest corridor is Kathmandu to Pokhara, about 200km along the Prithvi Highway. From there, travellers fan out to Chitwan for jungle safaris, Lumbini for the birthplace of the Buddha, the heritage towns of Bhaktapur, Bandipur and Gorkha, the sunrise viewpoint at Nagarkot, and the high-mountain airstrip at Lukla for the Everest trek. Pokhara itself links onward to Chitwan, Bandipur and the Jomsom–Muktinath road, while remoter routes head to Syabrubesi, Besisahar, Ilam and Rara.
Browse the individual route guides below for door-to-door times, current fares and the best mode for each journey. For the bigger picture on transport types and road conditions, read getting around Nepal, and price up your trip with the Nepal travel budget guide before you book.
Our top picks
Kathmandu to Pokhara
Kathmandu to Chitwan
Kathmandu to Lumbini
Kathmandu to Nagarkot
Kathmandu to Bhaktapur
Kathmandu to Bandipur
Kathmandu to Gorkha
Kathmandu to Lukla
Pokhara to Chitwan
Pokhara to Jomsom & Muktinath
Pokhara to Bandipur
Chitwan to Lumbini
Kathmandu to Syabrubesi
Kathmandu to Besisahar
Kathmandu to Ilam
Kathmandu to Rara
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to get around Nepal?+
For long hops between tourist hubs, the tourist bus is cheap and comfortable, while a private car or jeep with a driver gives you the most flexibility. To save a whole day on big distances, fly — though mountain weather causes frequent delays. Most travellers mix all three across a trip.
Are tourist buses in Nepal safe?+
Tourist buses run fixed daily services with assigned seats and rest stops, and reputable operators are a reasonable way to travel between major towns. Roads are winding and slow, so journeys take longer than the distance suggests. Travel by day, choose a known company and avoid the cheapest local buses for long trips.
When should I fly instead of drive in Nepal?+
Fly when the drive is very long or the road is rough — for example Kathmandu to Pokhara to save a day, or Kathmandu to Lukla, which has no practical road at all. For shorter routes like Kathmandu to Bhaktapur or Nagarkot there is no flight, so drive.
Where do most Nepal travel routes start?+
Kathmandu is the main hub, with Pokhara a close second. Almost every popular route starts from one of these two cities, then branches out to Chitwan, Lumbini, the hill towns and the trekking trailheads.
