Getting around · Nepal
The Best Scenic Road Trips in Nepal
Nepal's most spectacular highway drives — Prithvi, Tribhuvan, Siddhartha, Araniko, BP and Karnali — and what makes each worth the journey.
Nepal's great highways are destinations in their own right, threading river gorges, hill towns and Himalayan passes between the capital and the country's far corners. The best scenic road trips run along the Prithvi, Tribhuvan, Siddhartha, Araniko, BP and Karnali highways — each with a distinct landscape, history and rhythm.
The short answer
For your first drive, take the Prithvi Highway road trip from Kathmandu to Pokhara along the Trishuli River. For raw scenery and history, drive the Tribhuvan Highway road trip over the Daman ridge. The Siddhartha Highway road trip links Pokhara to the Indian border through the hills of Tansen, while the Araniko Highway road trip climbs east toward Tibet. The BP Highway road trip is the fast modern descent to the Terai, and the Karnali Highway to Jumla is Nepal's most remote and adventurous drive.
The classic corridor
The busiest tourist drive is the Prithvi Highway, about 200km of paved road following the Trishuli River from Kathmandu west to Mugling, then on to Pokhara. It passes the hilltop town of Bandipur and the historic seat of Gorkha, and most travellers ride it by tourist bus or private car. It is the gentlest introduction to a Nepali road trip.
The historic mountain road
Before the Prithvi Highway, the Tribhuvan Rajpath was Nepal's only road link to the outside world. Completed in the mid-1950s, it climbs from Kathmandu over the Daman ridge — famous for its sunrise Himalaya panorama — before dropping in tight switchbacks to Hetauda in the Terai. It is slower and steeper than any modern highway, and far more beautiful.
Hill, border and far-west drives
- Siddhartha Highway: Pokhara to Sunauli on the Indian border, climbing over the hills past the Newari town of Tansen.
- Araniko Highway: Kathmandu east through Dhulikhel and Bhote Koshi country toward the Tibet (China) border.
- BP Highway: the modern Kathmandu–Bardibas road, the quickest descent to the eastern Terai.
- Karnali Highway: Surkhet to Jumla, a rough, high mountain road into the remote far west.
How to drive them
Most of these highways are best tackled in a private car or jeep with a driver, which lets you stop for photos, river put-ins and hill-town detours at your own pace. Tourist buses cover the Prithvi corridor well and reach Tansen and Butwal on the Siddhartha route, while remote roads like the Karnali rely on shared local jeeps. Self-driving is possible on the paved routes for confident drivers, but the switchbacks of the Tribhuvan Rajpath and the rough Karnali Highway reward a good local driver. Always carry water, snacks and warm layers for the high passes.
Choosing your road trip
If you have a day or two, drive the Prithvi or Tribhuvan highways near the capital. With more time, link the Siddhartha Highway to Lumbini, or take the BP Highway to Chitwan and the eastern plains. For a real expedition, the Karnali Highway to Jumla rewards the prepared with Nepal's emptiest, wildest scenery.
Plan the practicalities with our getting around Nepal guide and compare door-to-door times in the Nepal transport routes overview. Time your drive with the best time to visit Nepal — the dry season makes every one of these highways safer and more scenic. Tap any route above for the full drive, highlights and tips.
Our top picks
Frequently asked questions
What is the most scenic highway in Nepal?+
The Tribhuvan Rajpath (Tribhuvan Highway) over the Daman ridge is the most spectacular for pure scenery, with endless switchbacks and a Himalayan panorama. For accessibility, the Prithvi Highway along the Trishuli River between Kathmandu and Pokhara is the most popular scenic drive.
Which Nepal road trip is best for first-time visitors?+
The Prithvi Highway from Kathmandu to Pokhara is the easiest and most rewarding for first-timers — it is paved, well served by tourist buses and private cars, and follows the Trishuli and Marsyangdi rivers past Mugling and Bandipur.
Are Nepal's mountain highways safe to drive?+
The main paved highways are reasonable in daylight and dry conditions, but they are winding, slow and prone to landslides in the monsoon. Remote roads like the Karnali Highway are rough and weather-dependent. Travel by day, hire experienced local drivers, and build in buffer time.
When is the best time for a road trip in Nepal?+
October to April, the dry season, is best for road trips. The monsoon from June to September brings landslides, fog and long delays on every highway, especially the unpaved Karnali and the Tribhuvan Rajpath's high bends.
