Kathmandu to Pokhara by bus, by plane or by private car
Two hundred kilometres, which take twenty-five minutes or eight hours depending on what you book, and what each option is like in practice.
By the Lakeshore team · 5 min read · Updated 5 October 2026
Kathmandu and Pokhara are about 200 km apart. How you cover that distance is one of the bigger decisions of a Nepal trip, because getting it wrong costs you a day and your good mood.
There are three good options, and one we'd talk you out of.
We book all of these routinely, for trekkers and for people who haven't booked a trek with us, so this is what we'd tell a friend.
The tourist bus is cheap, slow and perfectly fine
It's six to eight hours on the Prithvi Highway through Mugling, with the Trishuli river beside you for much of the way. Tourist buses are nothing like local buses. You get an assigned seat, air conditioning, a couple of scheduled food stops and no livestock.
The better operators run deluxe coaches with more legroom for a little extra, and they're worth it. Buses leave early, usually from six to seven-thirty in the morning, from the tourist bus areas in both cities. We book them at local prices and send the e-ticket to your WhatsApp, with a walk-through of exactly where the pickup point is, because finding the bus is the part that catches people out. The first half of the drive is good to look at, with the river gorge, terraced hills and villages. The second half goes on longer than you'd like, so bring a book and download something before you leave.
Flying takes twenty-five minutes, weather permitting
Several airlines fly Kathmandu to Pokhara a number of times a day. You're in the air for twenty-five minutes, and on a clear morning the view north to the Himalaya from the right-hand side is superb, so sit on the right when you fly to Pokhara.
It costs a good deal more than the bus and saves most of a day, and with two weeks in Nepal that's a trade worth making. Most people we book do one leg each way, flying out and taking the bus back, or the other way round.
Flights depend on the weather and cancellations happen, especially in the monsoon and winter morning fog. If you're connecting to an international flight, don't fly on the same day.
A private car, the option people overlook
For a group of three or four, a car and driver costs more than the bus and less than flying, and it changes the day completely. You leave when you like, stop where you like, and can break the journey wherever you want.
The best way to do it is to stop at Bandipur, a car-free Newari town on a ridge roughly halfway, and stay the night. That turns the worst day of a Nepal itinerary into one of the better ones, and we build it into trips all the time.
You can also detour to Chitwan off the same road, making a loop from Kathmandu to Chitwan to Pokhara without doubling back.
Road conditions, and what can go wrong
The Prithvi Highway is a two-lane road that carries most of the traffic between Nepal's two largest cities, and sections of it are being widened. Expect roadworks, trucks and delays.
In the monsoon, landslides can close it, sometimes for hours, and that's the strongest reason to build a spare day into any itinerary that crosses it in July or August. A new expressway from the Kathmandu valley down to the lowlands has been under construction for years and will eventually cut these journey times by a lot. It hasn't yet, and we wouldn't plan around it.
Walk it with us
Private departures on your dates, guided by the people who wrote this page.
Questions we get asked
How much does the tourist bus cost?
It's one of the cheapest legs of any Nepal trip, and the deluxe coaches cost a little more. We book at the going rate with no markup, so ask and we'll quote you the current fare.
Which side of the plane has the mountain views?
The right-hand side from Kathmandu to Pokhara, and the left-hand side coming back. On a clear morning it's one of the better short flights anywhere.
Is the road safe?
Tourist buses and private cars from reputable operators have good records. The risks come from night driving, overloaded local buses and monsoon landslides, and you avoid all of them by travelling in daylight with a good operator.
Can I stop at Chitwan on the way?
Yes, and it's the efficient way to see it. Go Kathmandu to Chitwan to Pokhara instead of making a separate return trip. We plan this routinely.
How early should I book?
For buses, a day or two ahead is usually fine. Flights fill up in peak October and April and the prices rise, so book those well ahead.
Still deciding?
Tell us your dates, and we'll tell you whether Tourist Bus & Flight Tickets is right for you. If it isn't, we'll say so.
Nothing to pay online. We confirm your dates first.
Or call the office +977 61-457830