The logic of a short trip
A week in Nepal is enough if you accept one rule: fly between Kathmandu and Pokhara rather than driving. The road takes seven hours each way — a fifth of your holiday — and the flight takes twenty-five minutes.
That single decision buys you two nights on a ridge at 1,650 metres with the Annapurnas filling the horizon, which is the closest thing to a Himalayan trek that fits inside seven days.
Day by day
The full 7 days plan
Location, activities, transport, accommodation, timings and costs for each day — all structured fields, so the summary above generates itself.
- Day 1
Arrive Kathmandu
Kathmandu
- Transfer and rest
- Evening in Thamel
- Sleep
- Hotel, Kathmandu
- Meals
- Dinner
- Cost
- $70
- Day 2
Patan and Boudhanath
Kathmandu
- Patan Durbar Square
- Patan Museum
- Boudhanath kora at dusk
- Sleep
- Hotel, Kathmandu
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Cost
- $55
- Day 3
Bhaktapur, then fly to Pokhara
Pokhara
- Bhaktapur morning
- Afternoon flight
- Lakeside evening
- Transport
- 25-minute flight
- Sleep
- Lakeside hotel, Pokhara
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Cost
- $140
- Day 4
Walk to Dhampus
Dhampus
- Drive to Kande
- 3-hour climb to Dhampus ridge
- Sleep
- Ridge lodge, Dhampus
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- Time
- 3 hours walking
- Cost
- $60
- Day 5
Dhampus to Australian Camp and back to Pokhara
Pokhara
- Sunrise over Machhapuchhre
- Walk to Australian Camp
- Return to Pokhara
- Sleep
- Lakeside hotel, Pokhara
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch
- Time
- 4 hours walking
- Cost
- $65
- Day 6
Pokhara and fly back
Kathmandu
- Sarangkot sunrise
- Phewa Tal
- Afternoon flight to Kathmandu
- Transport
- 25-minute flight
- Sleep
- Hotel, Kathmandu
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Cost
- $130
- Day 7
Departure
Kathmandu
- Swayambhunath if time allows
- Airport transfer
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Cost
- $25
About the author
The Atlas Editorial Team
Research & fact-checking
The Atlas editorial team maintains the structured route, permit and cost data behind every page on this site. Figures are checked against government permit offices, national park authorities and operators on the ground, and each page carries the date it was last reviewed.
Writes about: Route data · Permits and regulations · Trip costs
