Confused about how to get to Pokhara? What transportation to take, from where, and most importantly how much will it cost?
Assuming that you are in the capital city of Nepal, we are going to give answers to all the questions mentioned above. So, there are mainly two modes of transportation that take you from Kathmandu to Pokhara, they are: by air and by road.
How do I get to Pokhara from Kathmandu via Air/ flight?
Unfortunately, even now there are no international flights that land directly to Pokhara. So, if you are a foreigner first take a flight to Tribhuvan International Airport to Kathmandu then take a domestic flight to Pokhara.
There are many domestic airlines flying to Pokhara every day like Yeti Airlines, Nepal Airlines, Buddha Airlines, etc. Prices of flights vary from one airline to another airline. Even in the same airline, the cost differs with the boarding time and class of the flight.
However, here is a rough estimation of the flight cost:
For a one way ticket to Pokhara for an adult it costs around $50 to $200 for economy class and $150 to $250 for business class.
Also, do not forget to check with Airlines if they provide any sort of student or other special occasion discounts to save some extra bucks.
How long is the flight?
The flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara is usually 30 minutes long.
How do I get to Pokhara from Kathmandu via road?
There are three options when you choose to get to Pokhara via road namely by public vehicle (bus, microbus, Hiace, etc.), by tourist bus, and by reserving jeeps or taxis.
For domestic tourists, the public vehicle is the best option. There is “Dhunge adda station” at Kalanki, you need to go there and get a ticket to your preferred vehicle. The cost of a ticket here is around NRs 600 to NRs 700 per person (could be more during the peak trekking season).
It takes about 7 hours to 8 hours to get to Pokhara by public vehicle.
Tip: During peak season it is better to book your ticket prior as you may not be able to get one on the go.
Talking about the tourist bus, you need to go to the bus station situated at Sorhakhutte. Just like for public vehicles you can either pre book your ticket or go to Sorakhutte on the day of the journey. The approximate cost for this one is $10 to $30.
The main difference between public vehicles and tourist vehicles is in the comfort of seats. Likewise, public vehicles do not have working AC whereas in tourist vehicles you will be facilitated with working AC.
The time taken by both public and tourist buses to reach Pokhara is almost the same (7 hours to 8 hours). Sometimes, tourist vehicles can be a little faster as they do not stop unnecessarily long for lunch.
Last but not least, traveling through the reserved vehicle. There are different companies located throughout Kathmandu city dedicated to this. If you are a foreigner who has yet to learn how this works you can get help from travel agencies. Few companies also offer online booking so work your hands and go search on the Internet.
Reserving vehicles costs the most out of all the forms of transportation via road. The price range is different depending on the company and vehicle.
However, the price range is approximated to be around $130 to $200.
Final say: there are ample options for you to choose from while traveling from Kathmandu to Pokhara. We suggest you not hurry, do your research, see what fits best for your schedule and budget, and make your decision.
