Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Allow 1.5–2.5 hours after landing at Tribhuvan International Airport for immigration, baggage collection, a Nepal SIM or eSIM, and exchanging a small amount of cash. Pre-arrange a hotel pickup if possible; the drive to Thamel usually takes 20–45 minutes depending on traffic, and airport taxis have fixed counters inside the terminal. Kathmandu’s traffic can feel chaotic after a flight, so avoid planning anything time-sensitive.
After checking in, take an easy break at Kathmandu Guest House Garden in Thamel for about an hour. It is a pleasant first pause amid the neighborhood’s busy lanes, and a good place to orient yourself without immediately tackling the city’s major sights. Keep valuables secure while walking around Thamel, and use a hotel taxi or a ride-hailing app for short trips if the traffic and crowds feel tiring.
Walk to Garden of Dreams near Kaiser Mahal, roughly 5–10 minutes from the guest house. Spend an unhurried hour among the pavilions, fountains, and shaded paths; it is especially useful on arrival day when you want atmosphere without a demanding sightseeing schedule. Admission is typically around NPR 400–500 for foreign visitors, but check the current gate price and opening hours before setting out, as seasonal hours can change. Return to Thamel on foot afterward and leave time for a shower or a slow wander through its cafés and shops.
Have dinner at a well-reviewed Thamel Nepali restaurant, choosing dal bhat, momos, or a Newari-style platter; expect roughly NPR 800–1,800 per person, depending on the restaurant and drinks. Ask your guesthouse for a current recommendation rather than choosing solely from the busiest tout-filled streets, and drink bottled or filtered water. Keep the evening relaxed and return early if you are tired—the next morning is better spent fresh, and Kathmandu’s narrow lanes become quieter but still uneven after dark.
Start early at Swayambhunath Stupa, reached by a short taxi ride from central Kathmandu—allow roughly 20–35 minutes, depending on traffic. The hilltop complex is best before the crowds and haze build; give yourself about 1.5 hours for the main stupa, smaller shrines, prayer wheels, and the valley panorama. There is a modest entrance fee for international visitors, and the steps can be slippery or tiring, so wear shoes with good grip. Keep food securely packed around the monkeys, which are especially confident near the upper approach.
Continue by taxi to Kathmandu Durbar Square in Basantapur, usually another 20–30 minutes in daytime traffic. Set aside two hours to explore the courtyards, pagoda temples, carved wooden details, and the Kumari House; entry is generally paid, with ticket rules and prices subject to change. Ask your driver to drop you near the Basantapur entrance rather than attempting to drive deep into the pedestrian-heavy lanes. The square is most enjoyable at an unhurried pace—look up at the façade details and allow time for the living-city atmosphere around the monuments.
From Kathmandu Durbar Square, walk into Indra Chowk and then onward to Asan Bazaar, following the market lanes for about 15–20 minutes between the two areas. Spend roughly an hour in each: Indra Chowk is good for spices, textiles, beads, and local snacks, while Asan Bazaar feels more like an everyday neighborhood market, with vendors selling grains, incense, vegetables, and religious offerings. Try a small samosa or bara if the stall looks busy and fresh, but carry small Nepali notes and keep valuables secure in the tight crowds. From Asan, you can walk toward Thamel or take a short taxi ride to Dillibazar, allowing 15–30 minutes depending on traffic.
Finish with dinner at Bhojan Griha in Dillibazar, where a traditional Nepali setting and cultural dining atmosphere make a pleasant contrast to the busy markets. Reserve ahead if you want a table at a preferred time, and budget approximately NPR 1,500–3,000 per person; dinner may include a set Nepali menu and cultural performances depending on the evening. A taxi from Asan or Thamel is the easiest option—agree on the fare beforehand or use a ride-hailing app where available.
Leave Kathmandu around 7:00 AM in your pre-arranged private car, allowing 1.5–2.5 hours to reach Nagarkot via Bhaktapur and the Araniko Highway. Traffic can be slow around the valley edge, so keep the morning flexible and ask the driver to take you directly to Nagarkot View Tower before checking in. Spend about an hour there; February mornings are often crisp, but Himalayan visibility is never guaranteed, and clouds can arrive quickly. There is usually a small local entrance or maintenance fee, so carry Nepali cash. Afterward, follow the ridge trails toward Rohini Bhanjyang for roughly two hours. This is an easy countryside walk rather than a marked trek—wear shoes with grip, carry water, and expect uneven paths, stone steps, and occasional muddy sections.
Return toward central Nagarkot for a mountain-facing rooftop lunch at your hotel restaurant. Allow around NPR 800–1,800 per person; menus are generally Nepali, Indian, and simple continental fare, and service can be unhurried. Keep the afternoon deliberately light after the transfer and walk: settle into your accommodation, browse the small ridge shops, or take a short stroll along the road between the hotels. Nagarkot is quiet rather than heavily sight-focused, and the pleasure is in the open views and village atmosphere. Confirm your sunset viewpoint with the hotel—some properties have better west-facing terraces than the public roadside spots.
About 45–60 minutes before sunset, walk or take a very short local taxi ride back to a Nagarkot sunset viewpoint on the central ridge. Give yourself an hour, since the light changes quickly over the hills and the distant peaks may appear only briefly through haze. February evenings become cold once the sun drops, so bring a warm layer even if the afternoon feels mild. After sunset, return to your hotel on foot if it is nearby; otherwise arrange a pickup in advance, as taxis are less readily available after dark.
After the long transfer from Nagarkot, allow time to check in, freshen up, and leave your bags before heading out—arriving at Lakeside in the mid- to late afternoon is ideal. Take a gentle one-hour walk along Phewa Lake, where the waterfront promenade becomes more atmospheric as the cafés light up. The lakeside road is easy to follow on foot, though the central stretch can be busy with taxis, bicycles, and tour groups; wear comfortable shoes and keep valuables secure in crowded areas.
From the waterfront, hire a rowboat to Tal Barahi Temple, the small pagoda temple on an island in Phewa Lake. Allow about 1.5 hours including queueing, life-jacket fitting, the crossing, and time on the island. Boat hire is usually charged by the boat rather than per person—roughly NPR 800–1,500 for a short outing, with prices varying by season and negotiation—while operating hours and departures depend on daylight, weather, and lake conditions. Continue with an unhurried sunset boating session afterward, ideally arranging the return time with the boat operator; clear evenings can bring fine reflections of the Annapurna range, but mountain views are never guaranteed.
Finish at Moondance Restaurant on Lakeside Road, a dependable choice after a travel-heavy day, with Nepali dishes alongside international comfort food. Expect approximately NPR 1,200–2,500 per person; dinner service is popular, so arriving before the busiest period or accepting a short wait is sensible. If the lake is rough or boating is suspended, simply spend longer wandering the waterfront and settle in for dinner—Lakeside is at its nicest when you resist trying to pack in anything more.
Leave Lakeside around 5:00 AM by pre-booked taxi for Sarangkot; the drive usually takes 30–45 minutes, but allow extra time for the narrow uphill road and the short walk from the drop-off area to the viewpoint. Your hotel can arrange a car, typically around NPR 2,500–4,000 return depending on waiting time. Sunrise and Himalayan visibility are entirely weather-dependent, so treat clear peaks as a bonus rather than a guarantee. Take a warm layer—the ridge is noticeably colder before sunrise—and return to Lakeside for breakfast and a proper rest.
Around 10:00 AM, take a taxi to World Peace Pagoda on Anadu Hill, allowing roughly 25–40 minutes from Lakeside depending on traffic. Ask the driver to use the road approach rather than planning a long hike today; after visiting the stupa, spend time on the terrace overlooking Phewa Lake and the surrounding hills. The pagoda grounds are generally free, though modest donations are welcome. Continue by taxi toward International Mountain Museum in Ratopairo—about 30–40 minutes via the city—where a visit of around 1.5 hours gives useful context on Himalayan expeditions, Sherpa culture, and Nepal’s mountain communities. Check the museum’s current opening hours locally before setting out, as schedules can change.
From the museum, continue a short distance south to Devi’s Falls in Chhorepatan, usually 10–15 minutes by taxi. Allow about 45 minutes, and be careful near wet walkways and railings; the waterfall is far more forceful during the monsoon than in February, when its flow can be relatively modest. A taxi waiting for you is easiest, though you can also use a local ride-hailing service where available. Admission is inexpensive, generally around NPR 100–200, but carry small notes.
Return to Lakeside for dinner at Pokhara Thakali Kitchen, allowing 25–40 minutes from Chhorepatan in normal traffic. Order a traditional Thakali set meal with rice, lentils, vegetables, greens, and pickles—expect roughly NPR 700–1,500 per person. This is a long but rewarding day, so skip additional sightseeing afterward and keep the evening for an easy walk near your hotel, an early shower, and an early night.
Leave Pokhara around 8:00 AM in your pre-arranged private vehicle, allowing 4–5 hours door-to-door via the Prithvi Highway and Dumre. The road can be slow around market towns and construction areas, so keep lunch flexible and ask the driver to stop briefly at a roadside café rather than trying to hold a tight schedule. On arrival, have the driver drop you near the pedestrianized old town; Bandipur’s central lanes are easiest to explore on foot, and your hotel can arrange luggage assistance if needed.
After checking in and having a light lunch, spend about 1.5 hours wandering Bandipur Bazaar. The beautifully preserved Newari houses, carved wooden windows, shuttered shopfronts, and quiet stone lanes are best enjoyed slowly rather than as a checklist. Look for local snacks such as bara or sel roti, and keep some cash handy; small cafés and craft shops may not accept cards. From the bazaar, walk or take a short local taxi ride toward Khadga Devi Temple, allowing about an hour for the small historic shrine and its peaceful ridge setting. The approach can be uneven, and views are clearest before late-afternoon haze settles in, so carry water and wear shoes with good grip.
Set aside 2–3 hours for Siddha Gufa, near Bimalnagar below Bandipur, including the local transfer and walk to the entrance. Confirm access locally before setting out, since opening arrangements and guide availability can vary; a local guide is strongly recommended inside the cave. The descent includes uneven ground, damp surfaces, and steps, so sturdy footwear and a small torch are useful even if lighting is provided. Return to Bandipur Bazaar before dark if possible, then choose a traditional Newari or Nepali restaurant for dinner—expect roughly NPR 700–1,500 per person. The old town becomes especially atmospheric after the day-trippers leave, with warm lights on the façades and a quieter pace in the lanes.
Leave Bandipur around 6:30–7:00 AM in your pre-arranged private car. The drive to Kathmandu via Dumre and the Prithvi Highway generally takes 6–8 hours door-to-door, including a breakfast stop, roadworks, traffic, and the final approach into the city. A tourist bus is cheaper, but requires getting down to Dumre first and gives you less flexibility. Keep lunch and hotel check-in timing loose; arriving around 2:00–4:00 PM is realistic, though delays are common. Ask the driver to drop you at your accommodation before continuing to Boudha, as central Kathmandu traffic and narrow lanes can make luggage transfers slow.
After checking in and taking a short break, head to Boudhanath Stupa by taxi—allow roughly 20–40 minutes from central Kathmandu, depending on traffic. Walk the kora clockwise around the stupa, browsing the monastery-lined lanes and small Tibetan craft shops; late afternoon is atmospheric as local residents arrive for prayers. Set aside about 1.5 hours and verify the current entry arrangement at the gate; a modest visitor fee may apply. From Boudha, Pashupatinath Temple is usually a 10–20-minute taxi ride toward Gaushala, although traffic around the airport can slow the journey. Allow about 1.5 hours for the riverfront ghats, shrines, and evening rituals. Non-Hindu visitors cannot enter the main temple, so follow the signs and local instructions; dress modestly, avoid photographing worshippers without permission, and expect queues or temporary access restrictions.
Return to Boudha for dinner at Kyangjin Restaurant, a convenient choice near the stupa for Tibetan and Himalayan dishes such as thukpa, momos, and Tibetan bread. Budget approximately NPR 800–1,800 per person. If you still have energy afterward, take one quiet final circuit around Boudhanath Stupa as the lights come on; keep valuables secure in the crowded lanes and use a pre-booked taxi or a reputable ride-hailing service for the return to your hotel.
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