Getting Around Nepal - What Worked and What Didn’t

Over our 8-day trip in Nepal, we covered the country’s most popular travel triangle -
Kathmandu ➝ Chitwan ➝ Pokhara ➝ back to Kathmandu.

And during this journey, we ended up using almost every type of transport Nepal has to offer:

• 🛺 Tuk-tuks in Chitwan

• 🚖 Local cabs in Pokhara

• 📱 Pathao rides in Kathmandu

• ✈️ Domestic flights between cities

• 🚌 And yes... even a 10-hour tourist bus ride (which we’ll never forget)

Each mode had its own vibe - some super convenient, some exhausting, and some unexpectedly helpful.

This diary is a breakdown of our full experience: what worked, what didn’t, and what we’d recommend based on your time, comfort, and budget.

When it comes to travelling between cities in Nepal - like Kathmandu, Chitwan, and Pokhara - your main options are either flights or long-distance buses. We tried both, and let’s just say: the difference was massive.

But to be fair, both come with their own set of challenges.

✈️🚌 Nepal Intercity Travel - Flights vs Buses

We took two flights:

• Kathmandu → Bharatpur (Chitwan)

• Bharatpur → Pokhara

The airports were tiny - you can literally reach 30-40 minutes before departure and still board on time. No long queues or security stress.

But here’s the catch:
Our flight from Kathmandu to Bharatpur got delayed by 2-3 hours, and then eventually got cancelled. You can check the status of flight from airlines website.
Thankfully, after some requests and luck, we managed to get seats on the last flight of the day, around 5:15 PM.

Even that came with a twist - the airline rep warned us:

“This flight may not land. Bharatpur Airport doesn’t support night landings. If visibility drops, we’ll return to Kathmandu.”

Luckily, we landed at 5:33 PM - just 18 minutes of flying, but loaded with suspense. 😅
In that moment, we really asked ourselves: “Was the bus a better idea?”
(Spoiler: It wasn’t. Keep reading. 😉)

Our second flight from Bharatpur to Pokhara was smoother, though still delayed by 1.5 hours.
Both flights were just ~20 minutes long - and in the end, we were glad we flew.

✈️ Flight Pros: Fast, scenic, stress-free when on time
⚠️ Cons: Prone to delays, weather-dependent, uncertainty with small airports
✅ Tip: Keep checking your flight status on the airline’s website — local friends gave us that tip!

💡 Our Verdict?

• ✈️ If your budget allows - fly, always. Even with delays, it saves your energy and time.

• 🚌 Buses are an experience - but one we don’t recommend unless you really have to.

✈️ Flights - Fast, Scenic, and a Little Unpredictable

On paper, domestic flights in Nepal are perfect - short, time-saving, and reasonably priced.
We flew with Buddha Air, which is considered the safest airline in the country (some others have a reputation for poor flight safety purely based on our research online).

🚌 Buses - Long, Bumpy, and Kind of Brutal

For the final stretch - Pokhara to Kathmandu - we decided to try a tourist bus, just for the experience (and to save a little money).
It was a “Super Deluxe” bus with sofa seats... sounds great, right? Until we realised it was super deluxe without shock absorbers. 😅

We expected a 6-7 hour journey for 200 km. Reality? It took us 10 hours.

• Bumpy roads

• Slow traffic

• Random halts

• Uncomfortable ride despite fancy-looking seats

At one point, we genuinely missed the suspense of our flight. Because even with delays, 20 minutes in the air beats 10 hours on a shaky bus any day.

200 km in 10 hours or 20 minutes in the sky.
Your call. 😄

Getting around within cities in Nepal is a different story from intercity travel.
There’s no one-size-fits-all - what worked in Kathmandu didn’t exist in Pokhara or Chitwan.

🚖🛺📱 Local City Transport - What We Used in Each Place

📱 Kathmandu

Pathao to the Rescue

Kathmandu was the easiest city to navigate thanks to Pathao, Nepal’s own ride-sharing app.

After getting overcharged by a taxi from the airport, a local friend recommended Pathao - and it changed everything.

• We used it for temples, restaurants, and markets

• Offers both bike taxis and cabs, though we used it only for cabs.

• No haggling, reliable pricing, and easy to use

🟢 Must-have app for anyone visiting Kathmandu.

🛺 Chitwan

Tuk-Tuks Made Simple

Although Pathao is available in Chitwan but it only has tuk-tuk service, we found it much easier to just hire tuk-tuks directly.

In areas like Sauraha, tuk-tuks are everywhere, and bargaining face-to-face was quick and smooth.

• We used tuk-tuks for everything, from hotel rides to safari pickups

• No app needed - just flag one down and agree on a rate

• Drivers were friendly and flexible, you can also call them for pickups.

🟢 Tuk-tuks were more practical than using the app here.

🚗 Pokhara

Cabs Without the Apps

Pokhara doesn’t have Pathao. InDriver exists, but drivers often cancel or call to quote higher prices, so it wasn’t much help.

We arranged all rides through direct cab bookings - either from tourist hubs or with help from our hotel.

• Booked full-day cabs for sightseeing and day tours

• Rates ranged between 3000-4000 NPR depending on stops

• Cars were clean, and drivers were polite and punctual

🟢 Direct booking worked better than any app here.

• ✈️ Prefer flights for city-to-city travel - they’re short, scenic, and save tons of time.

• 📱 Use Pathao in Kathmandu - fast, affordable, and avoids taxi haggling.

• 🛺 Chitwan is better explored by tuk-tuks - easier and more reliable than apps.

• 🚕 In Pokhara, go for direct cab bookings - apps don’t work well.

• 🚌 Avoid long-distance buses - they’re slow, tiring, and take much longer than promised.

• 🧾 Always confirm fares upfront - whether you're in a tuk-tuk, cab, or private vehicle.

• ⏱️ Keep some buffer time for flights - delays are common, so stay flexible.

💡 Tips for Getting Around Nepal

Getting around Nepal was a mix of adventure, frustration, and a few laughs.
We flew in tiny planes, bargained with tuk-tuk drivers, rode on pathao cabs across Kathmandu, and sat through a 10-hour "deluxe" bus ride we won't forget.

Each mode had its moment -
Flights saved our schedule, Pathao saved our money, and tuk-tuks gave us those fun, local moments.

✍️ Final Thoughts

Would we do it all again? Yes - but we’d fly more, plan smarter, and definitely skip that bus. 😄

Nepal has its own way of moving — you just have to flow with it.