6 day great backpacking trip to Nepal | Explained
Backpacking To Nepal can’t get any more affordable and fun at the same time. Nepal has been on our tlow bucket list since 2012. But it was only in 2019 that we actually made the trip to Nepal. But sadly a few months later Covid-19 took the world by storm. In the post Covid-19 era, we at tlow have decided to restart Nepal backpacking but the biggest difference is the cost factor has remained the same.
Six days across the Himalayan country @ INR 16,800 which includes your travel, entry fee and accommodation. The trip starts and ends in Kathmandu which is the capital city of Nepal.
Table of Contents
Pre trip | What to pack
A backpack is mandatory and carrying a day pack is a life saver while travelling around Nepal. Don’t over pack since Nepal is paradise for anyone who loves shopping. Everything is super affordable in Nepal and you will end up shopping. So travelling light will help you shop more.
For a complete guide on what to pack while backpacking across Nepal. Click on the link here
What’s the trip blueprint like?
In short, the blueprint to our backpacking trip around Nepal is as follows.
Day 1:
-> Arrive at Thamel, Kathmandu by lunch time.
-> Night stay at our guest house in Thamel.
Day 2:
-> Site seeing around Thamel in a local taxi.
-> Evening at leisure.
-> Pack up and be ready for Pokhara.
Day 3:
-> Early morning tourist AC bus to Pokhara.
-> Arrive in Pokhara by evening.
-> Visit the lake.
Day 4:
-> Pokhara sightseeing in a local taxi.
-> Evening at leisure around Pokhara.
-> Pack backpack and be ready for return.
Day 5:
-> Morning tourist bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu.
-> Return to Kathmandu by afternoon.
-> Check into our guest house for the night.
-> Last evening in Nepal.
-> Wander the streets of Thamel
Day 6:
-> Trip ends at Thamel by 11 am.
-> Check out and head back home.
Why isn’t breakfast and dinner included ?
Our backpacking trips are for the travellers and not the tourists. So the best way to keep the tourist kind of travellers away has been to not include any meals on trips.
Another reason is that backpacking is more about the food to explore and less about the sites to see. Nepal is a country which has unlimited food options. Coffee shops are everywhere. From street Kati rolls and momos to pizza and Nepali thali, you will get unlimited food options.
Nepal is the kind of place for the foodie backpacker. If you live to eat and love to eat then this Kathmandu and Pokhara are the two places you will want to travel to every year just for the food.
What’s the sightseeing in Kathmandu ?
A local alto will be hired and off we will go to explore monkey temple and Darbur square is walking distance from Thamel and hence will be explored on foot. It’s a straight walk from the guest house we stay at in Kathmandu.
All the entry fees will be covered while on this trip.
What’s the sightseeing in Pokhara ?
Again another alto will be hired to explore a the town of Pokhara. The sightseeing in Pokhara includes a visit to the hill top peace Pagoda and then a drive to Devi’s falls and the caves. It’s a three to four hours sites to visit around Pokhara and will be covered on day four of the backpacking trip.
The boat ride into Peaw lake will either be on day 3 or day 4 depending on the weather. Since sunset is the perfect time to go for a boat ride into the lake.
How is the travel between Kathmandu and Pokhara?
Tourist air condition buses is the best way to reach between the two cities. The bus leaves anytime between 7-9 am and will take anywhere between six to eight hours to cover the 240 km between the two cities.
Why the journey takes so long is because the roads in Nepal national highway are under development. They are converting it from a two lane to a four lane so everything is under huge construction. The usual travel time used to be anywhere between four to six hours but it’s not the case any more.
How much money should be carried ?
For a six day backpacking trip around INR 10,000 is more than enough for the entire trip. Three meals a day will not cost you more than INR 500-800 a day.
The rest is if you want to go shopping on the streets of Thamel or Pokhara. It’s always better to carry more money than less since Indian debit cards don’t work in Nepal and transferring money from India will cost you a 6% transaction fee. To avoid all this drama on your trip it is best to get cash along.
What’s the best Season to take this six day trip?
The best season is during the dry months from November to May.
We don’t conduct any backpacking trips to Nepal during the monsoon, since the rains lead to flash floods and it’s a horrible time to travel.
Do we need a SIM card in Nepal?
Wifi is everywhere in Nepal. No matter where you are, you will have access to wifi. But getting a SIM card is a very good option since it’s extremely affordable. A SIM card in Nepal of Ncell will cost you not more than INR ₹250-500 depending on the data plan you want.
Is backpacking to Nepal worth it?
It is if you like backpacking and travelling the non tourist way. Because Nepal has a lot of pollution issues especially in Kathmandu. If you can look past pollution fact and the dusty bad roads between Pokhara and Kathmandu then this is the perfect backpacking trip.
What makes Nepal perfect is the fact that you will get a bit of everything. From the snow capped mountain peaks to the street markets. Nepal is a country which has plenty to offer for all kinds of travellers.
PS: If you are a tourist, this isn’t a trip you will like!!!
