Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara in 7 Days
THIS ITINERARY IS A STARTING POINT
Every day below can be adjusted. Swap Chitwan for Bardia. Add Bhaktapur. Extend Pokhara. Drop the helicopter. Add a helicopter. Replace a hotel. Add a cooking class. Remove a temple. This is the framework. You decide what fits inside it. Tell us what to change.
The Route at a Glance
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Day
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Location
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Stay
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The Day
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1
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Kathmandu
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Dwarika’s Hotel
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Arrive. Airport transfer. Garland welcome. Check in to the 14th-century heritage property. Rest. Evening: Krishnarpan 22-course Newari feast in the medieval dining hall.
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2
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Kathmandu
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Dwarika’s Hotel
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Morning: Boudhanath stupa kora with a Buddhist scholar. Pashupatinath (Hindu cremation ghat, aarti ceremony). Afternoon: Patan Durbar Square metalwork. Bhaktapur option. Evening: BARC speakeasy cocktails or Le Sherpa courtyard dinner.
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3
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Chitwan
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Meghauli Serai (Taj)
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Morning flight KTM-Bharatpur (25 min). Transfer to Meghauli Serai. Afternoon: jeep safari into Chitwan National Park. One-horned rhino. Gharial crocodile. 500+ bird species. Evening: Tharu cultural dance. Sunset from your plunge pool overlooking the Rapti River.
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4
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Chitwan
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Meghauli Serai (Taj)
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Dawn: canoe on the Rapti River (bird watching, crocodile spotting). Morning: walking safari with a naturalist (elephant grass corridors, rhino tracking on foot). Afternoon: Tharu village visit. Spa. Infinity pool. Bengal tiger briefing (sighting not guaranteed but Chitwan is one of the highest-density tiger habitats in Asia).
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5
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Pokhara
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Tiger Mountain Lodge
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Morning transfer to Bharatpur airport. Flight to Pokhara (20 min). Arrive Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge: 1,000 feet above the valley, stone bungalows, infinity pool reflecting Machhapuchhre. Afternoon: Phewa Lake boating. Colonel Jimmy’s Library. Evening: Himalayan sunset from the terrace with gin and tonic.
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6
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Pokhara
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Tiger Mountain Lodge
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OPTION A: Helicopter Everest. KTM-Kala Patthar (5,545m)-EBC-return. 4 hours. Photograph Everest. No trekking. OPTION B: Sarangkot sunrise (3,880m viewpoint, 30-min drive). Paragliding over Phewa Lake. Cooking class (momo-making). International Mountain Museum. The Pavilions Himalayas spa for post-trip recovery.
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7
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Departure
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—
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Morning: final view of Machhapuchhre from the terrace. Flight Pokhara-KTM (25 min). International departure. Or extend: add Bhutan (KTM-Paro, 45 min), Lumbini (1 night), Nagarkot (1 night sunrise), or Bandipur (1 night hilltop heritage).
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The Three Hotels
Dwarika’s Hotel, Kathmandu (Days 1-2)
A 14th-century heritage property rebuilt from salvaged Newari woodcarvings. 83 rooms. The most historically significant hotel in Nepal. Krishnarpan: a 6 to 22-course Newari tasting menu served in a medieval dining hall with silver service, paired with local wines and raksi. Pancha Kosha Himalayan Spa: five-element philosophy, singing bowl therapy, Ayurvedic treatments. Fusion Bar. The hotel that proves Kathmandu has world-class hospitality, not just world-class temples.
Meghauli Serai, Chitwan (Days 3-4)
A Taj Safari Lodge on the bank of the Rapti River, directly facing Chitwan National Park. 30 rooms and suites. Private plunge pools overlooking the river. You sit in the water and watch wildlife on the opposite bank. The safari programme: jeep, canoe, walking, and elephant-grass tracking with naturalists who have spent decades in this park. Rhino sightings are near-guaranteed. Tiger sightings are possible (Chitwan has one of the highest Bengal tiger densities in Asia). Gharial crocodile, sloth bear, wild elephant, 500+ bird species. Tharu cultural performances in the evening. The African safari experience transplanted to the Himalayas.
Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge (Days 5-6)
1,000 feet above the Pokhara Valley floor. Stone bungalows built from local materials. The infinity pool reflects Machhapuchhre (Fishtail Mountain, 6,993m). Colonel Jimmy’s Library: one of the finest private collections of Himalayan mountaineering literature. Global benchmark for responsible eco-tourism. The lodge that proves Pokhara is not just a backpacker town — it is a world-class mountain destination with accommodation to match.
The Helicopter Everest Option
From Pokhara (or Kathmandu): helicopter to Kala Patthar (5,545m) and Everest Base Camp. 4 hours round trip. Land at the same altitude as the summit teams. Photograph Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and the Khumbu Icefall. No trekking required.
No altitude acclimatization needed (you are at 5,545m for approximately 15 minutes). The senior, the child, the executive with 3 days off, and the person who simply does not want to walk for 12 days — they all see Everest from the same vantage point. $1,200-1,800/person (shared charter) or $4,500-6,000 (private charter, up to 5 passengers). We arrange this as a Day 6 add-on.
What It Costs
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Component
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Standard Luxury
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Top Tier
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Accommodation (6 nights)
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$1,800-2,400 (Dwarika’s standard + Meghauli deluxe + Tiger Mountain)
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$3,500-5,000 (Dwarika’s suite + Meghauli suite + Tiger Mountain bungalow)
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Internal flights (KTM-Bharatpur, Bharatpur-Pokhara, Pokhara-KTM)
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$250-400/person
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$250-400/person
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Private guide + vehicle (7 days)
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$800-1,200
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$1,200-1,800
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Safari program (2 days)
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Included in Meghauli rate
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Included + private naturalist
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Helicopter Everest (optional)
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$1,200-1,800/person (shared)
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$4,500-6,000 (private charter)
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Krishnarpan dinner
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$45-85/person (6-22 courses)
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$85/person (full 22 courses)
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TOTAL per couple (excl. international flights)
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$6,000-8,500
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$12,000-18,000
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Swap Meghauli Serai for Bardia (more remote, fewer tourists, higher tiger density). Replace Tiger Mountain with The Pavilions Himalayas (ultra-luxury farm-to-table, Pumdi Bhumdi). Add Nagarkot (1 night, Himalayan sunrise from your bed). Add Bhaktapur (half day, no overnight needed). Add Lumbini (1 night, Buddha’s birthplace). Extend to Bhutan (KTM-Paro, 45 min). Drop the helicopter. Add paragliding. We adjust everything. Tell us what fits.
Who This Trip Is For
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Traveller
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Why This Trip
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First-time Nepal visitors
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The complete introduction. Culture (Kathmandu), wildlife (Chitwan), mountains (Pokhara). No altitude. No trekking. No permits. Every dimension of Nepal in 7 days.
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Couples and honeymooners
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Krishnarpan candlelit feast. Meghauli plunge pool. Tiger Mountain infinity pool. Phewa Lake boating at sunset. Helicopter Everest as a shared milestone.
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Families with children (6+)
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Chitwan safari (rhinos from a jeep). Momo cooking class. Phewa Lake boating. Helicopter Everest (all ages). Tiger Mountain library. No altitude risk for children.
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Seniors and limited mobility
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No walking required beyond temple visits. Internal flights eliminate long drives. Helicopter Everest eliminates the trek. Meghauli and Tiger Mountain are flat-access properties.
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Time-poor executives
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7 days. 3 internal flights. No wasted transit time. Helicopter Everest in 4 hours. The entire country is compressed into one week without sacrificing depth.
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Repeat visitors who skipped the classics
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You went straight to EBC or Annapurna. You never did Kathmandu properly. You never saw a rhino. You never sat at Tiger Mountain. This is the trip you owe yourself.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nepal Golden Triangle?
Kathmandu (culture), Chitwan (wildlife safari), Pokhara (mountains and lakeside). Three destinations. 7 days. No altitude. No trekking. No permits. The complete Nepal experience for travelers who want everything in one week.
Do I need to be fit?
No. The Golden Triangle requires no trekking and no altitude acclimatization. Temple visits involve walking on flat or gently stepped surfaces. The Chitwan safari is by jeep, canoe, and short walking trails. Helicopter Everest requires zero physical effort. Suitable for all fitness levels, including seniors and children 6+.
What is the best hotel in Kathmandu?
Dwarika’s. 14th-century heritage property. Salvaged Newari woodcarvings. Krishnarpan 22-course feast. Pancha Kosha Spa. The most historically significant luxury hotel in Nepal. We also use Hyatt Regency (for families seeking a resort feel) and Hotel Yak & Yeti (in central Durbar Marg).
Will I see a rhino in Chitwan?
Near-guaranteed. Chitwan has approximately 700 one-horned rhinos. Jeep safari sightings on a 2-day program are over 95% probability. Tiger sightings are possible but not guaranteed (Chitwan has one of the highest densities of Bengal tigers in Asia). Gharial crocodile, sloth bear, and 500+ bird species are regularly seen.
What is helicopter Everest?
A helicopter flight from Pokhara or Kathmandu to Kala Patthar (5,545m) and Everest Base Camp, 4 hours round trip. Land at the altitude of the summit teams. Photograph Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse. No trekking. $1,200-1,800/person (shared) or $4,500-6,000 (private). All ages. We arrange as a Day 6 add-on.
How much does the Golden Triangle cost?
Standard luxury: $6,000-8,500 per couple (Dwarika’s + Meghauli Serai + Tiger Mountain, internal flights, guide, safari). Top tier: $12,000-18,000 per couple (suite upgrades + private helicopter Everest). Excludes international flights to Kathmandu.
Can I extend this trip?
Yes. Add Bhutan (KTM-Paro, 45 min, 5-7 days). Add Nagarkot (1 night, sunrise). Add Lumbini (1 night, Buddha’s birthplace). Add Bandipur (1 night, hilltop heritage). Add a trek (Poon Hill 3 days, Mardi Himal 4 days). Replace Chitwan with Bardia (more remote, higher tiger probability). We customize everything.
Can I swap the hotels?
Yes. Kathmandu: Hyatt Regency (resort), Yak & Yeti (central). Chitwan: Kasara (intimate, Taj), Tiger Tops (heritage safari pioneer), Sapana Village (community lodge). Pokhara: The Pavilions Himalayas (ultra-luxury), Begnas Lake Resort (off-grid lakeside), Temple Tree (central). We match the hotel to what you value.
Is this trip suitable for children?
Yes. Ages 6+ for the Chitwan safari. All ages for the helicopter Everest. Momo cooking class for all ages. Phewa Lake boating for all ages. No altitude risk anywhere on the itinerary. Tiger Mountain and Meghauli Serai both accommodate families with connecting rooms and child-friendly dining.
What is the best time for the Golden Triangle?
Mid-March to mid-June (spring) and mid-October to mid-December (autumn). Chitwan is best from October to March (cooler, clearer, better wildlife visibility). Pokhara views are sharpest in October-November. Kathmandu works year-round. Monsoon (June-September): Chitwan floods, views obscured, not recommended.
The Final Word
The Nepal Golden Triangle is the trip that answers the first question people ask: “What should I do in Nepal if I only have a week?” The answer is Kathmandu for the culture, Chitwan for the wildlife, and Pokhara for the mountains. Three internal flights. Three world-class hotels. A 22-course Newari feast, a rhino from a plunge pool, an infinity pool reflecting a 7,000-meter peak, and — if you want it — a helicopter to the base of Everest and back before lunch.
This itinerary is not fixed. It is a starting point. Every hotel, every activity, every day can be adjusted, extended, swapped, or removed. The framework gives you the structure. You give us the preferences. We build the trip that fits. Tell us your dates.
