Nepal 11-Day Independent Travel Guide: A Complete Guide to Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan

11-Day Nepal Self-Guided Tour: The Complete Guide to Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan

How It All Started Because I love traveling and planning trips, I've had a few experiences planning trips and going on self-guided adventures with friends in the past. However, this was the first time bringing my family on a self-guided trip, and thankfully it was a great success! The group consisted of my mom, two aunts, and two of my mom's friends. The Nepal trip began being planned at the end of last year when a relative mentioned wanting to participate in a 13-day in-depth travel group for over 90,000, with some additional expenses required. However, due to other circumstances, it didn't end up happening. That's when I started researching and gathering information related to Nepal. Coincidentally, a travel companion from Macau on our Iceland trip recommended this local travel agency, Himalaya Trip, which specializes in trekking around Pokhara. After booking our Thai Airways flights, I got in touch with the agency and started planning the itinerary. Since we were traveling with elders this time, I asked them to help arrange the transportation in between, as well as a Chinese-speaking guide. Itinerary and Expenses After many rounds of discussion, our itinerary ended up looking like this Day 1 - Thai Airways 14:05-16:50 Taiwan to Bangkok, 21:15-23:23 Bangkok to Kathmandu. Travel agency arranges airport pickup to hotel; Kathmandu hotel booked by yourself. Day 2 - Travel agency arranges flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara and airport pickup to hotel (hotel booked by yourself). Free afternoon to explore the city. Exploring Pokhara: Must-visit attractions and activities in Nepal's most beautiful lake city. Days 3~6: Trekking — this whole section is arranged entirely by the travel agency, including a Chinese-speaking guide, two porters, plus lodging, meals, and transfers along the way. First Poon Hill Trekking Experience: A Detailed Guide to a 4-Day, 3-Night Nepal Itinerary in 2024 (Part 1) First Poon Hill Trekking Experience: A Detailed Guide to a 4-Day, 3-Night Nepal Itinerary in 2024 (Part 2) Days 7-8 - The travel agency arranged a vehicle to Chitwan (vehicle quality is very important here because of the poor road conditions; all vehicles arranged by the travel agency were very comfortable). Upon arrival in Chitwan, the local hotel arranged four packaged activities: Tharu guides, Tharu cultural performances, elephant/jeep jungle safari, and canoe adventure. Accommodation and meals for these two days are all included in the package. Nepal Chitwan National Park Guide: Wildlife, Jungle Adventures, and Must-Do Experiences Day 9 - The travel agency arranges transportation from Chitwan to Kathmandu, with free activities in Kathmandu in the afternoon. Day 10 - The travel agency arranges a full-day tour of Kathmandu (with a Chinese-speaking tour guide), and in the evening arranges transportation to the airport for us. Explore Kathmandu: A comprehensive guide to cultural heritage, temples, and urban charm. Day 11 - Thai Airways flight 00:25 for the return journey, arriving back at Taoyuan Airport at 1 PM. The above costs come to 800 USD per person, and the flights cost us 19,139, which includes local meals and self-arranged accommodation, tips for the guide and porters, etc.—totaling around 53,000 per person. What made this travel agency so considerate was that on the first day, the manager specifically came to the airport to pick us up and presented us with a khata (scarf), and on the second day they also personally made sure the driver would pick us up on time for our airport transfer. The Chinese-speaking guide picked us up at Pokhara Airport and accompanied us from day three through day nine. With them there, I simply needed to act as the trip leader. The guide also taught us quite a bit of Nepali and helped us arrange our vegetarian meal preferences.On the ninth day, the manager came to our hotel in Kathmandu again to confirm whether there were any issues with our itinerary for these few days, and came once more on the last day to see us off at the airport! Additionally, the travel agency provided us with a set of athletic shirts and caps, so we had team outfits to wear for photos during the hikes 👍 Chen, our guide in Pokhara, is a very thoughtful guide—not only did he frequently check on our elders' physical condition while leading the group, but when my mom wasn't feeling well, he even helped carry our luggage to lighten the burden. With his help, this Nepal trip has been so much easier on me! Nepal's three cities each have their own unique characteristics. The capital, Kathmandu, is where you can see ancient royal ruins and many famous temples - it's the most bustling city. Pokhara, at an elevation of over 800 meters, has fresh air and serves as a supply and rest stop for trekking groups; many foreigners come here to enjoy a slower pace of life. Chitwan has lots of wildlife, and jungle adventure is a major selling point here. If you're interested in planning a Nepal trip, consider these places! https://himalayatrip.com 2025 Update: To celebrate this article being featured on Google Search's homepage, the Himalaya Trip owner says that friends who mention this guide when booking their trips can enjoy a 95% discount! Important Things to Note for Self-Guided Tours and Hiking Expense Preparation: Nepal currently conducts most transactions in cash, with only a small number of hotels and restaurants accepting card payments (note that some hotels charge additional fees for card payments, so be sure to ask beforehand) Therefore, exchanging for local rupees is still necessary, but don't worry, in the three major cities we visited - Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan - we didn't encounter any problems exchanging money at roadside money changers. However, remember to bring US dollars, as Taiwan dollars cannot be exchanged! In terms of exchange rates: Kathmandu > Chitwan > Pokhara > Airport Electrical appliances: Nepal's voltage is 220V, and standard outlets are 2-hole round plugs (however, whether in mountain lodges or hotels, all the outlets I encountered were universal sockets - Nepal has made efforts for tourists' convenience!) I'd recommend bringing an extension cord and a portable power bank, as mountain lodges typically have only 1-2 electrical outlets available. Additionally, if you're uncomfortable without showering, consider bringing a hair dryer that works with 220V power – none of the three mountain lodges I stayed at provided this amenity. Best season for travel (hiking): October to May of the following year, which is Nepal's dry season. Visa: Taiwanese citizens can apply for a visa on arrival. You can fill out the application information online first, then pay directly upon entry. [Refer to visa application form] Basically, the money was sorted out, and there were no problems with the visa application. (Some customs didn't even require photos to be attached) By the way, I have an experience to share with you here. If you directly Google Nepal on-arrival visa, you'll see an English website, but that's actually a visa agency!!!

After I filled everything out, when the payment screen popped up, I noticed the amount was wrong just one second before checkout! For 15 days, it should be $30 per person, but according to their pricing it was over $70 per person. Luckily I hit cancel right away, I almost got ripped off! SIM card: We got ours at the airport. You need to provide a 2-inch photo, and it's 7GB for 14 days for only 400 NPR, super cheap. Nepal has two telecom companies, Ncell and Namaste. When we were up in the mountains, Ncell often had no signal, but our guide's Namaste always had signal, so I'd recommend getting the latter. Food: Nepali cuisine combines Tibetan and Indian influences, and curry or masala sauce shows up very often. Also, vegetarians should pay special attention — Nepali vegetarian dishes usually contain garlic, onions, and similar ingredients, so if you can't eat these, be sure to specifically ask the restaurant. As for water, everyone buys bottled water — at a regular supermarket, a 1000ml bottle costs around 20 NPR, but up in the mountains it can be 100-150 NPR. You can refer to this introduction to Nepali food: Nepal 11-Day Semi-Self-Guided Trip - Food Introduction What to wear: We went in October, when the weather was starting to turn cool — at that time Kathmandu was around 15-24°C, Pokhara was around 17-27°C, and up in the mountains it was roughly 12-20°C. For trekking, we highly recommend wearing a pullover moisture-wicking shirt with a short-sleeve shirt over it (our guides all dressed this way). The reason we recommend the pullover moisture-wicking shirt is that it offers both sun protection and sweat-wicking/cold-resistance at the same time.

In the evening on the mountain and when watching the sunrise, I wore short sleeves as a base layer with a sweater, and a light down jacket plus a scarf and beanie on the outside. As my body started to warm up, I gradually removed layers. When hiking, the scarf and beanie were incredibly effective—by keeping your head and neck warm, even if the outside temperature is around 10 degrees Celsius, you can still wear short sleeves. Accommodation: I stayed at Hotel Hidden Kingdom in Pokhara, located right next to Fewa Lake. This area is concentrated with tourists and has many restaurants and shops. When the weather is nice, you can even see Machhapuchhare (Fishtail Peak). About 1400 TWD per night—highly recommended. In Kathmandu, staying at Hotel Yambu is in the Thamel area, which also has plenty of shops and restaurants nearby. This hotel costs about NT$1000 a night, and while the rooms are quite ordinary, its advantage is being located in Thamel. Transportation: 1. If you're taking the domestic flight from Kathmandu to Pokhara, remember to ask for a seat on the right side when checking in (or just tell them you want a seat with a mountain view) — that way you'll be able to see the many peaks rising above the clouds. (This flight costs 105 USD) 2. We traveled from Pokhara to Chitwan, and from Chitwan to Kathmandu, both by car — the first trip took 5 hours, the second took 6.5 hours. Because the road conditions were all very poor, I can't imagine taking a bus or a worse vehicle. The advantage of going by car is that it's cheap, but the downside is of course that the journey is more tiring and takes longer. Tips: Based on what I found from other people's shared experiences online, here's some reference from 2024: Guide/Tour guide: 10 USD per person per day Porter: 5 USD per person per day Driver: Following the same standard as tour groups, we also give the long-distance driver a tip of 10-12 USD. 🌏 More Independent Travel & Shopping Guides for Further Reading Want to explore more exciting travel inspiration and practical shopping information? These articles are recommended for you: 🔹 【Australia 10-Day Independent Travel Itinerary Roundup】Sydney & Melbourne Attraction Guide + Transportation 👉 Visit the Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, and city cuisine — all of Australia's classic itineraries in one place 🔹 【Nepal 11-Day Independent Travel】Complete Guide to Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan 👉 An in-depth journey of mountain trekking, historic cultural towns, and wildlife encounters 🔹 【Nepal Food Sharing】Authentic flavors and food culture from an 11.5-day journey 👉 From street snacks to traditional restaurants, experience the unique charm of Nepalese cuisine 🔹 【Must-Buy Australia Picks】Unboxing & reviews of 15 great health, beauty, and everyday items 👉 A must-buy list from Australian supermarkets and pharmacies — practical and easy to bring home 🔹 【15-Day Turkey & Greece Self-Guided Travel Guide】Itinerary Planning × Must-See Attractions × Transportation and Accommodation Budget Cheat Sheet 👉 Magnificent sights and cultural experiences spanning Europe and Asia, with a complete route plan