Kathmandu and Pokhara are two main cities in Nepal for tourists. There is high chance that you will want to take a journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara or vice versa. I would recommend you to take a tourist bus for this trip. It is more safe, faster and easier to do than taking local bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara. It might be even cheaper! If you would add up taxi costs from Thamel to local bus station.

Where is tourist bus station for Pokhara in Kathmandu located?

Tourists bus station for Pokhara is located very conveniently. It is just couple of minutes away from tourist area in Kathmandu – Thamel. Check out the map:

Buses are located along that street. Many different companies are offering their services for tourists. You can also find tourist buses going to Chitwan at this bus stop.

What is the price for tourist bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara?

Price for the tourist bus ranges from 700NRP to 1000NRP and up if you go with a fancy bus. Most of the buses have AC and WiFi, “sometimes” both of them are not working. If you are on a tight budget you could negotiate the price down to 500-600NRP.

One of the tricks is to sit in the driver’s cabin, they could give you better price if you sign up for that.

Distance from Kathmandu to Pokhara

Distance between Kathmandu tourist bus station and Pokhara tourist bus park is about 200 kilometers. Here is the map:

Length of the journey

You might want to ask how long the bus journey from Kathmandu to Pokhara takes? The answer is not easy – bus journey between Kathmandu and Pokhara could take anything between 7 and 10 hours. It totally depends on the driver, how often and for how long he stops.

Also, it depends on road & traffic conditions during your trip. It is advertised that journey takes 7 hours, but be ready for at least 8 or 9 hours in the bus!

Toilet and lunch stops on the way

All of the tourist buses stop for 2-3 toilet breaks and 1 longer stop for lunch. Lunch place where we stopped had an amazing view to the river and hills. It looks like all tourists pay 400NRP for food at that stop, doesn’t matter what they eat. So fill up the plate and enjoy the meal!

Booking the bus ticket in advance

You could pre-book a seat in the bus at your hostel in Thamel or through most of the travel agents in Thamel. But in my opinion it is needed only during super high season. There are plenty of buses in the bus station and it is easier to choose better bus before taking it. Also it is possible to negotiate the price if you haven’t booked your ticket in advance.

Now, as you know everything about tourist bus from Thamel, Kathmandu to Pokhara – get ready for a looooon journey. Enjoy the ride.

Do not hesitate to comment if you have any questions about this bus journey.