Which place is cheaper, Royal Chitwan National Park or Pokhara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Pokhara or Royal Chitwan National Park?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Pokhara and Royal Chitwan National Park can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Pokhara or Royal Chitwan National Park?
Pokhara
Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is strategically located near the popular Annapurna Circuit. The Annapurna Circuit, or the "Apple Pie Trail", is a popular trek through the Annapurna Valley that makes a circular route through stunning mountainous landscapes. Several other trekking options can be found in this region, too. Many people use Pohkara as a place to prepare or recover from their recently completed treks because it is less intimidating than the larger city of Kathmandu.
Royal Chitwan National Park
The majestic elephant, the silly monkey and dozens of soaring birds call the Royal Chitwan National Park home. At the foot of the Himalayas, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is 932 square kilometers of animal and plant life preservation in Nepal.
Once the favorite hunting ground for Nepal's ruling class, the area began seeing the endangerment of all the area animals. So in 1957, Nepal passed its first conservation law to protect the rhinos and their habitat. At the end of the 1960s, however, DDT had cleared 70% of Royal Chitwan National Park jungles, thousands of people had created moved in on the land and only 95 rhinos were left. By 1977 the park was under complete protection, enlarged to the present-day size and is one of the last refuges of the Bengal tiger.
This park, also known as "the heart of the jungle," provides over 70,000 annual visitors with opportunities to get close and personal with animals they've only seen in movies. Fair warning, however, the weather is quite hot and humid for most of the year.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Nepal, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Nepal.
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Pokhara Prices
Nepal PricesRoyal Chitwan National Park Prices
Nepal Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayPokhara $23Royal Chitwan National Park $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Pokhara is $23, while the average daily cost in Royal Chitwan National Park is $40. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Pokhara and Royal Chitwan National Park in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personPokhara $3.70Royal Chitwan National Park $11
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomPokhara $7.40Royal Chitwan National Park $22
Compare Hotels in Pokhara and Royal Chitwan National Park
Looking for a hotel in Pokhara or Royal Chitwan National Park? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Pokhara Hotel Prices and Royal Chitwan National Park Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Pokhara $7.21Royal Chitwan National Park $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pokhara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Pokhara:
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Short Taxi Ride$0.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pokhara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pokhara:
- VIP Luxury Sofa Bus Transfer Between Pokhara and Kathmandu: $16
- Transfer to Lower Mustang (Jomsom): $205
- Private Transfer:- Pokhara to Chitwan (Sauraha) by car: $93
- Private Transfer: Pokhara Hotels to Pokhara Airport: $13
- Private Transfer: Kathmandu ↔ Pokhara by Car, Jeep & Hiace: $74
- Private Transfer from Pokhara to Kathmandu: $120
- White Water Rafting Half Day with Hotel Transfers: $71
- Transfer To Kathmandu (VIP Sofa Tourist Bus) & Back: $13
- Paragliding and Rafting Adventure with Transfers: $130
- Paragliding Experience with Hotel Transfers: $139
- One way transfer To or From Chitwan: $74
- Kusma Swing Jumping Experience with Transfer: $150
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Royal Chitwan National Park
Also for Royal Chitwan National Park, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Chitwan to Kathmandu One Way Transfer by Private AC Car : $75
Is it cheaper to fly into Pokhara or Royal Chitwan National Park?
Prices for flights to both Royal Chitwan National Park and Pokhara change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayPokhara $13Royal Chitwan National Park $15
Typical Food Prices in Pokhara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Pokhara:
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Dinner for Two$4.25
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Dessert (for 2)$2.84
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Pastries$1.42
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Dinner$6.03
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Pokhara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Pokhara.
- Nepali cultural dinner night in Pokhara: $21
- Nepali Nights: Dinner & Cultural Dance Delight in Pokhara: $26
- MoMo or Dal Bhat Cooking Class at Aama Kitchen in Pokhara: $29
- 3 Hour MoMo cooking class: $32
- Nepalese Kitchen in Momos or Dal Bhat Cooking Class: $37
- Nepali Cooking Class and Momo Making Workshop: $42
- Thakali food Cooking Class in Pokhara: $50
- 2 hours Momo cooking class in Pokhara: $60
- Nepali Cooking Class in Pokhara with a Local Family: $60
- 1 Day Momo making cooking class: $75
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Pokhara $6.87Royal Chitwan National Park $9.09
Tours and Activities in Pokhara
Here are a few actual costs in Pokhara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Private Trekking Tour to Australian Camp & Dhampus: $99
- “Pokhara in a Day: Guided Tour of Natural Wonders & Sacred Sites": $75
- "Pokhara Day Bus Sightseeing 8 points": $20
- "Pokhara Pumdikot Tour: Eagle Eye Views of Stunning Pokhara": $30
- "Private Jeep Adventure: Scenic Drive to Dharapani from Pokhara": $200
- "Sunrise and Scenic Day Hike in A Perfect Adventure: $85
- 1-Day Private Dhampus Trekking Tour: $67
- 110 Meters Bungee Jumping Tour in Pokhara: $105
- 2 Day Private Panchase Trek Tour from Pokhara: $140
- 2 Iconic Suspension Bridge Tour in Pokhara: $30
- 2 Night 3 Day Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Pokhara: $240
- 3 Days Hiking Tour in Astam, Hyanjakot & Dhampus from Pokhara: $245
Tours and Activities in Royal Chitwan National Park
For Royal Chitwan National Park, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Experience the ride in Lowlands of Nepal: $62
- 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Safari Tour: $118
- Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour: $140
- 2 Nights 3 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour : $154
- 3 Nights 4 Days Comfortable Chitwan Safari Tour: $195
- 3-Day Chitwan Jungle Safari from Kathmandu – All-Inclusive Tour: $250
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayPokhara $6.20Royal Chitwan National Park $6.13
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Pokhara and Royal Chitwan National Park, we can see that Royal Chitwan National Park is more expensive. And not only is Pokhara much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Pokhara would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Pokhara and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Royal Chitwan National Park would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Royal Chitwan National Park than you might in Pokhara.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Pokhara Expensive? and Is Royal Chitwan National Park Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.