If trekkers want to experience the Annapurna Circuit Trek, they must first travel from Kathmandu to Besisahar. Besisahar is located in the Gandaki Province and is the headquarters of the Lamjung district of Nepal. It is also a municipality that combines five Village Development Committees in Besishahar, Gaunshahar, Udaipur, Chandisthan, and Baglungpani. Over the years, Besisahar has become one of the prime tourist hubs and a gateway to several trekking spots in the Annapurna region.
There are several ways to reach Besisahar from Kathmandu based on the trekker’s preference. The modes of transportation you can take from Kathmandu to Besisahar are bus, plane, car, jeep, etc. There are other modes in these single modes of transportation as well. So, let’s look at ways you can get from Kathmandu to Besisahar.
To experience any Annapurna Circuit Trek, you must first arrive in Besisahar. The trekkers often come to the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, when they land at the Tribhuvan Annapurna Airport. Trekkers can then research the modes of transportation that take them from Kathmandu to Besisahar. There are a few ways to transport from Kathmandu to Besisahar.
The bus is the most budgeted mode of transportation, and it takes you from Kathmandu to Besisahar. If any trekkers want to save money on transportation, it is wise to take the bus as a mode of transportation. Based on the budget and comfort of the trek, there are also two types of buses that anyone can choose for their transportation purposes, and they are:
Public Buses are the most common means of transport for trekkers or locals to reach Besisahar from Kathmandu. They are the cheapest means of transportation, but the cheapness of the trek comes with some other incompetencies. Public buses are the most minor private modes of transport, which means the bus stops for local people to get off and get on the bus all the time. This is also why public outreach to Besishar takes much longer.
Compared to other modes of transport, taking the public bus takes about 8 to 9 hours. You will listen to the passengers talking and listening to music on the bus throughout the trek. Buy the bus ticket to board the public Besisahar bus. You can buy a cheap local bus ticket from Kathmandu to Besisahar in the Gongabu bus park. The bus from Kathmandu to Besisahar usually departs around 7 to 8 AM, and you must reach the bus station to board the said bus.
If you want a budgeted mode of transport but don’t want to board the public bus, there is another option: the tourist bus. Tourist buses are only accessible to foreign tourists from all over the world. They are way more private and accessible for tourists who want quiet and peaceful travel from Kathmandu to Besisahar. In these buses, the drivers and helpers are local and will take care of navigation, transportation, food, etc, during your travel.
Unlike public buses, tourist buses don’t stop anywhere to board other passengers so you can reach your destination about one hour earlier. Naturally, tourist buses are more expensive than public buses; however, they are still cheaper than other private modes of transport, such as private cars, rented cars, private or shared jeeps, or airplanes. So, if you want a bit of budgeted travel but still want some comfort, then it is wise to travel via the tourist bus.
$1628 $1,448
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Reach 5,416m/ 17,764ft in 16 Days
$USD 1,716 per person
Reach 5,416m/ 17,764ft in 17 Days
Apart from buses, there are other modes of transport, like private cars. Car rentals are ubiquitous in foreign countries like the USA, the UK, etc. However, recently, they have also been trending in Nepal. Many local and foreign trekkers or tourists have begun to book car rentals or private cars to travel from Kathmandu to Besisahar. If you want to experience one of the most comfortable trekking experiences, renting cars for your travel is the best way.
Private vehicles are more expensive per person than every mode of bus transportation, but they are also more flexible and accessible. During your travels in private cars, you can stop anywhere for lunch or to look at photos. One of the significant disadvantages of car travel from Kathmandu to Besisahar is that the roads could be better for cars and more suitable for jeeps, so there might be some bumps down the road.
Jeeps are the most comfortable way to travel from Kathmandu to Besisahar. They are ideally suited for rough road conditions with bumps, ups, and downs along the way. Jeeps are a more modern way of traveling from Kathmandu to Besisahar, but they are ideal for small travel groups. For Jeeps, you can either book the private jeep with six to seven groups of people, or if you are with only two to three groups of people, then you should book the shared jeep mode of travel.
The private jeep mode is more expensive than the shared jeep method as you will be paying only for your group, but in the shared jeep method, you might have less flexibility than you need. For example, in the private jeep mode of travel, you and your group might want to stop somewhere to have lunch or click majestic photos near the waterfall; however, on the other hand, in the shared jeep method, there must be a willingness to every traveler in the jeep. The Jeeps are one of the most expensive modes of transport, but if you want to save even a little bit, it is wise to book the shared Jeep methods.
The jeeps are one of the quickest transportation modes, meaning it takes 6 to 7 hours to reach Besisahar from Kathmandu. The trekkers or tourists can book either a private or shared jeep from the trekking agency of their choice. You can compare the cost of transportation via different trekking agencies and get discounts on jeep transport if you book on a special occasion.
Flights are the quickest modes of transportation from Kathmandu to Besisahar. However, there are no direct flights from Kathmandu to Besisahar. Hence, trekkers must board the Kathmandu flight to Pokhara and drive to Besisahar. The flight and drive to Besisahar takes about 2 to 2 hours 30 minutes. The flight can be delayed based on the weather and the runway conditions in Kathmandu. This mode of transportation is also the most expensive, so if the trekkers are looking for a budget-friendly mode of transport, boarding a flight differs from the mode of transportation you want.
So, if your trek in Nepal is luxurious, it is incredible to experience the wide views of the mountains, settlements, rivers, valleys, etc. Booking this short flight can give you a different adventure and will last in your memory. Regarding frequency, several local flights are continuously flying from Kathmandu to Besisahar. Hence, there is no reason to book your flight early, but it is also recommended that you keep monitoring them.
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Now that we know some modes of transportation that can take you to the Besisahar, it is essential to understand the total cost of these modes. There are several modes of transportation to choose from, and all these modes cost different. Some modes are expensive but comfortable, whereas others are cheaper, and you have to adjust a lot while traveling.
As mentioned earlier, the bus service is the cheapest mode of transportation whenever you are traveling in Nepal. The bus services are also divided into public buses and tourist buses. The public buses are more affordable than the tourist buses, but not by an astronomical amount. The local bus ticket costs about $7 to $10, whereas the tourist bus costs about $12 to $15 per person. So, if you want to save on transportation, travel by bus.
Private vehicles are more expensive than bus modes of transportation. In terms of private vehicles, you can hire a private car or a jeep. The cost of hiring a private jeep is more expensive than that of a private car. Per Person, the private jeep is around $150 to $180, whereas for the vehicle, it is about $120 to $150 per person. The Car or Jeep Rentals options can be available from the trekking.
Agency, and the cost of these private vehicles may change from agency to agency. If the trekkers have a bigger budget, they can book a private car or jeep. Other than booking a private jeep, they can also book the shared jeep portion, which is partly cheaper than booking the entire vehicle. The shared jeep costs about $25 to $50 per person.
The flight mode of transport is naturally the easiest and quickest way to reach Besisahar from Kathmandu, but first, you must fly to Pokhara and then drive to Besisahar. However, they are also costly compared to all other modes of transport. The average flight cost from Kathmandu to Pokhara is about $102 to $150 based on the airlines, flight time, festivals, or anniversaries. Before booking your flight, you compare the costs from all the websites and search for any discounts to save at least something on this trek.
Besisahar is one of Nepal’s most beautiful trekking spots, where many trekking destinations begin. The trekkers arriving in Besisahar have to stay in different types of places of accommodation based on their budget, preference, and itinerary. The trekkers can choose from a few accommodation options: luxury resorts, budgeted hotels, and tea houses.
One of the rare accommodation options is the luxury resorts. Gateway Himalaya Resort is the most popular luxurious resort in Besisahar. Unlike resorts, there are several budget lodges, hotels, and teahouses. The hotels have fewer services than resorts and are less expensive, but they provide decent services like separate rooms, single beds in single rooms, warm showers, complimentary breakfasts, etc.
On the other hand, there are also teahouses. Local families operate that. The teahouses are tiny homes with expansive rooms and twin beds, so you must share with other trekkers. There are no hot showers, but you may have to pay extra if you want them. Compared to other high-altitude trekking, not many trekkers stay in the teahouse in Besisahar, as they have better modes of accommodation.
The travel times and prices of every mode of transport from Kathmandu to Besisahar depend mainly on the appropriate season, demands for trekking, the number of trekkers arriving in the country, etc. Hence, it is always wise to compare the tickets and modes of transportation and choose the best transportation that fits your budget and itinerary.
| Mode of Transportation | Distance (km) | Estimated Time (hours) | Approximate Cost (NPR) |
| Public Bus | 173 | 6-8 | 700-1000 |
| Tourist Bus | 173 | 6-7 | 1200-1500 |
| Car Rental | 173 | 6-7 | 12,000-15,000 (per car) |
| Private Jeep | 173 | 6-7 | 15,000-18,000 (per jeep) |
| Shared Jeep | 173 | 6-8 | 2500-3000 (per person) |
| Flight (Domestic) to Pokhara + Drive to Besisahar | 173 | 2-3 | 18,000 – 21,000 (per person) |
Hence, Kathmandu to Besisahar is the standard way of traveling if trekkers want to experience unique trekking destinations like the Annapurna Circuit Trek. Trekkers can choose from a few modes of transportation to get to Besisahar. Among them, flight mode is more expensive whereas the bus mode of transportation is cheaper.
Similarly, there are private cars, private jeeps, and shared jeeps modes of transportation, which the tourists can choose based on their budget and itinerary. The journey from Kathmandu to Besisahar can provide different types of experience based on the mode of transport you choose. So, we hope our blog clarifies how you can travel to Besisahar and experience some of the fantastic treks in Nepal.
