Overland from India to a Nepal trek: border crossings and onward routes

Travelling overland from India to a Nepal trek means choosing the border crossing that sits closest to your trek's starting road, and the three that matter for trekkers are Kakarbhitta in the east for Kanchenjunga, Birgunj in the south for Kathmandu and the central roads, and the south-west crossings near Nepalgunj for the far-west treks. Overland saves a flight but costs time, and the border itself is a place where visa rules and fees are the Department of Immigration's to state, not ours. This guide explains which crossing serves which region, how the onward legs connect to our route data, what the overland option does to your schedule and what to check before you commit. We quote no overland fares because our cost tables have none.

Facts about onward routes come from our region notes, verified 19 October 2026. Border and visa rules change; check immigration.gov.np and the Indian authorities' guidance before travelling.

The crossings and what they serve

These descriptions are general geography, not border-crossing guidance. The facts in the last column are from our pages.

The east: Kakarbhitta to Kanchenjunga

Our Kanchenjunga region note describes the standard access: fly Kathmandu to Bhadrapur (about an hour), then drive 9 to 10 hours to Taplejung and on to Sekathum by jeep. The circuit leaves by jeep from Yamphudin or Sekathum, and there is no road beyond Sekathum on the north side. Landslides can close the road in the monsoon. The nearest border crossing to Bhadrapur is Kakarbhitta, which sits at the Indian border at the east end of the plains, so an overland arrival joins the standard route from the same plains and skips the Kathmandu flight.

That makes the east the most natural overland case: you arrive on the plains, you are already near the starting road, and the Kathmandu leg disappears. The trade-off is time, since the road from the plains to Taplejung is a long day on a hill road, with landslide risk in the monsoon. See our Kanchenjunga access guide and, for permits, the Kanchenjunga permit guide.

Kanchenjunga is a restricted area: a Restricted Area Permit from the Department of Immigration through a registered agency, a Kanchenjunga Conservation Area permit and a licensed guide at all times. Reports of a March 2026 notice say individual foreigners may now apply, so confirm the current rule with the agency or the Department of Immigration. Your Kanchenjunga circuit arrangements are made through the agency, so tell it you are arriving overland and from which crossing.

The south: Birgunj towards Kathmandu

Birgunj is the main southern crossing on the road towards Kathmandu, and an overland arrival there ends in the capital, from which every road start in our data begins: Syabrubesi, Machha Khola, Besisahar, Chetchet and others. We have no verified time or fare for the Birgunj to Kathmandu leg, so we do not quote one; ask for a current figure from a bus company or your hotel. The sensible plan is to cross in daylight, travel to Kathmandu and rest a night before any trek logistics begin; see the Kathmandu arrival guide, which applies equally to a road arrival, and where to stay in Kathmandu.

The south-west and far west: Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi and Khaptad

The far west is the part of Nepal where flights are the usual access in our notes. Rara, Dolpo and Humla all start with a flight to Nepalgunj, then a small plane, and our Rara note says the alternative is Kathmandu to Surkhet by bus and then by jeep. Khaptad is approached by a flight to Dhangadhi and 8 to 9 hours by road to Silgadhi, or via Nepalgunj and about 6 hours by road to Silgadhi. Api Base Camp uses Dhangadhi and Gokuleshwar.

An overland arrival from India in the south-west joins these roads on the plains, so you skip the Kathmandu flight but not the mountain legs. For Rara, Dolpo and Humla, the onward flights from Nepalgunj are weather-bound and often delayed, so the plan needs more buffer, not less; see getting to Rara Lake and the Rara Lake route. The Khaptad trek page lists the road legs.

What overland does to your schedule

Overland saves money only if you value your time cheaply. For a short trek, a long road to the start can use half your holiday. For a long trek such as Kanchenjunga, the extra day is a smaller share. In every case, build in a buffer; see our buffer days guide.

Visas, documents and money

Entry rules, visa fees and which crossings are open to which nationalities are for the Department of Immigration of Nepal and the Indian authorities, and they change. Check immigration.gov.np and your government's travel advice before you travel, and carry your passport, a printed copy of your onward plans and enough cash in the right currency. We do not give fees or visa terms here. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office publishes travel advice for Nepal that is useful whatever your nationality.

Safety and scams at the border

Borders attract touts and unofficial helpers. Use official counters, ignore offers of "special" visas or fast tracks, agree transport prices before you board and keep your documents in your daypack. Our trekking scams guide lists common tactics, and our road and jeep safety guide covers the road legs.

Plan with an agency

If your trek needs an agency, as restricted areas do, tell it early that you are arriving overland and by which crossing, so it can plan pickups, permits and timing. Ask what happens if the road is closed and where the next fixed date falls. Our what is included in a trekking package price guide lists what to confirm.

Sharing the journey

Long overland legs are easier with company, and vehicles hired on the plains can be shared. If you want partners for a far-west or eastern trek, our trekking partner hub explains how matching works, and the partner pages for Kanchenjunga and Rara Lake show who is planning those dates. Agree the plan in writing; see what to agree before you book.

A sample planning timeline

If you plan to arrive overland, work backwards from your trek start date. Fix the trek start and the agency's pickup. Subtract the road leg from the border to the start region, using the times in our region notes where they exist and generous guesses elsewhere. Subtract a day for border formalities and a day of margin for road delays. Subtract a rest night if the road is long. The date you reach the border is the date you must be there, not the date you hope to be. If any link in this chain is uncertain, add a day.

Questions to ask the agency

When you tell your agency you are arriving overland, ask: which crossing do you advise and why; who will meet me and where; what will they do if I am late; does the price change; how will the permit dates be handled if I arrive a day late; and what happens if the road is closed. For a restricted-area trek, the permit is issued through the agency, so a late arrival matters. A good agency has dealt with this before and will answer plainly.

Why many trekkers still fly

Overland travel is cheaper in cash but costs time, and in the monsoon it exposes you to landslide risk. Flying is faster and gives you a fixed point to plan around, though weather can still intervene. Many trekkers combine the two: they arrive by land to see the plains and fly or drive the mountain legs. If you are weighing options, compare against the fares in our flight costs guide, and think about how much of your holiday you want to spend on the road.

Border etiquette and money

Be polite and patient, dress respectfully and keep your documents in order. Carry small amounts of both currencies for fees and snacks, and ask the official counters for receipts. Change money at licensed counters, not on the street. Keep your passport, permits and insurance papers in your daypack, and do not hand your passport to anyone who is not a uniformed official at an official counter. If you are unsure about a rule, ask the immigration officer or your agency, and follow their guidance.

Sharing the journey

If you arrive with a partner or meet one on the plains, you can share road transport on the Nepal side. Hired vehicles are priced per vehicle, so a pair or group saves money, as we show in the private vehicle guide. Agree the plan in writing, and tell the agency who is travelling together.

More guides are in the transport and logistics hub. Border rules change; confirm everything with the Department of Immigration and your agency before you travel.