Nepal Transport

Flying is the easiest way to get to Nepal, though there aren’t many direct flights from North America or Australia. Travellers may need to change in the Middle East or western Europe before arriving at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan Airport.

Many international carriers operate regular flights into Nepal, including the country’s national carrier Royal Nepal Airlines. The old and dilapidated airport is located four miles east of the capital, and offers meager amenities. Change only as much cash as you’ll need to catch a taxi into town, as the exchange rates at the airport are dismal.

Taxis are the best way to get where you want to go from the airport. Be prepared for a crush of taxi touts when you emerge from the terminal. The best strategy as you emerge from the Arrivals door is to quickly choose one man, point at him and ask him to take you to your hotel. They all charge essentially the same rates, so there’s no need to waste time as they battle for your business.

From India, there are five classic overland routes into Nepal which are easy and convenient. Buses are the best and cheapest means of transport between these two neighbouring countries, with most travellers crossing into Nepal at Sunuli-Bhairawa, Kakarbhitta-Panitanki, or Birganj-Raxaul Bazaar depending on where they are coming from in India.

There are several options for getting around Nepal. Royal Nepal Airlines operates an extensive domestic air network at decent prices, but their aircraft are old and schedules are notoriously unreliable. A handful of private operators with great names such as Yeti Air, Cosmic Air and Buddha Air also run flights in small planes around the country.

Flying is relatively safe in Nepal, and always an adventure, but weather plays a major role in the availability of flights so be prepared to be flexible. There are so few seats that you will want to book your flight as far ahead as you can, and some carriers only accept hard cash as payment.

If you want to travel around Nepal by land, there is an extensive bus service which covers nearly all of the country’s road-accessible destinations. Public buses are slow, often uncomfortable and known to double-book seats. There is also a good chance of livestock and vegetables sharing your aisle. Keep in mind that there are hundreds of road fatalities each year, and there is a danger factor to consider with public bus travel.

A better option is to pay a little more and take a private minibus. These have much better service and offer a more comfortable trip. Again, the weather can cause delays or cancellations, so be prepared to wait. Hotels and travel shops in Thamel district are the best places to book a ticket for any mode of transport. Buses typically depart from the Gongabu Bus Terminal located near Balaju. Deluxe tourist buses run regularly from Kathmandu to Pokhara and Chitwan, offering a better alternative to the public buses.

Travellers cannot cross into Nepal by train, although the Indian Railway lines run right to the border at a couple of points. Cycle-rickshaws wait just across the border to ferry passengers onwards into Nepal. Foreigners are not allowed to rent cars and drive themselves. You can hire a local driver and car for the day if you want to do some sightseeing, and small motorcycles can be rented in Pokhara and Kathmandu but the roads are notoriously dangerous.

If you prefer to transport yourself at your leisure, biking and walking are the ways to go. Mountain bikes can be rented in the main tourist towns for short jaunts. By far the most pleasant way to travel around Nepal is on foot. This country has the world’s greatest network of walking trails where motorised vehicles cannot go. Although it requires more exertion and time, you can literally walk from one end of the country to the other. In fact, the majority of goods in Nepal are still hauled by human porters from place to place.

To get around individual cities such as Pokhara and Kathmandu, there are auto-rickshaws, bicycle rickshaws, three-wheeled buses called tempos, public buses, and metered and unmetered taxis. Transport is a big industry in Nepal, so the options are numerable and extensive. Taxis are the most expensive means, but the safest and cleanest choice. Metered taxis charge an extra 50 per cent at night. With any form of unmetered transport, be sure and negotiate your fare before getting in.