Kathmandu Prices

« The ascent will be to Everest, not to the very top, but just above base camp at 5,600 meters. For experiencing extreme adventure, this is sufficient. To reach the summit, one needs to stay in the camp for at least 1.5 months; moral qualities are just as important as physical ones. I spoke with someone who reached the top on his fourth attempt, and it took him six years to achieve it. The cost is no less than $40,000. »

« If you find yourself in Kathmandu, there's a hotel for just $9. Breakfast is included in the price! For $9, it's quite decent, even better than some options I've seen elsewhere. »

« The entire tourist industry in Kathmandu operates as a single organism.

Ideally, it should be there to help us, but in reality, it just ends up taking advantage. There’s an understanding among many service providers. Take laundry, for example. The price is set uniformly, no matter where you go. It's simply not up for discussion. On top of that, they’re all guilty of overcharging. They even have an interesting trick: you bring in 2.1 kg, and they charge you for 2.5.

When you ask for clarification, they confidently assert that you should try going somewhere else. Of course, you'll find the same story repeated elsewhere. Frustrated, we pulled out our scale and weighed exactly 2 kilos. We handed it over. Ah, Kathmandu! »

« "If you see these wanderers in the photo, it means we're in Nepal)
They are the hallmark of the place and appear in pictures just as often as the main attractions. So they think they have the right to ask for $5 for a photo with them/next to them/within three meters of them/in general, they’ve seen you with a camera) although in the end, they’re fine with 'here, take 20 rupees and get lost')

A huge request, please don't spoil them!)" »

« Kathmandu. What’s happening in this city reminds me of a river. You have the choice to either go with the flow and enjoy the view around the bend, or try to paddle against it, which seems completely unnecessary here. The challenges of modern, Western society just don’t apply. For instance, when you go to a shop or a market, there's a chance to bargain; the key to success in Nepal is to establish yourself as a good person through jokes and laughter. As soon as you resort to logical tricks, no one wants to talk to you. But if you drop a couple of funny jokes, the prices start to drop before your eyes. It even got amusing; I found myself bargaining for more than half the people in my group, and the Nepalis were baffled, asking, "Who are these people to you?))" »

« The panorama of the mountain town of Namche Bazaar (3440 m). If you ever need to rush down to Kathmandu, here are your options:
1. One day walking down and a flight for $165.
2. Helicopter ride costing around $3000-3500.
3. About 7-9 days trekking through the mountains, plus an additional day by bus.

The atmosphere here is incredible. There's a hospital, a monastery, and a military unit. Every Saturday, Sherpas from all over the region come to Namche to buy goods from the mainland. »

« And we have one more Nepali mission - the trek to Everest Base Camp. No, we are not climbing Mount Everest. Just so you know, that takes 2-3 months and costs around $65,000. Just the permit for climbing from the Nepalese government is about $10,000 per person.

We are going to the point where the ascent actually begins. Our highest elevation will be 5,500 meters: the summit of Kala Patthar. From there, you get an incredible view of Everest and the surrounding peaks. »

« The Tata truck – made in India. It veered off into a ditch and seems to be stuck there for a while.

All the local buses and trucks in Nepal are just as colorful. It's particularly amusing when a bus has no windshield, and instead, it’s generously wrapped in plastic. A little window has been cut out for the driver amidst this splendor. It all looks pretty rugged.

Bus prices are quite affordable for the locals. On the Kathmandu-Pokhara route, a local bus costs $5, a gloomy tourist bus is around $6-7, and a "luxury" option runs about $25.

We always rent a Toyota Hiace minibus for 15 people. It’s the most comfortable form of collective transportation in Nepal.

The distance between Kathmandu and Pokhara is only 200 km, but the journey takes about 6-7 hours. If you’re really lucky, it can be done in 5 (on local shuttles).

Alternatively, you can take a frightening 15-seat plane for $100. Guaranteed to leave an impression! »

« Although the Boudhanath Stupa is under reconstruction, the magical atmosphere of this place is still very much alive. Maybe in ten years, I will be circling around with prayer beads in hand, bald, with a smartphone in my pocket and dressed in a burgundy robe.

For now, we are heading to Chitwan National Park, on the lookout for rhinos and man-eating tigers. Along the road, there are long lines for gasoline with hundreds of cars waiting. You have to stand in line for at least nine hours, sometimes even a few days. Gasoline used to cost $1 per liter, but now on the black market, it's around $5, and it's really hard to find. A gas cylinder used to be $20, but now it has skyrocketed to $70. All of this is a result of an unofficial fuel blockade from India, which is trying to pressure the Nepali government into making certain decisions in favor of the Madhesi ethnic group (essentially, Indians with Nepali passports). And the Nepalis fear that India might take over the Terai region, populated by the Madhesi. »

« Most people go to Nepal for trekking. Some are here for world-class rafting and kayaking. But there's also paragliding! In a commercial format, it feels like a tandem parachute flight with an instructor. You take off from a mountainside, and there’s no motor involved. The flight lasts about 20-30 minutes. The price is $85 for the flight and $17 for photo and video shooting on GoPro (if you want). Pokhara is considered one of the best places in the world for these activities. The flying season is year-round, although summer can be trickier due to rain. 🌄✨ »

« There are huge problems with fuel due to the Indian blockade. The public transportation has decreased significantly, and people are even having to travel on rooftops. At first, drivers were waiting at gas stations for 9 hours, but now it's up to 5 days! Taxi prices have nearly tripled. Bicycle rickshaws are in high demand right now, charging around $40 a day. Many locals have started biking as a result.

There’s also a shortage of gas, so some restaurants are only able to serve salads—no gas cylinders available. »

« Photos of these exotic men are brought back by almost every tourist from Nepal.

Sadhus are ascetic wanderers who have rejected worldly pleasures in pursuit of spiritual growth and enlightenment. They possess no possessions or money, traveling on foot or in shared Indian train compartments (meaning for free). Hindus believe that supporting sadhus improves one's karma, so food is not an issue for them; they need little else. Additionally, a true sadhu cannot save collected food for the next day—doing so would mean it becomes their property.

However, the gentlemen in the photo go to work every day at the Pashupatinath Temple. Throughout the four years I've visited Nepal, I've seen the same faces. A photo with the dressed-up sadhus costs $1, and they don't allow for free pictures. »

« Yak wool blankets. A friend of mine knows a group that exports them on a large scale. What they do with the blankets afterward remains a mystery, but it’s quite the hunt. The record catch for one person is 9 pieces. Savvy negotiators can snag a blanket for just $3. »

« Always check prices directly with airlines, especially local ones. I bought tickets from Kathmandu to Bangkok less than a day before departure for $190. All flight search engines were quoting around a hundred dollars more. Now the price is actually $335. Although with the airline it remains unchanged. Just little things :)

And by the way, have you heard about scams from well-known flight search engines?! For instance, if you're using an iPhone or a MacBook, prices can go up. Your geo-location also affects the price. You search for a destination, go to another site, come back, and the price has increased with only a couple of tickets left. There are many other tricks... To avoid this, use incognito mode and other tools! »

« For reference: a 30-day visa costs $40, obtained right at the airport, and a basic room is about $10 per night. But this is Kathmandu, the center and the capital. »

« Most Nepalese clothing is made with the TNF logo. TNF owes the Nepalis for promoting the brand. The products are cheap, but the quality matches the price. Meanwhile, in Thamel, there’s an official TNF store with official prices. Basically, there’s something for every taste and budget. »

« In Nepal, Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) was born; this is where the ascent to the highest mountains in the world begins, where the path to Tibet opens up, and where the most remarkable Tibetan medicine is found. In the city center, there are cremations, while on the roads, chaos reigns, with power and water outages multiple times a day. The taxi ride to the airport costs around $2, with gas prices hovering around $1 per liter. To make any wish come true, just crawl around the Buddha Stupa a few times :) This is what I love about Nepal. It’s a fairytale that I would recommend to all lovers of this genre. »