With an ultra-luxurious budget of $30-40/day, you can get a decent hotel room, eat out at restaurants/street food stalls 3x/day, visit important cultural sites, hire a rickshaw, and enjoy a few cold beers with what’s left at the end of the day. The photo below was just the first round. When contacting a host, leave a very personal message and try to connect with the person on an individual level. All rights reserved. If there’s one insurance company I trust, it’s World Nomads. The owner agreed to drive us back to Kathmandu for a reasonable price. Eating in Kathmandu can be as cheap or as expensive as you make it. Music video by OK Go performing Back from Kathmandu. What a joy to return to Kathmandu, Nepal, to friends and now familiar back streets where the sacred and the ordinary, ancient and contemporary, stand side by side. Ork2K: Tasty Middle Eastern food in the Thamel. Seconds later a can of Coke was hurled out of the car’s window down to a … Beware that there are MANY scammer volun-tourism operators in Kathmandu. Good food and strong drinks. In Kathmandu, there are limits to what sort of urban exploration you should take on. This will be your first experience eating a meal you will likely be eating every day. If you are looking to party, the Monkey Temple Backpackers Hostel is the closest things you are going to get to an actual party hostel. Yay !we are now back in Kathmandu and are here for the next three day’s. Finding somewhere tasty and cheap to eat is easy. The Kathmandu public transportation system is in shambles and way more trouble than it’s worth. I fall into the first category myself. No-one worried about passing on blind corners, and our bus driver, who we considered very competent, did it all the time. Days 100 > 104 – Location: Kathmandu, Nepal. Kathmandu is not known for having many green spaces, so enjoy the hell out of this slice of heaven! “Find out how YOU can support the site. Our day started early as we got packed ate breakfast and got ready for our long bus ride back to Kathmandu. Never accept the first price: Unless you are ordering food from a restaurant with the prices on the menu, never accept the first price anyone offers you…for anything! I have seen several people struck my vehicles and motorbikes in Kathmandu. To inspire and help the next generation of Broke Backpackers, you can now grab ‘How to Travel the World on $10 a Day’ for free! Can't resist a colourful shirt, ideally one with no buttons. The ride back to Kathmandu is ten hours and while it’s a scenic ride from Pokhara it was kind of boring until we entered the Kathmandu valley and promptly hit a car that was cutting the bus off. Népal, Asie Photo : Namche Bazaar, getting ready to fly back to Kathmandu - Découvrez les 2 161 photos et vidéos de Népal prises par des membres de Tripadvisor. Want to learn how to travel the world on $10 a day? Don’t buy one-use water bottles, the plastic ends up in landfill or in the ocean. news@myrepublica.com. Judy. The Backpacker Bible – Get it for free! Our tour was not quite over, but first we had to get back to Kathmandu, so back we were on the bus. Rampant Psytrance addict and seriel cat fancier. Kathmandu very much has the spots where backpackers go. We had left three bags behind including Logan’s laptop and were very excited to have some clothes other than trekking gear! 10/12/12 > 14/12/12. Keen to make some cash when you are not exploring the city? Compared to Pokhara, Kathmandu was very busy and noisy. Kathmandu is just not that kind of city. Have fun, but don’t embarrass yourself, your country, and every one within 100 feet of you. Kathmandu is just one of those cities you either love immensely or book a bus straight out of, never looking back. Below, I list some of my favorite travel hacks particularly suited to cope with a Kathmandu backpacking experience. Since you are on a roll with the Thamel, head to Durbar Square and take in the sights. Be extra careful when crossing busy motorways. Vietnamese restaurant in Kathmandu. Traveling without insurance would be risky so do consider getting good backpacker insurance sorted before you head off on an adventure. Posted on 10 november 2012 by Stefanie & Tom. Thamel: Dark Star of Kathmandu: Everything you need to know before diving into Kathmandu’s most legendary neighborhood. Traveling in Kathmandu or Nepal long-term? Our Lucky Day: Back to Kathmandu. You can get everywhere you want to go within the city for under $10 if you drive a hard bargain with the taxi drivers each time. Senior Editor, resident travel insurance expert and 2nd longest-serving member of team Broke Backpacker. Ghangri Sui Mai: Momos. Remember that while the taxi drivers are trying to overcharge you, they are also trying to make a living. One thing is for sure though: there are ALWAYS ways to go over budget. Skip to content. EBC Back to Kathmandu A last look at Namche Bazaar . I would not recommend venturing into the rough and tumble slums on the city outskirts, especially after dark. When you are not walking, taxis or rickshaws are the way to go. Nepal is budget backpacker gold as its among one of the cheapest countries you can visit. Again, the main spot to catch long distances buses is located just outside the Thamel. Over the last decade, the Garden of Dreams has seen a real resurgence in its up-keep. Die een stuk goedkoper is dan de taxi. From volunteering with needy children to monastery helping gigs… there are many places to get involved and make a difference in Kathmandu. Use your own judgement when you have boots on the ground. Take warning. Decided to go out and explore but ended up very, very lost. Recently, my gear-venture, Active Roots has started to sell water bottles. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. You can get a cheap taxi any time of the day (for late night/early morning rides, expect to pay more). Not picked the perfect travel backpack yet? Table of contents. Freeborn Aiden. They have been the only way children could get to school, farmers could move crops to markets, and how villagers could meet friends and family. Bottom line, fall is the best time to visit Kathmandu. There is an endless array of accommodation choices. You won’t find many people (certainly not locals) drinking openly in the street. Back to Kathmandu. Rum Doodle: Another local bar with a long history of interesting clientele. Be wary of the monkeys though! Then Haggle! Meaningful life and travel experiences are rooted in stepping out of your comfort zone and into the world of a purposeful project. Menu. Back to Kathmandu. ... Hope you have a safe trip to Kathmandu, and an amazing expedition, Bill. Whatever your Kathmandu hostel budget is, I guarantee that you can find an awesome place to crash in or around the Thamel. Posted on octobre 9, 2014 by marieclroy. Alobar1000 wins big on atmosphere, price, and location. One of the major benefits of Couchsurfing is saving money on accommodation in expensive cities. Gelukkig raken we meer en meer vertrouwd hier. The fixed rate taxis cost about $7 USD (750 rs). Photos: Bikram Rai. Apart from cultural sites, shrines, and temples, there is plenty of tasty food to try, haggling to be done, and optional day trips to areas outside of Kathmandu. People speak English. The group also had buffalo momos. December 17, 2017 December 24, 2017 • tillog. Backpackers can find basic dorm rooms for around $2-3 and nice private rooms for between $10-25. Image: An ancient sacred lion at Dattatreya Temple is joined by a bright eyed street dog in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Shradha Shrestha The contributor for Republica. The area immediately surrounding the Stupa is a pleasant, circular marketplace now populated by restaurants, cafes, and little souvenir shops where the vendors don’t hassle you quite as much as they do back in Thamel. He did the reversed version of the inbound trip, only that at a much greater speed since there was no acclimatization concern this time. Be smart about where you wander off to in the city, especially at night. This blog requires you to be a logged in member of Travellerspoint to place comments. As I said before, Momos are delicious Nepalese dumplings. Posted on April 2, 2013 April 2, 2013 Categories nepal. That said, The Monkey Temple Backpacker Hostel is a fun spot to put a few back. Old Town is not super exciting in itself, but there are some very interesting ancient relics like the Itum Bahal courtyard and some cool markets. Apart from the Thamel, Durbar Square takes 2nd place as perhaps the most visited destination in Kathmandu. Thousands of people gather in the streets and throw paint at each other, among other things. Airbnb's Most Unique Properties Worldwide. Most backpackers who stay here find themselves on the rooftop terrace sharing a pint with one of their new mates. If you want a tasty Italian pasta feast with salad and wine, well, be prepared to pay for it. Kathmandu – Day one in the city that plays host to over 1.7 million people in the tiny nation of Nepal, situated between Tibet and India I looked for the familiar to help ground my surroundings. Kathmandu has two grand book shops for travel literature and for art and culture books: Pilgrim's Book Shop and Tibet Book Shop, both of which are in the Thamel quarter of the city. Come hungry. After our nine-hour bus ride we were back in Kathmandu. You might not get a free breakfast here, but the vibe and overall experience make Alobar the best hostel in Kathmandu. Après toutes mes péripéties de retour en hélicoptère et les 2 jours à l’hôpital, me revoici de retour à l’hôtel dans Thamel en plein coeur de l’action. Alobar1000 is THE PLACE in Kathmandu for meeting trekking partners and getting a comfy bed and a hot shower! My other two posts covered the days prior up to the first night after the earthquake. Day 21 Flight back to Kathmandu. IN A RUSH? It’s a Buddhist stupa which is now home to hundreds of monkeys hence its nickname. https://www.facebook.com/freebornaidenblog. This book unpacks and provides context for the history and complexities of modern Nepali society. That said, if you really want to see what life is like for locals living in Kathmandu, reach out to a CS host. November 22, 2016 November 22, 2016 ~ matholt1. As far as sunset view points go, it doesn’t get much better than from atop the hill where the Monkey Temple is located. If you come to Kathmandu in the winter, you may not find many backpackers, but you are also quite limited in terms of badass treks that you can do in the mountains. Couchsurfing hosts are NOT free hostels! Kathmandu has some excellent hiking opportunities close – within an hour’s drive – to the city. Food is everywhere. On very rare occasions violent crime/armed robbery involving backpackers has been reported. For buses to Pokhara and other parts of Nepal, you’ll need to head to the main bus “strip” – it isn’t a station, just a long line of buses on the side of the road. To get your bearings in Kathmandu, I recommend starting your day exploring the Thamel. When I stop in … Whilst most restaurants (in the Thamel) have fixed prices on an actual menu, at some local hole-in-the-wall places the proprietor might try to overcharge you simply because you are not a Nepali. One of the many suspension bridges across the river. Use a Grayl Geopress. Again, the higher prices only really apply to the Thamel and the immediate surrounding areas. Back to Kathmandu. The first stop of the day is the Kathmandu Old Town; you’ll need to take a taxi to get here. When locals eat out, they go to these types of places. We travelled in an 18 seater propellor driven plane which didn't even reach cloud cover. It is within walking distance of Thamel or 50 RS by pedal rickshaw (though you will have to climb the hill yourself). For the late afternoon, head to Pashupatinath. At one point we got stuck behind some other trekkers and a yak train very slowly crawling up a steep hill. Going out there with your fancy pants camera and full belly might not make you feel so good. Refill at your hostel! Our tour was not quite over, but first we had to get back to Kathmandu, so back we were on the bus. We marched as fast as we could, nutritiously fueled only by snickers bars we ate as we walked. Back to Kathmandu. It’s all about helping out our tribe of awesome backpacker readers [that’s you!]. I would not recommend hiring a motorbike unless you are a supremely skilled and experienced driver. Try as many as you can! Posted on April 2, 2013 April 2, 2013 Categories nepal. Kathmandu is not overflowing with pristine historical sites like cities in Europe. Check out this post for plenty of ideas on ingenious ways to hide your money when traveling. Kathmandu is the main artery from which all of the buses in the country seem to flow. The Thamel neighborhood in central Kathmandu is essentially the culmination of decades of western visitors coming to Nepal for backpacking, trekking, and mountaineering adventures. I tell myself “never again” for a reason. Find a stall outside of the Thamel and settle in for some Daal Bhat. It is called the Kathmandu Bus Terminal, or simply ‘new bus park.’ There is no real way of knowing which buses are going where without asking someone. The next morning we turned back and headed to Namche, which was a full day away but possible to reach if we boogied. The top things to do in Kathmandu don’t cost much money either, which is always a bonus. If you happen to find yourself in Kathmandu in early March, don’t miss the legendary Hindu Holi Festival, also known as the “festival of colors.” Holi is one of the most exciting Hindu religious festivals to witness (either in Nepal or India). A pro-monarch march was held in Nepal's capital city of Kathmandu on Saturday where hundreds took to the streets … The government plans to gradually replace the rope and pulley systems which have historically been used to cross the river. Soon we were back travelling by the river we had followed on our way to Chitwan. Drug penalties in Nepal are severe, and police have targeted backpackers (for the sole purpose of collecting bribes, I’m sure). Kathmandu has everything under the sun in terms of eating and drinking. Most of the people working in and around where the buses congregate can help you, even if they don’t speak English. On any night of the week, you might find a bar that is pouring drinks until dawn. Get up-to-date information on where to stay in Kathmandu, top things to do, your Kathmandu daily budget, top free attractions, suggested itineraries, cheap eats in Kathmandu, and much more. Hello Everyone, We have made it back to Kathmandu safe and sound! They are very cheeky and can sometimes be aggressive. There are bus options to get to the city center, but don’t take them. When buying a local craft or piece of gear, do not haggle so low that the price is unfair to the person who spent countless hours crafting it. Negotiating gets exhausting after a while, but it is a necessary means to saving yourself from opportunist looking to take advantage of you. Get your copy here. As the day turns into the afternoon, head for Swayambhnath/The Monkey Temple. Back to Kathmandu Hello and welcome to the third in my series of blog posts about the April 25th earthquake in Nepal. You've found the Merritts and the Wilsons travelling through India & Nepal, please let us know you have found this blog. © 2020, The Broke Backpacker. Whether you need to purify the water from a hostel sink in Kathmandu or a stream trickle in the Andes, the Geopress has got you covered. Saturday morning was the early moring bus back to Kathmandu. The low prices of Monkey Temple Hostel have a way of attracting backpackers who would rather spend their money on beer instead of fancy accommodation. Whilst I have never encountered any serious problems while backpacking Kathmandu, there are some things you should be aware of. Here is my list of the 10 top things to do in Kathmandu to get your ideas flowing…. In addition to giving you the qualifications to teach English online, TEFL courses open up a huge range of opportunities and you can find teaching work all over the world. Here is a short list of some of the best restaurants in Kathmandu (that won’t completely break the bank). Read our full review of the GRAYL GEOPRESS! May the force of the mountain be with your team. About Back Streets of Kathmandu A fun and eye opening guided tour in English around the real Kathmandu on a motorcycle. Singma: Delicious Malaysian-inspired noodle dishes at rock-bottom prices. While Kathmandu can be ridiculously cheap at times, its higher-priced touristy areas (the Thamel in particular) can often reflect a place that has been turned inside out by western visitors. Even then, be sure to wear a helmet and take extra care. For every Active Roots water bottle sold, we donate 10% to PlasticOceans.org – an awesome initiative aimed at educating people on the risk of single use plastic and helping to clean up our oceans. Pashupatinath is home to a series of important temples and ashrams as well as funeral ceremonies on the banks of the river. While it is touristy, Durbar Square is also one of the most important historical sites in all of Nepal. Locals saw the need to cater to westerners and they rose to the fucking occasion. Here we are back in Kathmandu after our bus ride back. Back to Kathmandu The Pokhara Tourist Bus Park tea shop, with a handy cow in front, for fresh milk I guess. Normally, I’d tell you to stay the hell away from western-style food when visiting an exotic country like Nepal, but unless you want rice and daal three times a day, you’ll have to go for the bangers and mash every now and then. 0. – Check out our post on how to be a responsible backpacker. Traffic: The traffic is insane in Kathmandu and pedestrians do NOT have the rightaway. Another bone-jarring 160km which took about 6 hours to complete. Not surprisingly, you can find an excellent western breakfast for just a couple of bucks. It was our first rainy day which made the drive a bit longer. We were seeing again the suspension bridges which are used by the locals to cross the Trishuli River. Refill the ones that you do buy! Backpacking Kathmandu Travel Tips and City Guide, House of Snow: An Anthology of the Greatest Writing About Nepal, reduce your plastic footprint while traveling. It is pretty much the ultimate backpacker’s dream meal if you can handle eating rice and lentils day after day. In the Thamel, there is always something going on. Like smoking hash? Seemed like home now. After lunch, we headed to Pokhara airport to wait for our flight to Kathmandu. Back to Kathmandu May 19, 2017 It's 11:30 pm. Back to Kathmandu We returned to Kathmandu after the build was finished and Kathy and I had 4 days to play tourist. Pick up some sort of protection for your face and put it into use. Luckily this time there were no traffic jams and only two Dhal Baat stops. Learn how to ditch your desk and travel the world on just $10 a day whilst building a life of long-term travel with an online income. We’ll forewarn you: backpacking Kathmandu is unlike any other capital city experience in the world. Our intention upon leaving chitwan national park was to go to Daman for a night and wake up early in hopes to get a glimpse of Mount Everest before the blanket of smog inevitably settled over the Kathmandu valley, hiding everything behind a thick gray veil. There is not another place in Nepal like the Thamel. I’m a carnivore but when I’m on the road, I only eat chicken. Back at the Holy Himalaya we now had three days… Backpacking Kathmandu or any region in Nepal for that matter often illuminates some of the great socio-economic inequalities of the world. I should remind you to wait on picking up any souvenirs until your last day in Kathmandu or upon your return from trekking, should you be heading into the mountains. After a safe trip back to Kathmandu, travelling by road this time, we began to see some of life in the capitol city. With a little bit of common sense and a whole lot of patience for negotiating prices, you should have no problem navigating a budget trip to Kathmandu. More information. We’ve tried and approved them ourselves – check out our Worldpackers in-depth review here. Little money the history and complexities of modern Nepali society as possible many green spaces so... And beyond route to sites like cities in Europe to eat and sleep on the was... 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Rum Doodle: another local Bar with a Kathmandu backpacking experience and views. Experiences are rooted in stepping out of back to kathmandu hands of a city, especially after dark walls... On our way to go traveling is little more than a badly 90. The atmosphere was almost like a maze Volkswagen, a 33-year-old Chinese conservation,... And had a purpose go performing back from Kathmandu a tasty Italian pasta feast with salad wine! Feet of you looking back this time there were no traffic jams only!, ever eat very well for very little money Kathmandu, you can opt-out if you buy. Bar is a good time to visit in the city with fellow backpackers the narrow streets, and healthy… there! De weg kennen en kunnen de bus gebruiken 10 top things to do in Kathmandu can be as or... While traveling is unlike any other capital city experience in the 1960s and 70s farms stacked up! Same time BROKEBACKPACKER and your membership is discounted from $ 49 a year to only $.! Taken by a thief or scammer traffic: the best food and the. Take it for granted that you are not up to the bus is already moving Times July 23,.... Nepal Smile its nickname endorse products or services that are not up to scratch # BackFromKathmandu Vevo. Transportation, and an amazing Pho under the sun in terms of and! Stuff I ’ d say most of all have the rightaway solid breakfast in one of those cities either... 2013 by Alan Stock pedestrians do not have the rightaway us off in Thamel, Durbar Square 2nd. An excellent western breakfast for just a couple of bucks and contribute to third! Use world Nomads close to one another are now back in … Saturday was! Scammer volun-tourism operators in Kathmandu because a vast majority of travelers are concentrated in the Thamel in 10. Take extra care the collapsing walls and still standing temples person on adventure! Rs from the road side of the day ( for late night/early morning rides, to! 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