Getting Around Nepal

German Version Probleme mit Qatar Airways

Sometimes Travelers get attracted by the little cheaper air fare and flight time and think about choosing Qatar Airways to take them to Nepal. If you depend on your schedule or luggage you should consider alternatives.

I had 2 flights, and on both reconfirmed travelers had to stay on the ground because of heavy overbooking. 1 passenger was offered to be flown to FRA instead of ZRH, but from there he should arrange on his own.

We were 18 days without trekking equipment and there was no Qatar Airways support or compensation whatsoever to allow continuation of our trekking plan, except 100 USD on the departure day after a huge administrative effort. In fact airlines can choose themselves how to treat delay and even loss of luggage. Further compensation was declined. "Please be assured the offer is fair, reasonable, and in compliance with Qatar Airways policy."

Finally we located the luggage ourselves in a warehouse at Kathmandu airport. It was waiting for us since 17 days with the original baggage tags. Qatar Airways did not know about it. Functional wear worth 600 USD was stolen and the theft never compensated either.

The most comfortable way of getting from India to Nepal overland is a train / Bus combo
Take a train to Gorakhpur. Then take a bus or jeep from Gorakhpur to the Nepalese frontier at (Indian side) Sunauli/Bhairawa (Nepalese side, but also often called Sunauli). Journey time about 3 hours.
Walk across the frontier, it's then a few minutes walk to the Bhairawa bus station. Take a bus to either Pokhara or Kathmandu

One of the most popular trailheads is Besisahar for starting the Annapurna Circuit.

You also have several other options for getting here from Kathmandu, the cheapest is by local bus, I did this in 1995 and it was an experience, it took about 12 hours and was very uncomfortable as well as being slow. A much better option is to catch the Pokhara tourist bus as far as Dumre and then change here for the local bus up to Besisahar, 2008 prices are 300NPR for the tourist bus + around 100 / 150NPR (Depending on the luggage charge) for the local bus, so only around a 100 /150NPR more expensive than taking the local bus all the way from Kathmandu.
Local busses leave very early, around 5.30
Tourist busses leave around 7 from Kantipath

In the main season you can catch a Microbus direct from Kathmandu to Besisahar, Enquire at any of the Thamel travel agents for details and current prices

Finally, you can hire a private car / minibus, This can work well, especially if there is a group of you, Prices in 2008 were around $100

From Pokhara by far the best option is the local bus, this 175NPR (Spring 2008) and departs from Pokhara Bazaar And takes approximately 4 hours .

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The most ordinary type of traveling from place to place inside Nepal is by bus. Being a mountainous country, straight roads and highways are few in Nepal. There are three types of bus services: "Tourist bus", “Micro bus” and "Public bus". Tourist bus, run by private bus companies or travel agencies, are little bit costly than the public buses. However, they are more comfortable, faster and less crowded than public buses( no goats, ducks etc). "Greenline" is the most reliable company and has trips between Kathmndu, Chitwan, Lumbini and Pokhara.

You can get tickets at any travel agencies at Thamel in Kathmandu. In Pokhara and Chitwan, just ask your hotel to book one. It is a good idea to buy your ticket a day in advance and reserve a seat. The benefits of taking a bus to any of your destination is, you will get the chance to see different parts of Nepal that you would be missing while flying and same time save a good amount of money too.

You need to experience a local bus in Nepal once in your life, but make it only once in your life.

Great fun, buses full of colour and jam packed full of people, produce, the odd livestock, people riding on the roof (and this is possibly the safest place for a quick exit!), people sitting in the aisle, people hanging out the door, people on your knee, all over the drivers area, of course the driver will be yelling to everyone on the road, talking on the cell phone and sometimes keeping an eye on the road with one hand on the wheel.

As you go around incredibly steep or rough mountainous roads, you'll be wondering why you didn't climb on the roof so you can jump when needed. The longer trips never seem to end and the toilet stops are usually an open air affair for all on the side of the road.

Often the local bus won't leave until its full or near full (although once you get going there always seems to be room for more), so be prepared to wait.

Well worth the money as its so cheap, the experience is priceless!

To enter Nepal you need a visa, It is possible to obtain these before you leave your home country but most people get theirs on arrival, The following information is designed to get you through the airport as quickly as possible.
You need
1 passport photo
$25 US for a 15 day visa, $40 US for a 30 day visa and $100 US for a 90 day visa

Once off the plane, you will probably have a short airport bus ride to the terminal, Once inside follow the signs to Custom as Immigration. This is a large hall, you will find desks with forms to fill in, You need to fill out two forms,Unless you have downloaded the visa application form and have it ready pre-filled in (Please see my “Be Ahead of the Game” Transportation tip on here for details and downloads)
1) Visa application form, The usual form with details of your passport, home address, proposed length of stay in Nepal, reason for visiting etc etc
2) Disembarkation form (Sometimes these are handed out by the airline that you fly in with, so if this is the case you can be ahead of the game !!)

Once you have filled these forms in (as quickly as possible is my advice) you first go to the desk on the left hand side of the hall and pay your visa fee and hand over your passport photo. You will be given a yellow receipt.
Then take this receipt along with your passport and disembarkation form to one of the immigration desks to the right of the visa payment desk, hand over your passport and yellow receipt and you will be issued with your visa.
It’s as simple as that !!

1) Normal Tourist Bus – These depart from The Kantipath at about 07.00 daily and take between 6 and 7 hours to get to Kathmandu and terminate at the Tourist Bus Park in Lakeside, Pokhara – You buy your ticket from any agent or your hotel the day before (But if you book a few days in advance you can reserve a betetr seat) – Cost approximately $5
2) Luxury Tourist Bus – Two main operators, Greenline (As above) and Golden – Prices around $12 to $18with lunch included – More Comfortable – More leg room but not a lot faster – They depart about 07.30 from their own garages near The Kantipath and terminate at the Tourist Bus Park in Lakeside, Pokhara – Again you buy your tickets from any agent or your hotel
3) Local Bus – These depart at varying times through the day (Including night services), cost about $3 but are slow and uncomfortable, also they drop you in Pokhara Bazaar so you would have to get another bus or taxi into Lakeside where the tourist accommodation is located
4) Micro-Bus / Mini-Bus - These depart at varying times through the day from where the road south (Muglin) branches off from the Ringroad – Cost about $5 – They take about 6 hours, they also drop you in Pokhara Bazaar so you would have to get another bus or taxi into Lakeside where the tourist accommodation is located
5) Private Car – These are best arranged through a Trusted and Reputable agent, Prices vary depending on the car as well as the time of year but a ballpark figure is about $120 – This can work out well, especially if there are 2 or more of you and you have a late afternoon flight into Nepal and want to get to Pokhara the same day
6) Fly – Regular flights with various airlines from early morning to mid afternoon – Cost about $100

We took Fly Kingfisher Airlines from Delhi to Kathmandu. Thought it was odd the airline was named after a beer but the service was great and as an anxious flyer in general, it was a good experience. They even served a good meal even though the flight was 1 hour and 40 minutes. I would highly recommend this airline and I chose them because they had good reviews so I concur.

I don't think their phone numbers work unless you are in the area.