Hostel: Alobar1000 (6 nights x NRs300) = NRs1,800
Hotel Blue Horizon (3 nights x NRs500) = NRs1,500
Food: NRs1,825
Tourist bus: NRs500 (Kathmandu > Pokhara)
Entrance fee: NRs200 (Swayambhunath Temple) + NRs250 (Palace Museum)
Exchange rate: US$1=NRs85
I spent a total of 10 days in Kathmandu (2 nights on arrival and 7 nights upon departure). Given the extra days I had in Kathmandu, I was able to visit and explore the city in greater depth.
Originally I had booked for a night stay in Bhaktapur but I joined the Chinese group and accomplished this visit on a day trip. I was keen to visit Nagarkot, about 18km from Bhaktapur but due to a cloudy sky, I aborted it.
I stayed in Thamel in Kathmandu due to its proximity to major tourist sites ie Kathmandu Durbar Square, Narayanhity Palace Museum, Tourist bus station (to Pokhara & Chitwan). If you do not mind taking public transport ie micro vans or mini buses, you could easily visit places like Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath Stupa etc. Taxi is another option but you may have to haggle each time you flag one on the roads.
During my flight from KL to Kathmandu, I met a Malaysian couple, Mr MS Yap & Grace. Both had signed up a ground package tour from a Malaysian travel agent to do a mountain trekking (Phoon Hill) in Annapurna plus visits to major tourist sites in Pokhara, Lumbini & Kathmandu. Before our departure & what a coincidence, we met again in Thamel and had the opportunity to chat & share our travel experiences in Nepal over two evening dinners at a Korean restaurant nearby our hotels. Both had taken a 45 minute Mt Everest scenic flight from Kathmandu domestic airport (US$175). I could like to take this opportunity to thank them for the warm friendship and also for giving me some medicine to cure diarrhea which I had been suffering for the last 3-4 days in Nepal !
For the adventurous travelers traveling solo, most could sign up a 12 day mountain trekking to Everest Base Camp (EBC) and this could cost around US$590 ( inclusive of permit fee, guide hire - US$12 per day, meals & accommodation-lodges or tea houses, domestic flight-US$280, insurance etc). Without a mountain guide and for DIY (do it yourself and everything on your own) style, the cost is approx US$420 per pax.
1) Thamel, Kathmandu
Hotel Blue Horizon (3 nights x NRs500) = NRs1,500
Food: NRs1,825
Tourist bus: NRs500 (Kathmandu > Pokhara)
Entrance fee: NRs200 (Swayambhunath Temple) + NRs250 (Palace Museum)
Exchange rate: US$1=NRs85
I spent a total of 10 days in Kathmandu (2 nights on arrival and 7 nights upon departure). Given the extra days I had in Kathmandu, I was able to visit and explore the city in greater depth.
Originally I had booked for a night stay in Bhaktapur but I joined the Chinese group and accomplished this visit on a day trip. I was keen to visit Nagarkot, about 18km from Bhaktapur but due to a cloudy sky, I aborted it.
I stayed in Thamel in Kathmandu due to its proximity to major tourist sites ie Kathmandu Durbar Square, Narayanhity Palace Museum, Tourist bus station (to Pokhara & Chitwan). If you do not mind taking public transport ie micro vans or mini buses, you could easily visit places like Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath Stupa etc. Taxi is another option but you may have to haggle each time you flag one on the roads.
During my flight from KL to Kathmandu, I met a Malaysian couple, Mr MS Yap & Grace. Both had signed up a ground package tour from a Malaysian travel agent to do a mountain trekking (Phoon Hill) in Annapurna plus visits to major tourist sites in Pokhara, Lumbini & Kathmandu. Before our departure & what a coincidence, we met again in Thamel and had the opportunity to chat & share our travel experiences in Nepal over two evening dinners at a Korean restaurant nearby our hotels. Both had taken a 45 minute Mt Everest scenic flight from Kathmandu domestic airport (US$175). I could like to take this opportunity to thank them for the warm friendship and also for giving me some medicine to cure diarrhea which I had been suffering for the last 3-4 days in Nepal !
For the adventurous travelers traveling solo, most could sign up a 12 day mountain trekking to Everest Base Camp (EBC) and this could cost around US$590 ( inclusive of permit fee, guide hire - US$12 per day, meals & accommodation-lodges or tea houses, domestic flight-US$280, insurance etc). Without a mountain guide and for DIY (do it yourself and everything on your own) style, the cost is approx US$420 per pax.
1) Thamel, Kathmandu
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2) Pashupatinath Temple ( UNESCO)
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3) Patan Durbar Square (UNESCO)
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4) Kathmandu Durbar Square (UNESCO)
5) Swayambhunath Stupa (UNESCO)
6) Narayanhity Palace Museum
7) Kathmandu Mall
8) Ranipokhari
9) Military Parade, National Stadium
" Aging soldiers know when to hang up their rifles ! Aging drivers know when to hang up their car keys for good ! As for aging travelers, they know when to hang up their back-packs & travel gears ..... but in the meantime, faith & determination is what keeps me going …. "
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