Nepal Transport: Navigating the Land of the Himalayas
Nepal has a good network of public transport links across the country and you can travel to the main tourist destinations either by bus or by plane. The main form of transport is buses which is the cheapest option. You can travel by plane but this is more expensive. You don’t need to plan ahead too much with transportation as you can usually book things a day in advance or even on the day.
By Plane:
The most expensive option but the quickest way to travel across the country is by plane. The planes are mostly reliable and journeys will be between 20-40 minutes long. The main airlines are Buddha Air and Yeti Air. Planes are generally safe to travel on but I would do some research before buying tickets to places like Lukla.
Lukla has a very short runaway and is a common place for crashes. You should research the weather before buying tickets as weather can affect the safety of these flights. You can book flights on sight like 12Go Asia.
By Bus:
The bus is a great way to travel around Nepal as you get to see the countryside and windy roads as you reach your destination. You will also have great views of the Himalayas as you travel to your destination. Buses are generally reliable but may not run on time. You should also note that the roads in Nepal are dier and full of potholes. It makes the journey extremely bumpy and at points extremely unsafe. If you don’t feel comfortable doing these dangerous journeys then you should take the plane. There is also a risk of landslides and flooding in monsoon season so be sure to check the weather before travelling.
You can book bus tickets on 12Go Asia. Or you can simply book them from a travel agency or just turn up on the day and buy them from the bus driver.
By Taxi:
Taxis are mainly found in big cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara. You can also take tuktuks or motorbikes as taxis and these will charge less than a car to take you from one place to another.
There is an app available such as Taximandu which works in Kathmandu. I personally never had any luck ordering a taxi on there so I would just find a taxi on the streets. Make sure to bargain with the taxi driver and agree a price before travelling or they may try and rip you off when you finish the journey.
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