Miscellaneous

Transportation in Kathmandu

Metered taxis are relatively inexpensive and abundant in Kathmandu. Taxis are, however harder to find after 10.00 pm and those that are available often quote you their own take-it-or-leave-it rates.

Outside of Kathmandu, though taxis may be available, they are not metered and prices must be negotiated in advance.

Government operated public transport covers the entire valley of Kathmandu. During rush hours, however, they resemble sardine cans, but at other times can get you in relative comfort, cheaply. Cycle rickshaws are available in some parts of the city and can be fun, but prices must be negotiated beforehand.

Bicycles can be hired on an hourly or daily basis. Check the bicycle for damages and point them out before hiring. With a valid driving license, you can hire a motorcycle too, but the same rules apply in checking the bike for damages prior to hiring. Do not leave your passport or other travel documents as a deposit. Cars, vans, four wheel drive vehicles and buses can also be arranged easily and come along with a driver. Our office can assist our clients with this service.

Airport Departure Taxes

Departure taxes are included when you buy the tickets. However, you may like to check with your travel agents when you purchase the ticket.

Domestic Departure Taxes

Rs. 170.00

Service Charge and Value Added Tax

10% Service Charge has been applied in hotels and restaurants in Nepal since 2008. When raising any bill, this charge is first added and then 13% VAT is levied on the total.

The service charge and VAT are already included in Third Eye Trips to Nepal

Eating out

Meals in Kathmandu are normally not included in your land cost. However, eating in one’s hotel all the time can get unnecessarily monotonous. One the other hand, Kathmandu’s Thamel areas boasts a variety of restaurants serving everything from Austrian to Tibetan cuisine at reasonable prices.

In fact, some of these restaurants are a must visit item on every tourists itinerary; take for example the Rum Doodle Bar and Restaurant, This bar was voted one of the “Hundred Best Drinking Establishments in the World” by Newsweek Magazine in Oct 1985. It has the largest collection of signatures of people who have submitted Mt. Everest and is the gathering place of choice for adventurers of all hues. It has played host to Ex-US President and First Lady Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Ex-Japanese Premier Ryutaro Hashimoto and the Likes. The Rum Doodle also has the most talked about food in Kathmandu, the longest cocktail menu in Nepal and ice cold beer on tap.

Other eating establishments of note in the Thamel area are Ying Yang(Thai),  G’s Terrace (German),  The Third eye (Indian) and Krua Thai (Thai).

Apart from these there are now some restaurants that serve exceptional Nepalese foods representing various Nepalese ethnic groups. It would do well to try at least one or two of these while you are in Nepal. Bhanchha Ghar was the first authentic Nepali Restaurant in town; Bhojan Griha serves exceptional Nepalese food and has probably the best cultural show in town; Nepali Chulo also serves authentic Nepali  food from the Kathmandu valley  with the Cultural Show and the Baithak at Babar Mahal revisited serves cuisine from the Royal courts of Nepal.

Apart from independent restaurants your clients might try the restaurants at the various hotels in Kathmandu: Al Fresco (Italian), Gurkha Grill (French) and Bukhara (Indian) at the Soaltee Crowne Plaza. Chimney (Russian) and Naach Ghaar (Nepali) a the Hotel Yak and Yeti. The far Pavillion (Indian/Mughlai), Mandarin (Chinese) and Ropes (barbecue) at the Everest Hotel. The Olive Garden (Italian) and The Fun Club (Continental/24 hours) at the Radisson.

For the more nocturnally attuned a visit to one of Kathmandu’s Casinos might just be what the doctor advised. There is a casino in each of Kathmandu’s five star hotels and any taxi will be able to get you to one of them. For a more relaxed evening you might consider spending some time at a Rum Doodle’s 40,000 ½ ft, bar “where the tales are as tall as the mountains” or at the Bugles and Tigers at the Everest Hotel where “the drinks are as robust as the Gurkhas”.

In Pokhara the lakeside tourist district offers various dining options of one might be tempted to try one of the Restaurants at the Shangri La Village Resort, The Grand Hotel or the Fulbari Resort away from the lakeside

Telephone, fax and email

There are good facilities of telecommunication in the cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara. There are plenty of cyber cafes in Kathmandu and Pokhara from where you can make a very cheap call to U.S.A. Internet in the public places are cheap and easy, however, the internet speed may be slow.

You may not have access to phone and internet while you are on the trek except in some of the villages in Everest and Annapurna Region.

Shopping

Nepal, especially the capital of Kathmandu is a shopper’s paradise. With shops selling exotic spices in dark recesses of quaint alleyways, the myriad shops in all locales selling Nepalese handicraft to the modern department store selling brand mane goods; Kathmandu has it all.

The old shopping district of Ason, where cows and pigeons, vie for space with temples and houses amid narrow alleyways is a sight to behold. For more leisurely shopping try the New Road area for Jewelry and electronics; Durbar Marg for boutiques and perfumes; the Patan Industrial Estate for wood carvings; the Tibetan Refugee Center for genuine Tibetan rugs; the Bhaktapur Durbar square or the Thamel area for Thanka paintings and the numerous departmental stores for other necessities and branded goods – notable among them the Bluebird Supermarket which forms part of the Blue Star hotel complex. Warranties on branded goods are usually provided for on purchases through authorized retail outlets watches, perfumes, glasses, electronic items, etc.

While shopping for souvenirs and other trivia please note that bargaining is the norm and not the exception. Haggle, therefore, and do compare the prices at various shop till you find the product and price that suits your needs.

Most imported items are available at a fraction of their cost in western stores. In fact, sometimes the marketplace in Kathmandu cheaper than most duty free shops.

Public Holidays

Given the number of festivals for which Nepal is famous the list of public holidays is obviously long. There are 32 listed public holidays in all. However, since the holidays are determined according to the lunar calendar they change from year-to-year, with only a few falling on predetermined dates. There are two main festivals in Nepal when public life comes to a virtual standstill – Bijaya Dashami in September – October and Tihar in October – November.

If you would like a list of public holidays please write in to us and we will be happy furnish you with one.

The weekly holiday in Nepal falls on Saturday. Sunday is the first day of the working week.

Safety, Security & Strikes

Nepal is a safe country for the tourist, but like anywhere in the world, it is wise to be a little cautious. Keep the valuables like money, travelers checks, passport in the safe deposit box in the hotel.

The democratic system is new for Nepal. There are several political parties who have taken the act of calling general strikes to an art form. Locally known as Bandha these can be called at little or very short notice and can cause inconveniences. During the day of the strike, most of the shops remain closed and many vehicles stay off the streets making it hard to get taxis or to conduct sight seeing tours. If your trip is so affected our local operator will work with you to reschedule your sight seeing tour for another day. However, during the day of the strike, it’s pleasant to walk around the city because of reduced traffic. However, airport pick-ups and drop offs will take place as scheduled. We strongly suggest you stay away from demonstrations or any other large gathering of people as the police will baton charge or use water canons these turn violent.

Electricity

Electricity is 220V/50 cycles. A voltage stabilizer is recommended if the use of high end electronic gadgetry is contemplated. Power outages are frequent, even in Kathmandu.. Most hotels, however, have their own power generators as do most restaurants.

Nepal has adopted the metric system, though in the hills and remote areas an ancient system of weights and measures is still in use. While counting and talking figures, the word lakh (one hundred thousand ) and crore (ten million) are frequently used. You may often see figures written using this system, thus; 10,200,000 or one million two hundred thousand is one crore two lakh.

Petrol (gasoline), diesel and kerosene are sold by the liter

Nepal is 5 hours and 45 minutes ahead of GMT. During the summer the sunrises at about 5:00 p.m. and set around 7:00 p.m.. During the shortest days of winter, sunrise is at about 6:30 a.m. and sunset at about 5:00 p.m.. Government office open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the summer and till 4:00 p.m. in the winter. Shops usually open between 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 or 8:00 p.m..

Tipping

Though Tipping is optional in Nepal, the city guide, drivers, trekking guide, cook and porters expect the tips. The service charge is already included in the bills of hotels and restaurants, no need to tip at the hotels and restaurants unless someone gives you a very special service.

Below is a general idea about the tipping to the guides and Sherpa crew.

City guide:            US$ 7-10 a day

Driver:                    US$ 5-8 a day

Trekking Sirdar:   US$ 7-10 a day

Trekking Cook     US$ 6-8 a day

Trekking Porter    US$ 4-6 a day