Plan at least one full day in Kathmandu before a trek and one to two after it. The day before is for the trek briefing, permits, gear checks and cash; the days after are a buffer against flight delays and a chance to rest and see the city.
How many days do you need?
- Before the trek: arrive, sleep, and keep one full day. That makes two nights for most people. If you are flying a long way, a second day helps with jet lag.
- After the trek: one night at the very least. For treks that end with a mountain flight, such as Everest (Lukla) or Jomsom, keep two nights, because weather can hold flights for a day or more.
- International flight home: do not book it for the same day you are due back from Lukla.
What to get done before the trek
- Meet your guide for a briefing and a check of your gear.
- Permits: your agency arranges these and needs your passport, or voter ID for Indian citizens, and passport photos.
- Cash: change money or use an ATM. There are few or no ATMs on most trails, and the ones in Namche and Jomsom are not always working. Carry Nepali rupees in small notes.
- SIM card: Ncell and Nepal Telecom sell tourist SIMs at the airport and in Thamel, and you will need your passport or ID.
- Rent or buy what you lack: down jackets and sleeping bags can be rented by the day in Thamel.
- Pack the trek bag and leave city clothes at the hotel, which will store a bag free of charge.
Where to stay
Thamel is the usual base: hotels at every price, gear shops, restaurants, money changers and agencies within a few minutes' walk. It is busy and noisy in the evenings. For something calmer, look at Lazimpat just to the north, the area round Boudhanath, or Patan across the river. The airport is 20 to 40 minutes from Thamel, depending on traffic.
Kathmandu is at 1,400 m
The city sits at about 1,400 m, which is not high enough to cause altitude illness and is a useful first step. What you may notice instead is dust and traffic fumes, so a light mask is worth having, and in winter the cold mornings. Drink bottled, boiled or treated water and be a little careful with raw food for the first days. An upset stomach at the start of a trek is the commonest avoidable problem.
Using the free day before the trek
Keep it light. A good plan is Swayambhunath early in the morning, Kathmandu Durbar Square before lunch and Boudhanath at dusk, with the gear check in between. Avoid long drives and late nights. See the Monkey Temple and famous temples in Kathmandu.
The Lukla flight and Ramechhap
In the main seasons of March to May and October to November, most Lukla flights leave from Manthali airport in Ramechhap, not from Kathmandu. The drive takes four to five hours, so groups leave Kathmandu around midnight or one in the morning, or travel the afternoon before and sleep near the airport. Ask which airport your flight uses, and have an early dinner and an early night. See Lukla flights from Ramechhap.
After the trek
The first wish is usually a hot shower, clean clothes and a large meal. After that, in rough order: laundry (same-day service is easy to find), a massage, souvenir shopping in Thamel or Patan, and a slow half-day in Bhaktapur or Patan. If your flight back from the mountains came in on time, your buffer day becomes a free day: see day trips from Kathmandu.
What to buy
Pashmina and yak-wool shawls, singing bowls, thangka paintings, tea from Ilam, spices, felt goods, handmade lokta paper and silver jewellery. Bargaining is normal in markets and should be good-humoured. Antiques more than a hundred years old cannot be taken out of the country without a permit.
If you would rather skip Kathmandu
Annapurna treks begin from Pokhara, and it is possible to go there directly from Kathmandu airport by a 25-minute flight and to spend your free days by the lake instead. Many travellers find Pokhara the better place to rest after a trek. See treks from Pokhara.
Arriving at the airport
Tribhuvan International Airport is small and can be slow at busy times. Indian citizens do not need a visa. Other nationalities can get a visa on arrival, and filling in the online form before you fly saves time in the hall. Change a little money or use an ATM in the arrivals area, and use the prepaid taxi counter or a hotel pick-up; our treks include an airport transfer. See the Nepal visa guide for trekkers.
Common questions
How many days in Kathmandu before Everest Base Camp?
Two nights, which gives one full day for briefing, permits and packing. Add another if you arrive after a long flight.
Can I buy trekking gear in Kathmandu?
Yes. Thamel has hundreds of shops selling and renting gear, from cheap local copies to genuine brands. Buy boots at home and break them in; almost everything else can be found.
Is Kathmandu safe for tourists?
Generally yes. Normal city care is enough: watch your belongings in crowds, use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps at night and agree prices beforehand.
Do I need a buffer day after the trek?
For any trek that ends with a mountain flight, yes. Lukla flights are often delayed by weather, and a spare day protects your international flight.
Heights, dates, fees and rules are approximate and can change, so confirm the current details with us before you book.
