Carry Nepali rupees in cash, mostly small notes, for everything on the trail. Withdraw or exchange in Kathmandu or Pokhara, because cash machines become scarce and unreliable as you climb and cards stop working in the upper villages. Prices rise with altitude, so budget more per day at the top than at the start.
Where to get cash before you start
Kathmandu and Pokhara have plenty of cash machines and licensed exchange counters, and this is the right place to get your trail money. Machines can run out of notes, reject foreign cards or limit how much you can withdraw at once, so do not leave it to the last evening. Visit more than one machine on different days if needed.
Let your bank know you will be abroad, check your daily withdrawal limit and carry a second card kept in a separate bag. Exchange counters give a rate that varies by shop, so compare two or three. Keep receipts. Rules on carrying foreign currency change, so check them before you travel, and ask us if you want advice on how much to withdraw.
How much cash to carry
We cannot give a single figure, because it depends on your route, the length of the trek and your habits. Your package covers permits, guide, porters and transfers, but you still pay for extras on the trail, such as drinks, snacks, hot showers, charging, wifi, laundry and any meals or rooms that fall outside the package.
A useful method is to ask us for a daily estimate for your route, then add a margin for delays and rest days. Carry mostly small notes, because lodges in the high villages often struggle to give change for large ones. Counting out your cash in Kathmandu and splitting it between two bags reduces the damage if one is lost. Unused rupees are hard to spend later, so do not overshoot.
Where cards stop working
Cards work in hotels, larger shops and restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara, though some places add a surcharge. On the trail the picture changes fast. Lower villages may accept cards or have a machine, but power cuts and weak signal make them unreliable, and by the upper valleys cash is the only practical payment.
On the Everest route, the last dependable cash machines are around Namche, and some may be empty or out of order, so treat anything above that as unavailable. On the Annapurna routes, machines exist in towns such as Pokhara and a few trail villages, but they are unpredictable. Digital payment apps behave the same way. Have a plan that works without a signal.
Prices rise with altitude
Everything in the mountains is carried up by porters, mules or yaks, and sometimes by helicopter. That is why a tea, a meal or a charge for your phone costs noticeably more at the high end of a trek than in the first villages. The change is gradual, and it is not a sign that you are being cheated.
Plan your spending so that you have enough for the last days, when costs are highest and you cannot get more cash. Bottled water is expensive and creates plastic waste, so many trekkers use a refillable bottle and purification tablets or a filter, as advised by their guide. Hot showers and wifi are usually charged separately and the price per use rises with height.
A tipping budget in general terms
Tipping is customary for guides and porters, and it is part of their income. There is no fixed rule, and the amount depends on the length of the trek, the size of the group and the service you received. Many groups pool their tips at the end of the trek and hand them over together, with a short thank you.
Set aside a tipping budget when you plan your cash, and carry it in clean notes in Nepali rupees. Ask us for the usual range for your route, and we will explain how it is typically split between the guide, assistant guide and porters. Tips are your choice, and should reflect the care your team showed, not an obligation you resent.
Common questions
Are there ATMs on the Everest trek?
There are machines in Lukla and Namche, but they can be empty or out of order. Treat anything above that as having none. Withdraw your trail cash in Kathmandu before you fly.
Can I pay by card on a Nepal trek?
Cards work in Kathmandu and Pokhara and sometimes in the lower villages, but not reliably in the upper valleys. Carry cash in small notes, and treat a card only as a backup.
How much cash should I carry on a Nepal trek?
It depends on your route, length and habits. Ask us for a daily estimate for your trek, add a margin for delays, and carry mostly small notes in Nepali rupees.
Should I tip my guide and porters?
Tipping is customary and appreciated, and it is part of their income. The amount is your choice. Ask us for the usual range for your route and carry the cash in small, clean notes.
