Culture
Exploring Thamel from Budhanilkantha
How to get to Thamel from the homestay, what to do when you're there, and how to get back to a quiet night's sleep.
By Shiva GiriPublished Updated 4 min read
Thamel is Kathmandu's traveller hub: a tangle of narrow lanes packed with restaurants, trekking shops, bookshops, bars and travel agencies. It's great fun for an afternoon or evening — and even better when you can come back to a quiet room afterwards.
Getting there
Thamel is 8–10 km from the homestay, about 25–35 minutes by taxi depending on traffic. Ride-hailing apps are usually the cheapest and easiest option; we can also call a taxi for you. Local buses run from Budhanilkantha towards the centre if you're on a tight budget.
Things to do
- Shop for trekking gear — buy or rent down jackets, sleeping bags and poles before your trek.
- Eat your way around the world: Thamel has everything from momo stalls to wood-fired pizza.
- Relax in the Garden of Dreams, a restored neo-classical garden on the edge of Thamel.
- Walk south through the old bazaars of Asan and Indra Chowk — spice stalls, temples and centuries-old trading streets — to Kathmandu Durbar Square.
- Browse bookshops for maps, guidebooks and Himalayan literature.
Getting back
Book a ride-hailing car or a taxi for the trip back, and agree the fare before you set off if the taxi has no meter. Message us if you'll be back late.
