Kathmandu serves as the gateway to the Himalayas and is a frequent stopping point for hikers trekking Everest. We, however, spent 3 days exploring Kathmandu on our way to the jungle, rather than to the mountains. If you haven’t already read our blog post on navigating the Kathmandu airport – check that out here.
Kathmandu is a vibrant city with an exotic blend of history, spirituality, and adventure. The juxtaposition of beauty and chaos was everywhere — the vibrant colors of the city market stalls, the incense and dust hanging in the air, the mess of cables tangled on the street poles, and the cacophony of honking horns and barking dogs.
We stayed in the Thamel district, a popular hub for many travelers. Thamel is a centrally located neighborhood, where narrow alleys overflow with colorful shops, restaurants, and bars. Here, you can barter for souvenirs or stock up on hiking gear. Thamel has, in fact, the highest density of outfitting shops in the world, but many sell fake gear. Beware of look-alike brands, but many items are still good quality.
After checking into our hotel (see below), we spent a few hours exploring Thamel Kathmandu, wandering through the streets and ducking into poorly lit stores, and soaking up the vibrant atmosphere as locals and tourists comingled. We also treated ourselves to a massage at Tranquility Spa, a great experience with a low price tag. When walking through the streets we were constantly dodging motor bikes and potholes. But the people are some of the nicest we have ever met. Everyone greets you with a warm smile and “Namaste.”
One thing to note – the water in Kathmandu is not safe to drink, so we always use our Grayl GeoPress filtering water bottle, even when brushing our teeth, as it filters out viruses, bacteria, particulates and toxins. Also be wary of ice cubes! We instead often stuck to Gorkha beer or canned ginger ale when dining out.
While traveling internationally, we always use Airalo to stay connected. It is a digital eSIM card that’s easy to set up before leaving home. You simply download an app and pick your destination country and data needs. It will save you a lot in international data charges. Wifi is not readily available in Kathmandu, so we turned on our Airalo eSIM card in case we needed to review a map, but mainly we like to wander and see what we find!
Another thing to be aware of is that bathrooms throughout Nepal likely do not have Western toilets or toilet paper. Be prepared to squat and always carry toilet paper with you. We like these compressed rolls that quickly expand into wet wipes with a teaspoon of water. Otherwise we’d make a pit stop back at our hotel if we were within walking distance in the Thamel district.
One restaurant that we quickly fell in love with was New Orleans Café. This restaurant has a great atmosphere with a little courtyard tucked away from the main street, where you can sit outside and relax. The food was fantastic and was a great place to enjoy a Gorkha beer!
Before and after our jungle trek, we stayed at 3 different hotels in Thamel to try out a few different places. We recommend any of the following:
The Ramada Encore is a modern updated hotel in the heart of the Thamel district. The lobby is a nice place to relax and meet up with fellow trekkers. The hotel offers many nice amenities, including a large breakfast buffet, swimming pool, and updated modern rooms. The location makes it perfect for exploring on foot.
Slightly more removed from the action, Hotel Manaslu offers a more authentic local experience, with a small courtyard containing Nepalese statues and small temples. The restaurant serves a breakfast buffet, lunch and dinner. The manicured garden and outdoor pool is a great place to unwind after a long day. Room finishes are more simple, but this is a great option for a quieter stay:
Apsara Boutique Hotel is also in the heart of Thamel and easy walking distance to shops and restaurants. The hotel also offers a breakfast buffet and is a great budget option.
We definitely recommend exploring Thamel Kathmandu. Its a fun neighborhood and a great central place to stay. Check out our blog post on exploring the cultural and ancient sites of Kathmandu.
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