©
David Debrincat
Nepal Travel Guide
©
David Debrincat
No highway code, no road signs or indicators, the law of the jungle, complete anarchy, discomfort all round - welcome to the harsh world of Nepalese traffic! During a holiday in Nepal you'll be thrown in at the deep end of a paradise for mad drivers. Please note:
Following the two powerful earthquakes that struck Nepal in April and May 2015, the country is slowly getting back on its feet. This article was written before the disaster.
In all the towns in the country and even in the capital, Katmandu, you can go everywhere on foot if you wish. The distances aren't enormous and by doing this you will discover new things on every street corner. If you're a keen walker and have plenty of time to spare, you can even go from Katmandu to Pashupatinath or Swayambunath.
Forget about going anywhere on two wheels. It's much too dangerous to travel on a bicycle or a motorbike given the insane traffic conditions.
On the contrary, don't hesitate to jump into a taxi. They are everywhere and they're incredibly cheap. The drivers never use their meters, so it's important to haggle firmly before you get in. In general, a journey in town shouldn't cost you more than a pound!! At this price, there's no reason to deny yourself.
Cheap, authentic and unmissable, but also the slowest way to travel around Nepal, is to take a bus. They can be found all over the place in towns and go to every possible destination. You'll find yourselves packed in like sardines, prey to hazards on the road and subjected to multiple stops. In short, you'll get a taste of real Nepalese life and meet lots of interesting people.
For a little more comfort and so as to spend less time on the road, you can also take the Tourist Buses. It's slightly more expensive but still very economical.
To gain even more travelling time you can also negotiate with the taxi drivers, even for long journeys. This is especially worthwhile if you are travelling in a group.
The final option is to go by air. There are numerous airlines, so make the most of the competition between them. To give you an indication, a ticket from Katmandu to Pokhara costs about £55. It doesn't work out too expensive in the end but the flights often very run late, that's if they're not cancelled altogether.
