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Kathmandu Airport to Thamel

Kathmandu Airport to Thamel

Updated on March 14, 2025

Welcome to Nepal! The Land of the Mt.Everest, The Land of the Lord Buddha, The Land of the Bravest Gurkhas, and The Land of the Natural Wonders. If it’s your first of many more trips to Nepal, arriving in Nepal can be troublesome.

After a delightful flight over the Himalayas, you’ll land at the Tribhuvan International Airport(TIA), Kathmandu “The lone airport in Nepal”. Next, complete all the immigration, visa and luggage processes. These processes can take a while. Following, you’ll start to wonder about “How to find the way out from Kathmandu Airport to Thamel”. Don’t worry, we will provide every detail about the possible ways out from Kathmandu Airport to Thamel

Thamel, the most happening place of Nepal is the hub for any kind of treks. It is the center for every longing of a tourist and his bag. From filthy motels to multi-star hotels, food stalls to awesome restaurants, spa to hair salons, gift shops to trekking equipment shops, more specifically, you’ll find everything in here. Most probably, your booked hotel will also be here.

Getting to hotels is the first and most important thing for any travelers. Tourists get confused about getting to Thamel from Airport. If you don’t know the right way to reach Thamel, you may face several problems. Luggage and documents missing, reaching false locations and sometimes theft also. So, to avoid such problems you need brief information about the ways from Airport to Thamel.

Kathmandu Airport to Thamel Distance

It's only a 5 km or 20-30 minutes motor drive from the Airport. But the drive time can alter by the routes taken and heavy congestion. If there is heavy traffic congestion, then it can take up to 40-50 minutes to reach Thamel from the airport.

How to get from Kathmandu Airport to Thamel

For tourists, there are four possible ways to reach Thamel after arrival at the airport.

Kathmandu Airport to Thamel Via Hotel Transfers:

This is the only hassle-free way to reach Thamel from Kathmandu Airport. Some hotels provide these transfers to their stayers. They conveniently transfer you and your luggage from the airport to the Hotel. You have to be sure about such arrangements by your hotel. If no, you can go via Prepaid Airport Taxi or Local Taxi or also Local Bus.

Kathmandu Airport to Thamel Via Airport Prepaid Taxi:

These Taxies are the initiative of Kathmandu Airport’s Management to provide hassle-free lifts to Tourists. The only thing you have to do is pay at the counter and get the slip. The counter is placed just before exits of the Airport. These taxies charge a fixed rate which is denoted by the Government.

It’s around 6 to 7 USD for reaching Thamel via a Pre-paid taxi. It’s slightly expensive than a local than the local taxi. But they provide safety and all the necessary help. So, Via Airport Prepaid Taxi is a highly recommended way out from Kathmandu Airport to Thamel if you don’t have hotel transfers.

Things to do before getting in Airport Prepaid Taxi:

Check the rate list and confirm a booking
Get the Receipt
Confirm the luggage and document at hand
Note down the Taxi owner’s number and plate number

Kathmandu Airport to Thamel Via Local Taxi

Local Taxi is a bargaining deal to do. If you are good at bargaining possibly this is your ride. These taxis will find you rather than you finding them. If you ask these taxies about the price they will say normally 10 to 15 USD at first. But, you can drop it to 4 to 5 USD, depending upon your negotiation skills.

Things to remember before getting in Local Taxi

Confirm the exact drop location
Fix the rates
Note down the Taxi owner’s number and plate number
Confirm the luggage and document at hand
Pay the fare and get changes(if it’s returnable)

Kathmandu Airport to Thamel

Kathmandu Airport to Thamel via Local Bus

Its the cheapest way out from Kathmandu Airport to Thamel. It costs only 15 - 20 Nepalese rupee(0.15 - 0.17 USD) per pax. But, Local Bus can be very troublesome for tourists. As this requires a few things to do.

Firstly, you need to have a Nepalese Currency. Secondly, you have to walk from the Airport to the bus stops carrying all the luggage. And Lastly, you need to know about the bus routes and buses to the Thamel.

After all that, there is no guarantee of getting a seat and luggage space due to overcrowding of the City. You may have to travel by standing. But still, if you want to do it then, you are surely going to have a new experience.

Things to remember before getting in Local Bus