Arriving in Kathmandu
Airport to Thamel, the first night, SIM, cash, jet lag — and why Lukla can wait.
Tribhuvan International is busy and the arrival hall is a squeeze. Have your hotel name written down. Pre-arranged pickup is calmer than negotiating a taxi while jet-lagged. The drive to Thamel can take 20 minutes or more than an hour; traffic, not distance, decides. Thamel is the usual first night: walkable, full of gear shops, and noisy. If you want quiet, stay just outside it. Eat something simple, drink water, and sleep. The first 48 hours are for orientation, not a trek start. Buy a local SIM from the official counters or a shop that activates it in front of you. ATMs in Thamel generally work; take out what you need and keep a backup card. Visa rules change — check immigration.gov.np before you fly rather than trusting a blog from last year. Do not book a Lukla flight the morning after you land. Weather already moves those flights. Adding jet lag is how people start a trek exhausted.
First night
Confirm the next day’s plan with your operator, then stop. Walk Thamel if you have energy. Save Durbar Square for a clearer head.
SIM, cash, and the obvious scams
Use marked taxis or your hotel car. Count change. You do not need a new down jacket from the first shop you enter.
Visa note
Entry rules and on-arrival visa details live on the government immigration site. Read that, not a forum thread, the week you fly.
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