richard58

We are two couples in our late '70's visiting Bhutan and Nepal next month (September) with a tour in Bhutan and freelancing in the KTM Valley. We have hotel reservations in Thamel and expect to use taxis and/or car hires to tour the recommended sights including an Everest flight. We will be in KTM for six days.

Going in, have planned to use the hotel to book taxi or car on day-by-day basis. This leaves the quality and reliability of the drivers, not to mention English capability, to chance. Maybe the better route is to book the car and driver for the complete week, assuming the previous capabilities are present.

Has anyone had random use of taxis/cars for getting around in the KTM Valley during their stay? Can you recommend that course? If not, how about hiring a dedicated car and driver? Was that a good experience? If so, can you recommend the name of the driver or company?

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

Richard_58

rhkkmk

we did just that... we stayed at the hyatt and in their lobby there is a "tour" desk. we booked some travel with them via a private car with driver/guide and it was just perfect... we told him what we wanted to do and he also made suggestions.
we also just hired a driver from the entrance to the hotel who was an older man who fit our mobility and speed just perfectly.

the English was fine.

Kathie

We used taxis for most things, but on a couple of days got a car and driver through our hotel for the whole day. It worked out fine. No guarantees about English fluency, but we had no trouble making ourselves understood. It's worth getting a car and driver for a day that takes you out to Changu Narayan and Bhaktapur, for instance, but to go to Patan, just catch a taxi there and another back.

Here is a link to my trip report which covers the major sites in the Kathmandu Valley: http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...mandu-2008.cfm

Photos at www.marlandc.com

richard58

Thanks so much for your timely and reassuring responses. I feel comfortable with the recommended approach. Cathie I've done my share of traveling and taken lots of pictures, but your work leaves me in the dust! Thanks for sharing.

Regards,

Richard_58

RJames

Just a suggestion, if you're in Nepal for a few days after you return from Bhutan you may want to leave the Everest flight for when you get back to Kathmandu. You will see Mt Everest on the flights between Kathmandu and Paro if the weather is clear.

Elainee

I really recommend staying at the Hyatt in Kath. Very comfortable, very good food, fine service. Everything we needed after long flights. Plus lovely swimming pool.
Since it is so close to Boudhanath many pilgrims stay at the hotel so it is not just US tourists there. In fact, we saw no other US tourists during one of our stays. We loved being able to walk to Boudhanath and did so several times.

We, too, saw Everest during our flight to Paro. Extremely exciting!!!!
Great trip!

Bokhara2

Hi Richard.
I spent a week in Bhutan in March, followed by a month in Nepal.

For the KTM - Paro flight, try & sit on the LHS window. I had 15A & it was perfect. Prepare to be amazed at the Paro Airport.

If you like a wine, buy a couple of bottles at the Dury Free in Paro on the way back to KTM. We bought a couple of fairly decent Australian reds for about 500 BTN ( about 5GBP).

Recommend a visit to Dwarika's Hotel. Beautiful, with an interesting history & wonderful antique Nepalese building materials & fittings. I've earmarked it for a stay next trip, but well worth a visit for lunch, dinner or just a coffee & look around. Good Japanese restaurant.

Also recommend a day (overnight if you have the time) in Bhaktapur. If you go on Tuesday, the old Palace is open. Like many tourist areas. Bhaktapur is a different and utterly charming town when the day trippers go home.
Last year, I stayed at The Vajra (spelling?) & would be happy to recommend it.

In KTM, the Garden of Dreams is a lovely oasis on the edge of Thamel. Good restaurant, a little pricy by Nepali standards, and a very pleasant, more casual coffee house.

It's nearly next door to the Palace, which is closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays.

Hope you have a great time.

Bokhara2

Forgot to say - doesn't matter which side you're on for the Everest flight because they do a loop. I was on the RHS and think it was a bit better, as it seemed that we were closer on the homeward run. On the flight I was on, everyone was invited to the cockpit for a quick look and photos if we wanted.

Kathie

Bokhara, the Garden of Dreams was a wonderful respite from the crazinesss of Thamel!