Have a great time, dogster. And please report back on all the great places I missed!

Hi Kathie-- you mentioned the departure tax has to be paid in Nepalese Rupee... are there any ATMs inside the airport, before you have to get to the point where you have to pay the departure tax? Or Did you exchange some $$ before you landed in Nepal?

The departure tax is paid when you are leaving Nepal, not upon arrival. Upon arrival, you'll need US dollars for your visa on arrival. Get Nepalese rupees from an ATM as you depart the airport, the ATM is on the outside of the terminal building. People can direct you to it.

Technically, Nepalese rupees are not an exchangeable currency. That is, they have no value outside of Nepal. So don't bother trying to get Nepalese rupees before you go.

Just make sure you save enough rupees to pay your departure tax.

Got it, thanks for the good info! I would've wasted my time trying to exchange money before going.

You can pay your departure tax in any currency you like. There's a big list of currencies on the wall. Relax. I don't know where Kathie's coming from. I think she's been smoking too much charas. lol.

It's a bit of a bun-fight at KTM airport. A smart traveler would avail him/herself of one of those bagmen who will guide you thru the ropes. Tip them 100. It's done - they'll take you where you need to go and wait.

dogster, unless I totally misunderstood the signs in the airport, you can, indeed, pay for your visa in quite a number of currencies (but many cost more than just paying with US dollars). However, the signs say you *must* pay your departure tax in Nepalese rupees. There is an exchange window nearby where you can exchange other currencies for Nepalese rupees at a less than optimal exchange rate.

PS I think I made all of this more confusing by lumping together airport arrival and departure info at the beginning of my report. Thus, travlr's question about the departure tax upon arrival and dogster's response above, which I believe applies to the visa fee rather than the departure tax.

lol now I'm confused. Either way, it's easy.

Katie, how many days were you in Nepal?

Sorry, make that "Kathie"

We had eight days in Kathmandu.

i'm rereading again for pointers

No departure tax is payed at departure anymore. it is included in your ticket price.

i thought that might be the case...thailand did the same a few years ago.

That's good to hear, it makes it easier.

i loved rereading this kathie

Kathie perfectly described Kathmandu. I was there last year and it hasn't changed. The Hyatt was an oasis and I needed it. Loved being able to walk to Boudnath which took less than 10 minutes going out the back gate of the Hyatt.
As for the flight...wait to see how much you see going there. We flew from Kath to Bhutan and got a fabulous view of the mountains.

Found it!

ttt to read later.

great report, Kathy, with loads to think about.

i can see the attraction of the Hyatt!

Greetings from Paris. I'm glad you found my report interesting, Ann. For a different look at the Himalayas, read my report on Sikkim.