Money for Trekking in Nepal: ATMs, Cash and Tipping

Money for Trekking in Nepal: ATMs, Cash and Tipping

One of the most common problems I see on the trail isn’t altitude or weather. It’s money. A trekker reaches Namche Bazaar, the ATM is empty, and suddenly they’re worried about paying for dinner for the next ten days.

I’m Rujan, a licensed trekking guide in Nepal. In this guide I explain how money works on Nepal’s trails: where to get cash, how much to carry, what things cost in the mountains, and the meaning of giving thanks at the end of the journey. Plan this well, and money is one less thing to think about while you walk.

The Golden Rule: Cash Is King on the Trail

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, you can pay by card in many hotels, restaurants and shops, usually with a small surcharge. But once you start walking, almost everything is cash only. Teahouses, snacks, hot showers, charging, and small shops in villages all take cash, in Nepalese rupees (NPR).

So the most important rule is simple: get all the cash you need in Kathmandu or Pokhara before your trek starts.

ATMs in Nepal

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, ATMs are easy to find, especially in Thamel and Lakeside. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards usually work.

A few things to know:

• Each withdrawal has a fee, charged by the Nepali bank, on top of any fee from your home bank. Because the fee is the same whatever the amount, withdraw the maximum each time.
• Withdrawal limits are low, so you may need several withdrawals to get enough cash for a long trek. Start a day or two before your trek, not the morning you leave.
• Tell your home bank you’re travelling to Nepal, so they don’t block your card.
• Use ATMs inside banks or in busy areas during the day, in case the machine keeps your card.

ATMs on the Trekking Trails

There are very few ATMs in the mountains, and you should never depend on them.

• Everest region: Lukla and Namche Bazaar have ATMs, but they often run out of cash or stop working, especially in busy seasons.
• Annapurna region: There are ATMs in some larger towns, but very few along the trail itself.
• Manaslu, Tsum Valley, Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Kanchenjunga and other remote treks: assume there are no ATMs at all for the whole trek.

A mountain ATM is a nice surprise when it works, not a plan.

How Much Cash Should You Carry?

It depends on your trek, your season, and what’s already included in your arrangement. If your meals and rooms are already arranged, you’ll only need cash for extras. If you pay for food and accommodation yourself, you’ll need much more.

Things you may pay for on the trail:

• meals and drinks (prices rise the higher you go)
• rooms, if not already included
• hot showers
• charging your phone, camera and power bank
• WiFi
• bottled drinks, snacks and chocolate
• boiled or filtered water
• small donations at monasteries
• a thank-you for your trekking team at the end

Why prices rise with altitude: Almost everything in the high villages is carried up by porters, mules or yaks, sometimes for many days. A soft drink that costs very little in Kathmandu can cost several times more at 5,000 metres. That price is fair. You’re paying for someone’s hard work carrying it up.

My advice: estimate your daily spending, multiply it by the number of trek days, then add 20–30% extra for delays, extra days, or unexpected costs. It’s much better to come back with extra rupees than to run out at altitude. When you plan with me, I’ll give you a realistic estimate for your route.

Cash Tips for Trekkers

• Carry small notes. Teahouses in remote villages often can’t give change for big notes. Ask for some 100, 500 and 1,000 rupee notes.
• Split your cash. Keep some in your daypack, some in your main bag, and some on your body. If you lose one, you don’t lose everything.
• Keep your money dry in a zip bag. Rain and river crossings happen.
• Bring some USD as a backup, in clean, undamaged notes. It’s useful in emergencies and for exchange in cities.
• Don’t show large amounts of cash in public. Nepal is very safe, but it’s a good habit anywhere.

Cards and Mobile Payments

In Kathmandu and Pokhara, many hotels, restaurants, trekking shops and agencies accept Visa and Mastercard, often with a small surcharge. Contactless payment is becoming more common in cities.

On the trail, don’t count on cards or mobile payments. Even where a teahouse has a card machine, the connection may be down. Always have enough cash.

Giving Thanks at the End of the Journey

In Nepal, we believe that what is given with a grateful heart carries a blessing, both for the one who gives and the one who receives.

At the end of a trek, many trekkers want to say thank you to the people who walked beside them: the guide who kept them safe, and the porters who carried their load up and down the mountains, step by step, day after day. In trekking, this thank-you is called a tip. But I like to think of it as an offering of gratitude.

A porter’s thank-you often goes home to a family in a village far from the trail. It may help pay for a child’s school, a roof, or food through the winter. Something small for you can mean a lot there.

There is no fixed amount, and there should be no pressure. Give what your heart says, according to your experience and what you are able to give. A sincere thank-you, a warm handshake, and kind words are also gifts, and they’re remembered for a long time.

If you want to give, a few gentle customs:

• Give at the end of the journey, on the last evening or the last day, when the walk is complete.
• Give to each person directly, especially the porters, so your thanks reaches them.
• Give with both hands, or with your right hand while touching your left hand to your right arm. In Nepal, this shows respect.
• Add a few words. Many trekkers put their thanks in an envelope with a short note. Porters and guides often keep these notes for many years, long after the money is spent.

If you’re unsure what is usual, just ask me. I’ll answer honestly, without any expectation.

Other Costs to Plan For

• Trekking permits: national park, conservation area and restricted area permits. See my guide to Nepal trekking permits.
• Your visa: paid in cash at the airport. See my guide to the Nepal visa on arrival.
• Transport to and from the trailhead, including jeeps, buses or flights.
• Travel insurance that covers high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation. See my guide to altitude sickness.
• Extra nights in Kathmandu if flights are delayed, especially after the Everest region.

What If You Run Out of Money on the Trail?

It happens, and it’s stressful. If you’re running low:

• Tell your guide early, not on the last day. There’s usually a solution, like changing your route to pass a working ATM, or planning your remaining days more carefully.
• Don’t count on a mountain ATM being able to help.
• In an emergency, family can sometimes send money to a guide or lodge through local transfer services, but this isn’t always quick or easy in remote areas.

This is exactly why the 20–30% extra is so important.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there ATMs on the Everest Base Camp trek?
Yes, in Lukla and Namche Bazaar, but they often run out of cash or don’t work. Bring all the cash you need from Kathmandu.

Can I use a credit card while trekking in Nepal?
Rarely. Teahouses and village shops are almost always cash only. Cards work mainly in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Should I bring US dollars or Nepalese rupees?
Bring some USD as a backup, but you’ll need Nepalese rupees on the trail. Withdraw or exchange rupees in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you start.

Should I tip my trekking guide and porter?
It’s a common way to say thank you at the end of a trek, but there is no fixed amount and no obligation. Give what your heart says, directly to each person, with a few words of thanks.

Why are prices so high in the mountains?
Almost everything is carried up by porters or animals, sometimes for days. Higher prices at altitude pay for that work.

What happens if I run out of cash on a trek?
Tell your guide as early as possible. Remote ATMs are unreliable, so always carry 20–30% more than your estimate.

Plan Your Money, Enjoy the Mountains

Money isn’t the most exciting part of trek planning, but a little preparation means you can stop thinking about it once you’re on the trail. When you plan with me, I’ll help you estimate what you’ll really need for your route, so you can focus on the mountains, the villages and the people.

Plan your trek with me →

Have more questions? Read my trekking FAQ or browse all my Nepal travel guides.