Trek Guide
There are no ATMs on the trail — so how much cash do you carry, in what currency? Guide to money for Nepal trekking: ATMs, exchanging USD…
By Travel Himalaya Nepal · Jun 3, 2026
There are no ATMs once you leave the trailhead and teahouses don't take cards — carry enough Nepali rupees (NPR) cash for the whole trek. Budget $25–40 per person per day (NPR ~3,500–5,500) for food, lodging, and extras; costs rise with altitude. Carry plenty…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
The single most important money fact for Nepal trekking: there are no ATMs once you leave the trailhead , and teahouses don't take cards. You must carry enough Nepali rupees (NPR) in cash for your entire trek. Running out high up is a real problem.
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Withdraw or exchange in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you start. ATMs are plentiful in both cities (with per-withdrawal limits and fees). You can also exchange USD, EUR, GBP and other major currencies at licensed money changers — often at better rates than…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Budget per person per day on the trail: $25–40 (NPR ~3,500–5,500) for food, lodging, and extras like hot showers, charging, Wi-Fi , and bottled drinks. Costs rise with altitude as everything is carried up by porter or mule. Add a buffer for emergencies…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Carry plenty of small notes (NPR 100, 500, 1,000). High in the mountains, no one can change a large note, and you'll need small denominations for showers, charging, and tips. Break big notes in the city before you trek.
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Beyond food and lodging, budget for: hot showers ($2–5), device charging ($2–4), Wi-Fi ($2–5), bottled/boiled water (cheaper to treat your own), snacks, and — importantly — end-of-trek tips for your guide ($8–12/day) and porter ($5–7/day), usually given in…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Split your cash across a couple of secure places (money belt, daypack, locked duffel). Bring a small amount of USD as backup. Keep a card for the cities only.
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Carry enough NPR cash in small denominations for your whole trek plus a buffer — there are no reliable ATMs once you're walking. Budget $25–40/day plus tips, and break large notes before you leave the city.
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
No reliable ones. Withdraw and exchange all your cash in Kathmandu or Pokhara before you start. Namche Bazaar on the Everest trail has unreliable, high-fee ATMs as a last resort, but never count on them.
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Budget $25–40 per person per day (NPR ~3,500–5,500) for food, lodging, and extras, with costs rising at altitude. For a 10-day trek, carry roughly $300–450 in NPR plus a reserve and your tips. See the full breakdown in our Nepal trekking cost guide , sort…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
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