Kathmandu was a western paradise when I go there. I had just spent the last month in India so coming across a restaurant that served cheeseburgers was just an insane luxury one that I soaked up for a good week.
I was staying in the Thamel district of town, which is know for being the main tourist area. Along the streets are hundreds of shops selling souvenirs and camping/trekking equipment. Since I am a lover of the outdoors and modern amenities this was paradise. My plan was to buy the equipment, travel and permits for my Everest hike. This should have only taken a few days but sucked in by international food and modern coffee shops I dragged my plans over a week.
Pizza, Sushi, Coffee Shops, Ice Cream and BACON! Oh what a heaven I had found. Before Nepal was India, before India was the Middle East. It had been several months since I had such luxuries. I ended up so distracted by everything and my planning that I didn’t visit any of the temples or sights that were in Kathmandu. Ill just say that leaves them there for me for next time…
Beyond all this distraction I was able to buy my gear for Everest in town. Probably like 98% of tourists in Kathmandu are there for trekking Nepal so there are countless shops that will sell you any piece of equipment or clothing you could ever need. Most items branded as expensive western brands such as North Face. Suspect quality aside if you really look over what you are buying you realize a fancy brand isn’t needed.
Everything I bought was well worth the price and has held up very well. The only thing I recommend you do not buy is Gortex items. If you need a breathable rain jacket you need to pay for it at one of the legit stores. If you want a rain jacket that is just waterproof then the knockoffs are OK.
If you have come for trekking its perfectly easy for you to arrange everything yourself. Countless people will ask you to book with them, or offer to get your permits and flights. From Thamel you can walk 30mins down to the Nepal Tourism Board office and get it sorted yourself. If you need a flight to Lukla just approach any booking office in Thamel. The ticket will cost about $115 USD no matter who you talk to. You can not get one cheaper across the street and you can’t haggle the price. That’s just how much they cost.
I greatly enjoyed the luxuries that Kathmandu offered and the entire district of trekking shops made me a kid in a giant candy shop. It is a wonderful city but sooner or later you will be done with your shopping and ready to move on so enjoy it while it lasts.
