Best Budget Guesthouses and Hostels in Kathmandu, Nepal

Elbrus Home is a popular hostel in Kathmandu. It's located in the Thamel neighborhood, which is where most backpackers and trekkers base themselves during their time in the city. The hostel is about a ten minute walk from the Royal Palace and the bus station that most tourists use. In the Thamel neighborhood you'll find plenty of great restaurants that serve momos and curries. There are also plenty of western restaurants, bakeries, and pubs nearby. Many trekkers pick up supplies from any of the many shops in the area. Both knockoffs and geniune brands are available. It can be difficult to find great deals simply because the knockoffs are of varying quality and the real brands typically have set prices. There are also many travel agencies in the area that can help you arrange treks with guides or porters. The hostel itself has its own travel desk where they can make arrangements for you as well.

This hostel is a clean and comfortable place to stay either before or after you do a trek. The showers have reliably hot water all day. There's also a pleasant common room that has a balcony and a nice garden where guests enjoy hanging out. There are tables, chairs and umbrellas. This is a popular hostel so you can be assured that there will be plenty of other guests, at least during peak seasons.

The hostel has a wide variety of private rooms available. There are singles, twins, doubles, and triples. With each size room you can choose either basic, deluxe or superior styles.

Avalon House is another favorite place to stay in Kathmandu. It's also located in the tourist center of Thamel and is a good place to base yourself either before or after your trek. It's really more of a hotel than a hostel and there are no dorms available. It has a relaxed setting with several common areas where guests can hang out.

There are twenty rooms available that each have private bathrooms with showers that have reliably hot water. Rooms also have televisions and wi-fi. The hostel is simple but pleasant. It has a nice rooftop terrace that offers views of Kathmandu. You can even see the monkey temple to the west and snowy mountain to the north. Breakfast is served in the morning on the terrace.

The staff is also wonderful here. They can help you with any arrangements for treks or activities. They can also advise you on what treks might best meet your needs and experience levels.

The private rooms are either singles, twins, or doubles. Guests can choose between deluxe or standard rooms.

Kathmandu Madhuban Guesthouse is another favorite place to stay in the city. It's also located in the Thamel neighborhood and is set back in a quiet area where you can be assured a good nights sleep. It's about a twenty minute drive from the airport and is just a ten minute walk to many of the city's best sights including Dubar Square, the Royal Palace Museum, the Monkey Temple, and more.

The hostel has several great places where guests can hang out including the lobby and the garden. The rooms are large and clean and each has its own attached bathroom with a hot shower. There's a restaurant available that serves both Nepalese and western dishes and there's a sunny balcony where you can relax outside. The rooftop terrace is also a nice place to hang out.

The hostel has a travel desk that can help arrange any treks or activities you might want to do. There is also airport pickup available if you need it, but you must stay at least two nights.

Single, twin, double, and three bed rooms are all available.