Getting Around Nepal
Buses
The government-run Sajha Yatayat bus company plus numerous other private bus companies are the backbone of Nepal’s transport infrastructure. Crowded and regularly quite dangerous (given the long driver hours, high speed and twisting mountain roads) they provide the main form of transport for locals and backpackers. If you have a choice do avoid these buses, opting instead for the marginally more comfortable and safer tourist buses; these should be booked a couple of days in advance. Shared-taxis in the form of minibuses are common in and around larger towns and between population centres and stop anywhere and everywhere along their routes. Prices for bus and share-taxis are very low.
Taxis
Taxis can be found in the major tows of Nepal, but in many rural areas the roads peter out and people quite simply walk, something that is part of Nepali society. There are inter city private vehicles operating as taxis and these have a red licence plate s opposed to the usual black. Fares should always be negotiated beforehand; meters never work and nobody uses them.
Car Hire
Self-drive car hire is not available in Nepal. If you want to avoid using taxis for sightseeing a car and driver is your best bet – easily available and good value for money. This will give you the flexibility to go where you want for as long as you want at a reasonable price: highly recommended.
Driving
Driving is on the left-hand side of the road.
Trains
There is a short rail journey to be enjoyed in the Terai area of Nepal, from Janakpur to The Indo-Nepali border. It's a metre gauge line and very slow, yet very interesting as it passes through the unchanged Mithili countryside. Forigners cannot cross the border here, so it's a day trip to Khajuri on the Nepal side rather than a transport connection to India. There are approximately 3 trains in each direction each day.
Boats
Rafting on Nepal's rivers is a popular adrenaline sport and of course there is the more sedate boat trip on Phewa Lake.
