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From SEA airport to Kathmandu
Reaching Seattle-Tacoma International
Light Rail (best option): Sound Transit's Link Light Rail runs from downtown Seattle's Westlake Station to SEA in 41 minutes for $3.50 one-way (off-peak) or $5.00 (peak, weekdays 6-9am, 4-6pm). Trains run every 10-15 minutes 5am-midnight, every 20 minutes after. Much cheaper than a rideshare and no traffic stress. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): $28-$42 from downtown Seattle (20-30 min depending on traffic), $18-$28 from Tacoma. Rental car with parking: Pick up from Enterprise/Hertz downtown, then park at SEA. Parking runs $16/day economy (further out) to $32/day valet. If you're renting a car anyway, this beats light rail plus a car rental at your destination.
Getting from KTM into Kathmandu
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) is only 4 miles from Thamel, but traffic means 20-60 minutes. Option 1 (recommended): Pre-booked taxi through your hotel or a reputable app like Pathao — expect NPR 600-800 ($4.50-$6) with no haggling needed. Option 2: Airport taxi counter inside arrivals, set rate of NPR 700-900 ($5.25-$6.75) to Thamel; ignore touts outside and go to the official counter. Option 3: Local bus runs along the airport road (NPR 20/15 cents) but requires a 10-minute walk to the main road and zero luggage assistance — only practical if you're traveling light and have been to Kathmandu before.
Planning Seattle to Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the kind of city that hits you before you even leave the airport — jet fuel mixed with incense, taxi touts, and the distant outline of Himalayan peaks on a clear day. For Americans, it's genuinely disorienting in the best possible way: a medieval city of 1.5 million people where Hindu temples share alleyways with Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, where sacred cows block traffic on roads clogged with tuk-tuks, and where you can book an Everest Base Camp trek at a teahouse two doors down from a $4 rooftop restaurant serving remarkably good pizza. The chaotic charm wears on some travelers by day three, but for most it becomes deeply addictive.
Local basics
Best-month weather in Kathmandu
October
50–77°F · 5 rain daysThe absolute best weather month — crystal-clear skies, perfect temperatures, Himalayan views in every direction, and the Indra Jatra and Dashain festivals running back to back. Extremely crowded and prices spike 30-50%.
November
41–68°F · 1 rain daysNear-perfect weather, slightly less crowded than October, and often cheaper. Tihar (Festival of Lights) in early November is spectacular and less touristed than Dashain.
The destination guide flags July and August and June as the least favorable months.
Two areas to consider
Thamel
budgetKathmandu's traveler ghetto and unavoidable first stop — packed with trekking gear shops, rooftop bars, guesthouses from $8-$60/night, and excellent budget restaurants. It's chaotic and touristy but incredibly convenient; stay here for your first night, then decide if you want to move to a quieter area. The north side of Thamel near Paknajol is slightly calmer and more authentic.
Patan (Lalitpur)
mid-rangeA separate UNESCO city just 20 minutes south of Thamel by taxi that many travelers skip entirely — a massive mistake. Patan Durbar Square is arguably more intact than Kathmandu's after the earthquake, the Newari architecture is extraordinary, and guesthouses like Café de Patan run NPR 3,500-6,000/night ($26-$45) in beautiful courtyards. Eat at Café Swotha or Newari Kitchen for the city's best authentic Newari cuisine.
Local planning tip
Book your Everest mountain flight (a 1-hour sightseeing flight that buzzes past Everest at eye level for $180-$220) for the very first morning after you arrive — flights go out at dawn for the best visibility, and if your flight gets cancelled due to clouds (common), you get rescheduled for the next available slot rather than losing your slot entirely. Don't wait until the end of your trip when you're out of days. Also: the Buddha Air and Yeti Airlines versions of this flight are identical and both reliable; ignore Thamel touts offering 'discounts' and book direct at the airline offices on Durbar Marg for the published rate.
Visa and entry notes for US travelers
US passport holders get a visa-on-arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport — it's one of the easiest systems in Asia. You fill out a form online at nepalimmigration.gov.np/evisa beforehand (saves 20-30 minutes) or on paper at the airport. Cost: $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days, $125 for 90 days (multiple entry). Payment in USD cash, major credit cards accepted at the airport counter (small surcharge). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. No invitation letter, no proof of return ticket required at immigration (though airlines may check). You can extend your visa at the Department of Immigration in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu for an additional 15-30 days. Total allowable stay is 150 days per calendar year.