At the Standard Chartered ATM in Namche Bazaar — the only reliable cash machine between Lukla and Everest Base Camp — a queue of trekkers stands in the cold morning air, each one hoping that today the machine has cash, today it is connected to the network, and today their foreign bank card will be accepted by a system that operates at 3,440 metres on solar power and intermittent satellite communication.
Some days it works perfectly. Some days it dispenses nothing and displays a message that could mean "out of cash" or "network error" or "your card is not recognised" — the screen is in Nepali, the error codes are cryptic, and the bank's customer service number does not answer from a satellite phone at altitude.
The lesson every experienced Nepal trekker learns, usually the hard way: carry cash. Carry enough. Carry more than you think you need. The mountains of Nepal run on paper money, and the ATM you are counting on may not be counting on you.
The Nepali Rupee
Nepal's currency is the Nepali Rupee (NPR). The exchange rate fluctuates but as of 2026 sits roughly at 130-135 NPR to one US dollar. Notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1,000 rupees. Coins exist but are rare in practice.
For mental arithmetic on the trail: divide the rupee price by 130 to get the approximate US dollar equivalent. A 650-rupee dal bhat is about five dollars. A 300-rupee phone charge is about two dollars thirty. A 1,000-rupee beer is about seven dollars seventy — and suddenly the economics of altitude become very clear.
Where to Exchange Money
Kathmandu. Before your trek. This is non-negotiable.
Exchange counters in Thamel offer competitive rates for US dollars, euros, British pounds, and Australian dollars. Banks offer slightly better rates but require more time and paperwork. Hotels offer convenience but worse rates. The airport exchange counters are acceptable for small amounts on arrival but not for your entire trek budget.
US dollars are the most widely accepted foreign currency in Nepal and the easiest to exchange. Bring clean, recent bills — damaged, torn, or pre-2006 notes may be refused. Hundred-dollar bills get slightly better exchange rates than smaller denominations.
How Much Cash to Carry on the Trek
Your trek package covers accommodation, meals, guide, porter, and permits. The cash you carry is for extras — and on a twelve-day trek, the extras add up faster than most people expect.
Daily extra costs on the trail: hot showers (150-500 NPR), WiFi (200-500 NPR), phone charging (0-500 NPR), beer or soft drinks (400-1,000 NPR), snacks (100-400 NPR), laundry (300-500 NPR at lower altitudes). A reasonable daily budget for extras is 1,500 to 2,500 NPR — roughly twelve to twenty US dollars.
Over twelve days: 18,000 to 30,000 NPR (140 to 230 US dollars) for trail extras.
Tips for guide and porter: 300 to 420 US dollars (or equivalent in NPR).
Kathmandu spending (before and after trek): 2,000 to 4,000 NPR per day for meals, transport, and souvenirs.
Total recommended cash: 500 to 700 US dollars worth of NPR for a twelve-day EBC trek, including tips and Kathmandu spending. Carry it from Kathmandu. Do not rely on trail ATMs.
ATMs on the Trail
Namche Bazaar has two ATMs — Standard Chartered and Nabil Bank. Both accept international cards. Both have daily withdrawal limits (typically 35,000 to 50,000 NPR per transaction). Both charge transaction fees. Both are unreliable — cash shortages, network failures, and card rejections are common.
Outside Namche, there are no ATMs on the Everest route until you return to Lukla. On the Annapurna Circuit, ATMs exist in Chame and Jomsom but with similar reliability issues. On the Langtang route, the last ATM is in Kathmandu. On the Manaslu Circuit, the last ATM is in Arughat.
The universal rule: withdraw what you need in Kathmandu. The ATMs on the trail are a backup, not a plan.
Credit and Debit Cards
Your 10% trek deposit is paid by credit card through the Himalayan Bank gateway — a 3.5% processing fee applies. The remaining 90% is paid in Kathmandu on arrival, where cash (USD, EUR, GBP), wire transfer (Wise), or Western Union are the accepted methods.
On the trail, credit cards are accepted at a small number of upmarket lodges in Namche Bazaar and nowhere else. The mountains run on cash. Your Visa card is a rectangular piece of plastic above three thousand metres.
In Kathmandu and Pokhara, credit cards are accepted at tourist restaurants, hotels, and larger shops — but a surcharge of 3-4% is common. For small purchases, street food, taxis, and local businesses, cash is the only option.
The Wise Alternative
For the balance payment and for transferring larger sums, Wise (formerly TransferWise) offers competitive exchange rates and low fees for international bank transfers to Nepal. Many trekking companies accept Wise as a payment method for the 90% balance. The transfer takes one to two business days and arrives in the company's Nepali bank account.
Protecting Your Cash
Carry your money in a mix of US dollars and Nepali rupees. Keep your trek cash in a waterproof bag inside your daypack — not in your duffel bag that the porter carries. Split your money between two locations — some in your pack, some in a money belt — so that losing one does not mean losing everything.
Teahouses are safe. Theft from teahouse rooms is extremely rare on the major trekking routes. But basic precautions — keeping valuables with you rather than unattended in a room, using the padlock on your duffel — are sensible regardless.
And carry small denominations. A 1,000-rupee note at a small teahouse at 4,500 metres may not be breakable. Having 100 and 500-rupee notes saves the awkward moment of asking for change when the teahouse owner's entire float is smaller than your single bill.
