How to Book Online Bus Tickets in Nepal: Easy Step-by-Step Guide (2024)
LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO BOOK ONLINE BUS TICKETS IN NEPAL?
You have come to the right place as I am a foreigner living in Nepal and have mastered the ways of booking bus tickets online in Nepal.
The best and easiest way to book bus tickets online is through the Nepali eSewa mobile app. eSewa is an app that can be used to pay for hotel and restaurant bills, as well as for bus tickets.
eSewa is reliable, and booking bus tickets on eSewa will save you both time and money.
If you stay long-term in Nepal (3+ months) and plan to do a lot of travelling, I recommend you to set up eSewa.
Browsing Bus Tickets in Nepal
BusSewa
If you just want to browse bus tickets, you can use BusSewa.com. BusSewa is great to browse bus tickets and schedule.
However, it is not possible to book bus tickets on BusSewa using an international bank card. It is only possible to book tickets through Nepali digital payment apps, like eSewa.
If you stay long-term in Nepal, read on for my guide on how to set up eSewa and book online bus tickets in Nepal.
How to Book Online Bus Tickets in Nepal Using eSewa
1. Download and Install the eSewa App
After downloading the app, fill in your details and the information requested on the app.
2. Verify Your Account (Optional)
After you fill in your details, you have to submit some further information to verify your account (KYC Verification). Usually the app does not let foreigners get full verification straight away, and you will have to visit the eSewa office in Patan to get it verified.
If you will only be in Nepal for a few weeks, you can still use eSewa without verification, however, the amount you can spend will be limited.
KYC Verification at the eSewa Office
If you are staying in Nepal for a few months or longer, getting the KYC verification is very useful.
eSewa has an office in Patan (see map) and you can easily get it verified there. Make sure to take your passport with you as they will need it to get your account verified.
You can get the KYC verification even if you are on a Tourist Visa in Nepal. Plus, they speak pretty good English at their office and the process is quick.
2. Deposit funds into your account (using an international bank card)
- If your KYC is NOT verified: If you do not get your KYC verified, the spending is limited to only Rs. 5,000/month (USD 38). If you are staying short-term in Nepal, depositing Rs. 5,000 can still get you a couple of bus tickets (one-way bus ticket costs around Rs. 1,000-1,200). It is still cheaper to buy the tickets on eSewa than through travel agents. So in this case, I recommend depositing only Rs. 5,000 (USD 38)/month into your account.
- If your KYC is verified: Your limit will be Rs. 500,000 (around USD 3,700) per month, so basically you have unlimited access. I recommend still to just only deposit a smaller amount and then top it up later of needed.
3. Select your ticket (departure, destination and date) and browse the options available
There are many bus and jeep options available to travel all over Nepal. For one route, you will see all the buses available for the selected date.
4. Select your bus and seat number. Then select ‘Book Now’
5. Select your boarding point
Here it is best to select the boarding point which is closest to your accommodation.
E.g. If you are planning a trip to Pokhara or Chitwan and you are staying in Thamel, then select the boarding point for ‘Sorhakhutte’. Sorhakhutte is only a few minutes’ walk from Thamel and it is the most popular boarding point for those staying in Thamel.
6. Fill in your contact details and click ‘Continue Booking’
7. Check that all the information is correct and click ‘Confirm’
8. Complete your booking
After completing the booking, you will receive a text and email confirmation.
On the day of your travel, just show your confirmation text to the bus helper (no need to print any ticket, the digital confirmation is sufficient).
FAQ: Book Online Bus Tickets in Nepal
How to book bus tickets on eSewa?
It is easy to set up and book bus tickets through the eSewa app in Nepal. Booking bus tickets on eSewa will save you both time and money as you can buy tickets anytime, anywhere.
After you set up your eSewa account on the app, make sure to get your account verified (KYC verification). The KYC verification will grant you pretty much unlimited transactions per month.
If you are having problems getting the KYC verified, visit the eSewa office in Patan and the staff will verify your account.
Is it safe to book online bus tickets in Nepal?
Yes, it is totally safe to buy bus tickets through eSewa in Nepal. eSewa is a reliable app and the bus company always contacts you the evening before the trip to confirm the pick up location.
After you complete your booking on eSewa, you are also provided the telephone numbers of the bus company, so you can also call the bus company to confirm the pick up location.
From my personal experience, as a foreigner living in Nepal, I have been using the eSewa app to buy bus tickets for more than a year and never had any problems.
When should I buy the bus ticket on eSewa?
I would say it is best to buy the ticket about 2 days before travel.
Usually, when travelling in Nepal by bus, you do not need to plan too far ahead. Most of the times, you can get a bus ticket one day before travel or even just by showing up in the morning.
However, if you want to have options for some of the better seats (in the front!), it is best to make the booking 2 days ahead.
💡 Note: The two biggest festivals in Nepal (Dashain and Tihar) usually fall in October-November. So if you are planning your travel during this time, I would recommend to book the bus tickets 5-6 days ahead. It is because during this time, a lot of Nepalis travel home for the holidays and the buses get completely full.
How much is a bus ticket in Nepal?
The prices of the bus tickets in Nepal are usually between Rs. 800-2,000. The price depends on which type of bus your are travelling with.
The Deluxe/ AC type of buses are usually around Rs. 800-1,200, while the tourist buses are around Rs. 1,100-1,500.
The highest quality buses in Nepal are the tourist, sofa seat buses. The sofa seat buses are run by Swift Holidays and Baba Adventure and operates between Kathmandu-Pokhara and Kathmandu-Chitwan. The price for sofa seat buses are Rs. 1,600-2,000.
Conclusion
Overall, the online bus ticket booking in Nepal is still in the early stages but once you set up the eSewa app, you will be able to quickly and easily book bus tickets.
You may have to go to the eSewa Office in Patan to get a full account verification but if you stay in Nepal long-term (3+ months) and plan to travel around Nepal a lot, I would recommend to set up eSewa.
Once you set up eSewa, it will make your life so much easier that you can browse and book bus tickets anytime or anywhere you are.
