How to Get from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi (By Bus, Jeep)
WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET FROM KATHMANDU TO SYABRUBESI?
You’ve come to the right place! I travelled from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi when I went on the Langtang Trek and it is pretty easy to get to Syabrubesi.
Syabrubesi is the starting point for the Langtang Valley Trek, Gosaikunda and the Tamang Heritage Trail. Thus, it is well connected to Kathmandu and there are many buses and jeeps going to Syabrubesi every day.
Syabrubesi is 120 km from Kathmandu and it takes around 8 hours to get there by bus, and 5 hours by private jeep. The buses leave every day between 6-8 am from Machhapokhari. The bus ticket costs Rs. 780-960 (USD 7), while the private jeep costs around Rs. 13,000 (USD 100).
So, here is everything you need to know on how to get from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi!
Kathmandu to Syabrubesi Distance
Syabrubesi is 120 km from Kathmandu and it takes around 8 hours to get there by bus and 5 hours by private jeep.
The bus from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi goes on a longer route (through Naubise), thus the trip takes much longer than as if you took a private jeep.
If you hire a private jeep, the trip takes around 5 hours. The jeep goes through a “shortcut” road that connects Kathmandu to Syabrubesi. The shortcut is a narrower road and is better suited for cars and jeeps, thus the bus does not go this way.
Check out my Langtang Valley Trek: 6, 7 and 8 Day Itinerary, including costs, what to pack, permits, guide rules, trekking solo and more!
How to Get from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi
To get from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, you can either take an AC/Deluxe bus, shared jeep or private jeep. There are no tourist buses that go to Syabrubesi, but the Deluxe buses are the second best Nepali buses.
The buses leave from Machhapokhari in Kathmandu which is located north of Thamel. Machhapokhari is pretty busy, even in the mornings, so once you get there, it may seem a little overwhelming.
The shared jeeps can get crowded, while the private jeep is the fastest and most comfortable option.
If you don’t want to get a private jeep, then it is better to take the bus. So, if you are deciding between bus or shared jeep, the buses tend to be more comfortable in Nepal.
For the private jeep, you can split the cost with your friends or look for other people to share the jeep with. This way, the jeep won’t be too crowded and you can also split the costs.
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Kathmandu to Syabrubesi Bus
Kathmandu to Syabrubesi Bus Time
The buses leave between 6-8 am from Machhapokhari in Kathmandu to Syabrubesi. It takes around 8 hours by bus.
The distance is 120 km from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, but it takes around 8 hours as the bus goes on a long route through Naubise and Kalleri.
Kathmandu to Syabrubesi Bus Ticket Price
The bus ticket costs between Rs. 780-960 from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi.
The buses are AC/Deluxe type buses. There are no tourist buses going to Syabrubesi, but the AC/Deluxe buses are considered as the second best option for buses in Nepal.
How to Buy the Bus Ticket to Syabrubesi
If it’s your first time in Nepal, the easiest way to buy the ticket to Syabrubesi is through travel agents in Thamel. You can also ask at your hotel as usually they are also able to arrange bus tickets.
- At a travel agency in Thamel
- Through your hotel
- Directly at the ticket counters in Machhapokhari, Kathmandu
- Online on Bussewa
If you are staying in Thamel, you can take a taxi (car) or motorbike taxi to Machhapokhari with Pathao (Pathao on the Apple Store, Pathao on Google Play) for the best taxi prices. The cost is about Rs. 400 for a taxi and Rs. 100 for motorbike taxi from Thamel to Machhapokhari.
AC/Deluxe Buses in Nepal
The best, safest and most comfortable buses in Nepal are the tourist buses.
There are no tourist buses operating between Kathmandu and Syabrubesi, and the only buses are AC/Deluxe buses.
Ac/Deluxe buses are the second best option in Nepal, so even though it is not the most comfortable, it is not like taking a local bus.
Kathmandu to Syabrubesi Jeep
It is also possible to take a jeep to Syabrubesi. You can take a shared jeep or hire a private jeep.
The shared jeeps generally tend to get very crowded in Nepal with many people in one car. Thus, if you are considering taking a jeep, it is better to hire a private jeep and split the costs with your friends or look for a few people to share the jeep with.
Kathmandu to Syabrubesi Jeep Time
The private jeep takes around 5 hours from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi and it is the fastest way to get there.
The shared jeeps take a bit longer because it makes more stops and takes longer breaks as there are more passengers than in a private jeep.
Kathmandu to Syabrubesi Jeep Cost
The private jeeps from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi costs around Rs. 13,000 (USD 100).
If you are a foreigner booking a private jeep, the prices tend to be a bit more expensive, around USD 150-200. So, if you are booking a private jeep and want to save money, try to bargain the price closer to USD 100. To be honest, foreigners might not be able to get the lower price for the jeep, but you should still try.
Bus vs Jeep in Nepal: Which One is Better for You?
Bus vs jeeps: actually it depends! The private jeep is the most comfortable option. But if you want to save money and deciding between the bus or shared jeeps, then you should go for the bus.
The bus is generally more comfortable than the shared jeep. This is due to that the shared jeeps can get crammed and crowded with passengers.
The bus is a bit more comfortable because you have your own seat at least. If you take the bus, make sure to get a seat in the front as it gets very bumpy towards the back of the bus.
If you go for the private jeep, you can split the cost with friends or try to find other travellers to share the jeep with. This way, the jeep will only be shared by a few people and you can split the cost as well.
Getting the Langtang Valley National Park Permit
If you are travelling to Syabrubesi, then you are most likely going there to start trekking in Langtang. You need to get the Langtang National Park Permit for Langtang, Gosaikunda and Helambu.
The buses and jeeps make a stop in Dhunche (about 1 hour from Syabrubesi) where everyone can buy their permit. All the buses and jeep stop in Dhunche and this is where most people buy their permit.
This makes it very easy to get the permit and you don’t have to worry about getting the permit in Kathmandu.
The permit costs Rs. 3,000 for foreign nationals, Rs. 100 for Nepali citizens and Rs. 1,500 for SAARC. For the permit, you just need to have a copy of your passport (no need for passport photos). You can even just have a digital copy of your passport to show it and they will accept that too.
Hotels in Syabrubesi
Most of the hotels in Syabrubesi are not available to book online but you can just book a room in person after you arrive.
The rooms cost around Rs. 1,000 that comes with private bathroom and hot water. If you want to do some pre-planning, you can check the reviews on google maps for some of the better rated hotels.
There are many hotels in Syabrubesi so you will be able to find a hotel on the spot, you don’t have to worry about all the places being sold out. Actually, Syabrubesi is like a small town full of hotels, as it caters to the trekkers starting or finishing trekking in Langtang.
Nepal Trekking Guide
Still deciding where to go trekking? Check out my itineraries and posts about trekking in Nepal:
Nepal Transport Guide
Looking for information on how to get to other destinations in Nepal? Check out my Nepal transport guides:
- How to Get from Pokhara to Kathmandu
- How to Get from Kathmandu to Pokhara
- How to Get from Pokhara to Chitwan
- How to Get from Chitwan to Pokhara
- How to Get from Kathmandu to Chitwan
- How to Get from Chitwan to Kathmandu
- How to Get from Kathmandu to Besisahar
- How to Get to Bardia National Park
- How to Get to Bandipur
- How to Get to Tansen (Palpa)
- How to Get to Janakpur
- How to Get to Lumbini
- How to Get to Gorkha
- How to Get to the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve
FAQs: Kathmandu to Syabrubesi
How far is Kathmandu from Syabrubesi?
Syabrubesi is 120 km from Kathmandu and it takes around 8 hours by bus and 5 hours by private jeep to get there.
What is the altitude of Syabrubesi, Nepal?
The altitude of Syabrubesi is 1,430 meters (4,690 ft).
How to reach Langtang National Park from Kathmandu?
To reach Langtang National Park from Kathmandu, you can either take a bus, shared jeep or private jeep to Syabrubesi.
Once you reach Syabrubesi, the trekking trail to Langtang starts from there and it takes 2 days of trek to reach Langtang Village.
Is Langtang Valley Trek worth it?
Yes, the Langtang Valley Trek is definitely worth it. The trek itself is not too difficult and is good for beginners. However, you should watch out for altitude sickness as many people get sick once they reach Langtang Village.
If you start to feel unwell during the trek, make sure to keep an eye on your symptoms and descend to lower altitude if you start to have altitude sickness.
Which month is best for Langtang Trek?
The best time for the Langtang Trek is between October to mid-December and from mid-February to May.
Autumn and Spring are generally the best times to trek in Nepal, thus those are the best times to trek in Langtang too. During Autumn and Spring, the weather is the best for trekking and you get some of the best views as well.
Conclusion
Syabrubesi is the starting point for the Langtang Valley Trek or Gosaikunda, thus it is well connected to Kathmandu and there are many buses and jeeps going to Syabrubesi every day.
Syabrubesi is 120 km from Kathmandu and it takes around 8 hours by bus, and 5 hours by private jeep. The buses leave every day between 6-8 am from Machhapokhari.
The bus ticket costs between Rs. 780-960, while a private jeep costs around Rs. 13,000 (USD 100)
