How to Get from Salleri to Kathmandu by Bus or Jeep
Salleri is an alternative start/end point to the Everest Base Camp trek if you want to travel by road, and avoid the Lukla flight. If you plan to go by road, then you’ll finish the trek in Surke (near Lukla). From Surke, you can take a jeep to Salleri, and then another jeep from Salleri to Kathmandu.
I also trekked EBC without the Lukla flights, and traveled between Kathmandu-Salleri-Surke by road both ways (when I started the trek, and also when I finished it). To be honest, the jeep drive is pretty tiring, and I only chose the road trip over the flights to reduce my EBC costs. Looking back, going by road on the way to EBC is manageable, but it is totally exhausting on the way back. If you are very tired after you finish EBC, then it’s better to take a flight back from Lukla than to suffer taking the jeep back all the way to Kathmandu.
EBC Trek Essentials:
🏔️ Insurance: World Nomads
⚡️ Charging: Power Bank
💧 Drinking Water: Water Filter Bottle
How to Get from Salleri to Kathmandu
Salleri to Kathmandu Distance
Salleri is 260 km from Kathmandu, and it takes around 10-12 hours by road. It takes around the same time for both the bus and the jeep. I thought it’s faster by jeep, but it ended up taking around the same time as the bus.
Salleri to Kathmandu Bus
Once you arrive in Salleri, the easiest way to get your ticket is either through your hotel or at the bus ticket counter.
The buses operating between Salleri and Kathmandu is like a Deluxe type of bus. There are no tourist buses with sofa seats on this route. Nevertheless, the buses still tend to be more comfortable than travelling by jeep.
There are usually 2 buses from Salleri to Kathmandu every day, leaving between 5-6 am in the morning.
Make sure to get a seat in the front row seats of the bus as the bus goes through a mountainous, bumpy road. The further back you sit, the more uncomfortable the bus journey feels.
Salleri to Kathmandu Bus Ticket Price
The bus ticket from Salleri to Kathmandu costs Rs. 1,500. Usually, you can just get the ticket the day before your trip, so there is no need to organize buying the ticket a long time ahead.
Salleri to Kathmandu Jeep
Getting from Salleri to Kathmandu by jeep takes 10-11 hours, the same as if you were travelling by bus. The jeeps can get a bit crowded, and as the jeeps take the same time as the bus, people usually take the bus instead.
You can get the jeep tickets through your hotel or through the ticket counter in Salleri. Hotel managers are usually very helpful in Nepal so if you ask them to help you get a ticket to Kathmandu, they will be able to get it for you.
Salleri to Kathmandu Jeep Ticket Price
The price of the jeep ticket is Rs. 1,900-2,200. The jeeps leave early morning around 5-6 am.
The jeeps are usually a little bit less comfortable as it can get crowded and you don’t have much space or legroom. For this reason, if you are deciding between the bus or jeep, the bus is usually a better option to choose.
How to Buy the Bus/Jeep Ticket from Salleri to Kathmandu?
The best way is to buy the bus ticket at the ticket counter in Salleri or to ask at your hotel to arrange a ticket for you.
You can buy the ticket once you arrive in Salleri and you will get a seat for the bus/jeep the next day.
Is it Faster to Go by Bus or Jeep?
When going from Salleri to Kathmandu, the buses and jeeps take around the same.
At first, I thought that the jeep would be faster but it is not the case. The jeeps and buses take around the same time to get from Salleri to Kathmandu.
If you want a slightly more comfortable journey, it is better to go by bus as the jeeps are usually more crowded.
Bus vs Jeep: Which One is Better for You?
- Jeep: can get more crowded, less room for legs
- Bus: more comfortable, have your “own seat”
The bus and the jeep tend to take the same amount of time to reach Kathmandu to Salleri. I initially thought that the jeep would be faster but it takes the same amount of time as the bus.
The bus in general is more comfortable than the jeep. The jeep can get very crowded with little space for legs. On the other hand, the bus is slightly more comfortable, and you have your “own seat”.
For these reasons, I recommend taking the bus if you have the choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Salleri from Kathmandu by road?
Salleri is 260 km from Kathmandu by road and there are buses and jeeps that operate between Salleri and Kathmandu daily.
How long does it take to get from Salleri to Kathmandu?
It takes about 10-11 hours to get from Salleri to Kathmandu both by the bus or jeep. One would think that the jeeps are faster but due to the stops and breaks during the trip, the time is usually the same for the bus and the jeeps.
How much is the jeep to Salleri?
The jeep from Kathmandu to Salleri costs between Rs. 1,900-2,000. The jeeps leave from Chabahil in Kathmandu around 5-6 am in the morning.
How to reach Salleri from Kathmandu?
To get from Kathmandu to Salleri you can either go by bus or jeep.
Both the jeep and bus leave from Chabahil (Kathmandu) and take around 10-11 hours to get to Salleri. If you are not sure whether to take the jeep or bus, the bus tends to be little bit more comfortable.
There are ticket counters in Chabahil where you can buy the bus/jeep ticket 1-2 days ahead of travel. The price of the bus ticket is Rs. 1,500, and the jeep ticket costs Rs. 1,900-2,200.
What is the altitude of Salleri?
The altitude of Salleri is 1,800 meters.
How much is the jeep from Salleri to Kathmandu?
The price of the jeep ticket is Rs. 1,900-2,200. The jeeps leave early morning around 5-6 am.
How much is the bus from Salleri to Kathmandu?
The bus ticket from Salleri to Kathmandu costs Rs. 1,500.
Usually, you can just get the ticket the day before your trip, so there is no need to organize buying the ticket a long time ahead.
Is Nepal close to India or China?
Nepal is a landlocked country and it is located between India and China. Nepal is bordered by Chine from the north, while India is on its east, west and south of Nepal.
Conclusion
Salleri is a popular starting point to the Everest Base Camp Trek for those not flying into Lukla. Alternatively, if you are planning the Pikey Peak Trek, then Salleri or Phaplu is where you would normally finish your trek.
Kathmandu is 260 km from Salleri and you can either travel to Kathmandu by bus or jeep. The jeeps and buses leave around 5-6 am in the morning from Salleri and reach Kathmandu in 10-11 hours.
The price of the bus ticket is Rs. 1,500, and the jeep ticket costs Rs. 1,900-2,200 from Salleri to Kathmandu.
Both the buses and jeeps take around the same time to get from Salleri to Kathmandu. If you are not sure whether to take the bus or jeeps, it is better to take the bus as it is more comfortable than the jeep.
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