Taking a Taxi from Kathmandu Airport to Thamel
A short Nepali dialogue showing how to refuse the inflated airport-taxi price and counter-offer your way to a fair fare into Thamel.
The situation
You've just walked out of the Tribhuvan International Airport arrivals hall. A row of taxi drivers approaches; one quotes 1,800 NPR to Thamel. The honest fare is around 700–900 NPR. This is the conversation that lands you somewhere in the middle without burning bridges.
The dialogue
Driver
Taxi, sir? Thamel? Eighteen hundred.
, ? ? ।
Taxi, sir? Thamel? Aṭhāra say.
Tourist
Too expensive. Please use the meter.
। , ।
Dherai mahango chha. Miṭar chalāunus, kripayā.
Driver
Meter is broken. Fifteen hundred — last price.
। — ।
Miṭar bigrieko chha. Pandhra say — antim.
Tourist
Seven hundred. The fixed airport rate is seven to nine hundred.
। ।
Sāt say. Airport-ko tokieko rate sāt dekhi nau say ho.
Driver
Brother, fuel is expensive. One thousand?
, । ?
Dai, tel mahango chha. Ek hajār?
Tourist
Okay, one thousand. To Thamel Chowk, please.
, । ।
Ṭhīk chha, ek hajār. Thamel Chowk-samma jānuhos.
Comprehension check
Three quick questions to test what you heard. No pressure, no streaks.
Cultural notes
The driver claiming the meter is broken is the #1 Kathmandu airport scam — never accept 1,500+ rates. The airport-fixed rate to Thamel is ~700–900 NPR.
Walking 100m past the official taxi stand to a street taxi often drops the opening quote by 30–40%.
Pathao and inDrive (ride-hailing apps) work from the airport and skip the bargain entirely — usually 600–800 NPR with full GPS tracking.
Confirm 'Thamel Chowk' as the drop point — drivers occasionally stop at the edge of Thamel and ask for more to enter the pedestrian zone.
Phrases from this dialogue
Each phrase as a stand-alone reference — open for the full pronunciation and cultural context.
Photo: Unsplash
मिटर चलाउनुस्, कृपया
Please use the meter
Miṭar chalāunus, kripayā
Photo: Unsplash
यो धेरै महँगो छ
That's too expensive
Yo dherai mahango chha
Photo: Unsplash
तपाईंले भन्नुभएको मूल्य X हो, Y होइन
The price you told me was X, not Y
Tapãĩle bhannubhayeko mūlya X ho, Y hoina
Photo: Unsplash
यो कति हो?
How much does it cost?
Yo kati ho?