Your first night bus in Nepal

The night bus is the cheapest way to cross Nepal and the least comfortable. Both facts are worth knowing before you commit.

Choose your seat deliberately. The rear axle amplifies every pothole, and Nepali roads have many. Seats in the middle, over neither axle, are the smoothest. Avoid the very back row entirely.

The bus will be cold. Long-distance buses run the air conditioning hard, and mountain nights are genuinely cold. Carry a layer even in summer.

Rest stops are infrequent and brief. There will usually be one long halt around midnight and short stops otherwise. Use every one.

Motion sickness is common. The roads climb and turn continuously. If you are susceptible, take medication before boarding rather than after symptoms start, sit forward, and avoid reading. If you want to pass the time, listen to something instead.

Keep valuables on your body. Not in the overhead rack, not in the luggage hold.

Arrival is early. Night buses often reach their destination between four and six in the morning, before guesthouses open. Plan for a few hours of waiting, or book somewhere that expects an early arrival.