Tipping in Nepal
Tipping expectedService Breakdown
Notes by Service
10% is standard in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Rs 100–300 per night for housekeeping; Rs 50–100 per bag.
Round up the fare.
10% is appreciated.
A small tip is appreciated.
A small tip is appreciated.
$15–20 USD per day for trek guides; $10–15 per day for porters.
A small tip is appreciated.
About Tipping in Nepal
Tipping is expected and ethically important in Nepal's trekking industry, where guides and porters work at high altitude in demanding physical conditions and depend on gratuities as a significant part of their income. At restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara, 10% is the standard.
Tip trekking guides and porters at the end of each trek (see below), at sit-down restaurants (10%), with taxi drivers (rounding up), hotel staff, and cultural tour guides in the Kathmandu Valley. For rafting, paragliding, and adventure operators, a tip for the crew is expected.
For trekking, the standard is approximately $15–20 USD per day for a lead guide and $10–15 per day for an assistant guide or porter — hand it directly at the end of the trek. USD and Indian rupees are both accepted; Nepali rupees work equally. At restaurants, leave cash on the table or ask for the total including a 10% tip.
Nepal's trekking economy is one of the most ethically scrutinised in adventure tourism. Porter welfare — ensuring fair wages, adequate equipment, and safe carry limits — is a long-standing issue; the International Porter Protection Group sets standards that reputable operators follow. A generous tip acknowledges that the quality of a Himalayan trek is fundamentally built on the expertise and physical labour of local staff, not just the mountain itself.