Top 5 best scooter rentals in Kathmandu

Kathmandu rewards anyone willing to leave the sidewalk. Weave a scooter through the lanes near Boudhanath Stupa at sunrise, when the monks are still circling the dome, or climb up to Swayambhunath before the tour buses arrive and the whole valley opens up beneath you. On two wheels the city stops being a traffic jam to survive and becomes a place you can actually explore — one alley, one temple courtyard, one viewpoint at a time.

Kathmandu Valley was built for this. The old town's lanes are narrow, the traffic is dense and slow-moving, and the temple towns that make the valley famous — Patan, Bhaktapur, Boudha, Pashupatinath — sit just a short ride apart rather than a proper drive. A car gets stuck; a scooter slips through, parks anywhere, and turns a full day of logistics into a couple of unhurried hours. It also opens up half-day escapes to the hills above the valley without committing to a full trekking or motorbike itinerary.

Top 10 things to see in Kathmandu by scooter

1. Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) — a hilltop Buddhist stupa with panoramic views over the whole valley, just a short ride from the old city.
2. Boudhanath Stupa — one of the largest stupas in the world, ringed by monasteries and streets strung with Tibetan prayer flags.
3. Pashupatinath Temple — a major Hindu temple complex on the Bagmati River, with easy access on the east side of town.
4. Kathmandu Durbar Square — the old royal palace complex and a UNESCO site right in the city centre.
5. Patan Durbar Square — Newar architecture and quiet courtyards across the river in Lalitpur, a quick ride south.
6. Bhaktapur Durbar Square — the best-preserved medieval city square in the valley, about 40–60 minutes out.
7. Nagarkot — a hill-station viewpoint famous for sunrise over the Himalayan range, reached by a winding ride of around an hour and a half.
8. Chandragiri Hills — a ridge above the valley with a cable car and wide mountain panoramas.
9. Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park — forested hills north of the city, good for a cooler ride and a short hike.
10. Dakshinkali Temple — a hillside Kali temple south of the city, reached by a scenic countryside road away from valley traffic.

What do you need to rent a scooter in Kathmandu?

Rental shops expect a valid motorcycle or scooter licence from your home country, and it's worth carrying an International Driving Permit alongside it. Riders are generally expected to be adults, 18 or over. A deposit is standard practice — most often the shop holds your passport for the rental period, sometimes alongside a photocopy and a cash deposit instead.

How much does it cost to rent a scooter in Kathmandu?

A standard 100–125cc scooter runs about 700–900 NPR per day in low season and 1000–1500 NPR per day in high season. Larger-CC bikes, for riders wanting more power on the mountain roads, go from around 1500 NPR per day upward.

• Prices climb from October to December, when clear mountain views and the Dashain and Tihar festivals bring the most visitors.
• They drop during the June–August monsoon and again in the January–February winter lull, when the valley is quieter.

When to book a rental scooter in Kathmandu?

October and November are the busiest months on the road, with March and April a close second — both sit in the dry, clear-sky window and it pays to book ahead. If you'd rather ride with fewer crowds and don't mind the odd shower, June to August is quieter and cheaper, though monsoon rain can slow the highways out of the valley.

Local traffic rules in Kathmandu

Nepal drives on the left, so overtake on the right. Helmets are compulsory for both rider and passenger. Enforcement on drink-driving is zero-tolerance, with roadside breath testing common at night in Kathmandu, so it's simply not worth the risk. Speed limits sit around 40 km/h in the city, though the state of the road is usually the real limit on how fast you can go. Keep your licence, the bike's registration and your rental paperwork on you at all times — checkpoints on the roads out of the city stop foreign riders routinely.

Types of scooters available

On our website you can rent the following types of scooters: classic scooter, Vespa, moped, motoroller, motoscooter, with a sidecar, with automatic or manual gears, three-wheeled scooters, large, maxi-scooter, touring, scooters with a windscreen and a roof, underbones, electric scooters.

Models of scooters available

On our website you can hire scooters from the following manufacturers: Adly, Aeon, Aprilia, Piaggio, Bajaj, Benelli, Beta, BMW, Derbi, Gilera, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, LML, Malaguti, Peugeot, PGO, Suzuki, SYM, TVS, Vespa, Yamaha.

Which insurance is provided with my rental scooter?

Usually basic third-party insurance is included in the rental price. If you wish to have more protection you can purchase additional CDW insurance, which limits your risk to the amount of your deposit. If you wish to rent a scooter without a deposit and with zero risk, you will need to add full insurance to your reservation.

Extra services available

When you make an online scooter reservation you can also order the following extra services and equipment: integral helmet, GPS navigation, intercom, unlimited mileage, top case, side cases, boots, jacket, gloves, individual guide or tour, map, full insurance, one-way rental, delivery to your hotel, delivery to your address, delivery to the arrival point of your choice.

Why use BikesBooking.com?

• Find the best deals for scooter hire;
• Compare prices of scooter rental companies;
• Read reviews of previous customers;
• Reserve a scooter online with the Best Price Guarantee!

Most of our local moped rental companies have many years of experience and will provide you with a well-kept scooter, helmet, lock, top case, GPS, insurance and friendly service. The number of companies we work with is increasing every day, so if you want to rent a scooter, just use the search form at the top of the page. Have a nice trip!