hiring equipment in KTM

[Sydneybiker]

Hey there. We are heading to KTM in a couple weeks time to trek the EBC trail. Wondered if it was posible to hire sleeping bags etc in KTM and how much this costs?. Also any recs for a good hotel while in KTM would be great
Many thanks

[yakshaver]

Sydneybiker,
assuming you are from Sydney, what day do you actually leave the NSW capital?
Secondly, if you are KTM on Saturday 10 Dec, maybe we have a beer at Rum Doodle... I am doing the AC with a couple of side trips.

Thirdly, yes you can rent sleeping bags in Thamel. About 1-2 US per day. You have to be careful though, as they can fall into one of two categories: a) they are clean but have been washed inappropriately and the down has lost it's loft - no good in December when it will be mightily cold. b) they are not washed, therefore they are dirty. Maybe in this case you can use a sleeping-bag liner... There is the third possibility that they may be quite ok. But there is no guarantee. I think for me the two items which I must own are my boots and my sleeping bag. Still, you can hire not just sleeping bags, but also down jackets (they are in much better shape than the bags usually, and I strongly recommend you have them with you. Else you won't last for 5 minutes outside beyond Namche when you are not mooving...

Now for hotels... Well it depends on what you mean by "a good hotel"... All of the ones below are good value for money, and "good hotels". They are in different price ranges, and it depends what you want - the two more expensive ones are really amazing, but they are more expensive therefore you won't mix with the "average trekker/backpacker". And they are not in Thamel.
Below are some links, you can email them, ask them for the price (they usually discount their web price for December), and when you've settled for one, tell them the arrival date. They will wait for you at the airport and the transfers should be included in the price. Clarify this at the negotiation phase, but it is usually the norm.

Upper brackett hotels:
http://www.hotelmalla.com/ (close to Thamel - 5-10 minutes walk)
http://www.dwarikas.com/ (about 5 minutes taxi drive to Thamel, or 20 mins walk)

Lower priced hotels (all these are in Thamel or fringes):
http://www.catmando.com/utse/aboututse.htm
http://www.visitnepal.com/hotelnorling/
http://www.hotelcourtyard.com/
http://www.visitnepal.com/ktmpeacegh/
http://www.ktmgh.com/

Also if you need a good guide, post me a private message.

[Sharon]

http://nepallink.com/norbulinka/
I have stayed here on 3 trips. The staff are wonderful, location quiet but very close to Thamel worth giving it a try.