Dashain 2083 Advance Bus Booking: Opening Date, New Rules & How to Book Online

Last updated: Wednesday, 30 September 2026 (Ashoj 14, 2083). We will update this page as soon as the booking date is officially announced.

Every year, the question starts in September: when will Dashain bus tickets open? This year the answer has taken longer than usual. Weeks of floods and landslides have damaged highways across the country, and the Department of Transport Management (DoTM) has held off on opening advance booking until it is sure the roads can safely carry the festival crowd.

The good news is that the main highways out of Kathmandu reopened on 29 September, the weather is clearing, and the government has already set out the rules for festival travel this year. Here is everything you need to know about Dashain 2083 advance bus booking: when it is expected to open, what has changed, what you should pay, and how to book online without the usual stress.

When Does Dashain 2083 Advance Bus Booking Open?

As of 30 September, the DoTM has not announced an official opening date. According to The Kathmandu Post's report on Dashain bookings, the department expects to decide within days, now that the weather is improving and roads are being repaired. Reports from Peoples' Review suggest bookings are likely to open after Ashoj 15–16 (1–2 October).

The Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs (FNNTE) will announce the exact start date and time separately, once roads are confirmed safe. As the federation's chair Punya Prasad Sitaula put it, the priority right now is making sure passengers can actually reach home safely.

Key Dashain 2083 Dates to Plan Around

The heaviest outbound rush usually builds in the days before Fulpati, so the week of 12–16 October is when seats disappear fastest. The return rush comes right after Kojagrat Purnima, from around 26 October.

What's New This Year: The 15-Point Rules for Festival Travel

On 23 September, the DoTM issued a 15-point directive to make Dashain, Tihar and Chhath travel safer and fairer. These are the rules that matter most to you as a passenger:

- Online booking first. Operators have been told to arrange online ticket booking as far as possible.

- Your ID will be recorded. Buses must travel with a passenger list that includes each traveller's identifying details, so keep your citizenship card, national ID, licence or passport handy when you book and when you board.

- Only official counters and staff. Tickets may only be sold at authorised counters or by staff wearing uniforms and ID cards. Unauthorised roadside ticket sellers are banned.

- Two drivers on long routes. Long-distance buses must carry at least two drivers who take turns at the wheel. Earlier reports put the threshold at routes longer than 250 km.

- Driver health and alcohol checks. Drivers will be tested at the main entry and exit points of the Kathmandu Valley before departure.

- Mechanical inspections. Long-distance vehicles must pass a safety check before setting off.

- No under-18 staff. Nobody under 18 may work as a driver or conductor.

- Extra vehicles. Operators must add vehicles to meet the festival demand.

- Meal stops only at approved places. Buses may only stop to eat at designated locations.

The government is also relaxing route permits during the festival, so buses that normally run inside the valley can be used on long-distance routes to add seats.

Will Bus Fares Go Up for Dashain?

They are not supposed to. The federation has asked all operators to charge the existing approved fares during the festival, even though fuel prices have risen. Those approved fares already include the government's April 2026 revision, when passenger fares went up by around 16.7 percent after the fuel price hike. The DoTM has also said operators cannot charge above government-fixed rates, and those who overcharge will face action.

So the fare you pay this Dashain should match the regular approved rate for your route and bus type, not a special festival price.

To make this easier, 13 passenger assistance desks will be set up across the Kathmandu Valley, displaying official fare lists. If you are overcharged, you can report it at one of these desks or to the police on 100.

How Many People Will Travel?

Normally, around 2 million people leave the Kathmandu Valley during Dashain. This year, the transport federation expects closer to 1.6 million because of the flood damage, while the DoTM is still planning for numbers similar to past years. Either way, seats on popular routes will go quickly once booking opens.

How to Book Your Dashain Bus Ticket Online

Online booking is the easiest way to avoid queues at the bus park and the risk of buying from an unauthorised seller. The process is simple:

1. Search your route and date. Enter where you're travelling from and to, and your preferred date.

2. Compare buses. Check departure times, bus type (deluxe, AC, sofa seat or tourist coach) and the fare shown.

3. Choose your seat. Pick your seat from the live seat map.

4. Enter passenger details. Add the name and ID details for every traveller, since the passenger list is required this year.

5. Pay online. Use a digital wallet or mobile banking.

6. Save your e-ticket. Keep the SMS or email confirmation, and take a screenshot in case you lose signal on the road.

If you are travelling on popular corridors such as Kathmandu to Pokhara or Kathmandu to Chitwan, book the day bookings open. Our guide to the best bus booking app in Nepal explains what to look for in a booking platform.

Smart Tips for Booking Dashain Bus Tickets

Book your return ticket at the same time. Everyone focuses on getting home, then panics about coming back. The return rush after Kojagrat Purnima is almost as heavy.

Travel a day or two before the peak. If your leave allows, leaving on 12 or 13 October instead of 16 October means easier seats and calmer roads.

Choose day buses where you can. Several damaged stretches, including Krishnabhir on the Prithvi Highway and parts of the BP Highway, have had night-travel restrictions after the recent rain. Check our latest road status update before you travel.

Only buy from official sellers. Avoid anyone selling tickets on the street or through unofficial WhatsApp groups. Always ask for a proper ticket or e-ticket.

Carry your ID. With passenger details now required, travelling without identification could cause problems at checkpoints.

Know your fare. Check the official fare for your route before you pay, especially if you are booking at a counter.

For more ideas on planning around the rush, our Dashain bus rush guide covers which routes fill up first, and if you're planning a trip after Tika, see our list of short trips between Dashain and Tihar.

Explore Nepal with GoMyGo

Dashain is the one journey most Nepalis never miss, and this year, after a difficult monsoon, getting home safely matters more than ever. A confirmed seat, a fair fare and a clear e-ticket take a lot of the stress out of the trip.

You can compare routes, bus types and live seat availability across the GoMyGo app, available on Android and iOS, and the GoMyGo website, and book both your outward and return journeys as soon as bookings open.

Payment is handled through the options most travellers to and within Nepal already use — eSewa, Khalti, IME Pay, fonePay and ConnectIPS for domestic users, Indian UPI and PayPal for visitors. That matters on a corridor that carries a large share of Indian and international travellers alongside domestic passengers.

Every booking comes with instant confirmation by email and SMS, and 24/7 support is available on WhatsApp at +977-9704666777 if your plans change on the way.

Final Words

This year's Dashain booking has been slower than usual, and for good reason. The roads needed to be made safe first. Once the date is announced, don't wait: book early, book both ways, carry your ID and pay only the official fare. A little planning now means your Dashain begins at home with your family, not in a queue at Gongabu. Shubha Vijaya Dashami.