Lokta paper is made from the inner bark of a Daphne shrub that grows wild in the Himalayan hills above 2,000 metres. Nepal has made paper this way for over a thousand years - historically used for royal decrees and religious manuscripts, because unlike ordinary wood-pulp paper, it resists insects and doesn't easily tear, mildew or rot. Today it's the paper behind most of the notebooks, wrapping paper and stationery sold across Nepal as an eco-friendly, tree-free product.
A hands-on Lokta paper session is quiet, tactile, and unlike anything else on this list - closer to a slow craft lesson than an active workshop, and one of the more directly community-supporting experiences you can book in the valley.
Lokta bark is harvested under a regrowth-based, permit-controlled system across the middle hills of Nepal - the shrub regrows after careful cutting, which is part of why the industry has remained sustainable across generations rather than depleting the resource. The harvested bark is cooked into a pulp, then processed either in the villages where it's harvested or shipped down to finishing workshops in the Kathmandu Valley, where it's formed into sheets, dyed, and turned into finished paper products. UNICEF and other development partners helped revive rural Lokta papermaking as a livelihood in the late 20th century, and it now supports both remote hill cooperatives and urban paper-finishing workshops in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.
A typical hands-on session takes you through the finishing stage of the process: pulling wet pulp onto a mesh frame, spreading it evenly, and setting it to dry in the sun - the same method used in the hill villages, just compressed into a demonstration you can do yourself in an afternoon. Most workshops then have you bind your own small notebook from finished, pre-dried sheets, sometimes adding a simple hand-stamped design to personalise it.
Because Lokta paper needs time to fully dry, the sheet you personally pull usually isn't the one that ends up in your finished notebook - you'll bind one made earlier that day or the day before, which is a normal and expected part of the process rather than something to be concerned about.
Sessions generally run 2 to 2.5 hours and are well suited to small groups - some operators run them specifically for team or family groups of up to about 20 people at once. Pricing is generally modest compared to other craft workshops on this list, and most sessions include all materials plus your finished, bound notebook to take home. Many workshops also open onto a small display and sales area afterward, where you can browse a wider range of finished Lokta paper products with no obligation to buy.
Bhaktapur has several working paper factories open to visitors, often within easy walking distance of Pottery Square, which makes combining the two crafts in a single Bhaktapur day straightforward. Kathmandu also has finishing workshops, notably around Kapan in the north of the city, closer to Boudhanath.
In Bhaktapur, this pairs naturally with pottery making, since both crafts operate within the same walkable heritage city. If you're doing it in Kathmandu near Boudhanath, consider combining it with a sound healing session, since several studios operate in the same area around the stupa.
Is Lokta paper actually eco-friendly?
Yes. It's made from a fast-regrowing shrub harvested under permit rather than from cut-down trees, uses no harsh bleaching chemicals in traditional production, and the whole industry is built around sustainable rural livelihoods rather than industrial pulping.
How long does a Lokta paper making workshop take?
Typically 2 to 2.5 hours, covering the sheet-pulling process and binding a finished notebook from pre-dried paper.
Can I take my own paper home the same day?
The specific sheet you personally make needs time to dry and usually won't be ready the same day. Most workshops solve this by having you bind a notebook from sheets made earlier, so you still leave with a genuine handmade item.
Where is the best place to do Lokta paper making, Kathmandu or Bhaktapur?
Bhaktapur is the more convenient choice if you're also visiting Pottery Square, since several paper workshops sit within walking distance. Kathmandu's workshops, mainly around Kapan, are a better fit if you're staying central and want to combine it with a Boudhanath visit.
Tell us your travel dates and group size. We'll confirm availability with a trusted local artisan and build it into your Kathmandu Valley itinerary.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd.
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977 98510 38 908
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