Nepal flights - cheap international flight tickets and hacker fares to Kathmandu
Flights to Kathmandu in Nepal. Book plane tickets to Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathamndu.

Nepal is open to international tourism

Nepal is open to foreign travelers, under certain conditions. Many trekking routes have been opened, and trekking and mountaineering permit issuances have been resumed.

Vaccinated visitors arriving in Nepal by air or land must present a vaccination certificate, a hotel booking, and travel insurance; quarantine is no longer required. They can acquire a visa before or upon arrival.

Unvaccinated visitors and not fully vaccinated travelers must present a negative Covid test report and will have to quarantine for 10 days in the government-approved hotel. They have to obtain visas from Nepal’s embassies in their home countries, visa on arrival is not available.

Commercial flights to and from Nepal are gradually being resumed. Transit at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is permitted.

Arriving in Kathmandu

  • If you are flying to Kathmandu from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airportTribhuvan International Airport KTM — the primary international gateway to Nepal. The airport is located in the town of Gauchar, approximately 6 km east of the Kathmandu city center. It sits at an elevation of 1,400 meters above sea level, surrounded by the Himalayan mountain range. Ground transportation options such as taxis, buses and rental cars are readily available outside the airport terminal.

    These are also the best (and the cheapest) airports to fly into Kathmandu. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce – with decreased airfare as a result.
  • Once in Kathmandu, take advantage of frequent intercity flights operated by domestic airlines such as Nepal Airlines, Buddha Air, Shree Airlines, and Himalaya Airlines (plus smaller airlines — Yeti Airlines, Saurya Airlines, Tara Air, Summit Air, Sita Air, and Yasodhara Air). Those in-country carriers typically offer lower fares, operate from smaller airports located closer to city centers (you save on ground transportation), and provide flexible schedules – with a wide range of departure times.
  • Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Kathmandu can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of Air Arabia, Batik Air, Flydubai, Go First, Indigo, Jazeera Airways, and Salamair. If you have a layover in Kathmandu and plan to fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries, these budget airlines are an excellent way to save money. However, the “no-frills” carrier may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support. You may not even get to choose your seats, unless you pay extra.

Airports of Kathmandu

Best airports to fly into Kathmandu: Tribhuvan International Airport  (KTM)
Kathmandu has one international airport – Tribhuvan International Airport KTM, located in the town of Gauchar, approximately 6 km east of the Kathmandu city center. The airport is surrounded by the Himalayan mountain range and is situated at an elevation of 1,400 meters above sea level.
Things to know before flying to Kathmandu
Airlines flying to KathmanduAir Arabia, Air China, Air India, Batik Air, Bhutan Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Buddha Air, Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines, Drukair, Emirates, Flydubai, Go First, Himalaya Airlines, Indigo, Jazeera Airways, KLM, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Nepal Airlines, NovAir, Qatar Airways, Salamair, Shree Airlines, Simrik Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, ThaiSmile, Turkish Airlines, Vistara, Yeti Airlines
Airlines of NepalNepal Airlines, Buddha Air, Himalaya Airlines, Shree Airlines, Yeti Airlines, Saurya Airlines, Tara Air, Summit Air, Sita Air, Simrik Air, Guna Airlines, Yasodhara Air
Airports in KathmanduTribhuvan International Airport (KTM)
Regular price (roundtrip)✈ €500 – €800 (from Europe)
✈ $900 – $1200 (from USA)
Flight hacks 40% — 80% off regular fare
Airline discountsDiscounted airline tickets to Kathmandu (student/family/seniors/military)

Low-cost flights from Kathmandu

Stay ahead of the game. Fly to popular destinations at a fraction of the regular fare.

The cheapest time to fly to Kathmandu

The cheapest time to fly to Kathmandu is during the low tourist season, which runs from June to August. During these months the monsoon season is in full swing and the weather can be quite wet. However, as fewer tourists visit Nepal, it’s much easier to find reasonably priced airfares. Airlines tend to offer discounts and promotions during the off-peak season to fill empty seats on planes, so it’s worth checking several airlines that operate flights to Kathmandu for the best deals.

Alternatively, you can fly to Kathmandu during the shoulder seasons: from September to November and from March to May. During these months, flights to Nepal are still relatively cheap compared to peak season (which runs from December to February).

Flying to Kathmandu with transit in New Delhi

Flights to Kathmandu with transit in New Delhi in India tend to be the least expensive. Check flight prices from your departure airport to New Delhi, then book a separate onward ticket from New Delhi to Kathmandu. The flight takes less than 2 hours and you will be rewarded with Himalayan views. The Indian low-cost airline IndiGo operates this route with rates below $100.

Transiting between international flights through Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi is relatively simple if your flights are on one ticket, with your bags checked through to your destination. This is important because to enter India a visa is required (even if you only need to go through immigration to collect your bags). Most likely, you will be eligible for a visa on arrival – apply for it online, but do this in advance as it takes some time to process it.

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Flights to Kathmandu from United States and Canada

  • There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Kathmandu. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Kathmandu, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. From the East Coast, it is quicker to fly via Dubai or Doha with a carrier such as Emirates or Qatar Airways.
  • Kathmandu is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Kathmandu with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta ATL, Dallas DFW, Denver DEN, Chicago ORD, Los Angeles LAX, Las Vegas DFW, Miami MIA, Seattle SEA, Houston IAH, New York JFK, and San Francisco SFO in the United States and Toronto YYZ, Vancouver YVR, Calgary LAS, and Montreal YUL in Canada.
  • The best airlines to fly to Kathmandu from the US and Canada are: Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.

US and Canada to Kathmandu.Ticket prices in November 2023.

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Nepal has unusual time zone

When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.

Nepal has only one time zone – it observes Nepal Time (NPT) all year, which is GMT/UTC+05:45 time zone. The odd time deviation results from setting the meridian of Nepal Standard Time at Mt Gaurishankar, a mountain in the Himalayas, east of Kathmandu. The time difference from its neighboring country, India, is only 15 minutes.

Everest Express: fly over the Himalayas

A trip to Nepal wouldn’t be complete without getting to see the Himalayas. For those who don’t have much time or don’t feel up to the long walk, a scenic mountain flight is a great option. The plane flies alongside the Himalayas to give you eye-level views of the beautiful mountain ranges, glaciers, and the world’s highest mountain — Mount Everest.

The Everest Express flights are operated by three Nepalese airlines: Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, and Simrk Air. They use short-body aircraft with dual seat configurations and a capacity of 6 to 20 passengers. There are around 20 daily flights (subject to weather conditions) with a journey time of around 60 minutes. They all take off in the morning from the domestic terminal at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. The ticket costs around $200, and can be purchased directly from the airline help desk at the airport or online on the airline’s website.

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Flights to Kathmandu from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe

  • There are no direct flights from Europe to Kathmandu — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. The most convenient option for European travelers is Istanbul (with Turkish Airlines), followed by Dubai, Doha, Mumbai, and New Delhi, which all have daily non-stop flights to Nepal
  • Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Kathmandu include Air India, Emirates, Flydubai, IndiGo, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Vistara, and Turkish Airlines.
  • Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Kathmandu from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
  • These major European airports are excellent departure points for trips to Kathmandu: London LHR and Manchester MAN in the United Kingdom, Frankfurt FRA and Munich MUC in Germany, Paris CDG and Nice NCE in France, Amsterdam AMS in the Netherlands, Madrid MAD and Barcelona BCN in Spain, Rome FCO and Milano MXP in Italy, Brussels BRU in Belgium, Copenhagen OSL in Denmark, Oslo OSL in Norway, Stockholm ARN in Sweden, Zurich ZRH in Switzerland, Lisbon LIS in Portugal, Vienna VIE in Austria, Warsaw WAW in Poland, Prague PRG in the Czech Republic, and Dublin DUB in Ireland.

Europe to Kathmandu.Flight schedule and ticket prices.

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Last-minute flights to Kathmandu. The real cost of convenience.

Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Kathmandu almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.

Last-minute flight cost spike
Late booking penalty: The flight prices rise as departure draws near. Last-minute flights are almost always more expensive than booking in advance.

The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.

Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.

Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Kathmandu is 2-8 months before the takeoff.

Looking for the best deals for Kathmandu? Check different departure airports.

Airlines often have varying prices for flights to Kathmandu from different airports – even if they are in close proximity to one another. So don’t limit yourself to just your nearest airport. The neighboring cities may have lower-priced flights that include a layover at Kathmandu, or may even have direct flights that are more budget-friendly.

For example, if you’re looking to fly from Paris to Kathmandu, it may be worth checking prices for flights departing from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Rome. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to these hubs, but domestic low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for less than €100.

Book flights from many departure airports
By entering more than one departure city in the flight search engine (at the top of this page), you can quickly find the airport with the cheapest flights to your destination

The same goes for long-haul flights to Kathmandu from anywhere in the world. By broadening your search to include neighboring airports, you may discover lower-priced options that can save you hundreds of euros!

Domestic flights from Kathmandu

Most domestic routes in Nepal are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Pokhara, Bharatpur, Lalitpur, Birgunj, and Biratnagar from Kathmandu Airport, you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: Nepal Airlines, Buddha Air, Shree Airlines, and Himalaya Airlines (plus smaller airlines — Yeti Airlines, Saurya Airlines, Tara Air, Summit Air, Sita Air, and Yasodhara Air).

This is often the best transportation method, providing speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Local airlines often offer multiple daily flights to key destinations, providing flexibility in scheduling and competitive pricing. They also serve smaller regional airports, enabling access to a wider range of Nepalese destinations.

Flights to Kathmandu from Australia and New Zealand

  • Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Kathmandu. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australasia to Asia are operated by large international carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.

    Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Kathmandu. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia.
    Non-stop flights frequently depart to Kathmandu from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. Expect the total flight time from Australia to Kathmandu of 16 to 20 hours.
  • Airfare costs can vary widely depending on the route and the airline’s pricing strategy. To find the cheapest flight to Kathmandu, compare ticket prices from various international airports in Australia – Sydney SYD, Brisbane BNE, Melbourne MEL, Perth PER, Adelaide ADL, Cairns CNS, Gold Coast OOL, Canberra CBR, and in New Zealand – Auckland AKL, Wellington WLG, Christchurch CHC, Queenstown ZQN, and Dunedin DUD.
  • For optimal savings, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a key Asian hub, then connect to Kathmandu via a regional low-cost carrier. Among budget airlines that fly to Kathmandu are Air Arabia, Batik Air, Flydubai, Go First, Indigo, Jazeera Airways, and Salamair.

    For the first leg, use the budget carriers that fly out of Australian airports, leveraging sales and promotions they run frequently: AirAsia (connects with Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore), Cebu Pacific (Manila), Jetstar (Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo), Scoot (Singapore), VietJet Air (Ho Chi Minh City), Bamboo Airways (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing), and Batik Air (Jakarta, Singapore).

Australia and New Zealand to Kathmandu.Flight ticket prices today.

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“Hot seats” on long-haul flights

Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Kathmandu, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.

If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.

Booking hot seats (preffered seats with extra legroom) on plane
Choosing a hot seat during the flight booking process is usually worth it. For a reasonable price, you will get more room to stretch your legs, as well as a wider seat pitch.

Booking group flights to Kathmandu

Flights are cheaper when purchased in bulk rather than as individual tickets. Booking group flights to Kathmandu can be a cost-effective option for a school trip, family reunion, or corporate group traveling to a conference.

To qualify for the special group rate, the group must usually have at least 10 passengers. Discounts depend on the airline, group size, and travel dates, and typically range from 5% to 20% off the regular airfare.

Airlines and flight search websites typically limit automatic group bookings to 10 passengers. This limit reflects the complexity of managing larger groups, which require personalized service and more time to coordinate. To get the price quote for your group, you’ll need to contact the airline or a travel agent directly.

If you’re open to different airlines or want more personalized service, a travel agent may be a better choice. Travel agents may have access to discounted group rates to Kathmandu and can help with logistics and scheduling.

Flights to Kathmandu from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia

  • Kathmandu is well-connected with other large hubs in the Asia Pacific. There are direct flights to Tribhuvan International Airport KTM airport from Abu Dhabi AUH, Bangkok BKK, Bengaluru BLR, Colombo CMB, Dhaka DAC, Dubai DXB, Hong Kong HKG, Kolkata CCU, Kuala Lumpur KUL, Mumbai BOM, Seoul ICN, Singapore SIN, and Tokyo NRT.
  • Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Kathmandu look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
  • Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Kathmandu will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
  • Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Nepal and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsiaCebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
  • Most major Asian airports have convenient and frequent flights to Kathmandu — including Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.

Kathmandu from major Asian airports.Flight prices in November 2023.

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Proof of onward travel – a simple hack

Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Nepal to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.

The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Nepal and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.

Confirmed flight ticket reservation
Proof of onward travel: confirmed flight ticket reservation (source: OnwardTicket)

Fly now, pay later

Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans for flights have become a popular trend in the travel industry, allowing travelers to book flights and pay in installments. Among the airlines that offer this option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. They partner with external financial companies to offer their loan services on the checkout page.

The BNPL plans come with varying terms and fees. Some may be interest-free but have fees for late-payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR).

When considering BNPL financing for your flight to Kathmandu, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the pros and cons, and thoroughly review the terms and conditions.