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 Nepal

  • If you are flying to Nepal from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airportTribhuvan International Airport KTM located in the east of Kathmandu.

    These are also the best (and the cheapest) airports to fly into Nepal. 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 Nepal, 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 Nepal 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 Nepal 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 Nepal

Best airports to fly into Nepal: Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu, Pokhara Airport (PKR), Biratnagar Airport (BIR), and Nepalgunj Airport (KEP)
Nepal has 43 airports. However, out of these, there's only one international airport – Tribhuvan International Airport KTM which serves the nation's capital city of Kathmandu. Among smaller, regional airports served by domestic airlines are: Pokhara Airport PKR, Biratnagar Airport BIR, Nepalgunj Airport KEP, and Gautam Buddha Airport BWA.
Things to know before flying to Nepal
Airlines flying to NepalAir 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 Air, Malaysia Airlines, Nepal Airlines, NovAir, Qatar Airways, Salamair, Shree Airlines, Simrik Airlines, Singapore Airlines, SpiceJet, 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
Regular price (roundtrip)✈ €500 – €800 (from Europe)
✈ $900 – $1200 (from USA)
Flight hacks 40% — 80% off regular fare
Main airports in NepalTribhuvan International Airport (KTM)
Pokhara Airport (PKR)
Biratnagar Airport (BIR)
Nepalgunj Airport (KEP)
Gautam Buddha Airport (BWA)
Bhadrapur Airport (BDP)
Bharatpur Airport (BHR)
Dhangadhi Airport (DHI)
Simara Airport (SIF)
Tenzing-Hillary Airport (LUA)
Airline discountsDiscounted airline tickets to Nepal (student/family/seniors/military)

Low-cost flights from Nepal

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

The cheapest time to fly to Nepal

The cheapest time to fly to Nepal 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 Nepal for the best deals.

Alternatively, you can fly to Nepal 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 Nepal 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.

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 Simrik 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.

Next tips

Flights to Nepal from United States and Canada

  • There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Nepal. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Nepal, 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.
  • Nepal is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Nepal 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 Nepal 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.

Nepal from US & Canada.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.

Fake your location to get a better fare

Airfares that a flight search engine or airline website quotes you often vary depending on where you book from. And the prices tend to be the lowest if you book from the country where the flight originates. So, adjusting the settings on the airline’s booking website can result in instant savings.

Try to spoof your location and currency so that it looks like you’re booking the flight from the same country it departs from. For example, if you are in the US and booking a leg of your trip from Singapore to Kathmandu: (1) set the country and language settings on the airline website to Singapore/English, (2) set the currency to Singapore dollar S$, and (3) use the VPN app to connect to the server located in Singapore. In some cases, you may need to use Google Translator but it may be worth the effort.

This trick doesn’t work every time (not all websites set prices the same way), but it can sometimes save you significant money.

Next tips

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

  • There are no direct flights from Europe to Nepal — 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 Nepal 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 Nepal 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 Nepal: 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.

Nepal from Europe.Flight schedule and ticket prices.

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Check different departure airports

Consider neighboring cities when choosing the departure airport – especially look for larger cities with airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines.

For example, if you live in West Europe, check prices for flights departing from Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, or Vienna. In 9 out of 10 cases, the cheapest flight to Nepal will depart from one of these hubs, and it may be €500 less or more than your first choice. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to this hub, but low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for €50 – €100.

Use a similar tactic if you depart from the US or another region. It’s one of the best ways to save hundreds on trips.

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

Last-minute flights to Nepal. 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 Nepal almost always never works out.

Based on years of research, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. To make the most money, they will sell their cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of these travelers who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.

Occasionally, airlines can offer last-minute deals to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates 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 Nepal is 2-8 months before the takeoff.

Airlines of Nepal

The national airline of Nepal is Nepal Airlines, operating from its base at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Two other major carriers are Buddha Air and Himalaya Airlines. Together, they handle most of the domestic air traffic in Nepal, including routes to and from popular destinations, inlcuding Pokhara, Biratnagar, Lukla, Phaplu, Bhojpur, Lamidanda, Tumlingtar, Dolpo, and Jumla. They are also serving nearby countries such as Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and UAE.

Smaller Nepalese airlines such as Shree Airlines, Yeti Airlines, Saurya Airlines, Tara Air, Summit Air, Sita Air, Simrik Air, Guna Airlines, and Yasodhara Air are mostly focusing on short-haul domestic routes. These budget carriers (AKA no-frills airlines) offer flights at lower prices in comparison to major full-service airlines. However, because they manage affordable tickets by cutting down on their operation costs, they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight refreshments, meals, or onboard entertainment. In most cases, their tickets are fixed and non-refundable in case of no show-up or cancellation.

Flights to Nepal from Australia and New Zealand

  • Australia and New Zealand offer robust flight networks to key APAC locations, Nepal included. While domestic carriers like Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand provide solid options, several major international airlines also serve these routes. These include ANA, Cathay Pacific, EmiratesGaruda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways — expanding your choices for travel between Australasia and Asia.

    There are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Nepal. 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 Nepal of 16 to 20 hours.
  • Airlines have different pricing strategies for different routes. A flight to Nepal could be significantly cheaper from Sydney than from Melbourne, depending on airline partnerships, demand, and even time of year. Compare fares from different international airports in Australia: Sydney SYD, Brisbane BNE, Melbourne MEL, Perth PER, Adelaide ADL, Cairns CNS, Gold Coast OOL, Canberra CBR, Darwin DRW, Hobart HBA, Alice Springs ASP, and in New Zealand: Auckland AKL, Wellington WLG, Christchurch CHC, Queenstown ZQN, Dunedin DUD, and Hamilton HLZ.
  • If you’re looking to save, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a primary Asian hub, then catch a connecting flight to Nepal with a regional budget airline such as Air Arabia, Batik Air, Flydubai, Go First, Indigo, Jazeera Airways, and Salamair.

    For the initial leg of your trip, full-service airlines such as Qantas or Virgin Atlantic offer premium comfort and exceptional service, albeit at a premium price. However, many Asian airlines, including budget carriers, operate out of Australia and frequently feature sales and promotions. For instance, AirAsia runs deals to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore; Cebu Pacific to Manila; Scoot to Singapore; VietJet Air to Ho Chi Minh City; Jetstar to Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo; Bamboo Airways to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing; Batik Air to Jakarta and Singapore.

Australia & New Zealand to Nepal.Flight ticket prices today.

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Booking group flights to Nepal

Flights are cheaper when purchased in bulk rather than as individual tickets. Booking group flights to Nepal 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.

Most airlines have a group booking form or phone number (see examples at Emirates and Qantas). Fill out the form, and the airline will come back to you with the proposed group rate. If your group is large and a scheduled flight cannot accommodate everyone, the airline may offer you a charter flight.

Additionally, there are various perks that your group may be eligible for:

  • free seats (complimentary tickets for every 10 or 20 passengers that book together)
  • free checked baggage allowance
  • dedicated group check-in counter at the airport
  • cabin crew who speak your group’s language
  • flexible booking terms (that allow changes without fees)

Booking group flights to Nepal is similar to booking individual flights. The main difference is that you’ll need to provide personal information for all passengers, and the airline may request additional details, such as meal preferences or accommodations for disabled travelers. A deposit – typically 10-50% of the total cost – may be required to secure the booking. However, some airlines offer deferred payment options where you can secure a reservation with a booking fee and pay the balance later.

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 Nepal and can help with logistics and scheduling.

“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 Nepal, 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.
Next tips

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

  • 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 Nepal 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 Nepal 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. 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 Nepal — 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.

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

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Lost luggage prevention: Essential tips

Every year, airlines handle millions of bags and a small percentage never make it to their final destinations. Avoid lost luggage nightmares on your trip to Nepal by removing old tags from previous flights on your suitcases – they can confuse baggage handlers and conveyor belt scanners. It’s also a good idea to label your luggage with your name, address, and phone number (both inside and outside the case) and attach a GPS-tracker device like Apple AirTag or Samsung SmartTag.

For peace of mind, consider purchasing travel insurance to cover the full value of your luggage, as airline liability usually doesn’t reflect the actual value of the baggage content.

“Book Flights Now, Pay Later” — is it worth it?

Booking a flight and paying for it later has recently become a popular trend in the travel industry, with many airlines offering delayed payment plans. They will allow you to make flight reservation to Nepal now and then pay the bill in installments. But should you take advantage?

Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans are essentially short-term personal loans. By partnering with financial companies such as Affirm, Afterpay, PayPal Credit, Fly Now Pay Later, and Uplift, airlines can offer their loan services on the checkout page. When you book the flight with the BNPL option, the company pays the airline, and you repay the loan in installments over a set period (usually up to 24 months), with a set interest rate.

BNPL providers have varying terms and fees. Some may offer interest-free loans 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). There may also be transaction fees, down payment requirements, and many companies even run a credit check on the traveler.

Fly now pay later - delayed payments for flight reservations
Fly Now Pay Later works with numerous popular travel brands to provide delayed payment options

Among the airlines that offer a “fly now, pay later” option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Southwest, and Virgin Atlantic.

Is BNPL financing worth it? If paid off on time, interest-free delayed payment on your flight ticket to Nepal can be a great way to free up your cash flow. However, there may be safer alternatives available – such as taking advantage of an introductory 0% interest offer on a credit card or using flight price “freezing” services like Hopper.

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)