Flights
Flights to Nepal: prices, airlines and more
There are no direct flights to Nepal from Europe, North America or Australia: you change planes, usually in Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Delhi or a Chinese hub. What changes the price most is the month you travel: from some cities, a ticket costs almost twice as much in peak season. The prices below are return fares in economy, collected from comparison sites in October 2026. They are ballpark figures, not guaranteed fares, and the month-by-month split is our own estimate.
How much is the ticket?
Choose your departure city and month: you get the typical price of a return ticket, the usual range, and how it compares with the other months.
Estimate for London in January: turn on JavaScript to choose another city or month.
Typical return fare£850 (≈ €1,000)
Usual range£720 to £1,020 (≈ €850–1,200)
Usual stopoversSharjah (Air Arabia), Beijing or Chengdu (Air China), Guangzhou (China Southern), Delhi (Air India), Doha (Qatar Airways), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Dubai (Emirates)
Journey time12 h at best, usually 15 to 20 h
Typical fare by month
Cheapest: JuneDearest: December
Indicative prices, collected in October 2026: a ticket booked well ahead can cost 20 to 30% less, a last-minute one much more. Euro equivalents are approximate, and data for Nice and Marseille is thinner.
Prices by month
- October, one of the dearest months (the dearest from Delhi, Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Geneva): it is peak trekking season, and the Nepali diaspora in the Gulf, Malaysia and India flies home for Dashain and Tihar, the year's two great festivals. In 2027, Dashain peaks on 10 October and Tihar ends on 31 October (provisional dates). November stays expensive.
- Summer holidays: May to July are the dearest months from the United States, and July from the UK, even though it is monsoon season in Nepal. Not the best deal, either for the price or for the sky (see When to go).
- Christmas and New Year: fares climb in the second half of December, especially from London and Australia. Early December remains reasonable, with very clear skies.
- The cheapest months: January and February from the US, Delhi and Bangkok (cold in the mountains, but bright), May–June from London, and July–August from Australia. Depending on the city, the cheapest month changes from one year to the next.
- The best compromise: March, April and early December combine a good season in Nepal with average fares.
Airlines and stopovers
The airlines serving the city chosen in the estimator above, on a single ticket, with their baggage allowances. Change the city to update the table.
Airlines flying from London
| Airline (stopover) | Return fare | Journey time | Checked baggage | Cabin | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Arabia (Sharjah) | from £689 | 17 to 31 h | none (Basic) or 20 to 30 kg (Value) | 7 kg + 3 kg | Low-cost: low fares, but little comfort, and meals and baggage often extra. |
| Air China (Chengdu or Beijing) | from £691 | — | 1 × 23 kg | 5 kg | Often among the cheapest, but few flights, sometimes two stopovers. Check China's transit rules for your nationality. |
| China Southern (Guangzhou) | from £700 | 20 to 32 h | none (Light) or 1 × 23 kg | 8 kg | Stopover in Guangzhou; journey time varies widely with the connection. |
| Air India (Delhi) | from £701 | 14 to 35 h | 1 or 2 × 23 kg depending on the fare | 7 kg | Fares often low, but the lowest-rated airline. In transit in Delhi on a single ticket, no Indian visa needed if bags are checked through to Kathmandu. |
| Qatar Airways (Doha) | from £783 | 13 to 26 h | 20 kg (Lite) to 25 kg (Classic) | 7 kg | Wide-body all the way to Kathmandu, and 20 kg even on the cheapest fare. The cheapest connections are long. |
| Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) | from £823 | 12 to 16 h | depends on the fare: some EcoFly fares include none | 8 kg + 4 kg | Often the shortest outbound journey, and good food. Return trips can be very long; check the included baggage before paying. |
| Emirates (Dubai) | from £851 | 13 to 18 h | 20 kg (Special) to 25 kg (Saver) | 7 kg | The best rated by travellers, often the dearest. Dubai–Kathmandu is on a flydubai narrow-body, with a bus transfer between terminals. |
“From” fares collected on 24 October 2026 on KAYAK, momondo and Cheapflights, on a single ticket: the cheapest seen recently, not averages. Collected for departures in the coming months (November to April), they can be higher than the typical fare of the cheapest month in the estimator. Baggage: cheapest fare, then standard fare. Allowances change often, so check them when you book; “—” means the journey time was not collected.
Arrival airports
- Kathmandu (Tribhuvan, KTM): the gateway for almost every traveller, 20 to 40 min from Thamel. A small airport, with queues that can be long for the visa on arrival.
- Pokhara (PHH): since 23 September 2026, flydubai has run a daily Dubai–Pokhara flight, the airport's first scheduled international route. Handy for starting with Pokhara and the Annapurna treks (see Pokhara), provided you fly via Dubai.
- Bhairahawa (Gautam Buddha, BWA): a few irregular flights to the Gulf and Asia. It is 30 min from Lumbini, but for travellers from afar Kathmandu is simpler.
- Overland from India: several border crossings are open to foreigners, including Sunauli–Bhairahawa, the most used from Delhi and Varanasi (about 22 to 30 hours by bus from Delhi to Kathmandu). The visa is issued at the border: see Visa Nepal.
Booking smart
- When to book: 3 to 5 months ahead, 6 months for October, November or Christmas. Comparison sites quote savings of 15 to 40% over late bookings.
- Compare several airports: a hub with lots of Gulf and Istanbul flights (London, New York, Sydney) is often cheaper than a regional airport, even after adding a domestic leg.
- One ticket rather than two: if you are delayed at the stopover, the connection is protected and your bags follow. With two separate tickets, leave several hours' margin, and a transit visa if the stopover requires one (India).
- No domestic flight on the day of your international flight: flights to Pokhara, Lukla or Bharatpur are often delayed by the weather. Keep a day's margin before flying home.
- Different arrival and departure: an open-jaw ticket (into Kathmandu, out of Delhi or Bangkok) often costs barely more, and lets you continue to India or Southeast Asia.
- Trekking luggage: most airlines allow 20 to 30 kg in the hold. Trekking poles, crampons and gas canisters are not allowed in the cabin, and gas is banned even in the hold: buy it in Kathmandu or Pokhara (see Packing list).
- The Himalayan view: on a clear day the range is visible on the approach to Kathmandu. Arriving from the west (Gulf, Istanbul, Delhi), ask for a window on the left; when leaving, on the right. It depends on the approach, but it is worth a try.
On landing
- Visa: issued on arrival, payable in dollars or euros, or prepared online before you leave. Everything is explained on Visa Nepal.
- Taxi to Thamel: 700 to 1,000 NPR (≈ €4 to €6) at the fixed-price taxi counter in the arrivals hall, 20 to 40 min. Many hotels offer a pick-up (see Getting around).
- SIM card: an Ncell stand awaits you in the arrivals hall, passport in hand (see SIM & internet).
- Money: there are ATMs and an exchange desk in the arrivals hall; the exchange rate is a little less favourable than in town. Withdraw enough for the taxi and the first few days (see Money).
You get your visa on arrival, at Kathmandu airport or at the border: form, fees and pitfalls to avoid on our dedicated site.
Visa Nepal →Fancy a few days of walking? Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, Langtang… permits, guides, transport and day-by-day itineraries on our trekking site.
Trek Nepal →Comments
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