Nepal - How to get there

By Air

There is only one international airport in Nepal, in the capital Kathmandu, and we therefore start and finish nearly all our Nepalese tours here. The national airline, Nepal Airlines, has regular flights to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Dubai, Doha, Kualalumpur and Delhi. However, most people will arrive in Nepal after flying with an Indian, Far East, or Gulf airline. You can also arrive in Nepal by air from Lhasa in Tibet, or Paro in Bhutan.

Flying from the UK

If you are flying from the UK, there are no direct flights to Kathmandu. Indirect options are available from London Heathrow with Jet Airways or Kingfisher via Delhi, Qatar Airways via Doha, Gulf Air via Bahrain, Etihad via Abu Dhabi, or Thai Airways via Bangkok. Fares start at around £550 if you book well in advance, but do increase significantly during busy periods. In general anything close to £600 is a good price. Qatar Airways offer a one-stop flight option from Manchester through Doha, though the stop-over times aren’t great. Flying from most regional airports therefore involves transiting via London.

Where to book

We hold an ATOL, and you are welcome to book your flights with us. Please discuss your ideal dates and departure airport with our sales staff, and we will send you a selection of airlines, flight times, and prices. You can then choose whether to book your flights through us, or to make your own arrangements. If you book your own flights, we will still include both your arrival and departure airport transfers.

By Land

India

There are several border crossings between India and Nepal and we use these on some more extensive tours combing both countries. The most popular border is through Sonauli in the centre of the lowland Terai region, close to Gorakhpur and accessible from Varanasi in India. You can also enter through Mahendrenagar in the far west of the country. This border is a long day’s drive from Delhi, and is often used to access Bardia National Park in the west of Nepal.

Tibet

The overland drive from Tibet into Nepal is spectacular and crosses several 5,000m+ passes. We can use this road on tours combining the two countries, often starting in Nepal and driving to Tibet, and then flying back from Lhasa to Kathmandu.