How to get to Nepal: airports, flights and border crossings

Fly into Kathmandu (KTM). It is the only airport with broad long-haul connections and the easiest onward transport to the valley, Pokhara and the trekking trailheads. Pokhara (PKR) and Siddharthanagar near Lumbini (BWA) take a handful of regional flights, useful only if a direct route exists from where you are.

Land entry from India is straightforward at several crossings and often pairs with a Varanasi or Darjeeling leg. Entry from Tibet is seasonal, needs permits arranged through an agency, and closes with weather and border policy. There is no sea route for passengers.

Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) handles nearly all international traffic. The terminal is small, immigration queues can run long in peak season, and the airport sits about 6 km east of central Kathmandu — a 20–40 minute taxi depending on traffic. ATMs and SIM counters are in the arrivals hall; buy a local SIM there or in the city.

Pokhara International Airport (PKR) takes a limited set of regional routes, mostly from China and India. It is worth checking only if you are heading straight to the Annapurna region and a direct flight exists. Gautam Buddha International Airport (BWA) at Siddharthanagar serves Lumbini and the Indian border at Sunauli, again with a thin schedule.

If your only option is a connection through Delhi, Kolkata or Kunming, that is normal — most travellers reach Nepal with one or two stops.

There are no nonstop flights from North America, the UK, Australia or New Zealand to Nepal. Expect one or two connections through Gulf, Turkish, Indian or Southeast Asian hubs. Total travel time matters more than the number of stops: a 2-hour connection in Doha beats a 9-hour layover in Delhi.

From the US, count 18–24 hours door to door. From the UK, 11–14 hours. From Australia and New Zealand, 14–20 hours. From the Gulf, 4–5 hours. From Delhi, about 1.5 hours.

Fares swing hard with season. October–November and March–April are peak trekking windows and seats sell out months ahead. Booking 2–4 months out is the usual sweet spot; last-minute fares in peak season can double.

Nepal has no passenger sea ports. All overland entry is by road from India or China.

From India, several crossings are open to foreign nationals, including Sunauli (near Lumbini and Gorakhpur), Raxaul–Birgunj (near Patna and Kathmandu-bound buses), Kakarbhitta (near Siliguri and Darjeeling) and Mahendranagar in the far west. Buses and shared jeeps run from the Indian side to the Nepali border town, then onward to Kathmandu or Pokhara. Immigration posts at these crossings issue visas on arrival for most nationalities — check the current rules before you travel.

From China (Tibet), the main crossing is at Zhangmu/Kerung on the Friendship Highway from Lhasa. It is seasonal, usually open roughly April to October, and independent travellers generally need a permit and an organised tour on the Tibetan side. Check status before planning around it.

Book flights 2–4 months ahead for October–November and March–April. These are the clearest and busiest months, and fares climb steeply closer in. The monsoon months (June–September) are cheaper but bring delays and cancellations, especially on mountain flights.

Build a buffer day before any trek or domestic connection. Kathmandu delays are common in winter fog and monsoon rain, and a missed domestic flight can cost a day or more. If you are heading to Lukla for Everest region trekking, book the Kathmandu–Lukla flight early and keep a spare day.

Check your visa route before booking. Most nationalities get a visa on arrival at KTM and at land crossings, but rules and fees change — confirm on the official immigration site and carry the exact fee in USD or NPR.

Money: bring some USD cash for the visa fee and a first taxi; ATMs at KTM are reliable but can run dry in peak season. Cards work in hotels and better restaurants in Kathmandu and Pokhara, less so elsewhere.

SIM: buy a local SIM at the airport or in Kathmandu with your passport and a photo; eSIM options exist but coverage outside cities is patchy.

Airport transfer: prepaid taxis and ride-hailing are available at KTM; agree the fare or use the meter. The ride to Thamel takes 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.

Altitude: if you fly straight to Lukla or Jomsom, plan acclimatisation days. Arriving in Kathmandu first helps.