Overview

Kathmandu Airport, also known as Tribhuvan International Airport (IATA code: KTM), is Népal's sole international airport.

Located exactly 5.56 km from the city center, the airport features two terminals and is served by 22 airlines.

No major European city offers direct flights to Kathmandu. If you're departing from:

Paris via Roissy Charles de Gaule (CDG)

Brussels via Brussels National Airport (BRU)

Geneva via Geneva-Cointrin Airport (GVA)

Luxembourg via Luxembourg-Findel Airport (LUX)

You'll likely connect through carriers such as Air India (often the most economical), Turkish Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, or Emirates, with layovers in Istanbul, Doha, Dubai, Muscat, and New Delhi.

Round-trip fares typically range from €600 to €700. If you're traveling from smaller cities like Montpellier or Lille, it's more economical to take the TGV/Blablacar/Ouibus/Flixbus to reach the nearest major airport.

Arriving in Kathmandu

Kathmandu Airport's arrival procedures are unconventional. Typically, you'll disembark directly onto the tarmac and follow ground personnel's directions across the runway. Exercise caution—passenger buses and supply trucks move rapidly. You'll then enter the terminal building. If YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR VISA, simply follow the directional signage.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE A VISA:

Obtaining your visa at Kathmandu Airport involves three steps:

Step 1: Register your personal information either electronically via the kiosks on your left, or by completing a paper form available before the kiosks.

For the paper form, you'll need two passport-sized photographs.

Step 2: Once you've completed your form or the kiosk has printed your electronically entered information, head to the payment counter with your passport (valid for at least 6 more months).

90 days: $100

30 days: $40

15 days: $25

CRITICAL: BRING CASH WITH YOU!

There is only one ATM, which accepts MasterCard exclusively. From personal experience, I arrived without cash and had to leave the airport with police officers to find an ATM with exorbitant fees, then queue for an hour to pay. While card payments are now possible, power outages and banking issues can occur.

The airport accepts most foreign currencies: dollars, rupees, euros, and others.

Step 3:

Once you've paid and your visa is affixed to your passport, proceed through passport control for final verification.

Next, descend the stairs to reach baggage claim. MARK YOUR LUGGAGE CLEARLY FOR EASY IDENTIFICATION—after about twenty minutes, unclaimed bags are placed on the floor, creating thousands of colorful suitcases. If your luggage is plain, good luck finding it.

Finally, exit the airport, where a member of our team will be waiting for you.

Additional Information

The airport offers Wi-Fi, though connectivity is limited.

Calls and data services in Népal are expensive. With carriers like FREE (100 GB plan at €19.99), calls and incoming calls cost €2–2.50 per minute. Disable mobile data entirely—it costs €9.70 per MB. A single second on Messenger via 3G can exceed €20 in charges!