Cheap flights from London to Kathmandu

September is the cheapest month on this route, and the weeks around it — October and November, then February through April — usually sit close behind. Fares climb during UK school holidays and around the autumn festival season in Nepal, when Nepali families working abroad fly home. Midweek departures from London tend to cost less than Friday or Sunday flights, and a short stop in the Gulf often beats a longer one through Asia. Book a few months ahead for the busy windows, and watch the price calendar here, because fares move week by week.

No airline flies this route nonstop, so you connect somewhere — Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Delhi, Colombo or Bangkok, depending on who you pick. Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Turkish Airlines, Air India and Srilankan Airlines are full-service, and checked baggage is normally part of the fare. Air Arabia and Indigo are the low-cost names here, and they charge extra for bags and seat selection, so compare the total rather than the headline fare. Thai Airways Intl routes you through Bangkok, which adds hours but suits travellers continuing into Asia.

Every flight lands at Tribhuvan International in Kathmandu, the city's single airport, with one international terminal a short drive from the centre. Prepaid taxis and ride-hailing apps are the usual way into town, and many hotels send a driver if you ask when you book. Valley traffic is slow at almost any hour, so leave extra time if you have a domestic connection onward. Keep some local currency for the taxi and confirm your pickup point before leaving the terminal, because arrivals get crowded when several flights land together.

Currency

NPR (N₨)

Power sockets

Type C, D, G · 230 V

Language

Nepali

Emergency number

100, 101, 102

Calling code

+977

Internet domain

.np

Population of Kathmandu

846 k (2021)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check which London airport your fare leaves from, since Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton and London City are not interchangeable.
• Confirm whether your connection is on one ticket or two, because a missed link on separate tickets is your problem, not the airline's.
• Look at the baggage allowance on Indigo and Air Arabia fares, where a checked bag is usually an add-on.
• Weigh total journey time against the fare, because the cheaper options often mean a longer stop.
• Check the entry rules and visa requirements for Nepal well before you fly.
• Compare September fares with the weeks either side if your dates are flexible.