Nepal has only one international airport, the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, and it is supplied by a range of international airlines. Please check with your travel agent for the best way to get there.
Arrival:
For all flights, you will deplane onto the tarmac and then be bussed to the immigration hall.
Then you will enter the immigration section, where you will show your passport and then apply for your visa and pay (unless you already applied and paid online). Then get in the queue for the appropriate visa.
There is an ATM inside the immigration hall and a bank counter just outside the immigration hall. It is open for flight arrivals and has reasonable exchange rates.
The baggage carousels are located on the floor below immigration. Take the escalator down one floor and go through a security check for metals.
Porters will probably try to carry your bags. If you want them to, you might like to be prepared with a tip. The equivalent of $1 or $2—or 100 to 200 Nepalese rupees— is considered a good tip. Of course, you can feel free to not use a porter and hold onto your bags. The trolleys in the airport are free of charge.
Down the exit hall, phone SIM cards are available at NCELL and Nepal Telecom kiosks. You need to show your passport and have your photo taken to purchase a SIM card. See the ‘Miscellaneous’ section below for more information on SIM cards.
For those of you uncertain about traveling to Nepal and concerned about getting to your hotel from the airport, there are several options for you:
Hotel pick-up – if available at your hotel
Pre-paid taxi service – There is a pre-paid taxi counter just outside the doors of the airport, or get a non-prepaid taxi from the parking lot outside.
You can also pre-book your taxi here: https://www.welcomepickups.com/kathmandu/airport-taxi/
If you get a Nepali SIM card at the airport you can download the Pathao App and order a driver: https://pathao.com/np Pathao is Nepal’s version of Uber. You can download the app to your phone and use it when you are connected to wifi or using data. The app does not ask for credit card information and payment is made by cash at the end of your ride.