Travel
Flight
Tribhuvan International Airport
Airport: Everyone flies into Tribhuvan International
Airport (KTM) in Kathmandu. It's the only international airport
serving the city, so all roads lead here.
Flights: There are no direct flights from North
America or Europe. Most guests connect through a Gulf or Asian hub —
Doha (Qatar Airways), Dubai (flydubai/Emirates), Istanbul (Turkish),
Delhi, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur are the common ones.
Book early: late January is a good-weather,
dry-season window, and fares climb as the date nears. We suggest
arriving a day or two before the first event to shake off jet lag —
Nepal is many time zones from most of you, and Kathmandu's time zone
is an unusual UTC+5:45.
Travel Note
Visa
Most travelers from the Americas, Europe, Oceania, and much of Asia
can get a Tourist Visa on Arrival right at the Kathmandu airport. A
few things to know:
Passport must be valid at least 6 months from your entry date, with a
blank page. Fill the form online before you fly at Nepal's official
Immigration portal — you'll get a barcoded receipt that lets you skip
a step at the airport. (Kiosks are also available on arrival if you'd
rather.) Visas come in 15-, 30-, or 90-day lengths and are
multiple-entry — the shortest option covers the wedding easily. Bring
clean USD cash to pay the fee as a backup; card machines are sometimes
down. One passport-size photo is handy to have too.
Indian nationals: no visa needed — travel on a valid
Indian passport or Election Commission Voter ID (Aadhaar isn't accepted
for air entry). Please double-check the current fee and that your
country is on the visa-on-arrival list at the official Department of
Immigration site before you fly.
Travel Note
Getting from the Airport
Thamel and central Kathmandu are only about 6 km away — roughly 20–30
minutes depending on traffic. Options, cheapest to priciest:
Ride app (Pathao or inDrive): ~NPR 500–600 (about
$4), fixed price, no haggling. Catch: you need a Nepali SIM to use
them, and app cars can't enter the airport — you walk out to the Ring
Road to get picked up. There is no Uber or Lyft.
Prepaid taxi booth (inside arrivals): ~NPR 700–1,000
($6–7). Fixed price, no negotiating, pay cash. A small (~NPR 100)
surcharge applies after ~9:30 PM.
Hotel transfer: Easiest after a long flight — arrange
it with your hotel in advance. Prices vary, so confirm the rate when
booking.
Tip: A local number is worth it just to use
Pathao/inDrive for taxis and to reach hotels — grab your SIM right
after immigration.
Travel Note
Currency & Money
Currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR). Rough reference: 1 USD ≈ NPR
135–140 (check the live rate near your trip).
Cash is king. Carry rupees for taxis, small shops, tips, and street
food — many small vendors don't take cards. ATMs are widely available
in Kathmandu; larger hotels and restaurants take Visa/Mastercard.
Bring some clean, newer USD notes — useful for your visa fee and easy
to exchange. Exchange counters are at the airport and all over Thamel.
Travel Note
Staying Connected (SIM / eSIM)
Getting online is cheap and easy — Nepal has some of the most
affordable mobile data anywhere. Two main carriers: Ncell (best
speed/coverage in Kathmandu — go with this) and NTC/Namaste (better in
remote/mountain areas, only relevant if you're trekking after).
At the airport: Ncell and NTC counters sit in the
arrivals hall past baggage claim. Bring your passport; setup takes 5–15
minutes. The SIM itself is about NPR 100 (under $1); data packs are
separate. Typical Ncell tourist packs: ~10 GB / 7 days for about NPR
500 ($4), or ~20 GB / 15 days for around NPR 700 ($5). Plenty for
maps, WhatsApp, and photos.
Prefer to skip the counter? eSIMs (e.g. Airalo, which runs on Ncell)
can be set up before you land if your phone supports it — you're
connected the moment you arrive.
Tip: A local number is worth it just to use
Pathao/inDrive for taxis and to reach hotels — grab your SIM right
after immigration.