Best way/Airlines to Kathmandu ??

[anonymous-user]

Well the trekking bit is booked just need to get there now.
Any idea of the best or best to avoid airlines to get to above place flying from Manchester ?
Also the best time to book to get a reasonable price for a couple of flights early next November ?
A quick scan seems to throw up changing at Doha or Istanbul as a couple of options.
Someone must have done it and have some ideas

[HotJambalaya]

Was just in Kathmandu last month, I actually hopped over from Bhutan, but flew back into Delhi. Flights cheap and plentiful on Indigo if you can’t find a good single ticket option.

A favourite of a lot of people is Qatar via Doha.

Lot of people seem obsessed with getting straight to the mountains, but budget a few days in KTM, great place and a LOT to see

[anonymous-user]

Thanks, will be staying in Kathmandu a couple of days either side
Qatar via Doha does seem best option, I've got a pal who's just done that route to Australia so I'll ask him how it was as well.

[Mabbs9]

Maybe a look at FlyDubai from Dubai to Kathmandu.

[Mandat]

I'm looking at a trip to Nepal & Tibet next year, so I'll follow this thread with interest.

[djc206]

We did BA to Delhi and then Jet airways to Kathmandu. It was fine but I’d probably go via Qatar if I did it again as Delhi is a dump.

[Seventy]

djc206 said:

We did BA to Delhi and then Jet airways to Kathmandu. It was fine but I’d probably go via Qatar if I did it again as Delhi is a dump.

Qatar would definitely be the way to go but can be quite expensive but you will only change once.

BA to Delhi is fine as you can just wait for your connecting flight if you don't fancy the splendours of the sprawling metropolis. Think you will probably have to change at Heathrow, though. You can usually get flights to KTM from DEL for around £100 return.

[anonymous-user]

Slight thread resurrection.
Booked a few months ago all on Etihad, 'reasonable price' only downside is 8hrs on the ground in Abu Dhabi on a Saturday , 6:15am until 14:15 pm outbound.
Then 6hrs on a Sunday inbound 20:45 until 02:45am
All terminal 3
Any tips to kill the time/make it bearable ?? Premium lounge or anything ? (we are flying economy) airline tour of the city? According to a pal who flew somewhere in the middle East they took all the transfer passengers with a long layover out for a few hours.

[Vaud]

speedyguy said:

Slight thread resurrection.
Booked a few months ago all on Etihad, 'reasonable price' only downside is 8hrs on the ground in Abu Dhabi on a Saturday , 6:15am until 14:15 pm outbound.
Then 6hrs on a Sunday inbound 20:45 until 02:45am
All terminal 3
Any tips to kill the time/make it bearable ?? Premium lounge or anything ? (we are flying economy) airline tour of the city? According to a pal who flew somewhere in the middle East they took all the transfer passengers with a long layover out for a few hours.

I'd go for a paid lounge.

https://www.etihad.com/en-gb/experience-etihad/lou...

If you look into AMEX cards some will provide you with access within the cost of AMEX.

[djc206]

I wouldn’t pay for a lounge for 8 hours, actually tbh I wouldn’t ever pay for a lounge. Even the best lounge is just like sitting in a waiting room but with booze. Clear immigration and go and visit the grand mosque or Ferrari world or something, literally anything but spend 8 hours in an airport. On the way back the times are a bit st so I’d probably find a seat to sleep on.

[K50 DEL]

Yep, go visit the Grand Mosque and Yas Island - plenty of time to do both from the airport in an 8hr layover and the mosque especially is a stunning sight - I used to take all my visitors there and they all loved it...... there's a nice Italian in the hotel as well if you fancy some proper food before your flight.

[Mandat]

I know that you've booked the flights already, so the option for a different route is not feasible.

We ended up going to Kathmandu in May this year, and chose to fly with Virgin from Heathrow to Delhi, specifically because it is only a 90 minute flight from Delhi to Kathmandu, rather than 4 hours from Dubai, or similar stop over points.

[djc206]

Mandat said:

I know that you've booked the flights already, so the option for a different route is not feasible.

We ended up going to Kathmandu in May this year, and chose to fly with Virgin from Heathrow to Delhi, specifically because it is only a 90 minute flight from Delhi to Kathmandu, rather than 4 hours from Dubai, or similar stop over points.

But you have to go to Delhi....and do you not need a transit visa?

[Mandat]

djc206 said:

But you have to go to Delhi....and do you not need a transit visa?

We were staying in Dehli for 4 days on the return leg before coming home, so needed visas anyway.