Nepal Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) Tours

Tribhuvan International Airport, identified by the code KTM, is Nepal's only international airport and the arrival point for nearly every visitor entering the country by air. It sits about five to six kilometers east of central Kathmandu within the Kathmandu Valley, named after King Tribhuvan, who is credited with ending the Rana regime in the 1950s. Our Nepal tours begin and end most itineraries through this airport regardless of final destination.

For a country built around Himalayan travel, KTM functions less as a sightseeing stop and more as the mandatory gateway that every trekker, climber, and pilgrim passes through before continuing into the mountains. Its layout splits into separate international and domestic terminals connected by a short walk, and the domestic side alone handles a steady flow of flights to Pokhara, Lukla, Bhairahawa, and other airstrips that link the capital to the rest of Nepal. Valley terrain surrounds the runway on most sides, so arriving flights often give passengers an early look at the hills ringing Kathmandu before touchdown.

International connections into KTM run mainly through hub cities in South Asia, the Middle East, and East Asia, since Nepal has no other airport equipped for wide-body international traffic. The terminal has expanded gradually over the decades to keep pace with growing arrivals, though the single-runway layout still limits how many flights can operate during the busiest morning hours, which is part of why domestic departures to Lukla and other mountain airstrips cluster early in the day.

The Gateway for Everest and Annapurna Travel

Travelers bound for Everest Base Camp generally connect through KTM's domestic terminal to reach Lukla, though during peak trekking seasons those flights often shift to Ramechhap airport outside the valley to ease congestion. Those heading toward Annapurna typically fly or drive onward to Pokhara, the launch point for treks like the Annapurna panorama trekking itinerary. Mountain sightseeing flights, which circle Everest without landing, also depart from here on clear mornings, giving travelers with limited time a way to see the range up close.

Because nearly all overland Himalayan travel in Nepal starts from this single terminal, connection times matter more here than at larger regional airports. Trekkers with tight schedules generally build in at least one buffer day in Kathmandu before their domestic flight, since mountain weather can delay departures to Lukla or Pokhara even when Kathmandu itself is clear.

Getting from KTM into Kathmandu

The ride into central Kathmandu or the Thamel tourist district takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes by taxi or hotel transfer, longer during heavy traffic. Prepaid taxi counters operate inside the arrivals hall, and most hotels and tour operators can arrange a driver to meet arriving flights directly. Because the airport sits close to the city rather than on its outskirts, first-time visitors often reach their hotel and start sightseeing the same day they land.

Signage and organization inside the terminal have improved over recent years, though arrivals during peak season afternoons can still mean long queues at immigration. Travelers connecting the same day to a domestic flight should allow extra time to collect luggage, clear customs, and transfer terminals, since the international and domestic sides operate independently rather than through a single connected concourse.

Practical Arrival Tips

Visas on arrival are available for most nationalities at dedicated kiosks before immigration, though having cash on hand and a passport photo speeds up the process. Baggage handling and customs can be slow during peak arrival times in the morning and early evening, so travelers with tight onward domestic connections should build in extra buffer time.

Trekking permits, including the TIMS card and regional conservation area fees, are typically arranged in Kathmandu after arrival rather than at the airport itself, so most visitors spend at least a day in the city before heading into the mountains. Currency exchange counters and ATMs inside the terminal make it possible to get Nepali rupees immediately on arrival, useful for the taxi ride and initial expenses before reaching a bank or hotel in the city. For deeper coverage of what to see once in the city itself, including Kathmandu Durbar Square and the valley's major temples, see our dedicated Kathmandu city guide.