Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) is located in Kathmandu, Nepal. It has an iconic and incredibly thrilling runway that is called a tabletop as it is perched on a plateau surrounded by deep valleys and gorges. This is the main airport of Nepal and thus connects the country to the world. This airport is also where you’ll fly into if you want to do a Mount Everest climb, and you can do scenic Everest flights from this airport, too.
Getting to the airport
The airport is located about 5 kilometres from Kathmandu City, right in the heart of the famed Kathmandu Valley. There are two easy ways reach the city from KTM.
First, there is a bus, which picks up right outside the terminal building (follow the signs, which include English) and will take you to the centre of Kathmandu City for very little money. But this service is not always operational and will take up to 45 minutes when it is.
My preferred method is taxi service. Either way, keep in mind that the traffic on the only road to the airport is intense so it could take you anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes to reach town (the main area is called Thamel).
For these, exit the airport after clearing customs and look to your right. Here you’ll see a taxi sign for prepaid service. The rates to all areas are clear, and you can simply follow an agent right to a specific taxi without any hassles once you’ve paid and arranged your ride.
Many hotels in Kathmandu will offer to arrange shuttle service for you, and this is another great option to avoid confusion at the airport.
Visa on arrival
Note that Nepal is rather serious about the visa on arrival policy. You will need to know the exact address of where you are staying when filling out your form, so have this information handy offline. There is an online form you can complete for your visa, but I recommend the paper form because the online version isn’t always functional.
There is a mandatory fee for this, and you can pay this upon arrival, too. US dollars are preferable, but Canadian dollars are also accepted, so don’t worry about exchanging first. They do sometimes accept credit cards, but not always, so I advise everyone to be prepared for this with cash.
Airport layout and check-in
The airport has two terminals—one is domestic and the other is international. They are not connected so you cannot walk from one to the other inside. For most airlines, you cannot do self- check-in here, so you’ll need to see a desk agent in person and should save time for this.
Information desk
There is a very friendly information desk right outside the terminal. Because it’s outside, KTM refers to this as the canopy area. Here you can get help with any services the airport furnishes, from medical assistance to queries about airlines or gates. The airport is busy and sometimes can appear frantic, but people are friendly, so my advice is to take a deep breath and just ask for what you need.
Airlines at KTM
This little airport is a hub for two international airlines—the country’s flag carrier, Nepal Airlines, and Himalaya Airlines. Still, there are also several other domestic carriers that operate from KTM. With a small airport that experiences heavy congestion and a strong winter fog, I’ve found flights diverted or cancelled several times when flying through KTM, so you’ll want a laid-back attitude when flying here.
Airport amenities and services
Wi-Fi at the airport
There is free Wi-Fi at the international terminal building and it usually has good signal from arrivals through departures. It does not require a password. Once you go through immigration, there is an even stronger Wi-Fi connection that I recommend swapping to.
Lounge access
There is a CIP Lounge at the domestic terminal and it is available only by reservation. The reservation offers you access to a room that is charged per hour. You can use Priority Pass in the international terminal and have your choice of two lounges here. Thai Airways offers a Royal Silk Lounge, too, and it’s available to the airline’s premium ticket holders and some Star Alliance members, but it’s outside of security.
Eating and drinking at the airport
It’s a small airport and does not have too much to feast on. The Radisson Hotel is your best bet, as it has a sit-down restaurant. It’s on the first floor of the departure hall of the international terminal building.
Banking and essential services
ATMs and banking
I highly recommend taking cash with you around Nepal. There are places in Nepal happy to take your credit card, but people light up when you have cash as they can avoid costly fees. The airport has international and local banks on both the domestic and international sides, both before and after security.
Luggage carts
There are free luggage carts available at KTM, both on the upper and lower curbside areas right outside the terminal. There are more carts available at baggage claim for use on arrival, too.
Special services
If you bought delicate souvenirs or other breakable goods, take advantage of the wrapping facility at KTM to protect your luggage. You’ll find it in the departure hall in front of check in counter A. I highly recommend this if you’re planning to check a bag with valuable or breakable items.
Baggage collection on arrival
Customs can take a really long time at KTM. The lines are long and the process is slow, so your baggage will likely sit on the conveyor belt for a long time. Employees often ask to see your baggage claim tag when you collect your luggage as multiple flights arrive on the same conveyor belt. It seems convoluted, but it works, so just follow the employees’ instructions and you’ll be fine.
Unique design
Besides the beautifully scenic landing with views of valleys and mountains, this airport is designed in the shape of an airplane. The runway makes up the image of the plane’s body from nose to tail, so you can see this unmistakable airplane shape from the sky on takeoff or landing.
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
