Arriving in Nepal, from the visa queue to your first twenty-four hours
What happens between the plane door and your hotel, and the four things worth sorting before you do anything else.
By the Lakeshore team · 5 min read · Updated 5 October 2026
Most people's first hour in Nepal is a queue they weren't expecting, followed by a taxi negotiation in the dark. It's a bit chaotic but very manageable, and knowing the order of things takes out most of the friction.
I book arrivals for a living. This is the order things happen in, and what to have ready.
One thing before anything else: bring cash for the visa, in a currency an immigration desk will recognise.
The visa
Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport and at the land borders, for 15, 30 or 90 days. A handful of countries must apply in advance, and Indian citizens don't need one at all.
Check your own passport's status before you fly. It's the one piece of paperwork we can't fix for you from Pokhara, and finding out at the desk that you don't qualify makes for a very bad evening.
Pay in cash. US dollars are the safest bet, and other major currencies are usually accepted. There are card machines, but don't rely on them after a long flight. Bring a passport photo too. The kiosks can take one, but a spare in your wallet saves time.
Your passport needs at least six months of validity. Check that now, not at the airport at home.
The airport
Kathmandu's international terminal is small and gets congested when several long-haul flights land together. Expect a queue and a warm room.
The order goes like this: arrival form or kiosk, the visa fee at the bank counter, immigration, baggage, then customs. Keep your payment receipt, because immigration will ask for it.
There are ATMs and money changers in the arrivals hall. Change or withdraw a modest amount here for the taxi and the first day, and do the rest in town at better rates.
Prepaid taxi desks operate outside arrivals. They cost slightly more than haggling but spare you the haggle, which after twenty hours of flying is worth it.
The first twenty-four hours
Get a local SIM from Ncell or Nepal Telecom, at the airport or in Thamel. You need your passport and a photo. Data is cheap, and NTC generally has better coverage in the mountains.
Change money at a licensed changer in Thamel or Lakeside, where the rates beat the airport's. Ask for a mix of denominations, and especially for small notes. That request alone saves you hassle for the whole trip.
Then sleep. Kathmandu is at 1,400 m, which isn't high, but a long flight, a new time zone and the altitude add up. Don't book anything demanding for the first morning.
After that, head west. Kathmandu to Pokhara is six to eight hours by tourist bus or 25 minutes by air, and we can book either.
Coming straight to Pokhara
There are international flights into Pokhara, but connections are limited, so most visitors still come through Kathmandu.
If your trek starts here, flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara on arrival day is possible but tight, because a delayed international flight can take the connection with it. We usually suggest a night in Kathmandu and a morning flight.
Send us your flight number and someone from our team will be at Pokhara airport or the bus park with a sign. That's included with any trek we run.
Walk it with us
Private departures on your dates, guided by the people who wrote this page.
Questions we get asked
Can I really get the visa on arrival?
Most nationalities, yes. A small number of countries must apply at an embassy in advance, and that list changes, so check your own passport before you book flights.
How much cash should I bring for arrival?
Enough for the visa fee in USD, plus a taxi and the first day. A couple of hundred dollars covers it comfortably.
Is Kathmandu airport difficult?
Small, busy and slower than you'd like. It isn't difficult, just not quick. Allow an hour and a half from wheels-down to a taxi.
Should I book a hotel for the first night?
Yes. Arriving without one after a long flight is the one bit of improvisation nobody enjoys.
Do you arrange airport pickup?
In Pokhara it's included with any trek. In Kathmandu we can arrange it as an extra, so send us the flight number.
Still deciding?
Tell us your dates, and we'll tell you whether Tourist Bus & Flight Tickets is right for you. If it isn't, we'll say so.
Nothing to pay online. We confirm your dates first.
Or call the office +977 61-457830