We landed in Kathmandu Nepal after a long journey from the US, with an overnight layover. Our arrival into Kathmandu airport was soon to become a sneak-peak into the chaos that encapsulates Kathmandu… Kathmandu is a captivating blend of chaos, noise, and beauty, and it quickly became one of our favorite cities.
As a well-traveled pair, we aren’t surprised by much when it comes to travel, but the arrival into Kathmandu’s international airport terminal proved to be a bit of a challenge. We hope our readers can learn from our experience –
The first thing to be aware of arriving into Kathmandu is that foreigners are required to get a visa. The steps for this are not initially intuitive, as signage is poor. So let us help you!
You first head to a kiosk and enter your personal information, country of residence and duration of stay. This can all be done in English (or many other languages) via a touchscreen. After getting a printout or taking a screenshot on your phone, head across the room to pay for your visa. You can pay with US dollars and other foreign currencies but must have cash. This sticker in your passport then grants you entrance for the designated length of your stay and will be checked upon departure.
While waiting in the customs line, an airport security official grabbed us out of line, as we obviously stuck out as tourists, and escorted us through immigration and security. This was a bit startling at first, as we weren’t sure if we should be cutting in front of the many locals ahead of us in line, but the airport official insisted that all tourists receive this treatment.
The baggage claim area was complete chaos, with lots of luggage carts taking up space around the baggage belt. Be sure to hold your ground once you’ve claimed a space, as it can be an every-person-for-themselves kind of mentality. Personal space is of no concern to the Nepalese! We enjoyed it all though, as these cultural differences are part of the learning and fun!
While traveling internationally, we always use Airalo to stay connected. It is a digital eSIM card that’s easy to set up before leaving home. You simply download an app and pick your destination country and data needs. It will save you a lot in international data charges. Wifi is not readily available in Kathmandu, so we turned on our Airalo eSIM card while in the airport and were able to easily connect with our tour company.
Another thing to be aware of is that bathrooms throughout Nepal, including in the airport, may not have Western toilets or toilet paper. Be prepared to squat and always carry toilet paper with you. We like these compressed rolls that quickly expand into wet wipes with a teaspoon of water. Speaking of, the water in Nepal is not safe to drink, so we always always always use our Grayl GeoPress filtering water bottle, even when brushing our teeth, as it filters out viruses, bacteria, particulates and toxins. Also be wary of ice cubes!
Once we were all set in the airport, we headed outside and across the street to the designated area for taxis and tour pick-ups. There we were warmly greeted by our tour company host Raj. He welcomed us by placing traditional handmade marigold garlands around our necks. As he drove us to our hotel, we got our first real glimpse into Kathmandu.
The city is filled with chaotic traffic, honking horns, and dust. Yet, the drivers seamlessly navigate despite the lack of traffic lights or lanes. We took in all the sights and smells, including colorful prayer flags waving in the breeze, burning incense, spices piled high in storefronts, and macaque monkeys climbing light poles and fences.
We checked into our hotel and then ventured out on foot to explore the Thamel district… Subscribe to our email list so you receive our Thamel blog post, coming soon!
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