Travelling from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Kathmandu Airport (KTM): what you need to know
The average duration of a direct flight from Istanbul Airport to Kathmandu Airport is 7 hours 5 minutes.
Kathmandu's timezone is UTC+5:47, which makes Kathmandu two hours 47 minutes ahead of Istanbul.
Flights from IST to KTM start at 01:25 — the first with Turkish Airlines. The last departure is at 21:35 with Turkish Airlines. In total, you can take your pick of five weekly Istanbul Airport to Kathmandu Airport flights.
To ensure you catch your IST to KTM flight, leave plenty of time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Travelling during a peak time such as August? Major public holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer queues at security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
Turkish Airlines offers direct flights from Istanbul Airport to Kathmandu Airport. Book with this popular carrier, then get ready to tick off the sights in Kathmandu — and maybe even more of Nepal if time allows.
Most passengers choose to travel with Turkish Airlines on this route.
We make it a breeze to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for tickets from Istanbul Airport to Kathmandu Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight that has a stop long enough to visit your chosen city. Top stopovers between IST and KTM include:
Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport
Dubai Airport
Hamad International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Kathmandu Airport (KTM)
$398 is the best price for a one-way Istanbul Airport to Kathmandu Airport flight. A return flight starts from $878. These prices may change based on availability.
Book 11 months before your departure date. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from IST to KTM.
Plan your trip for April. That's the cheapest month for flights from Istanbul Airport to Kathmandu Airport. If your travel dates are flexible, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest airfare across each month.
Snapping up cheap flights from IST to KTM is easy with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when fares go down.
Tailor your trip with filters. Choose your ideal departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from Istanbul Airport to Kathmandu Airport.
Handy information about Istanbul Airport (IST)
Istanbul Airport is about 40 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take 45 minutes or so to arrive, depending on the traffic.
Planning to take public transport? Expect a journey time of around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Get your travels off to a relaxed start by staying near IST. Whether you're taking an early flight from Istanbul Airport to Kathmandu Airport or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are ideal:
Arriving at Kathmandu Airport (KTM)
Consider booking a hotel close to KTM if you're on a late Istanbul Airport to Kathmandu Airport flight. Check in to one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Pick up a Kathmandu Airport rental car and explore corners of Kathmandu that aren't in every guidebook. Book your wheels with Spark Car.
Booking your vehicle from Kathmandu Airport about one week ahead can help you get the lowest rate.
Getting from Kathmandu Airport (KTM) to central Kathmandu
From Kathmandu Airport, Kathmandu is approximately 6 kilometres away. It takes around 30 minutes to reach the centre by car.
Getting there by public transport will take you roughly 40 minutes.
When to fly to Kathmandu Airport (KTM)
It's time to work out your trip dates for your flight from Istanbul Airport to Kathmandu Airport. November is the busiest month to visit Kathmandu. If you want a quieter vibe, go in March.
When booking your flight from Istanbul Airport to Kathmandu Airport, consider the kind of weather you like. June is the warmest month in Kathmandu, with the temperature ranging from 17ºC to 30ºC.
If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from IST to KTM in January. Average temperatures are between 3ºC and 19ºC then.
Explore more of Nepal
Kathmandu is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other parts of Nepal just waiting to be discovered. About 145 kilometres north-west of Kathmandu, a visit to Pokhara will fill your itinerary to the brim. Start with leading sights like Phewa Lake, Parahawking and Sarangkot View Point.
If you're ready to explore another side of Nepal, consider Patan, about 6 kilometres south of Kathmandu. Patan Durbar Square, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar and Kathmandu are the start of reasons to visit.