Your preparations for the Everest Base Camp Trek will begin much earlier than lacing up the boots. And it all begins by snagging a cheap flight to Kathmandu, the vibrant, bustling capital city of Nepal and the gateway to the Himalayas. Whether you’re a regular trekker or a first timer, cutting back on flights can give you an added chance to combine your trek with partaking in Nepalese food and culture, as well as guaranteeing that you’re equally ready to hit the high-altitude trails of the Everest Base Camp Trek.
EBC Trek Cost. In this post, we’ll share a few of the best front-end booking strategies that will allow you to get to Kathmandu without the sweat and with peace of mind in seat comfort and reliability.
Why Kathmandu to start the EBC Trek?
For all itineraries, the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) is the first arrival point in Nepal’s ascent of Mount Everest base camp. And to reach the trailhead for EBC trekking in Lukla has all foreign visitors fly in and out of here. No surprise, then, that finding a nice, cheap flight to Kathmandu is a massive part of your Everest Base Camp trek package planning.
Kathmandu seems expensive at first glance because there are so few non-stop/from everywhere on earth here (to and from the Americas or Europe, most countries only have a few per week). But as long as you’re working with the right tools and tactics, there’s a great de-’feet’ too many ways to save.
Book Early—But Not Too Early
It all depends on when you buy your international flights. As a rule, we start searching for your Kathmandu tickets 2-4 months before you get them, especially for travel during the peak trekking seasons of March – May and September – November.
This ly one case where booking way in advance — about six months out, or more — can result in higher fares than what you’d pay if you wait until an airline launches a sale. On the other side makes it only impossible because there is no way to find cheap options, eg, as trekking permits are already picked or a guide is already hired, etc.
You might find better deals if you’re flying in Nepal’s off-season (say, summer or mid-winter), but it’s also worth noting that flight schedules can be more flighty with monsoon weather or snowstorms.
Use Flexible Date Searches
How tons Does It cost to go to Kathmandu? You may check out a whole month’s worth of fares at a time with the aid of the usage of search engine websites like Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Momondo. But pushing your departure or return just a day or two can save you tens or even hundreds of dollars.
When you time your Mount Everest Base Camp Tour, it is good to have some days extra [a few flexible days before your tour and a few afterward], for any potential savings on flight tickets, and for shaking off the effect of jet lag, flight delays, or rescheduling your national flight to/from Lukla.
Most Everest Base Camp Trek packages also recommend you arrive at Kathmandu at least 1 day before your domestic flight in case of a delay during your international flight.
Check Out Nearby Hubs and Multi-City Flights
But if you’re flying from North America, Europe, or Australi, a you could get a cheaper flight if you transit through big Asian hubs such as Doha (Qatar), Istanbul (Turkey), New Delhi (India), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Bangkok (Thailan,d) or Dubai (United Arab Emirates).
Try for flights with long stopovers in these cities. Plus, it air buffer for an extremely long international flight-and some airlines will include a free hotel stay or discount tour during layovers, so now your Everest Base Camp Tour will enjoy a new cultural component that you didn’t bargain for.
And don’t hesitate to book a multi-city ticket or two one-way tickets that you purchase either together or separately. For instance, flying into Kathmandu, but out of Delhi or Bangkok, could give you routing flexibility and potentially save money, especially if you’re combining the EBC trek with some post-trek travel.
“Create fare alerts and search using ‘incognito mode,’” Mr. Baker wrote.
Airfare search engines often track your searches using cookies and may raise prices based on your search history. Search on an incognito browser so it doesn’t jack up the price.
Set a price alert across all platforms. Websites like Hopper, Kayak, and Skyscanner can help you reveal fare changes and could provide you with a warning when prices go down. In that manner, you have greater manipulation and confidence whilst it’s time to decide on a ticket.
Escape The Rip-off Cycle!
There are other factors besides price to consider when choosing a flight to Kathmandu. Budget airlines or bag-pricing plans on major carriers come with hefty fees to check bags, eat meals, or choose seats — expenses that can bloat the final tallies in a hurry.
For the Everest Base Camp Hike, you will most likely fly with at least 1 checked bag, especially if you have gear with you. Do read up on the baggage policy before you book, and factor in the real cost of the ticket.
Also, check for airport changes. And the longer cities were not much better – you can switch airports at even London or New York on long layovers, but that is a bit tricky and risky for a short layover.
Join Loyalty Programs, or Redeem Your Airline Miles
Miles: If you are a frequent flyer or have a travel credit card, you might also consider paying for your flight to Nepal with miles. Points can be transferred from various loyalty programs, including Qatar Privilege Club, Emirates Skywards, Turkish Airlines Miles & Smil, and can be used to book flights to Kathmandu.
Some cards also offer generous sign-up bonuses that can cover most or all of your fare, if the timing is right. While you are at home planning your Everest Base Camp Trek, let’s not even think about a few hundred dollars more that you could take with you and spend on better guesthouses or that extra day of acclimatization.
Conclusion: Fly Smart, Carry Less
Your flight to Kathmandu not only marks the start of your Everest Base Camp Third High Passes Trek but also your first day in Nepal. A reasonably priced, well-timed flight will spare you peace of mind, more freedom and and dollars in your pocket to spend on experiences that matter on the trail.
With a little bit of smart booking, flexibility, and some research, there are some steals out there; you’ll find some cracking deals and can head off on your Everest Base Camp Tour feeling thoroughly prepared and confident.
The Himalayas cannot be far behind — and your adventure starts many miles before you reach the summit of Mount Everest Base Camp. It starts with catching the right flight.
