Means of transport Himalaya

Open from 6am to 11pm, it has 9 lines for a network of over 200 km.

Tickets are magnetictokens valid for one trip, or a magnetic Tourist Card with unlimited trips. There is also a rechargeable card if you stay in Delhi for a long time or make few trips. At the entrance of each station, be prepared to be searched.

The search is systematic at the entrance of the metro and you must deposit your bag which will be X-rayed. Men and women must line up separately for the body search.

The airport is less than 10 km from the city centre.

Getting the visa

Upon arrival, you will have to go to one of the electronic visa machines (expect some waiting time): these will issue a visa number to be presented to the visa service for payment (just before the immigration counters), with a passport photo and the necessary amount in cash (15 days: 25 US$; 30 days: 40 US$; 45 days: 70 US$). To avoid waiting and queuing, we advise you to apply for a visa in advance at: online.nepalimmigration.gov.np, and print the receipt with the barcode. You will then just have to go directly to the visa payment counter. Attention: you must fill in this form only 15 days before your arrival in Nepal (the form is no longer valid afterwards, and you have to fill in a new one).

A currency exchange service is available next to the visa applications, as well as at the exit level. Visas are payable in all listed currencies (i.e. from the Euro to the Hong Kong dollar via the Japanese yen). The tourist visa allows a maximum stay of 3 months. An extension is possible (more info on nepalimmigration.gov.np). It allows you to travel everywhere. Nevertheless some areas will ask you to pay an access fee (Mustang) and a trek permit.

From the airport to the city centre (arrival)

Bus: Although there is a public bus service that connects the airport to the city, frequencies are irregular and inconvenient. We do not recommend it.

Taxi: Taxi is the most convenient way to reach the city centre. Depending on the traffic, it will take between 20 and 40 min to reach Thamel. At the exit of the airport, you will be accosted by taxi drivers and hotel drivers. We therefore advise you to go (exiting immediately on the right) to the counter of the prepaid taxis at a fixed price, which is safer: a round trip to Thamel will cost you Rs 700, for Patan Rs 800, and Rs 1,200 for Bhaktapur. Be aware that if you have booked your hotel from Europe, a driver will come and pick you up on request (and even if this service is not free, think about using it because it really changes your life...).

Hotel shuttle: Most hotels in the capital offer a shuttle service included (or not) depending on the price range of the establishment. It's easier on arrival because it saves you from having to negotiate hard, but it is a few dollars more expensive than a taxi.

At the time of departure, advice:

Come at least three hours before the departure of your return flight! Checks are long (interminable, one could say) and be prepared to undergo rather thorough searches! As much as possible, travel light with your carry-on baggage: no souvenirs too bulky or too precious (or remember to present the bills), no tea or incense or organic products. Also avoid bulky bottles of alcohol..

Kathmandu International Airport looks more like a huge train station than an airport... There aren't really any duty-free shops. So plan to do your shopping and gifts beforehand!

Airport taxes are no longer applicable, except for domestic flights (Rs 200).

To get there, take a taxi (even if you negotiate, it is difficult to find a route under Rs 600) and it should take at least 30 to 40 minutes (outside rush hour).

Daily flights from New Delhi.

The company Go Air has taken advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to find a new name and rework its brand image. It is now called Go First and in addition to many domestic routes, also serves some international destinations including the Gulf countries, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Thailand. You will be able to reach all Indian cities from Delhi (Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore...) and other smaller cities (Guwahati, Lucknow, Bagdogra, Leh, Varanasi...).

Indira Gandhi Domestic Airport has two terminals: 1 and 2. Please check your ticket to see which terminal you are departing from, as they are connected by a shuttle bus. Flights are also very often subject to schedule changes. It is therefore advisable to get information before departure and to book your ticket at least one week in advance. Most low cost airlines no longer print baggage tags. It is up to you to do so or you will have to pay a supplement.

Delhi, the capital of India, is a must for travelers. British Airways offers flights to Delhi, as well as to other major Indian cities such as Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. Delhi offers a unique experience blending modernity and ancient traditions. Travelers can explore the ancient streets of Old Delhi by rickshaw, visit the India Gate war memorial in New Delhi and visit the Taj Mahal, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Mumbai, also known as Bombay, is another city not to be missed, with attractions such as the Gateway of India and Elephanta Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To get around India, you can fly or take the train, depending on your preferences and budget. Flights to India from London Heathrow take around 8 to 10 hours. India offers a wide variety of accommodation options, from affordable hotels to luxury beachfront resorts. Travelers can also enjoy Indian cuisine, bustling markets and stunning natural landscapes.

Delhi's main bus station is often packed, so arrive early. There are other ISBTs in the city.

For Rajasthan, many buses leave from I.S.B.T. Sarai Kale Khan Bus Terminal, on Mahatma Gandhi Road, behind Nizamuddin station (Tel + 91 11 24 35 80 92).

Reservations can be made at the Bikaner House in New Delhi, south of India Gate. The building also houses the Rajasthan Tourist Board. Many Deluxe, Silver Line or Pink Line buses (air-conditioned).

IGIA continues to redesign itself and now both the departure and arrival areas have been completely redesigned. The airport offers very complete services to travelers (stores, smoking areas, medical care, ATM...). The terminal is huge and it can take up to 20 minutes to get to the gate from the duty free area. You will also need to show your ticket and passport to enter the terminal.

Easy Cab is a long distance cab service from Delhi, Gurgaon or Noida. You can use their services for one-way trips at no extra cost. It is very convenient to go directly to Jaipur (for example) if the flight schedules do not match and if you do not want to take the train. Just call them to determine with them your needs, from the small city car, to the family car to the minibus. They can also make the transfer from the airport to your hotel.

Indigo is one of the pioneer companies of the Indian low coast. It is famous for its blue and white logo, its dynamic communication and its facetious puns. The company started by serving the major Indian cities, then expanded its offer with medium-haul flights to the Arabian Peninsula and other regional hubs such as Thailand. A sure value for your travels in the country. Its development also ensures an international influence with services to certain European capitals and Chinese cities.

The Malaysia-based low-cost airline has been serving India since 2014 on both domestic and medium-haul routes. Air Asia offers flights from New Delhi to Goa, Bagdogra, Bangalore, Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal, Kochi, Pune, Ranchi, Srinagar and Visakhapatnam. The company also allows you to travel all over Asia, most often with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur. The very attractive fares and the aircraft, many of which are recent, are all advantages for saving time in comfort.

DTC is Delhi's metropolitan bus company. It has countless routes and is the largest local bus company in the world. Tourists prefer to take the metro, auto-rickshaw or cab, which are easier to use. However, DTC also provides a 24-hour service between Terminals 1 and 3 at Delhi airport. The company has also introduced a women-only bus service on some routes.

The famous VTC service is available in several Indian cities. In order to use it, you need to download the application on your phone and therefore have an Indian SIM card. It is not uncommon to have to call the driver, or have him call you, to find the meeting point. The service works well and is much cheaper than any private cab service. You will have the choice of several categories of vehicles for the same trip, making the price of the trip vary slightly.

New Delhi Railway Station has a reservation office for foreign travelers. It is located on the second floor of a long dark corridor in the back building of the station. This is where you can book a ticket on the foreign quota, seats kept for foreign travelers, which allows you to get a ticket at the last moment. However, it is advisable to book at least one day in advance and it is essential to present your passport.

Spice Jet is one of the most reputable and well-developed low cost airlines in India. It provides regular flights from Terminal 1 of the Indira Gandhi Airport in Delhi to all major and medium-sized cities in India. Fares are competitive and you can book additional services online at the time of ticket purchase: excess baggage, meals on board, seat number reservation... Spicejet operates to 54 destinations in India and 15 international destinations.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation is the public company in charge of managing passenger rail transport. It reports directly to the Ministry of Railways, one of the largest in the nation with its 1.5 million employees. You can search for and consult the train timetables in the "Book Ticket" window of the website. But be careful, to make a reservation online, you have to create an account by entering a cell phone number. Validation can take several days.

It's very easy to hail a cab on the street, when it's not honking at you! They're easily recognizable, white with a yellow roof, and there's no risk of taking just any taxi. You can hop on with complete peace of mind, having negotiated the fare and made sure you've got the change nonetheless. Simpler and much cheaper, the Pathao cab app - a kind of local Uber, but with ordinary cars that are not always in perfect condition - allows you to find a cab in just a few minutes, provided you have a local sim card.

It is the best Nepalese airline, offering the most flights to domestic airports throughout the country, both in terms of frequency and number of destinations, at least for tourists. Buddha Air is also the safest to travel with, and slightly more expensive than its competitor Yeri Airlines. Nevertheless, here the baggage allowance is fixed and does not vary according to the price of the ticket: 25 kg in the hold and 5 kg in hand baggage. From Kathmandu, Pokhara, Bharatpur (Chitwan) and Nepalganj (Bardia) are well served.

It is the bus station from where buses leave for all destinations in the Kathmandu valley with sometimes connections via Patan or Bhaktapur. Here you will come across a lot of old buses (and a lot of pollution at the same time) and a merry bazaar. Buses are cheap, but often slow and crowded. When you arrive at the station, buy your ticket at a ticket office, and shout out your destination so that you are directed to the right bus. Be aware, however, that buses only leave once they are full: bring a good book!

It is located to the north of the city center. It is from here, from the Kathmandu bus terminal, that all long-distance buses leave for Pokhara and Chitwan, for example. We advise you to book the day before to be sure of your departure, but above all because you may feel a little disoriented in this crowded station where the signs are not necessarily very clear (and generally in Nepali). You can book at a ticket office or through an agency in Thamel (for a fee). Some bus companies also leave from Thamel.