You’ve booked the Kathmandu flight. Dashain 2026 runs 11–25 October, with Tika on Wednesday 21 October, and you’ll be home for the first time in years. Here’s the thing most NRNs realise too late: you’ve already paid for the expensive part of the journey.
The long-haul leg from New York, London, Sydney or Tokyo is what costs money. Once you’re in Kathmandu, a beach in Thailand is 3.5 hours away and a few hundred dollars. Adding a week in the sun after Tika costs a fraction of what the same trip would cost booked separately from your home country.
Dashain & Tihar 2026 — The Dates That Matter
| Day | Date | What it means for your trip |
|---|---|---|
| Ghatasthapana | Sun 11 October | Dashain begins |
| Phulpati | 17 October | Main holiday week starts |
| Vijaya Dashami (Tika) | Wed 21 October | The day you must be in Nepal |
| Kojagrat Purnima | 25 October | Dashain ends |
| Tihar / Bhai Tika | 8–11 November | Second window if your leave is long |
The sweet spot is 22–31 October — Tika is done, family obligations are honoured, Kathmandu is quiet, and regional flights drop in price as the domestic rush ends.
Best Add-Ons From Kathmandu After Tika
| Destination | Flight from KTM | Nights | From (per person) | Why now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | 3.5 hrs direct | 5–6 | NPR 75,000 | Cool season starting — perfect weather |
| Dubai | 4.5 hrs direct | 4–5 | NPR 95,000 | October is when Dubai becomes pleasant again |
| Maldives | 5–6 hrs | 4–5 | NPR 130,000 | Dry season begins November |
| Bali | 9–11 hrs | 6–7 | NPR 110,000 | Shoulder season — fewer crowds, better rates |
| Vietnam | 5–6 hrs | 6–7 | NPR 85,000 | October–April is Halong Bay’s best window |
If your leave is short: Thailand or Dubai — direct flights, no wasted travel days.
If you’re bringing a foreign partner: Bali or the Maldives. After a fortnight of relatives and rituals, a quiet beach is diplomatic.
If you’re travelling with parents: Dubai. Direct flight both ways, and they’ll talk about it for years.
Book the Flights the Right Way
This is where the saving lives, and where most people get it wrong:
- Don’t book a separate round-trip later. Tell us your Kathmandu dates before you finalise the long-haul ticket — sometimes a stopover can be built into the main route at little or no extra cost.
- Fly out of Kathmandu, not back through your home country. Obvious, but people forget and pay twice.
- Watch the return date. Everyone flies back to the West in early November. Book that leg early or it gets punishing.
- Bring family with you. If your parents join the beach leg, they only need the short regional flight — a genuinely affordable way to give them a first trip abroad. (See our guide to booking for parents.)
⏰ Book by Early September
Dashain is the busiest travel period of the Nepali year. Regional flights out of Kathmandu in late October fill early, and fares climb steeply from September. If you need a visa — Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, UAE — add another 1–2 weeks on top.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is Dashain 2026?
Dashain 2026 runs from 11 October (Ghatasthapana) to 25 October (Kojagrat Purnima), with Vijaya Dashami Tika on Wednesday 21 October. Tihar follows 8–11 November, with Bhai Tika on 11 November.
Is it cheaper to add a trip from Kathmandu than to book it from abroad?
Usually, yes. The expensive part is the long-haul flight you’ve already bought. A 3.5-hour hop from Kathmandu to Bangkok costs far less than a separate trip from London or New York, and packages from Nepal start at NPR 75,000 including hotels.
When should I travel — before or after Tika?
After. The 22–31 October window means you’ve attended Tika with family, Kathmandu has quietened, and regional flight prices ease as the domestic travel rush finishes.
Can my parents in Nepal join the trip?
Absolutely, and it’s one of our favourite things to arrange. They only need the short regional flight, and we handle their visa and documents from our Kathmandu office. Dubai and Thailand are the easiest first trips for older parents.
How late can I book a Dashain add-on?
Early September is the realistic deadline for good fares and availability. Visa destinations need 1–2 weeks more. Visa-free options like the Maldives and Bali can be arranged later, but flights will cost more.
