Flying abroad for the first time is exciting — and quietly terrifying. Which counter do I go to? What if immigration asks something I can’t answer? What if I can’t find my gate?
Here is exactly what happens, in order, from the moment you leave home to the moment you land. Nothing here is complicated once you’ve seen it written down.
Before You Leave Home
- Passport — 6+ months validity remaining. Check this today, not the week before.
- Visa — printed copy, even if it’s electronic. Airlines check before boarding.
- Printed tickets and hotel booking — your phone will die at the worst moment.
- Foreign currency — USD is accepted almost everywhere; exchange in Kathmandu before you go.
- Medication — in original packaging, in your hand luggage, never checked in.
- Photocopy of your passport — kept separately from the passport itself.
Arrive at Tribhuvan International 3 hours before departure. Not two. TIA queues are unpredictable, and rushing is how mistakes happen.
At Tribhuvan Airport — Step by Step
1. Entry gate. Show your passport and ticket at the terminal door. Only passengers go in — family wait outside. Say your goodbyes in the car park.
2. Baggage screening. Your checked bag goes through a scanner before check-in.
3. Check-in counter. Find your airline’s counter on the screens. Hand over passport, visa and ticket. You’ll get a boarding pass — this is now the most important piece of paper you own. It shows your gate and boarding time.
4. Immigration (Emigration). The bit everyone worries about. Hand over passport and boarding pass. The officer may ask where you’re going, for how long, and why. Answer simply and honestly. “Tourism, 6 days, Bangkok” is a complete answer. They stamp your passport. That’s it.
5. Security check. Laptop and liquids out, belt and shoes off if asked. Liquids in hand luggage must be under 100ml each.
6. Find your gate. Check the screens — gates change. Sit near it. Boarding starts 30–45 minutes before departure.
If You Have a Connecting Flight
This is where first-time travellers get anxious, and it’s genuinely simpler than it sounds. On landing, follow the signs marked “Transfer” or “Connecting Flights” — not “Exit” or “Baggage Claim”.
- Your checked bag usually goes straight through to the final destination — confirm at check-in in Kathmandu.
- You’ll pass through security again, then find your next gate on the screens.
- Lost? Ask any airline staff member and show your boarding pass. They do this all day and will point you the right way.
Nervous about connections? Choose a direct flight. Thailand (3.5 hrs), Dubai (4.5 hrs) and Malaysia (4.5 hrs) all fly direct from Kathmandu — no transfers at all.
Arriving in a New Country
- Fill the arrival card — usually handed out on the plane. Fill it there, while you have a pen and a table.
- Immigration queue — join the “Foreign Passports” line. Have your passport, visa, return ticket and hotel booking ready.
- Visa on arrival (Maldives, Bali) — a separate counter before immigration. Follow the signs.
- Baggage claim — check the screens for your flight number.
- Customs — green channel if you have nothing to declare.
- Meet your transfer — our driver waits in arrivals holding a sign with your name.
Common First-Timer Mistakes
- Packing medication in the checked bag — if the bag is delayed you’re stuck. Always hand luggage.
- Not carrying enough cash for arrival — you need money before you find an ATM. Carry USD 100–200.
- Over 100ml liquids in hand luggage — confiscated at security, every time.
- Arriving 2 hours before an international flight — too tight at TIA. Make it 3.
- Leaving the phone unlocked to roaming — switch off data roaming before you land, or buy a local SIM on arrival.
- No hotel address written down — immigration may ask, and your phone may have no signal.
Best First Destinations from Nepal
| Destination | Why it’s easy first | From |
|---|---|---|
| 🇹🇭 Thailand | Direct 3.5 hr flight, cheap, very tourist-friendly | NPR 75,000 |
| 🇦🇪 Dubai | Direct flight, English everywhere, easy visa | NPR 95,000 |
| 🇲🇻 Maldives | Free visa on arrival, resort handles everything | NPR 130,000 |
Not sure which visa you can get easily? See our guide to visa-free countries for Nepali passport holders.
Travelling with us? We brief every first-time traveller in person at our Baluwatar office before departure — airport procedure, immigration questions, what to carry — and you can call us from anywhere, any time, in Nepali.
📞 Call: 01-4541616 | 💬 WhatsApp: +977 9851187967 (24/7, even while you travel)
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I reach Tribhuvan Airport for an international flight?
Three hours before departure. TIA queues at entry, check-in, immigration and security are unpredictable, and two hours leaves no margin if any one of them is slow.
What questions does immigration ask when leaving Nepal?
Usually just where you’re going, how long for, and the purpose of travel. Answer simply and honestly — “Tourism, six days, Bangkok” is enough. Have your return ticket and hotel booking ready in case they ask.
What should I carry in hand luggage?
Passport, visa, printed tickets and hotel booking, all medication in original packaging, foreign currency, phone charger and a change of clothes. Liquids must be under 100ml each.
What if I have a connecting flight and get confused?
Follow the “Transfer” or “Connecting Flights” signs, never “Exit”. If you’re unsure, show your boarding pass to any airline staff member — they assist transferring passengers constantly and will walk you to the right area.
Which is the best country for a first trip abroad from Nepal?
Thailand or Dubai — both have direct flights from Kathmandu, so there’s no connection to navigate. The Maldives is excellent too, with a free visa on arrival and a resort that handles everything from the airport onwards.
