Updated 30 October: the dates below have been corrected and the visa deadlines recalculated from today.
Tihar runs 7–11 November: Laxmi Puja is on 8 November and Bhai Tika on 11 November. For most families those days are not negotiable — you want to be at home for them.
So the useful question is not “can I go before Tihar?” but “can I leave right after Bhai Tika?” That puts your departure at around 12 November, less than two weeks from now. That is still enough time for some destinations — but only if your documents move immediately, and it is no longer enough for others.
Leaving Around 12 November: What Is Realistic
The processing times below come from our visa desk’s current requirements. The clock starts when your file is complete, not when you first message us.
✅ Comfortable — start this week
| Destination | Visa | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maldives | Free on arrival | Nothing to arrange but flights and a hotel |
| Sri Lanka | Online authorisation | Quick and simple |
| Thailand | About 7 days | Mind the bank-balance rule |
| Vietnam | About 7 days | Check every field against your passport |
⚠️ Workable — but your documents must be ready within days
| Destination | Visa | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| Bali | About 10 days | 4 months of bank statements with the required balance |
| Malaysia | About 10 days | 4 months of statements with the required balance per person |
| Dubai | About a week to ten days | Start the police clearance first |
For the 10-day group, working backwards from a 12 November departure means a complete file submitted by roughly 2 November — that is days from now. For the 7-day visas (Thailand and Vietnam) the date is about 5 November. China, Japan and Kenya (about 15 days) needed a file by around 28 October, so they have moved to the next section.
❌ Too late for Tihar — plan for Christmas
| Destination | Visa | Why |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | About 20 days | Plus preparation and an appointment — too tight |
| Europe (Schengen) | About 30 days | The deadline has passed for 12 November |
| Turkey | About 40 days | Too late for Tihar |
| Hong Kong | About 45 days | Too late for Tihar |
| Egypt | About 45 days | Too late for Tihar |
| China | About 15 days | Needed a complete file by about 28 October — that date has passed |
| Japan | About 15 days | Needed a complete file by about 28 October — that date has passed |
| Kenya | About 15 days | Needed a complete file by about 28 October — that date has passed |
The Christmas Deadline Is the One That Matters Now
If your heart is set on one of the long-visa destinations, do not rush a weak file for Tihar. Aim for the holidays at the end of December — but note how soon the deadlines fall:
- Turkey, Hong Kong, Egypt (40–45 days): a complete file by early November.
- Schengen (about 30 days): a complete file by about 20 November, and appointment slots for December travel become scarce well before then.
December is also the most expensive week of the year to fly. Our Christmas and New Year guide explains the costs and the booking order.
Why 12 November Rather Than Before Tihar
- You are home for the rituals. The part of the holiday that matters most to the family is already done.
- You get a clear runway. A 12 November departure gives you three weeks for visas instead of squeezing a trip into the days before 8 November.
- Better availability. The days immediately before a festival are the busiest, so leaving just after it can be easier to book.
One caution: flights out of Kathmandu to the Gulf can be busier right after the festival, because many workers return then. See our Kathmandu to Dubai fares guide for how that affects prices.
Your Checklist for This Week
- Check every passport today. Six months of validity beyond the return date. An expiring passport ends a trip faster than any visa.
- Request your bank statement now. It is the slowest document, and most visas want three to six months of history without a sudden large deposit.
- Decide your return date before you choose a destination. Many families have exactly the leave they have.
- Look up the exact checklist in the app before photographing anything — see our guide to applying from your phone.
- Message us your real deadline so we can tell you what is achievable.
Bringing Parents Home, or Sending Them Away
Tihar is also when many NRNs return to Nepal. If you are abroad and want to arrange a trip for your parents after the festival, our team in Kathmandu handles their documents and sees them off — see the guide for NRNs booking from abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still travel for Tihar itself?
If you do not need to be home, the Maldives and Sri Lanka are the simplest, and Thailand and Vietnam are workable if your documents are ready this week. Everything else on the long-visa list is for later.
What if my passport expires in a few months?
Renew it first. Most countries want six months of validity beyond your return date, and airlines will not board you without it.
Is it cheaper to travel after Tihar?
Sometimes, depending on the route. The pre-festival days and the days just after can both be busy, while the weeks after that are quieter. We check the actual fares for your dates when we quote.
Can you speed up a visa?
Not reliably. What genuinely saves days is a complete and correct file the first time — a resubmission costs far more time than any shortcut saves.
Talk to Us This Week
At this point in the calendar, a few days genuinely matter. Message us with your leave dates, budget and who is travelling, and we will tell you honestly what is still achievable — including when the right answer is “plan it for December”. See also our Dashain and Tihar packages guide.
White Tiger Holidays — IATA accredited, Government of Nepal authorized, arranging travel from Kathmandu since 2009.
