Day 1 · Kathmandu airport (KTM) Kathmandu
Into Kathmandu, and an early night before the flight
- 6 km, about 0.5 h
- High point 1,400 m
- Sleep at 1,400 m
- Easy

Nonstop flights from Delhi reach Tribhuvan through the day, and Buddha Air's service from Kolkata lands at about 11:05 on the days it flies. Coming from Bagdogra instead, we drive you through Kakarbhitta to the afternoon flight from Bhadrapur. Your guide meets you beyond customs, and the car takes about 25 minutes to Durbar Marg and Hotel Yak & Yeti, built round Lal Durbar, a Rana palace of 1885. Rest or swim. At 18:00 your guide sits with you for ten minutes to go through tomorrow: the 05:10 pickup, what to wear, which side the peaks appear on first. Dinner is at The Chimney, which grew from the restaurant Boris Lissanevitch, the Russian dancer behind Nepal's first luxury hotel, opened in Lal Durbar; its copper hood is about sixty years old. We reconfirm your seat with the airline that evening, and the kitchen packs coffee and a breakfast box for the car. Lights out by 21:30.
The momentThe copper hood of The Chimney glowing over dinner in a Rana palace, the alarm already set for 04:45.
InsiderWear a dark top on the flight. Pale clothes reflect in the window glass and ghost across every photograph of the range.
If the weather turnsIf your flight in lands late, dinner comes to your room and the briefing happens by phone. The 05:10 pickup stands, because the spare morning covers any cloud.
- Tonight
- Hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu
- Meals
- Dinner