Bkk To Kathmandu (Nepal)

[rdcny1]

Hello,

I am looking long-term here.

I will be in Thailand from 13 August through 13 November (in Chumphon doing bird migration research). On the evening of 13 November, I want to go to Kathmandu (Nepal) via Thai Air. And I'd like to return on 13 December (a Tuesday) to BKK.

The cheapest price I can find right now is about $750 via Thai Air (I want to fly direct and not via India - hence my preference to fly on Thai Air).

I understand that Thai Air runs specials (discounted flights) on this route every few months. So please advise when the best time to book this ticket - it should be at most $500 RT, given the distance...and even $350 RT is a more rational price. $750 is crazy given the distance is about 2500km. Any advice appreciated as to when to try book this ticket to get the best fare.

Thank You,

Robert DeCandido

NYC

[rdcny1]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the reply. By "specials" I was speaking generically...meaning that Thai Air might list this route along with several other destinations in Asia at a discounted price.

I can fly from NYC to Kathmandu (RT) for about $1750 (but not Thai Air). So the current price for a RT economy seat from BKK to KTM is a bit high.

Oddly, I have enough FF miles (35,000) to book this trip via Thai Air but they are not opening it up to FF tickets as of this time. (However, I can book a one way ticket from BKK to KTT in Royal Silk Class using miles (37,500) but not RT. The Thai Air people tell me there is always a problem with the KTM branch = very slow. So this is all very frustrating...I have to use the miles by the end of June to get the ticket, otherwise I lose them...The folks at Thai Air tell me that there are plenty of seats available on the days I wish to travel but for whatever reason, Thai Air has not opened them up for FF use in Economy class.

Looking through the archives by doing a search here at Thai Visa Forum, it seems that the price of this flight was about $300 until a few years ago - now it has almost doubled - while other carriers have come in and do the route less expensively (albeit via India with an overnight stopover).

Any advice, suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob

[rdcny1]

Follow-up - suppose I did a circuitous route: BKK to Singapore (Or Hong Kong) then to KTM - would that be cheaper and has anyone doe that route?

rdc/nyc

[phuketrichard]

this route has and will always be expensive for the miles flown.

No way around it,

Royal Nepal is a bit cheaper 14,500 r/t http://www.nepalairlines.com.np/

and if u have the time u can always fly via Dacca and or Calcutta

Jet airways flies via Delhi for about 19,000

[asanee]

[A]Oddly, I have enough FF miles (35,000) to book this trip via Thai Air but they are not opening it up to FF tickets as of this time.

Looking through the archives by doing a search here at Thai Visa Forum, it seems that the price of this flight was about $300 until a few years ago -

@A: most likely this means they expect such a good load of really paying pax, they do not do free seats. try calling again-their London office. it helps if you have status-just 35k is not enough for that.

@B. this is not true, nor has it ever been. The quoted return from BKk has always been in the 6-800US$ range (incl. all taxes), and are VERY much seasonal. Only due to the then unrest in NPL for a year or 2 there were some lower offers-but often it was less flights, not cheaper prices to fill tehem. In short; flying into KTM is not cheap on whatever airline-due to very limited and special access to this airport. TG simply has the monopoly-for some time there as Royal Nepal-but they are more grounded as flying. if you want to avoid India (with a direct transit at the brand new INTERnational airport at DELhi you have no visa-issues), via SING seems the only other viable option. And once agian-as so many do not seem to grasp that: book TG via agents-online you usually only get quoted the highest full-fare.

[rdcny1]

OK you folks win...I'll have a better look at Jet Air. They are running a special deal right now on their web site for the flight. It is BKK-KTM (direct) and return KTM-Delhi-BKK - about US $575...or (approx.) 18k baht.

One question on that segment - the return trip requires an overnight in Delhi - do they provide a free hotel room (and hold one's passport overnight) in Delhi - or am I stuck in the airport for some 20 hours waiting for the Delhi-BKK plane to board? If the latter, how much is a hotel room in the airport area...and is there a hotel within the airport itself (as there is at BKK and even KL)?

Thanks everyone for all the advice...

As an aside, if anyone has the time this Sept-October, we (Deborah Allen and I) recommend visiting the area of Khao Dinsor (Pencil Hill) just north of Chumphon to watch the incredible migration of birds of prey (and bee-eaters + other species). See attached file for info and feel free to email me for more info - this will be about my seventh year doing bird migration research in southern Thailand - one of the best places in Asia to watch diurnal bird migration. We coordinate with many Thais on the proj2010.FinalReport.KhaoDinsor.pdfect.

Robert DeCandido PhD

NYC

[bangkokburning]

Its all been said before. Royal Nepal and TG have this monopoly sewn up for years. It has to be one of the most expensive 4 hour journeys on earth. If you go thru India forewarned yo may need a transit visa and your layover is about 20 hours.

I was in Nepal in Oct and it really sucked. There is nothing I can say was worthwhile. The trip was a dream for my gf, was a total bust for even her.

The only thing Nepal has to offer any more is trekking. You must trek hard and high. Permits for ABC trek will run about B1500 pax rock bottom. That is simply your ability to walk the trail. Mustang is about US700.

KTM is now an ugly, dirty sprawl. The city is wholly broken, the government in shambles. All the lovely old squares are dirty, temples in disrepair. Traffic buzzing in the squares YOU PAY TO ENTER.

Pokara is now nothing more than a jumping off point for a trek. Smoke/pollution gathers in the valley, Annapurna cannot be seen.

NOTE: MANY, MANY restaurants in the tourist areas charge you addl 10% service charge and some even tack an addl 13% VAT on tha AND if that is not bad enough, yes they tax the svc chg. Of course, all this goes in pocket. They don't care if you complain, they know no one returns anymore to Nepal.

For me, a total waste of money

If you do go. Get your permits in KTM, get out asap and get up into the mountains. There is nothing to see in KTM valley, temples ((often charges) are uncared for...

*The people are still lovely despite their condition

*Its easy to skirt the squares that charge fees, use your head (we never paid)

Even Bhaktapur is barely worth it, not really. I have a video I had taken of a traffic jam, replete with horns blazing and cars and motorbikes jostling on a small "street" in Bhaktapur. It was a bit of an epiphany - how the tourist marketing bullshit was so disjointed from reality.

BTW - we found human fecal matter and urine in a temple in Patan Durbar square. The Golden Temple (always one of the best) is broken and scaffoleded and NOT worth entrance fees. Of course, they dont tell you that. It appears it will never be fixed judging by the age of the scaffolds and lack of attention in general. They have stopped caring for their temples.

[bangkokburning]

I'm not recommending you stop in Delhi and esp CCI. Triple so if you have never been to India. You DEF will need a visa (US75 now?) then you will need to contend with the hassle of getting in/out of whatever city. Then you will have to find a place to sleep. Delhi is more expensive than BKK for a room. I don't know your standards...

The new airport in DEL has obscene airport taxes (like B1400!)

Suck it up and book it direct. Check the TG site for "discounts" which are as rare as snow leopards.

BTW - THERE IS NO DUTY FREE IN KTM! Get your duty free in BKK.

BTW - No electricity in Nepal. Bring candles and a small gas stove if you like coffee in your room.

Most of all and sorry - don't go.

Your report is very nice. I'd like to go have a look we will be in US in October and then Andaman Dec onward. Still many Pied Hornbill on Phayam and some on Ko Ngai, Adang and Tarutao as well. Tarutao has lots of birds.

[rdcny1]

I've been to Nepal before and have a colleague who lives there, north of Pokhara. We will be staying in the foothills of the Himalayas doing a study of east to west migrating Steppe Eagles. We will also be doing some assessment of the remaining vultures (6-7 species) in the area. Thanks for the comments - though you might want to have someone tickle you before attempting to make any more suggestions.

[rdcny1]

I've been to Nepal before and have a colleague who lives there, north of Pokhara. We will be staying in the foothills of the Himalayas doing a study of east to west migrating Steppe Eagles. We will also be doing some assessment of the remaining vultures (6-7 species) in the area. Thanks for the comments - though you might want to have someone tickle you before attempting to make any more suggestions.

[dundee007]

FYI

Spice Jet from KTM-DELHI-KTM is much cheaper than Jet Air if you happen to go via Delhi, two flights a day i guess........do check their site...www.spicejet.com

have a pleasant journey.

[theoldgit]

If anyone has a stash of Thai ROP miles, Thai have halved the number of miles required for a return trip from Bangkok to Kathmandu until the end of August, now 17,500 miles. Don't know what the taxes are, and I cannot remember if they impose a fuel surcharge.

[12DrinkMore]

I was in Nepal in Oct and it really sucked. There is nothing I can say was worthwhile. The trip was a dream for my gf, was a total bust for even her.

The only thing Nepal has to offer any more is trekking. You must trek hard and high. Permits for ABC trek will run about B1500 pax rock bottom. That is simply your ability to walk the trail. Mustang is about US700.

KTM is now an ugly, dirty sprawl. The city is wholly broken, the government in shambles. All the lovely old squares are dirty, temples in disrepair. Traffic buzzing in the squares YOU PAY TO ENTER.

Pokara is now nothing more than a jumping off point for a trek. Smoke/pollution gathers in the valley, Annapurna cannot be seen.

NOTE: MANY, MANY restaurants in the tourist areas charge you addl 10% service charge and some even tack an addl 13% VAT on tha AND if that is not bad enough, yes they tax the svc chg. Of course, all this goes in pocket. They don't care if you complain, they know no one returns anymore to Nepal.

For me, a total waste of money

If you do go. Get your permits in KTM, get out asap and get up into the mountains. There is nothing to see in KTM valley, temples ((often charges) are uncared for...

*The people are still lovely despite their condition

*Its easy to skirt the squares that charge fees, use your head (we never paid)

Even Bhaktapur is barely worth it, not really. I have a video I had taken of a traffic jam, replete with horns blazing and cars and motorbikes jostling on a small "street" in Bhaktapur. It was a bit of an epiphany - how the tourist marketing bullshit was so disjointed from reality.

BTW - we found human fecal matter and urine in a temple in Patan Durbar square. The Golden Temple (always one of the best) is broken and scaffoleded and NOT worth entrance fees. Of course, they dont tell you that. It appears it will never be fixed judging by the age of the scaffolds and lack of attention in general. They have stopped caring for their temples.

Just to balance all that.

The Thamal area of KTM is a tourist oriented trap, but excellent for buying all your trekking gear. I enjoyed the experience of chaos and noise, but be prepared for the shock. There are a vast number of restaurants, from well over-priced to very reasonable. The odd temples I saw were a bit decrepit, but I am not into temples.

I could see the Annapurnas from Pokara last November, an amazing sight. Pokara was pleasant enough for a week, lots of restaurants and live music.

I did not find the trekking permits overpriced in relation to gaining access to the highest mountains of the world.

You can take the treks at any pace you want, doesn't have to be hard and high, you can do slow and high too. (Can't get away from the high)

I was not disappointed and will be going back for more. Still have Everest and Khumbu to experience.

A to Nepal for treking, totally great value for the money I spent.

[dekbahnnok]

Its all been said before. Royal Nepal and TG have this monopoly sewn up for years. It has to be one of the most expensive 4 hour journeys on earth. If you go thru India forewarned yo may need a transit visa and your layover is about 20 hours.

I was in Nepal in Oct and it really sucked. There is nothing I can say was worthwhile. The trip was a dream for my gf, was a total bust for even her.

The only thing Nepal has to offer any more is trekking. You must trek hard and high. Permits for ABC trek will run about B1500 pax rock bottom. That is simply your ability to walk the trail. Mustang is about US700.

KTM is now an ugly, dirty sprawl. The city is wholly broken, the government in shambles. All the lovely old squares are dirty, temples in disrepair. Traffic buzzing in the squares YOU PAY TO ENTER.

Pokara is now nothing more than a jumping off point for a trek. Smoke/pollution gathers in the valley, Annapurna cannot be seen.

NOTE: MANY, MANY restaurants in the tourist areas charge you addl 10% service charge and some even tack an addl 13% VAT on tha AND if that is not bad enough, yes they tax the svc chg. Of course, all this goes in pocket. They don't care if you complain, they know no one returns anymore to Nepal.

For me, a total waste of money

If you do go. Get your permits in KTM, get out asap and get up into the mountains. There is nothing to see in KTM valley, temples ((often charges) are uncared for...

*The people are still lovely despite their condition

*Its easy to skirt the squares that charge fees, use your head (we never paid)

Even Bhaktapur is barely worth it, not really. I have a video I had taken of a traffic jam, replete with horns blazing and cars and motorbikes jostling on a small "street" in Bhaktapur. It was a bit of an epiphany - how the tourist marketing bullshit was so disjointed from reality.

BTW - we found human fecal matter and urine in a temple in Patan Durbar square. The Golden Temple (always one of the best) is broken and scaffoleded and NOT worth entrance fees. Of course, they dont tell you that. It appears it will never be fixed judging by the age of the scaffolds and lack of attention in general. They have stopped caring for their temples.

[dekbahnnok]

Tellin' it like it is! The High Season is bad. Just too many travellers invade Nepal and charge around spending money. Seasoned travellers know it is not the time to go. High airfares, high prices, full domestic flights and blotched bookings,

The winter is a good alternative. It is not that cold. Trekking is fine as weather is dry and routes are not packed. Flights are not full. Competition is strong. Thamel is empty except for Fridays.

After visiting Thailand Kathmandu is a real shocker. Clean has a different definition.

There is great scenery in and around the Kathmandu Valley and beyond. Once you see the Himalayas it is worth the hassles.

The air fares used to change a lot over the seasons, but with Thai that is pretty much a thing of the past.

Poverty is endemic. Glue sniffing kids roam the streets in packs and sleep and excrete in the streets and at temples. When you gotta go nowhere is sacred. Tri Deva Marg, the entrance to Thamel has been home to the glue sniffers for at least a decade.

If you want a more controlled and secure route to the Himalayas try China or head to Leh.

If you have some money go to Bhutan. Nice people and nice mountains