Short answer: Yes, you can fly from Kathmandu to Colombo without a stop. SriLankan Airlines operates the only non-stop service between Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) and Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), about four times a week, with a scheduled flight time of about 3 hours 35 minutes. On other days, or when the non-stop is full or expensive, the usual choice is one stop in an Indian city (Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru), with Gulf and Southeast Asian hubs as longer alternatives. Sri Lanka is 15 minutes behind Nepal, and Colombo airport sits about 32 to 35 km north of the city, linked by an expressway.
This guide covers the Kathmandu to Colombo route in practical detail: who flies it, how long each option takes, which connections make sense for families, elderly parents and first time flyers, what happens when you land at Katunayake, and how to get to Colombo or Negombo. It ends with a season by season typical fare range in Nepali rupees, clearly labelled as a range and not a quote. Schedules on this route change with each airline season, so every volatile fact below carries the date we checked it.
If you are still deciding whether Sri Lanka is the right trip, start with our Sri Lanka travel guide, and for the bigger picture of where you can fly from Nepal without changing planes, see our guide to direct flights from Kathmandu.
Is there a direct flight from Kathmandu to Colombo?
Yes. SriLankan Airlines, Sri Lanka's national carrier, flies non-stop between Kathmandu and Colombo, and it is the only airline doing so as of late October 2026. The Kathmandu to Colombo flight is UL182, and the return from Colombo to Kathmandu is UL181. Schedule data for the northern winter season, which started on 25 October 2026, shows UL182 leaving Kathmandu on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, which works out to about four flights a week.
| Item | What we found |
|---|---|
| Non-stop airline | SriLankan Airlines (the only non-stop carrier on KTM to CMB) |
| Flight numbers | UL182 Kathmandu to Colombo; UL181 Colombo to Kathmandu |
| Operating days from Kathmandu | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday (about 4 a week) |
| Typical departure from Kathmandu | Early afternoon, around 12:50 (Wednesday departures have been scheduled later, around 13:40) |
| Typical arrival in Colombo | Late afternoon, around 16:10 to 17:00 Sri Lanka time |
| Scheduled block time | About 3 hours 35 minutes |
| Aircraft | Airbus A320 family, with economy and a small business cabin |
| Checked | Checked: 27 Oct 2026, FlightMapper UL182 schedule, FlightsFrom CMB to KTM, KAYAK route page, Trip.com route page |
Treat the days and times as a guide, not a timetable. Airlines publish new schedules twice a year (late March and late October), and individual dates can move for operational reasons. Before you plan anything around the flight, confirm the current schedule on the SriLankan Airlines website for your exact dates.
A short history of the non-stop route
The non-stop link is not new, but it has not always run without interruption. In late 2022 SriLankan was operating five flights a week to Kathmandu and talking about going daily, according to reporting in The Rising Nepal. In September 2025 flights were briefly suspended while Kathmandu's airport was closed during the unrest in Nepal, and SriLankan resumed the route on 11 September 2025 with four flights a week on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, as reported by Ada Derana. In mid 2025 the airline's sales agent in Nepal said the sector was running at around 90 percent occupancy and that a larger Airbus A330 could be used if demand held, but we found no confirmed date for that change.
The practical lesson is simple. The non-stop flight is popular and does not run every day, so if your dates are fixed, especially around Dashain, Tihar or the December holidays, look at it first and book early.
Why a non-stop flight matters on this route
For most travellers from Nepal, the non-stop flight is the easiest way to reach Sri Lanka by a wide margin. You check in once, clear Nepali emigration once, and land in Colombo the same afternoon. That matters most for:
- Elderly parents and pilgrims, who avoid a transfer at a large and busy Indian or Gulf airport.
- Families with small children, for whom a 3 hour 35 minute flight is manageable and a 10 hour journey with a connection is not.
- Short trips, such as a 5 or 6 day holiday, where a one-stop route can eat almost a full day at each end.
- First time international flyers, who only need to follow one set of airport signs. Our first time flight tips walk through the whole airport day in order.
How long is the flight from Kathmandu to Sri Lanka?
The non-stop flight from Kathmandu to Colombo takes about 3 hours 35 minutes from gate to gate. The two airports are roughly 2,350 km apart in a straight line. Actual time in the air is often a little shorter than the scheduled block time, because the schedule includes taxiing and a buffer for Kathmandu's frequent ground delays.
One-stop journeys are a different story. Trip.com's route data on 27 October 2026 showed connecting journeys ranging from about 6 hours 45 minutes to more than 28 hours, depending on the connection city and the layover. The table below adds up the typical flight times on each leg so you can see the minimum realistic journey before any layover is added.
| Route | Leg 1 (approx.) | Leg 2 (approx.) | Flying time before layover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-stop KTM to CMB | 3 h 35 min | None | About 3 h 35 min |
| Via Delhi | KTM to DEL about 1 h 40 min to 2 h | DEL to CMB about 3 h 35 min | About 5 h 15 min to 5 h 35 min |
| Via Mumbai | KTM to BOM about 2 h 45 min | BOM to CMB about 2 h 30 min | About 5 h 15 min |
| Via Bengaluru | KTM to BLR about 3 h to 3 h 10 min | BLR to CMB about 1 h 30 min | About 4 h 30 min to 4 h 40 min |
| Via Bangkok | KTM to BKK about 3 h 20 min to 3 h 30 min | BKK to CMB about 3 h 20 min to 3 h 40 min | About 6 h 40 min to 7 h 10 min |
| Via Kuala Lumpur | KTM to KUL about 4 h 30 min to 4 h 45 min | KUL to CMB about 3 h 25 min to 3 h 35 min | About 8 h to 8 h 20 min |
| Via Dubai | KTM to DXB about 4 h 40 min to 5 h 15 min | DXB to CMB about 4 h 25 min to 4 h 45 min | About 9 h to 10 h |
| Via Doha | KTM to DOH about 4 h 50 min to 5 h 20 min | DOH to CMB about 4 h 40 min to 4 h 45 min | About 9 h 30 min to 10 h |
| Checked: 27 Oct 2026, FlightRoutes.com route pages for each leg, FlightMapper (UL182), FlightsFrom (BLR to KTM). Layovers are extra and usually add 1 hour 30 minutes to several hours. | |||
Two things stand out. First, the Indian connections are the only one-stop options that stay roughly on the way, because India sits between Nepal and Sri Lanka. Second, every Gulf and Southeast Asian connection involves flying in the wrong direction first, so even a perfectly timed transfer through Kuala Lumpur, Dubai or Doha will take most of a day.
What is the time difference between Nepal and Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is 15 minutes behind Nepal. Nepal uses UTC+5:45 and Sri Lanka uses Sri Lanka Standard Time, UTC+5:30, which it has kept since April 2006. Neither country uses daylight saving time, so the gap is the same all year. When it is 12:00 noon in Kathmandu, it is 11:45 in Colombo. Your boarding pass and the airport screens always show local time at each airport, which is why a 12:50 departure and a 16:10 arrival add up to 3 hours 35 minutes rather than 3 hours 20 minutes.
| Place | Time zone | Difference from Kathmandu |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu, Nepal | UTC+5:45 | None |
| Colombo, Sri Lanka | UTC+5:30 | 15 minutes behind |
| Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru (India) | UTC+5:30 | 15 minutes behind |
| Dubai, Sharjah (UAE) | UTC+4 | 1 hour 45 minutes behind |
| Doha (Qatar) | UTC+3 | 2 hours 45 minutes behind |
| Bangkok (Thailand) | UTC+7 | 1 hour 15 minutes ahead |
| Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) | UTC+8 | 2 hours 15 minutes ahead |
In practice there is no jet lag on this route. The only adjustment worth making is remembering that phones switch automatically while some older watches do not.
Which one-stop routes work best?
When the non-stop flight does not fit your dates, the best one-stop route from Kathmandu to Colombo is usually through India: Delhi for the most frequent connections, Mumbai or Bengaluru when a suitable flight is available. Gulf and Southeast Asian hubs work too, but they make sense mainly when you are already combining Sri Lanka with another country, or when you hold loyalty points with a particular airline.
| Connection city | Kathmandu to hub (non-stop carriers) | Hub to Colombo (non-stop carriers) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi (DEL) | Air India, IndiGo, Nepal Airlines and others, several flights a day | Air India, SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo (IndiGo's Delhi to Colombo service listed as new from October 2026) | Most frequent option; good fallback on non-stop off days |
| Mumbai (BOM) | IndiGo daily; Nepal Airlines on some days | SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo, Air India | Travellers combining Sri Lanka with western India |
| Bengaluru (BLR) | Nepal Airlines on some days; Air India Express listed again from December 2026 | SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo | The shortest second leg; check the first leg is operating on your dates |
| Chennai (MAA) | No non-stop from Kathmandu | SriLankan Airlines, IndiGo, FitsAir (listed from late November) | Only as part of a two-stop or India add-on trip |
| Bangkok (BKK) | Thai Airways, Nepal Airlines | SriLankan Airlines, Thai Airways | Combining Thailand and Sri Lanka |
| Kuala Lumpur (KUL) | Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air Malaysia, Himalaya Airlines, Nepal Airlines | Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, SriLankan Airlines | Combining Malaysia and Sri Lanka |
| Dubai (DXB) | flydubai, Himalaya Airlines, Nepal Airlines | Emirates, flydubai, SriLankan Airlines | Combining a Dubai stopover with Sri Lanka |
| Sharjah (SHJ) | Air Arabia, several flights a day | Air Arabia | One-airline itinerary through the UAE |
| Doha (DOH) | Qatar Airways, Himalaya Airlines, Nepal Airlines | Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines | Travellers using Qatar Airways or oneworld miles |
| Checked: 27 Oct 2026, FlightRoutes.com and FlightsFrom route pages, KAYAK and Trip.com route pages for KTM to CMB. Carriers and frequencies change each season; always confirm on the airline's own site. | |||
Via Delhi: the dependable fallback
Delhi is one of the busiest routes out of Kathmandu, with Air India, IndiGo and Nepal Airlines all flying it daily or almost daily as of October 2026, and several airlines flying on from Delhi to Colombo each day. That combination is why Delhi is the default one-stop routing on booking sites. On Trip.com's data, the lowest one-way fares on the route were Air India itineraries through India, although some of those cheapest options involved very long journeys of 18 hours or more.
Nepali citizens do not need a visa for India, but how much of Delhi airport you see depends on your ticket. On a single through ticket you normally connect inside the international transfer area without collecting your bag. On two separate tickets you leave the airport, collect your bags and check in again, which needs several hours of buffer.
Via Mumbai or Bengaluru: shorter, when they run
Mumbai and Bengaluru sit further south, so the second leg to Colombo is short: about 2 hours 30 minutes from Mumbai and about 1 hour 30 minutes from Bengaluru. The catch is frequency on the first leg. IndiGo flies Kathmandu to Mumbai daily, but the Kathmandu to Bengaluru link has been less steady: Nepal Airlines flies it on some days of the week, and Air India Express, which launched the route in June 2025, was shown in schedule data as resuming from 1 December 2026. If one of these lines up with your dates, it can beat the Delhi routing by an hour or two.
Via Gulf or Southeast Asian hubs: only for combined trips
Routings through Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur add many hours because you fly away from Sri Lanka before turning back. They make sense when you want a stopover, for example a few days in Bangkok or Dubai before the beach, or when a combined ticket is the only option on a crowded festival date. If you are building a two-country holiday, our guide to the best travel destinations for Nepali travellers compares the most popular pairings.
One ticket or two?
Book the whole journey on one ticket wherever you can. On a single ticket the airline is responsible for getting you to Colombo if the first flight is late, and your bag is normally checked through to CMB. On separate tickets a delay in Kathmandu can cost you the second flight with no protection, and you may need to clear immigration at the connecting airport. Gulf and Southeast Asian hubs have their own transit rules for Nepali passport holders, so if you must self transfer, ask our team or the airline before booking.
| Traveller | First choice | Good alternative | Avoid if possible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elderly parents or pilgrims | Non-stop SriLankan | One ticket via Delhi with a 2 to 4 hour layover and wheelchair help booked | Self transfer on separate tickets |
| Family with young children | Non-stop SriLankan | One ticket via Bengaluru or Mumbai | Overnight layovers, Gulf routings |
| Honeymoon couple | Non-stop SriLankan | Stopover in Bangkok or Dubai as part of the trip | Very early or very late connections on day one |
| Budget traveller | One ticket via India, booked early | Non-stop on a quieter weekday in the shoulder season | The cheapest fare with an 18 hour layover if your trip is short |
| Diaspora visitors routing through Nepal | Non-stop SriLankan (it also connects to SriLankan's wider network) | Gulf carrier if continuing to the Middle East | Separate tickets with tight connections |
Which airport do you land at?
All international flights from Kathmandu land at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB), usually called Colombo airport or Katunayake. It is in Katunayake, close to the town of Negombo, about 32.5 km north of central Colombo, and it is run by Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Limited. It is the home base of SriLankan Airlines and FitsAir.
CMB currently handles all international passengers in one main terminal, opened in 1967. A second international terminal began construction in 2020, was paused in 2022 during Sri Lanka's economic crisis, and in August 2026 officials said work, backed by Japanese loan funding, would restart before November 2026, so you may see building work around the airport. Sri Lanka has other airports with international status, such as Mattala near Hambantota and Ratmalana south of Colombo, but none has a flight from Kathmandu, so ignore them when searching.
| Item | Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) |
|---|---|
| IATA code | CMB |
| Location | Katunayake, near Negombo, Western Province |
| Distance to central Colombo | About 32 to 35 km |
| Distance to Negombo town and beach hotels | About 6 to 10 km |
| Terminals | One main international terminal; a separate domestic terminal; a new international terminal under construction |
| Arrival services | Mobile SIM counters (24 hours), bank exchange counters, ATMs, official taxi counter, left luggage |
| Checked | Checked: 27 Oct 2026, Wikipedia (Bandaranaike International Airport), The Sri Lankan Guideline airport guide |
What happens after you land
- Immigration. Join the queue for foreign passports and hand over your passport. Sri Lanka requires an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival; see the section below on what to arrange before landing.
- Duty free and SIM cards. Arrival duty free shops and SIM counters are in the arrivals area. SIM counters for Dialog, Mobitel (SLT Mobitel) and Airtel operate in the arrivals area around the clock; registration with your passport is required and takes 10 to 15 minutes, and your phone must be unlocked.
- Baggage and customs. Collect your bags and walk through the green channel if you have nothing to declare.
- Money. Bank exchange counters and ATMs are in the arrivals hall. Rates at the airport are usually a little worse than in the city, so change only what you need for the first day. Before leaving Nepal, check the foreign currency limit from Nepal for the cash you carry.
- Transport. The official taxi counter is just outside the arrivals exit; the bus stop for Colombo is a short walk outside the terminal.
How do you get from the airport to Colombo or Negombo?
The quickest way from Colombo airport to the city is a taxi or ride hailing car on the Colombo Katunayake Expressway (E03), which usually takes 30 to 50 minutes. The cheapest way is the airport bus to Colombo Fort, and the easiest first night for many families is a hotel in Negombo, only about 15 minutes away.
The E03 expressway is 25.8 km long and opened on 27 October 2013, linking the airport area with the New Kelani Bridge at the edge of Colombo. Before it opened, the only road was the old Negombo Road through Ja-Ela and Wattala, which can still take 60 to 90 minutes in traffic. Because the non-stop flight from Kathmandu lands in the late afternoon, you will often meet Colombo's evening traffic once you leave the expressway, so allow extra time if you have dinner plans in the city.
| Option | To where | Typical time | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official airport taxi (via E03 expressway) | Central Colombo, Colombo Fort, Colombo 3 and beyond | About 30 to 50 minutes | Pre-paid fixed rates displayed at the counter outside arrivals; avoid drivers who approach you inside |
| Ride hailing (PickMe, Uber) | Colombo or Negombo | As taxi | Needs a working SIM or Wi-Fi; PickMe usually has more cars than Uber |
| Hotel or tour transfer | Colombo, Negombo, or straight to Kandy or Sigiriya | Depends on destination | Simplest for elderly parents, families and late arrivals |
| Airport bus, route 187 | Colombo Fort (central bus and rail hub) | About 1 hour or more | Cheapest option; stop is a short walk from the terminal; luggage space is limited |
| Taxi or tuk-tuk | Negombo town and beach hotels | About 15 minutes | Negombo is about 6 to 10 km from the airport |
| Train from Katunayake South station | Colombo Fort | Infrequent services | Station is about 2 km from the terminal; only practical for light travellers |
| Checked: 27 Oct 2026, Wikipedia (E03 expressway, Sri Lanka), The Sri Lankan Guideline airport guide. Times are for normal traffic; festival days and rush hours are slower. | |||
Should you stay in Negombo on arrival?
For many travellers flying in from Kathmandu, yes. Negombo is a beach town about 15 minutes from the airport, so you can be at your hotel within the hour after landing, eat dinner by the sea and start the real trip fresh the next morning. It makes the most sense when:
- Your next stop is Sigiriya, Dambulla, Kandy or the Cultural Triangle. The airport is already north of Colombo, so there is no need to drive into the city and back out again.
- You are travelling with elderly parents or small children and want a short first transfer.
- Your departure flight home leaves early in the morning, and you want to sleep close to the airport on the last night.
Stay in Colombo instead if your plan starts with the city itself, or if you are heading south along the coast to Bentota and Galle, where the Southern Expressway begins on the Colombo side. Our Sri Lanka itinerary guide shows how the first night fits into routes of different lengths, and our guide on getting around Sri Lanka covers drivers, trains and buses once you leave the airport.
What should you arrange before landing?
Arrange your Sri Lanka ETA, your onward accommodation and your first transfer before you leave Kathmandu. Sri Lanka requires most foreign visitors, including Nepali passport holders, to hold an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before travel, and airlines may check for it at check in at Tribhuvan. Sri Lanka's entry rules for several nationalities, Nepal among them, were under revision in 2026, so we do not repeat the details here; our team keeps the current process on the Sri Lanka visa guidance page.
| Before you fly | Why it matters on this route |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka ETA approved | Needed before arrival; airlines may check it at check in |
| Passport validity | Check it is valid well beyond your return date; many countries expect six months |
| First night booked | Immigration may ask where you are staying; a late afternoon arrival leaves little time to search |
| Return or onward ticket | Keep it on your phone and on paper |
| Airport transfer plan | Decide between taxi, ride hailing, bus or hotel pickup before you land |
| Travel insurance | Covers delays, missed connections on one-stop routes and medical needs |
| Foreign currency for the trip | Carry foreign currency within Nepal's limits and exchange it for Sri Lankan rupees (LKR) on arrival |
| Special meals and wheelchair help | Request when booking; vegetarian and Hindu or Jain meals must be ordered in advance |
On the Nepal side, leave plenty of time at Tribhuvan International Airport, where queues for check in, emigration and security can be long in festival season; our Kathmandu airport departure guide walks through each step. Our guide to travel insurance from Nepal explains what to look for in a policy for a short Asian trip.
Tips for the non-stop flight itself
- Seat choice. The flight heads south from Kathmandu. Mountain views right after take off depend on the runway in use and the weather, so do not pay extra for a seat only for that reason.
- Meals. SriLankan is a full service airline, but check what your fare includes. If you are vegetarian or need a Hindu, Jain or other special meal, request it when booking or at least well before departure.
- Baggage. Allowances differ by fare type and between airlines on one-stop routes. On a mixed itinerary, the most restrictive allowance can apply, so check each leg.
- Arrival time. Landing around 4 to 5 pm gives you daylight for the transfer most of the year, which suits families arriving for the first time.
How do seasons affect your travel?
Seasons affect a Kathmandu to Colombo trip in two separate ways: Nepal's festival and school calendar drives demand and fares on the flight, while Sri Lanka's two monsoons decide which coast has good weather when you land. The useful rule is that Sri Lanka's west and south coasts and hill country are best from December to March, while the east coast is best from May to September.
Sri Lanka's weather, west versus east
Sri Lanka has two monsoons that hit opposite sides of the island. The southwest monsoon brings rain to the west coast, the south coast and the hill country from about mid May to September, while the east coast stays mostly dry. The northeast monsoon brings rain to the north and east from about December to February, while the west and south are at their best. October and November, the inter-monsoon period, can bring showers almost anywhere. For a month by month view, read our guide to the best time to visit Sri Lanka.
| Months | West and south coast (Negombo, Colombo, Bentota, Galle, Mirissa) | East coast (Trincomalee, Pasikudah, Arugam Bay) | Hill country (Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella) |
|---|---|---|---|
| December to March | Best season, dry and sunny | Wetter, northeast monsoon early in the period | Good, cool and clear mornings |
| April | Hot, afternoon storms start | Improving | Pleasant; Sinhala and Tamil New Year holidays mid April |
| May to September | Southwest monsoon, wetter and rougher seas | Best season, dry and calm | Showers, especially on western slopes |
| October to November | Inter-monsoon showers | Inter-monsoon showers, northeast rains begin | Showery |
| Sources: Climate of Sri Lanka (Wikipedia, summarising the Department of Meteorology), Gomayu's best time to visit Sri Lanka guide. Checked: 27 Oct 2026. | |||
Nepal's calendar and the flight
| Period | What happens in Nepal | Effect on Kathmandu to Colombo flights | Sri Lanka weather on arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| October to mid November | Dashain and Tihar; in 2026 Dashain Tika was 21 October and Bhai Tika is 11 November | Peak demand from Kathmandu; non-stop seats go first | Inter-monsoon showers on both coasts |
| Late December to early January | Winter school holidays, Christmas and New Year travel | Busy; KAYAK showed January as the most popular month to fly | Best season for the west and south |
| February to March | Quieter period after winter holidays | Shoulder season, often more choice of dates | Still the best season for the west, south and hill country |
| April to May | Nepali New Year (mid April), summer school holidays | Busy around holidays, though KAYAK's data showed May as the cheapest month | Changeover; east coast opening up |
| June to September | Monsoon in Nepal | Fewer leisure travellers from Nepal, but not reliably cheaper on this route | East coast best; west coast wetter |
A Tihar trip to Sri Lanka works well if you leave right after Bhai Tika, when the Kathmandu peak is over. If you want to travel during Dashain, our guide to Dashain and Tihar holidays abroad lists the festival dates for 2026 and the best windows to travel.
How much does a Kathmandu to Colombo flight cost by season?
A typical economy return flight from Kathmandu to Colombo falls somewhere between about NPR 60,000 and NPR 130,000, depending on the season, how early you book and whether you fly non-stop or with one stop. One-way tickets typically range from about NPR 30,000 to NPR 85,000. These are typical ranges built from fare search data, not quotes, and the fare you actually see on any given day can sit outside them.
| Season (travel month) | Typical one-way economy (NPR) | Typical return economy (NPR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak: Dashain and Tihar (October to mid November) | About 30,000 to 85,000 | About 60,000 to 130,000 | October showed the highest average one-way fares of the year on Trip.com's 12 month data; festival dates can go higher |
| Peak: Christmas and New Year (late December to January) | About 30,000 to 70,000 | About 60,000 to 120,000 | January was the busiest month for travellers on KAYAK's data |
| Peak: Nepali New Year and summer holidays (April to May) | About 30,000 to 65,000 | About 60,000 to 110,000 | May was the cheapest month on both KAYAK and Trip.com data, but holiday dates in April fill early |
| Shoulder (February to March, late November) | About 30,000 to 65,000 | About 60,000 to 110,000 | Often the best balance of fare and weather on the west coast |
| Off-peak in Nepal: monsoon (June to September) | About 35,000 to 80,000 | About 65,000 to 120,000 | Not cheaper on this route: July and August were among the most expensive months on both sites |
| Typical range, not a quote. Checked: 27 Oct 2026, KAYAK route page KTM to CMB (round trip monthly medians and recent one-way fares), Trip.com route page KTM to CMB (12 month average one-way fares by month and current fares), SriLankan Airlines fare finder. Foreign currency figures converted to NPR at Nepal Rastra Bank's published October 2026 rate and rounded. Lower ends usually mean a one-stop ticket through India or an early non-stop sale fare; most non-stop fares we saw sat in the lower to middle part of each range. Search prices usually include taxes, but bag fees and seat charges may not be included. | |||
What the fare data tells us
- Non-stop is not always the most expensive option, but it is rarely the cheapest. In the searches we checked, the very cheapest itineraries were usually one-stop tickets through India, but SriLankan's non-stop fares were sometimes only slightly higher. Given the time saved, the non-stop is often the better value for short trips.
- The very cheapest fares often hide very long layovers. Some of the lowest one-way options on Trip.com involved journeys of 18 hours or more. Check the total journey time, not just the price.
- Monsoon is not a bargain season on this route. On KAYAK's data, August was the most expensive month for return fares and May the cheapest, with an average difference of about 38 percent between them. That likely reflects summer travel in the region, not Nepal's leisure demand.
- Fares from Colombo are priced differently. If you are a Sri Lankan or diaspora traveller starting in Colombo, SriLankan's fare finder for Colombo to Kathmandu shows fares in Sri Lankan rupees that do not convert neatly to the Kathmandu prices, so compare both directions on the day.
How to keep the fare down
- Book festival dates (Dashain, Tihar, December holidays) as early as you can; the non-stop flight has limited seats and runs only about four days a week.
- Be flexible by a day or two; a Monday or Thursday non-stop can price very differently from the Sunday flight.
- Compare the non-stop with one ticket via Delhi on the same date, and count the hours, not just the rupees.
- Keep the whole journey on one ticket so a delay does not turn into a second purchase.
- Fares change daily; check the airline's own website as well as search sites before deciding.
Planning the rest of the Sri Lanka trip
The flight is only one part of the budget. Our Sri Lanka trip cost from Nepal guide breaks down hotels, drivers, food and entry tickets for typical trips. If you would rather have flights, hotels, transfers and sightseeing arranged together, browse our Sri Lanka tour packages. And if you are thinking of adding a few beach days after Sri Lanka, Colombo is also the shortest connection from Kathmandu to the Maldives; our Maldives travel guide explains how the two trips fit together.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a flight from Kathmandu to Colombo?
A Kathmandu to Colombo economy flight typically ranges from about NPR 30,000 to NPR 85,000 one way and about NPR 60,000 to NPR 130,000 return, depending on season and routing. This is a typical range, not a quote (checked 27 Oct 2026 on KAYAK and Trip.com). One-stop tickets through India are usually cheapest; festival dates cost more.
Is there a direct flight from Kathmandu to Colombo?
Yes. SriLankan Airlines flies non-stop from Kathmandu to Colombo about four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays in the winter 2026 schedule (checked 27 Oct 2026). It is the only non-stop airline on the route. On other days you need one stop, usually in India.
How long is the flight from Nepal to Sri Lanka?
The non-stop flight from Kathmandu to Colombo takes about 3 hours 35 minutes. With one stop, the journey usually takes from about 6 hours 45 minutes via India to a full day or more via Gulf or Southeast Asian hubs, depending on the layover. The airports are roughly 2,350 km apart.
Which airlines fly from Kathmandu to Colombo?
SriLankan Airlines flies the Kathmandu to Colombo route non-stop. With one stop, common options include Air India and IndiGo via Indian cities, Nepal Airlines via Mumbai, Air Arabia via Sharjah, flydubai or Emirates via Dubai, Qatar Airways via Doha, Thai Airways via Bangkok and Malaysia Airlines via Kuala Lumpur.
Is it better to fly via Delhi or Bangalore?
Delhi is usually the more reliable connection from Kathmandu to Colombo, because it has several flights a day on both legs. Bengaluru gives a shorter second leg of about 1 hour 30 minutes, but the Kathmandu to Bengaluru flight runs only on some days, so check it operates on your date. Either way, book one through ticket.
How far is Colombo airport from the city?
Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake is about 32 to 35 km north of central Colombo. Via the Colombo Katunayake Expressway (E03), a taxi usually takes 30 to 50 minutes. The old Negombo Road can take 60 to 90 minutes in traffic, and the route 187 airport bus runs to Colombo Fort.
Should I stay in Negombo on arrival?
Staying in Negombo on your first night in Sri Lanka is a good idea if you land in the late afternoon, travel with elderly parents or children, or head next to Sigiriya or Kandy. Negombo is about 15 minutes from Colombo airport, so you avoid city traffic. Stay in Colombo if your trip starts there or heads south.
What is the time difference between Nepal and Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is 15 minutes behind Nepal. Nepal is on UTC+5:45 and Sri Lanka on UTC+5:30, and neither uses daylight saving time, so the difference stays the same all year. When it is noon in Kathmandu, it is 11:45 in Colombo.
Do I need an ETA for Sri Lanka?
Yes. Sri Lanka requires most foreign visitors, including Nepali passport holders, to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before travelling, and airlines may check it at Kathmandu check in. Entry rules for Nepali passports were under revision in 2026, so check the current process on our Sri Lanka visa guidance page before you book.
Can I connect to the Maldives from Colombo?
Yes. Colombo is one of the most common connection points from Kathmandu to the Maldives. Flights from Colombo to Male take about 1 hour 30 minutes, and SriLankan Airlines connects the two on one ticket, so you can also combine a Sri Lanka trip with a few days in the Maldives.
Kathmandu bata Colombo kasari jane?
Kathmandu bata Colombo jana SriLankan Airlines ko direct flight cha, hapta ma lagbhag char din (Sombar, Budhbar, Bihibar ra Aitabar), ra lagbhag 3 ghanta 35 minute lagcha. Arko din ma Delhi, Mumbai wa Bengaluru hudai ek stop ma jana sakincha. Sri Lanka jana aghi ETA chahincha. (English: SriLankan flies non-stop about four days a week in about 3 hours 35 minutes; otherwise fly with one stop in India, and get your ETA before travel.)
