Dubai to Pokhara Flight 2026: Visa Fees, Schedule & Trekking Guide

If you've been dreaming of the Annapurna range but dreading the logistics of getting there, today changes the equation. On September 23, 2026, Flydubai's first-ever scheduled flight from Dubai touched down at Pokhara International Airport, arriving carrying 113 passengers, before departing back to Dubai the same evening with 153 passengers. It's Pokhara's first genuine, scheduled international air connection — and it means trekkers and travelers can now fly directly into the heart of the Himalayas without ever routing through Kathmandu.

Here's everything you need to know before you book: the flight schedule, the airport itself, visa requirements, and how to build a complete Nepal trip around this new route.

Flydubai Launches First Direct Dubai-Pokhara Flight

The inaugural flight marks a major milestone for Pokhara International Airport, which has faced a lack of sustained international service since its opening on January 1, 2023. Pokhara has always been Nepal's tourism capital and the primary gateway to the Annapurna region, but international travelers had no choice but to land in Kathmandu first — until now.

Flydubai has become the first international carrier to operate scheduled commercial flights to Pokhara International Airport, making it the first UAE airline to offer direct flights to the destination, flying out of Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport. It's also Flydubai's second Nepali destination, following 17 years of successful operations to Kathmandu, during which the carrier has flown approximately four million passengers to and from the country.

The reception on the ground reflected just how long this had been anticipated. Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhan Raj Acharya said the first scheduled international commercial flight from Pokhara marked a new beginning for tourism and international air connectivity, adding that a regular Pokhara-Dubai flight will make an important contribution to expanding the city's tourism and global reach. Local tourism entrepreneurs, business leaders, and residents have welcomed the international connectivity, and the inaugural aircraft was met with a traditional water-cannon salute, khada garlands for arriving passengers, and — a nice touch for visitors — a free night's hotel stay with breakfast, courtesy of the Hotel Association Pokhara.

Flydubai's leadership framed it as a long-term commitment rather than a one-off. CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said Nepal has remained an exceptionally important market for the airline since it first launched Kathmandu operations in 2009, and that the Pokhara route underscores its ongoing commitment to trade and tourism between the UAE and Nepal.

Dubai to Pokhara Flight Schedule and Route Details

This is a permanent, regularly scheduled service, not a charter or seasonal route — which is the key detail for trip planning. Note that as with any newly launched international route, actual frequency can take time to stabilize, so it's worth confirming current schedules directly with Flydubai or a travel agent before booking.

1. Arrival in Pokhara: 6:15 PM (scheduled)
2. Departure for Dubai: 7:15 PM (scheduled)
3. Aircraft: Flydubai plans to operate narrow-body Airbus A319/A320 aircraft, seating 160–170 passengers, on this route
4. Route: Dubai (DXB, Terminal 3) ⇄ Pokhara (PKR)

Travel tip: With just an hour on the ground between arrival and departure, this is a tight turnaround aircraft — great for connection efficiency, but it means Pokhara-bound passengers should have onward transport (hotel pickup, trek logistics) arranged in advance rather than figuring it out on arrival.

Pokhara International Airport: Location, Hours & Facilities

Whether you're arriving for the first time or connecting onward to a trek, here's what to expect on the ground.

1. Location: Approximately 3 km east of Pokhara city center — roughly a 10–15 minute taxi ride to the Lakeside tourist area
2. Operating hours: Approximately 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily
3. Facilities: Lounges, cafés, self-check-in kiosks, ATMs, restaurants, WiFi, charging points, parking, and accessibility services including ramps and on-request assistance
4. Ground transport: Taxis, hotel shuttles, and car rentals available directly outside arrivals
5. Immigration & customs: Airport General Manager Jagannath Niraula confirmed the airport is ready for the flow of all services including immigration, customs, and cargo ahead of the launch

The airport itself is part of the draw — sitting in the Annapurna foothills, it offers striking mountain views on approach and departure, a rare bonus most international airports simply can't match.

Practical tip: As an emerging international gateway (and given Nepal's monsoon-season weather patterns, especially in July), it's smart to build a buffer day into tight itineraries rather than scheduling a trek departure for the same day you land.

How Pokhara Connects to the World via Dubai

The real significance of this route isn't just the Dubai leg — it's what Dubai unlocks. As former Pokhara Tourism Council President Pom Narayan Shrestha put it, Dubai serves as a global transit hub connecting over 120 destinations, giving travelers from Pokhara seamless international connections for tourism, employment, and higher education.

Flydubai's Sudhir Sreedharan echoed this, noting the route is strategically positioned to serve demand from the UAE and the wider network, offering convenient connections for travelers from the GCC, the Middle East and Europe, and beyond, through codeshare and interline partnerships.

In practical terms: a trekker flying from London, Frankfurt, Cape Town, or Sydney can now connect through Dubai and reach Pokhara directly — no Kathmandu layover required. For international visitors heading to the Annapurna Circuit or Annapurna Base Camp, this new service could reduce the need to transit Kathmandu entirely, making western Nepal dramatically easier to fold into a global itinerary.

Government Incentives Behind Pokhara's New International Routes

This launch didn't happen in a vacuum — Nepal has been actively courting international carriers to its regional airports. Compared to Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport, Pokhara offers a 100 percent waiver on landing, parking, and navigation charges, plus a 50 percent concession on ground-handling fees, saving airlines up to NPR 700,000 per flight. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and Nepal Tourism Board have waived further institutional fees, and both Nepal Airlines Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation have rolled out additional discounts to sweeten the deal for carriers like Flydubai.

Nepal Tourist Visa Guide for Visitors Arriving in Pokhara

Most nationalities can get their Nepal visa on arrival directly at Pokhara, using the same system long available at Kathmandu.

Nepal Visa on Arrival Fees (2026)

Key details to know before you fly:

1. Pay in cash — new, crisp USD bills are strongly recommended, as e-payment systems at immigration counters can be unreliable.
2. SAARC nationals (excluding Afghanistan) often get a free 30-day visa, and children under 10 are typically exempt from fees.
3. Speed things up by completing the Online Tourist Visa form via Nepal's official immigration portal within 15 days of your flight, and bring the barcode receipt to the counter.
4. Total stay on a tourist visa cannot exceed 150 days within a single visa year (January–December).
5. A short list of nationalities — including Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria — must obtain a visa in advance through a Nepali embassy rather than on arrival, so check your status before booking.

Since Pokhara's international arrivals infrastructure is still scaling up, it's worth confirming directly with your airline or a local travel agent that full visa-on-arrival processing is active for your arrival date.

When to Visit Pokhara: Best Season for Flights & Trekking

1. Autumn (September–November): Peak season — clear skies, stable weather, and the best mountain visibility. Book flights and treks early.
2. Spring (March–May): Second high season, known for rhododendron blooms and good trekking conditions.
3. Winter (December–February): Clear but cold at altitude; lower crowds and often better flight fares.
4. Monsoon (June–August): Heavy rainfall can affect both flight schedules and trekking trail conditions — worth avoiding for a first-time Annapurna trip.

Combining Pokhara With a Nepal Tour: Sample Itineraries

With direct Dubai access now in place, Pokhara can anchor either end of your Nepal trip — not just serve as a side trip from Kathmandu.

Itinerary 1 — Fly In, Trek Out

Land in Pokhara via Dubai → head straight into the Annapurna foothills (Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill, or the full Annapurna Circuit) → domestic flight or scenic drive to Kathmandu for cultural sightseeing → fly home.

Itinerary 2 — The Classic Loop

Kathmandu (Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath — 2–3 days) → Pokhara (lakeside + trek launch — 5–10 days) → Chitwan National Park (jungle safari — 2 days) → return to Kathmandu or fly out via the new Pokhara-Dubai route.

Itinerary 3 — Pokhara-Only Focus

For travelers short on time, Dubai-Pokhara-Dubai now makes a focused 7–10 day Annapurna trekking trip entirely feasible without building Kathmandu logistics into the plan at all.

Pokhara Travel FAQs

When did the first Dubai-Pokhara flight land?

September 23, 2026 — the inaugural flight arrived with 113 passengers and departed the same evening with 153 passengers bound for Dubai.

Is this a permanent route?

Yes, it's a scheduled service rather than a charter, though as with any new route, it's worth checking current frequency before booking.

What are the flight times?

Arrival in Pokhara at 6:15 PM; departure for Dubai at 7:15 PM (per the initial published schedule).

Can I get a Nepal visa on arrival in Pokhara?

Yes, for eligible nationalities — fees run USD 30 (15 days), USD 50 (30 days), or USD 125 (90 days), payable in cash.

Do I still need to visit Kathmandu?

No — for the first time, you can fly directly into Nepal's trekking hub and skip Kathmandu entirely, though many travelers still choose to combine both cities.

Why does this matter for trekkers specifically?

Pokhara is the main gateway to the Annapurna region. A direct international flight removes a full connecting leg — a domestic flight or 6–8 hour drive — that trekkers previously had to plan around.

What can I connect to through Dubai?

Dubai links to 120+ global destinations, giving travelers from Europe, the Middle East, and beyond a far more direct path into Pokhara.