Flying to Kathmandu with Malaysia Airlines using Qantas Points

Kathmandu is closer to Australia than most people assume. There is no direct flight, but there is a tidy two-sector routing through Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines, and because Malaysia Airlines sits inside the oneworld alliance, the whole journey can be booked as Qantas Classic Rewards. That combination — a long daytime leg to Asia, an overnight stop, then a short Business Class hop across the Himalaya — is what makes Nepal a realistic points redemption rather than a someday idea.

This page describes that trip as flown in January 2023: Adelaide to Kuala Lumpur in Economy, a night in the Malaysian capital, then Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu in Business Class on a Boeing 737, two nights in Kathmandu and a side trip to Pokhara.

The routing

Australia to Nepal is two flights. The first is roughly 7.5 hours to Kuala Lumpur; the second is about 4.5 hours over the Himalaya to Kathmandu. Malaysia Airlines flies to Kuala Lumpur non-stop from Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney, and operates at least one Kuala Lumpur–Kathmandu service a day, with two on some days.

Because the two sectors were booked separately, the cabins could be mixed: Economy for the daytime run to Asia, where a flat bed is of limited use, and Business for the Himalayan leg, where the view and the lounge access earn their keep.

Sector Cabin Approximate flying time Qantas Points (Classic Reward)
Adelaide – Kuala Lumpur Economy 7.5 hours 24,500
Kuala Lumpur – Kathmandu Business 4.5 hours 43,800
Total one-way 68,300

Fees and taxes are payable on top and vary by route. Departing Perth costs the same number of points in Economy as Adelaide; Melbourne and Sydney price at 30,200 Qantas Points for that sector. Award availability on the Kuala Lumpur–Kathmandu Business Class sector was plentiful at the time of booking, even across the Christmas peak, which is unusual and worth knowing.

Adelaide to Kuala Lumpur in Economy

The Malaysia Airlines Economy cabin on this route is laid out 2-4-2. An 11am departure and a late-afternoon arrival makes the back of the aircraft entirely tolerable. Wi-Fi is available on board for a fee.

Lunch on the daytime service was chicken thigh in a creamy sauce with rice, followed by a choice of pies as a pre-arrival refreshment. Nothing about the sector is remarkable, which is rather the point: it is a functional way to move a lot of distance for a modest number of points, leaving budget intact for what comes later.

A night in Kuala Lumpur

An overnight stop breaks up the journey and costs nothing in points. From KLIA, the KLIA Ekspres train runs to KL Sentral, from where a short ride reaches the city centre. Counterintuitively, train-plus-car beat a single car ride from the airport, because it sidesteps Kuala Lumpur's traffic.

The stay was at the Pullman Kuala Lumpur City Centre, booked directly with Accor so the night earned Accor Live Limitless points. It sits within reach of the Petronas Towers and the Pavilion shopping centre. That left an evening for the KLCC Lake Symphony water show, which runs nightly, and for Jalan Alor — roti canai, teh tarik, and a cendol topped with durian.

The Golden Lounge and Business Class check-in

Malaysia Airlines maintains a dedicated check-in zone at KLIA for premium-cabin passengers and status holders, feeding into a separate immigration lane. Arriving as check-in opened meant no queue at all.

The Regional Golden Lounge sits on the mezzanine level, reached by escalator after security. It is a quiet, earth-toned space with tarmac views — a genuine advantage for an early departure. The buffet runs to local dishes, cereal and fresh fruit, including a build-your-own nasi lemak station, plus teh tarik.

Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu in Business Class

Malaysia Airlines uses a Boeing 737 on the Kathmandu run. Business Class is a 2-2 layout with 16 seats; on this service only seven were occupied. The seat is a recliner rather than a bed, which is appropriate for a 4.5-hour daytime sector, with a footrest and enough width to shift position comfortably.

A hot meal arrives about an hour after departure. The fish curry with rice came with yoghurt and a sweet sauce on the side, alongside fruit, mixed berry yoghurt and guava juice. There is no live moving map on this aircraft.

The single most useful piece of advice for this flight is about seat selection. Each Business Class seat has two windows, and the Himalayan range appears on the right-hand side of the aircraft on approach into Kathmandu. Book a window seat on the right.

Arriving in Kathmandu

Tribhuvan International Airport is Nepal's main international gateway and sits about five kilometres from the centre of Kathmandu. There is no Uber or Grab. Local rideshare apps such as Pathao and Tootle exist but require a Nepali phone number to register, which rules them out for most short-stay visitors. A pre-paid taxi rank outside the terminal solves the problem; the ride into the city was 800 Rupees.

The city itself is low-rise by design, with buildings rarely more than a few storeys and many topped with flat roof terraces, so the mountain panorama stays visible. Traffic is dense and shared between cars, motorcycles, rickshaws and pedestrians.

Where to stay

Two nights were spent at the Kathmandu Marriott Hotel. As a Marriott Bonvoy member, the stay included complimentary Wi-Fi, buffet breakfast and a daily US$10 food and beverage credit — enough, at local prices, for a meal at the on-site Thamel Kitchen restaurant or drinks at the bar. The hotel has a gym, pool and spa, and a patisserie for anyone who forgets to spend the credit until check-out. The Deluxe Mountain View room looks out over the city, including from the bathtub. Cash stays still earn Marriott Bonvoy points, which can be redeemed later or transferred to frequent flyer partners.

What to do

Kathmandu rewards early starts. Durbar Square, UNESCO-listed, holds more than 50 Buddhist and Hindu temples along with a museum, shops and a market; it is busiest and best at first light, and the upstairs cafes around the square are ideal for watching it all.

Boudhanath Stupa, four kilometres from the centre, is one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world and Nepal's most important Buddhist pilgrimage site. It is open around the clock, with an entry fee of 400 Rupees, but morning and late afternoon bring the prayer rituals. Movement around the stupa is clockwise; the rooftop cafes give the best perspective.

Pashupatinath Temple, dating to the fifth century, stands on the Bagmati River and comprises more than 500 temples and a main pagoda. Entry is 1,000 Rupees. Non-Hindus may walk the grounds but cannot enter the temples themselves. Open cremations take place on the riverbank.

The bazars are the other half of the city. Thamel is the tourist and nightlife district, convenient for souvenirs and food in a compact few streets. Asan Bazar, a ten-minute walk away, is where locals shop — wholesale goods, homewares and sculpture across several blocks. The Garden of Dreams, near Thamel, charges 400 Rupees and offers a quiet European-inspired counterpoint to the streets outside.

For food, momo is unavoidable and should be. A plate of freshly made dumplings from a well-known stall in Durbar Square costs around 200 Rupees, served with jhol achar. At the other end of the scale, Krishnarpan Restaurant at Dwarika's Hotel serves a slow-dining set menu drawing on Nepali royal tradition, with ingredients from the hotel's own organic farms; you choose six, nine, 12, 16 or 22 courses, and even the six-course version runs about two hours. Street lassi and tea cost a few dozen Rupees.

Pokhara

Pokhara lies about 200 kilometres north-west of Kathmandu, reachable by a 25-minute flight or an eight-hour bus. HighGround Adventures operates a zipline there with a 600-metre vertical drop over a 1.8-kilometre cable — spreading your feet apart slows the descent. A bungee jump and sky swing operate from the same base. Tandem paragliding launches from the hills at Sarangkot and requires no experience; the tandem flight lasts around 30 minutes.

Practical notes

Frequently asked questions

Can I book the whole Australia–Kathmandu journey with Qantas Points? Yes. Malaysia Airlines is a oneworld member, so both sectors can be booked as Qantas Classic Rewards, though the two legs may need to be booked separately if you want different cabins.

How many Qantas Points does the trip cost one-way? The routing flown cost 24,500 points for Adelaide–Kuala Lumpur in Economy plus 43,800 points for Kuala Lumpur–Kathmandu in Business, a total of 68,300 points, with fees and taxes payable on top.

Which side of the aircraft has the Himalaya view? The right-hand side on the Kuala Lumpur–Kathmandu approach. Business Class seats on the 737 have two windows each.

What is Malaysia Airlines Business Class like on this route? It is a Boeing 737 with 16 recliner seats in a 2-2 layout, a hot meal service and no live moving map. Lounge access at Kuala Lumpur is included.

Do I need a visa for Nepal? Australian passport holders do. A 15-day tourist visa is available through an online application and was processed in two days.

Can I use rideshare apps in Kathmandu? Not easily. Uber and Grab do not operate, and local apps such as Pathao and Tootle require a Nepali phone number. Pre-paid airport taxis and street taxis are the practical option.

This information is general in nature. It does not take your personal circumstances into account.

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