Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Kathmandu to Istanbul. The Istanbul arrival on the right side delivers the most dramatic single moment of the flight — the Sea of Marmara, Bosphorus, and Asian Istanbul all at once on approach. The Kathmandu departure on the left is excellent but shorter-lived. For the full flight, right side also catches views of the Zagros Mountains over Iran and the Anatolian plateau in the final hour.

During takeoff from Tribhuvan International (KTM), sit on the Left side for the best views. Tribhuvan's primary departure runway 02 sends aircraft heading roughly northeast, then turning west toward India and Central Asia. The left side faces south and southeast during climb-out, giving a direct view back toward the Kathmandu Valley bowl and the Himalayan front range including Langtang and the Ganesh Himal. The right side faces north but is quickly obscured by terrain as the aircraft banks. Notable sights include: Kathmandu Valley urban grid below, Langtang Himal to the north-northwest, Ganesh Himal massif to the northwest, Bagmati River winding south through the valley floor.

When landing at Ataturk (IST), sit on the Right side for the best views. Ataturk Airport's primary arrival runway 06 brings aircraft in from the west over the Sea of Marmara, tracking northeast. The right side faces southeast, giving a clear view of the Bosphorus strait, the Asian side of Istanbul (Kadikoy, Uskudar), and the Princes Islands in the Marmara. The left side faces northwest over the European suburbs with less dramatic water scenery. Notable sights include: Sea of Marmara below on approach, Bosphorus strait and its two suspension bridges, Asian Istanbul shoreline (Uskudar and Kadikoy districts), Princes Islands (Adalar) in the Marmara.

The flight from Tribhuvan International (KTM) to Ataturk (IST) takes Approximately 6 to 7 hours.

The route tracks northwest from Nepal across the Indo-Gangetic Plain, then over Pakistan and Afghanistan or northern Iran depending on routing. Over Iran the Zagros Mountain folds are visible as parallel ridgelines. The route then crosses the Armenian Highlands and eastern Turkey's volcanic plateau including the area around Mount Ararat before descending over the Anatolian plateau toward Istanbul.