New ideas for adventure lovers

New ideas for adventure lovers

March 14th, 2025. A bunch of unrelated but intriguing destinations with new flights serving Ulaanbaatar, Pokhara, Lhasa, and Kuching

Cheongju to Ulaanbaatar

South Korean Low-cost carrier T’way Air is set to launch flights between Cheongju and Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. The service will operate twice a week commencing on April 29th.

Ulaanbaatar sits about 1,300 metres above sea level in the Tuul River valley. It was first established in 1639 as a Buddhist monastery for nomadic monks. It changed its location numerous times but eventually became permanently settled in 1778 along an old caravan route, across the Gobi Desert, between Beijing and Kyakhta.

The city has a population of just 1.6 million and is recognised as the coldest capital city in the world based on average annual temperatures. Despite this Mongolia has become one of the hippest places in Asia to visit, with 2024 arrivals up a whopping 25% on 2023.

Flight number TW425 will depart from Cheongju International Airport on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 20:20 and will arrive at Chinggis Khaan International Airport, Ulaanbaatar at 23:10. The return trip, flight number TW425, will leave Ulaanbaatar at 00:45 on Wednesdays and Sundays and touch down again in Cheongju at 05:20.

A Boeing 737-800 will take three hours and fifty minutes for the outbound journey and about fifteen minutes less for the return.

Up on the Roof

Himalaya Airlines has announced the launch of a service between its new international airport in Pokhara and the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. The flight will operate once a week as an extension of the airline’s service between Kathmandu and Lhasa.

Flight number H9 774 will take off from Tribhuvan International Airport, in Kathmandu, at 08:30 on Mondays and arrive in Lhasa’s Gonggar Airport at 12:05. It departs from Lhasa as H9 731 at 13:15 local time and arrives in Pokhara at 12:45.

The flight starts its return journey on Tuesdays departing from Pokhara. as flight number H9 732, at 08:20. It arrives back in Lhasa at 12:05 where it changes its flight number to H9 775 for the flight back to Kathmandu.

The journey time between Pokhara and Lhasa is about 90 minutes and, on a clear day, should be a very scenic flight across the roof of the world. The aircraft will be an Airbus A319.

And two from Firefly

Malaysia’s Firefly will be launching two new services from Kuala Lumpur’s Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport at Subang on March 24th.

The first on the runway will be heading for Kuching in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. As well as fabulous beaches, exotic wildlife, and breathtaking vistas, Kuching is home to the Rainforest World Music Festival which takes place this year from July 20th to the 22nd.

Flight number FY2802 will take off at 06:15 and will arrive in Kuching at 08:10. The return journey, flight number FY2803, will depart Kuching at 08:50 and land back in Subang at 10:45.

Flight duration will be a little under two hours in each direction.

A few hours later the airline will launch a service from Subang to Singapore’s Changi Airport. Flight number FY3672 will depart at 18:30 and arrive in Singapore 75 minutes later at 19:45. The return leg, flight number FY3679, will leave Singapore at 20:25 and and back at Subang at 21:40.

Both flights will be served by Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Picture: Potala Palace, Lhasa by Antoine Taveneaux via Wikimedia Commons

Hotel Suggestions
Shangri-La Ulaanbaatar
InterContinental Lhasa Paradise
Damai Lagoon Resort, Kuching

Related: New service to Urumqi