The little town of Lukla is the starting point of almost all trekking journeys in the Khumbu region. Situated at an altitude of 2,860 meters, Lukla is the first site that trekkers get introduced to when visiting Khumbu. It is a collection of small houses and hotels that are scattered within proximity to the region’s only airport- the Tenzing Hillary Airport. Because of its prominence, Lukla has transformed from a small farming community to a commercial hub of the region that is in par with Namche Bazaar. Due to trekkers staying overnight at Lukla during Everest Treks, the town has seen a rise in the number of luxury guesthouses and hotels in recent years. From Kathmandu, it takes about 40 minutes to reach Lukla via plane.

The Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla

Also famously known as the Lukla Airport, the Tenzing Hillary Airport is a small airport that is often referred to as one of the most dangerous airports in the world. The airport is among the most famous transport connection between the rest of Nepal and the Everest Mountains, with other ways of reaching Khumbu are long days of trekking. Daily flights occur to/from the airport during daylight hours and good weather conditions. In contrast to Kathmandu’s steady sun-shining, Lukla often experiences rainfall, sometimes simultaneously with the lack of rain in other parts of the country. Lukla’s topographical position in the mountain gives way to high winds, dense cloud cover and changing visibility. This, as a result, often leads to flight delays or the airport being closed.

The Lukla Airport was built in 1964. The construction was done under the supervision of Sir Edmund Hillary, and until recently in 2001, the airport runway wasn’t even properly paved. It was renamed in 2008 in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, the first people to have reached the summit of Mount Everest. The runway is 527 meters long and 30 meters wide and the airport is used mostly for passenger flights and the transport of goods and cargo to Lukla and other villages in the north of the region, as there is no road access.

The aeroplanes landing or taking off from the Lukla Airport must use the single runway. High terrain blocks the already low prospect of go-around on short final aeroplane approaches, and the runway ends in a steeply angled drop into the valley below. As such, landing and taking off from Lukla is difficult. The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal has, as a result, set high standards for which only experienced pilots who have completed at least 100 short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) missions are allowed to land at the airport. The pilots must also have over one year of STOL experience in Nepal and must have completed ten missions into Lukla with a certified instructor pilot.

However, despite the difficulties, Lukla has one of the busiest domestic airports in Nepal. Accidents happen rarely, and the airport is considered as one of the most beautiful airports in the world. It is surrounded by the mighty Himalayas and the towering emerald hills that shadow over the village.

Are Flights to Lukla safe?

Despite notoriously having the reputation as the most dangerous airport in the world, the Lukla Airport carried out about 20 or 30 aircraft landings every day during the peak seasons. Almost more than half the trekkers who visit Nepal annually tend to fly into Lukla. While the airport at Lukla is comparatively more dangerous statistically than a typical commercial airport, it is still pretty safe. The aviation officials of Nepal and local airlines are very strict on the acceptable flight conditions and regulations for aircraft making the journey to Lukla.

Local Airlines connecting to Lukla Airport

4 local airlines fly to Lukla, 3 from Manthali and one from Kathmandu. Nepal Airlines connects to Lukla from Kathmandu, while Sita Air, Summit Air, and Tara Air connect to Lukla via Manthali. Currently, flights from Kathmandu to Lukla are suspended (More information below)

Sita Airlines have three Dornier DO 228 aircraft model. It can carry 13 passengers. Tara Airlines have three Dornier DO 228 aircraft model and two Twin Otter DHC 6/300 aircraft model. It can also carry 13 passengers. Likewise, Summit Airlines have three Turbolet LET L-410 aircraft model. It can carry 19 passengers.

How to Book a Flight to Lukla

One of the easiest ways to book a flight to Lukla is by booking tickets online. If you are travelling with a trekking agency, they will take care of all the booking of flights to/from Lukla for you. Nevertheless, the best flights are usually easily found online and there are separate airfares for children below 12 years. Likewise, it is highly recommended to buy two-way tickets. It is also a good idea to have buffer days on the itinerary when it comes to Lukla flights because there are always chances of the flight getting delays or cancelled because of reasons like the weather.

How much does a Ticket to Lukla Cost?

The flights from Kathmandu to Lukla are priced at USD 179. The flights between Ramechap and Lukla are set at USD 147. These are the standard airfare. However, for flights from Kathmandu to Lukla, the price may vary from USD 168 to USD 189. The variations may be because of many different reasons, like some portals giving discounts while others may add markups.

Getting to the Airport in Kathmandu

You can get a cab in Kathmandu to get to the Tribhuvan International Airport. The cab fare can cost about NPR 1000. It is recommended to get to the airport at least one hour before your flight time.

Are there alternate ways to get to Lukla besides flying?

There are options available for trekking to Everest without flying. The alternate options include trekking to Lukla either from Jiri, Salleri or Kharihola. However, trekking to Lukla instead of flying takes about 3 to 8 days.

Planning for Delays

Due to Lukla’s position and elevation, weather conditions and visibility are constantly dynamic and can change rapidly. Thus, flight schedules to Lukla can be difficult and are hard to predict. The airlines do not take chances with weather conditions and will return a flight to Kathmandu from anywhere along its journey rather than risk an unsafe landing if the weather conditions change since takeoff.

As such, flight delays are very common. They can happen at any time of year but are especially likely to occur during the monsoon season (late May to early September). If your flight is delayed, then you will have to reschedule the next possible flight. Travel agencies take care of rescheduling for you if you are hiring them for treks. As conditions at Lukla can change so rapidly, rescheduling may be very soon after your scheduled departure, or it may take as much as a few days later- it is very difficult to predict. This, of course, can be pretty frustrating, but it is simply a part of the journey to the Everest region.

It is strongly recommended adding at least a day or two to the end of the trip for flexibility in case of any delays. Extra days should always be scheduled at the end of the trip as this provides flexibility with the trekking itinerary in case of any weather delays.

Luggage Allowance

Although it isn’t common, it is possible that your luggage can be shifted to another flight or delayed by the airline. As such, it is important to make sure that you have all your valuables in your carry on. You can carry a maximum of 10Kg of luggage (two pieces) and a maximum of 5kg of hand-carry for your Lukla flight. If you want to carry more than 15kg, you will have to pay an extra USD 1 per kg.

Update and Information about the diverted Kathmandu-Lukla Flights from Ramechap

All the Trekking Operators in Nepal were notified by the Nepal Aviation Authority that flights to and from Lukla would be diverted from Kathmandu to Ramechap, commencing from October 1st, 2019. Ramechap is a small airstrip located 140 kilometres (85 miles) from Kathmandu. The drive to the Ramechap airport takes around 4 hours from Kathmandu, and returning to Kathmandu can take between 5 and 6 hours, depending on traffic.

These diversions impact all trekkers, regardless of the tour company, travelling to the Everest Region. Although it is an inconvenience and adds more challenge to the trip with having to travel back and forth to Ramechap, it is a necessary precaution taken because of the high air congestion in the Kathmandu-Lukla Flights. The silver lining to this endeavour is that Ramechap Airport is a perfect alternative to fly to Lukla as this airport is solely dedicated to operating Lukla flights only, increasing your probability of landing in Everest despite reasons like weather and congestion.

Conclusion

The Everest region is home to the Everest Himalayas and the ethnic Sherpa people. Trekking to Everest is one of the best trekking options in the world. Despite the hassles that one may face with flights to the region, it does not take away from the sheer beauty and wonder of the trekking journey.