Route · Everest & Solukhumbu
Kathmandu to Lukla
Lukla is reached by a 35-minute flight from Kathmandu, or, in the busy seasons, by a 4–5 hour pre-dawn drive to Ramechhap (Manthali) airport and a 20-minute flight from there. There is no road to Lukla; the alternative is several days on foot from the roadhead.
Small twin-engine aircraft fly from the domestic terminal of Tribhuvan International Airport to Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla, about 2,860 m. Flights leave in the early morning, when the air is calmest, and are delayed or cancelled whenever cloud closes the Dudh Koshi gorge. Sit on the left going up for the mountains. Baggage allowance is tight, usually around 15 kg including hand luggage; check current status before you travel.
Since 2019, to ease congestion at Kathmandu airport, most Lukla flights in the peak months, roughly March to May and October to November, have operated from Ramechhap airport at Manthali, about 130 km from Kathmandu. That means leaving Kathmandu around 1–2 am by car to make the first flights. Some years the shift is partial or announced late, so check current status before you travel.
Charter or shared helicopters fly Kathmandu to Lukla and can sometimes operate when fixed-wing flights cannot, because they need less visibility and can wait out cloud lower down. A shared seat costs several times a plane fare. We mostly use helicopters for the return when weather has stranded people in Lukla and an international flight is close.
Before the airstrip, everyone walked, and the 1953 Everest expedition marched in from the Kathmandu Valley. Today jeeps reach far beyond Jiri and Salleri, and you can drive to the roadhead and walk up through Solu's Sherpa and Rai villages to join the main trail below Lukla. It is the best acclimatisation there is, and the quietest way in.
Worth a stop on the way
- Manthali (Ramechhap airport, peak seasons)
- Phaplu and Salleri (road and trek option)
- Junbesi (road and trek option)
Local tip
Book the first flight of the day and keep at least one spare day at the end of your trip for Lukla weather.
Questions
Do Lukla flights leave from Kathmandu or Ramechhap?
Both, depending on the season. Since 2019, during the busiest months, roughly March to May and October to November, most Lukla flights have been moved to Ramechhap airport at Manthali, a 4–5 hour drive from Kathmandu, to relieve congestion at Tribhuvan airport. In quieter months flights usually leave from Kathmandu. Airlines confirm only a few weeks ahead, so check current status before you travel.
Why are Lukla flights delayed so often?
Lukla's runway is short, sloped and boxed in by mountains, so pilots fly only by sight in clear weather. Cloud in the Dudh Koshi gorge, wind or poor visibility at either end stops flights. Mornings are usually best, which is why the first flights are most reliable. In the monsoon, June to September, cancellations can run for days. Always keep a spare day.
How much luggage can I take on the Lukla flight?
Airlines usually allow about 15 kg per person, often split as 10 kg checked and 5 kg hand luggage, and charge for excess weight when there is space. Leave city clothes in a Kathmandu hotel's storage. Your porter carries a duffel on the trail, usually up to around 10–12 kg per trekker. Check current status before you travel, as limits differ by airline.
Can I get to Lukla without flying?
Yes. There is no road to Lukla itself, but jeeps now reach the Solu hills around Salleri and Phaplu and roadheads beyond Jiri. From there it is several days on foot through Sherpa and Rai villages to the main Everest trail. It takes longer but gives better acclimatisation and avoids flight delays. We plan these routes with a guide and porter.