Lukla Flight Facts

Lukla Flight Facts
The Everest Region of Nepal is the epitome of Nepal trekking trips. There are many iconic trekking routes
where trekkers from across the globe rejoice in their Himalayan adventures. Every year, thousands of
trekkers and tourists visit the place. Lukla, a small town in Khumbu, is the gateway to Everest. The
Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla is the backbone of the Everest Trekking scene. There are numerous articles
about the airport as being the world’s most extreme airport. However, those articles are still lacking in
providing the all-important Lukla Flight Facts.

In this blog, get to know about Lukla Flight Facts. The blog will be instrumental for all the trekkers across
the globe to plan for the wonderful trekking journey of the Khumbu region of Nepal.

Why Lukla Airport is considered the most extreme airport?

The airstrip in Lukla has a very short runway with a steep gradient. Its length is barely 1792 ft. There is now going back as the runway ends on the vertical hill. If a pilot overshoots or undershoots, the landing
and takeoff can bizarrely go downhill. There were a substantial number of fatal accidents on this route.
The hilly terrain and unpredictable weather conditions make it even worse. You can’t predict the
weather of Lukla, as there is a very small window to take off and land. pilot has to manoeuvre the plane
manually and at times the visibility is very low. These factors make the airport as one of the most
extreme airports of the world.

Lukla Flight Route in Offseason and Peak Season of Everest Trekking

During the peak season of Everest Trekking, thousands of trekkers queue up to board the flight to Lukla or
from Lukla. It is very hard to accommodate these large volumes of travellers from Kathmandu. The flight
duration from Kathmandu to Lukla is about 45 minutes. Therefore, travel operators sought an
alternative. Since 2020, during peak season, flights have taken place from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap to
Lukla airport. Trekkers have to drive to Manthali airport and then board the plane. Manthali airport,
Ramechhap to Lukla flight duration is about 25 minutes. Kathmandu to Manthali via road is about 4.5
hours. So, many trekking agencies prefer to take this route. It reduces the unnecessary queuing up in
Kathmandu domestic airport. Moreover, in a short, flying window, a large number of travellers reach and
leave Lukla.

Reasons for Lukla’s Flight Cancellation
The sight of stranded trekkers either in Lukla Airport, Kathmandu Domestic Airport, or Manthali Airport
usual during peak season. Most of the articles published in the net about Lukla Flight Facts don’t state
this condition of Everest Trekking. You must know about these things too for better planning of
trekking. It helps in knitting a successful trip.

Here are the major reasons for Lukla’s flight cancellation:
-Extremely unpredictable weather conditions
-Less number of aircraft but crowded passengers

How can I avoid being stranded in the airport and miss out on a scheduled itinerary?
Ask for the early morning flight tickets from your trekking agency. It is true that 1st to 3rd flights of the
morning have less chance of cancellation. The weather up in the mountains is clear during the morning.

No wonder the flights to Lukla start early, from the first ray of light at 6 am. If you can’t take those,
tickets, then put a day extra in your itinerary. Having a reserve day in an itinerary helps you to maintain
peace of mind and you can complete the trek with ease without fear of missing out on the original international
return flight. Talk with your agency and complete city tours on the day the flight is cancelled. It
saves you time and helps you overcome the anxiety of flight cancellation.

Is a helicopter flight to Lukla a better option?

For an ultimate adventure, try the Lukla Flights by aeroplane! However, a helicopter flight to Lukla is also
the best option if you would like to skip the chaos of getting flight tickets to Lukla. The chance of
Reaching Lukla or getting out of Lukla by helicopter comes with a lesser risk of cancellation. In a very
low window too, a chopper can take you to or from Lukla. However, the cost differs. Helicopter flight is
expensive, but you can relish a closer view of mountains and hills.

What should I do if my Lukla to Kathmandu or Ramechhap Flight gets cancelled?

If the Kathmandu to or Ramechhap to Lukla flight gets cancelled, you can easily reroute to another trekking route.
destination or use the roadway that takes two extra days to reach Phakding. However, the case of Lukla
Flights to Kathmandu get cancelled. Some trekkers have connecting flights to their own country.
Therefore, they panic and may end up paying extra for helicopter flights. Yes, a helicopter flight to
Kathmandu is a safer option, but it is expensive. During peak season, a seat in a helicopter may be a bit expensive for trekkers.

If you have at least two days’ extra you can choose to take the road trip. Walk up to the point where you
can get a jeep to Kathmandu. For this, you must be mentally and physically ready. The walk is not
tough as it is at low altitudes and through gravel roads. However, you may feel down as you have to
derail from the original plan.

Do I get reimbursed in the event of my flight cancellation?

Yes, you will be reimbursed 100% if your flight is cancelled due to weather and other circumstances that
you are not deliberately involved with. The flight company will compensate your trekking agency and
the agency will pay you later. Please remember that if you missed the flight because of your own
negligence or reasons; you will not be compensated.

This blog doesn’t cover the regular information available on the internet about the Lukla airport and
flights. For all your queries about the length of the runway and surrounding landscape, you can get information
on the internet. This blog is merely focused on giving out answers to frequently asked questions about
Lukla Flight facts that nobody answered. Please feel free to ask any questions! Email us!