Introduction
Standing in front of Mount Everest and seeing the tallest mountain in the world is one of the biggest dreams of adventurers. Thus, before that magical moment, one has to go through the adventure, that is the journey to that point. While we talk about the journey to get to that point, we can consider different modes of journey to the Mighty Everest.
One of the adventurous journeys to Everest could be hiking and trekking. But, since you will be first landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, which is located in Kathmandu, trekking might not work for you to go Everest region from Kathmandu.
Moreover, another option is to go through the road, but right now, it is not possible to reach through this medium as the routes are not clear. Now, remains the aerial option, which is through the aircraft. It is one of the most popular and chosen transportation modes to head to Everest. Hence, either through helicopter or by plane, you can reach the starting point of the trek, Lukla.
Situated at an elevation of 2,860 meters, or 9,400 feet, Lukla (Tenzing Hillary) Airport serves as the hub for year-round trekking and transportation activities in Lukla. This airport serves almost all trekkers and imports the essential goods and equipment entering the Everest region. Therefore, with many responsibilities with this airport, the traffic of the Lukla airport has been steadily increasing over the years.
The Flight to Lukla From Kathmandu is very short. Taking only a total time of 30-45 minutes depending on the conditions, you will reach Lukla airport. In this total time, you will see all of the varied landscapes of the country, which includes hilly and mountain regions. Hence, you will be able to see the hills along with its terraced landscapes and mountain ranges one after another at every glance.
Now that we have a short brief overview of the Lukla flight, we will now delve deep into its important topics. So let’s get started-
Which airlines operate Flights to Lukla?
There are a couple of domestic airlines in Nepal that run regular flights to Lukla. Some of the Major airlines that run these flights are – Tara Airlines, Sita Airlines, Goma Airlines, and Summit Airlines.
You might have heard that the flight to Lukla is a bit dangerous flight in comparison to the other flights. Due to the difficult landscape of the airport, it is labeled as dangerous. Hence, even with the risk of the flight landing and the dangerous runways at Lukla, these airlines have a perfect flight record with a smaller number of accidents.
Kathmandu to Lukla flight time
Normally, a flight to Lukla is scheduled in the morning. Mostly, the flights are organized in the morning time because this time offers you probably stable weather and great sights of the mountains. Whereas in the afternoon time, the weather will be unstable and unpredictable which makes it hard for pilots to navigate. Also, it creates problems while taking off and landing the aircraft.
Is the flight to Lukla Safe?
As previously stated, Lukla Airport is considered to be the world’s most highly dangerous airport. But even though it is considered a dangerous airport, this airport receives a maximum of 30 aircraft per day. Altogether in a season, this airport drops approximately 30,000 trekkers and adventurers annually that come into the Everest region.
Here is the Live video of an aircraft landing at Lukla Airport –
😳 Epic view landing at World’s Most Dangerous Airport: Lukla🇳🇵
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🎥 https://t.co/viTVTle0fG
=================#avgeek #pilot #pilotlife #GoPro #lukla #Everest #Nepal pic.twitter.com/gF2zBILhf9— Just Planes (@justplanes) October 9, 2022
So, knowing that this much of people arrive at this airport yearly, you can now assume that this airport is safe to come to. The last deadliest accident occurred in Lukla in October 2008. As a result, the government, airlines, and aviation authorities have tightened their restrictions regarding acceptable flying circumstances and requirements for flying aircraft in Lukla. Hence, passenger safety has significantly increased to match the nerve-wracking flights to Lukla.
So, if you are looking for a flight to Lukla, then you should book the flight on the initial flights of the day. Catching flights in these morning periods will make sure that you will fly through stable weather with perfect visibility. Hence, know that catching the early flights will ensure your safety, help minimize your flight delays, and ultimately fix your trip itinerary.
Flight delays and cancellations in Lukla
To be honest, domestic flights in Nepal get canceled in most of the instances. Since the adventure is mostly held in the mountainous regions, the flights get canceled and delayed due to the uneven mountainous terrain. While traveling in the perfect seasons like spring and autumn, there won’t be many problems with the flights as the weather remains clear and stable. But as you enter the monsoon and winter seasons, the chance of flight delays and cancellations will get too high because of winds, fog, clouds, rain, and many other unfavorable circumstances. So, if you want to do this flight anyhow, then you must put the extra couple of days into your trip to recover from postponed or delayed flights.
What is the provision for baggage limits and luggage delays at Lukla?
If you are willing to carry more than 10 kg, you will have to pay a certain additional amount of fees. With different airlines, the fees for the additional weight are different. However, we insist that the 10+5 kgs will be enough for your adventure to the Everest region.
Also know that sometimes, your luggage can be transferred to another flight for several reasons. So the that transferred luggage could also get delayed and it could arrive late. It happens in rare cases, but we want to let you know that important things like medication, clothes, and personal items should be kept to yourself.
Lukla Flights will not operate from Kathmandu in peak trekking seasons
In 2019, trekkers and adventurers saw flight delays from Kathmandu to Lukla. Finally, later, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) announced officially in October 2022 that flights would not be operating from Kathmandu to Lukla during peak trekking season. The peak seasons in Nepal refer to March to May and September to mid-November.
Since the Kathmandu domestic airport didn’t operate the flight to Lukla in peak trekking seasons, the alternative airport has been announced. The alternative is no other than Manthali Airport of Ramechhap.
Kathmandu to Ramechhap (Manthali Airport)
Ramechhap is a district located 132 kilometers away from Kathmandu. Since the flight diversion, the flights in the peak trekking seasons are operated daily from the Ramechhap airport. Ramechhap Airport is a tiny airstrip with few other services for tourists, and it is situated along the Tamakoshi River’s bank. Moreover, it takes five to six hours to reach Manthali Airport. You can reach Ramechhap via bus, jeep, or private car from Kathmandu. Then after finally arriving at Manthali airport, you will ultimately board the last aircraft to Lukla. The flight from Ramechhap to Lukla just takes 15 minutes.
Taking a flight out of Ramechhap Airport is special because it is the only airport that takes travelers to Lukla. Therefore, being the only airport that operates the route to Lukla, there is little chance that air traffic will cause any delays or cancellations. So, this will lead to more regular flights and shorter flight times.
Due to the Ramechhap flight’s many advantages, backlogs are therefore cleared quickly, even in the event that Lukla experiences bad weather.
If you had to face the same difficulty in Kathmandu, then the flight would be uncertain and you can face delays in the flights.
For detailed information on Kathmandu to Ramechhap you check our Kathmandu to Ramechhap – Transportation guide blog.
Lukla Flight Costs
Since you now know that there are two ways to reach Lukla Airport, we will now give you information on both flight costs-
Kathmandu to Lukla flight cost:
For Foreigners: The cost is approximately USD 217 for one-way and USD 434 for two-way tickets.
For Indians: USD 320 for the round trip tickets.
Ramechhap to Lukla(Peak trekking season) flight Cost:
For Foreigners:
Manthali to Lukla: One-way ticket prices are US dollars 176 per person.
Lukla to Manthali: One-way ticket prices are US dollars 177 per person (for foreigners only).
Two-way trip: USD 353 for each person.
For Indians:
USD 162 for a one-way ticket and USD 324 for a two-way trip.
Helicopter flight to Lukla
Instead of airplane flights, you can take helicopter flights directly to Lukla or Everest in any season, depending on the weather conditions. If you want comfort and luxury, then the helicopter flight is certainly an option to look out for. However, even with the helicopter, there is no guarantee that you will make it on time without any delays. You may come across different unavoidable weather conditions.
Anyways, if you want to take the helicopter flights, then we can help you with the best service. In any instance of the adventure, we can book you the helicopter and take you to any destination. Thus, we are able to collaborate closely with both airlines and helicopter companies to ensure that our clients reach their destinations quickly and conveniently.
Other Alternatives Trips to Take When Flight to Lukla is Cancelled for Several Days
Most of the Trekkers will choose to wait for a couple of days to catch the flight. However, if the flight takes too long to continue, then trekkers will have to look for some other alternatives. They can’t just sit and wait for a miracle to happen. Here are some of the alternative trips for such cases-
Trek from Salleri/Phaplu
One alternative is to trek from Salleri or Phaplu. Salleri can be reached by road, either from a bus or jeep. It will take you around 10 hours to reach here, and from here you will have to go on a drive for an additional 7 hours to reach Khari Khola. Then from here, you will head toward Lukla by walking. Ultimately, this trip will add a couple of days to your itinerary.
Trekking from Jiri
Another classic option is to trek from Jiri. Before the Lukla airport was built, trekkers often started their journey from Jiri. This historical route, often used by the Historic Everest climbers, takes about five to seven days to reach Lukla, depending on pace and acclimatization needs. This tour starts with a long bus ride from Jiri to Kathmandu. Following arrival at the starting location, the journey will begin and pass through rural and mountainous Nepalese communities before arriving at Lukla.
Helicopter to Phaplu
Even with the helicopter flights, the journey to Lukla may not be safe considering the weather conditions. So, in such kind of conditions, the adventurers could only get far to Phaplu which has a tiny airstrip near Salleri. Then from Phaplu, you can either catch a four-wheeler for 10 hours or trek to reach Lukla.
Helicopter to Surke
Taking a helicopter to Surke, which is located near Lukla, is one of the more appropriate alternatives. From Kathmandu, helicopters can transport you to Surke, from where you can take a few hours’ trek to reach Lukla. This alternative avoids the need for a lengthy trip from far starting sites such as Jiri or Salleri and allows a rapid entry route. Hence, it takes about two hours to trek from Surkhe to Lukla, or you can head onto Chaurikharka and then go straight to Phakding.
Will travel insurance cover delayed flights to Lukla?
A “trip delay” brought on by a canceled or postponed flight may be recovered and compensated for under certain insurance plans. When a flight is canceled or rescheduled, insurance can save you from such kind of issue.
If any such situation arises, then we can assist you when you need to file a claim with your insurance provider. Thus, we advise that you contact your insurance company in advance of your trip to Nepal to inquire about the specifics of the coverage they offer.
Everest Base Camp Trek and Return By Helicopter
Conclusion
Now that we have covered a lot of things related to the Lukla flight, we want to end this blog with some words. Lukla flight is one of the most adventurous aerial journeys that a person will ever experience in his life. Right before taking this flight, a person may feel frightened and nervous. But, we want to tell them that it is totally safe as thousands and thousands of tourists come and go through this airport.
Also, we think that comparing these flights with other flights from different countries, these flight prices are relatively cheap. With such a task to carry through difficult situations, only experienced pilots can do these flights. So, the main contribution of these flights will directly go to the experienced pilots of Nepal. Furthermore, if you are not willing to take the domestic flights, you have the option to take a helicopter flight that directly takes off from Kathmandu to Lukla in perfect conditions.
As travelers have to go through this long journey, they will have to manage different kinds of processes to sort out the journey. So, to make the traveler’s job easy, we assist them in every possible way. Therefore, if you have any kind of queries or questions regarding the flight to Lukla or any other flights, then you can simply call us at +977-9841965533 or landline at +977-14700252. Or you can simply reach us via email at info@missionhimalayatreks.com or drop a message at our WhatsApp. Happy Traveling!
Birendra Duwadi by profession a trekking and tourist guide and an enterpreur whose passion is trekking in the himalayas start Mission Himalaya Treks in 2015 with a new vision to introduce Nepal Himlayas to the world. his vision is explore and documentation new trekking routes . Birendra leads Mission Himalaya, a small company that change the qualities of trekking in Nepal.
