Lukla airport is one of the most popular and also considered as one of the most dangerous airports in the world. It is also known as Tenzing Hillary Airport which is a gateway to the Everest region. The region is popular for trekking and climbing like adventure activities because several world’s higher peaks are situated which also includes the highest Mt Everest 8848 m. The journey leads to several adventure journeys such as Everest Base Camp Trek, Gokyo Lakes Trek, Island Peak Climbing, Lobuche Peak Climbing, etc following the legendary path of Tenzing Hillary after they take a spooky Kathmandu to Lukla flight. Lukla flight is the best way to reach the region while there is also the possibility of walking from Kathmandu to Everest following the Kathmandu to Jiri drive.
Lukla – A brief introduction
Lukla, located at an altitude of 2,800m is highly inhabited by the Sherpa settlement. It is the main point from where trekking to Khumbu region begins which leads us to the exotic Khumbu region including majestic mount Everest. Lukla has gained its popularity because of many lodging options, shops, and trekking gears to buy and rent. Kathmandu-Lukla flight offers the majestic views of the 18 highest peaks among which 4 of them are above 8,000m. It takes about 35 minutes of flight through the trans-Himalayan route of Nepal to reach Lukla.
Lukla airport is located on a steep incline of a hillside that is 450m long and 20m wide and the runway incline is a staggering 12%. In Lukla airport, flight can’t be 100% guaranteed. Maximum flight cancellation has been dealt with by trekking agencies because of bad weather. We are committed to arranging suitable flights and dealing with flight cancellations and weather conditions. In case of emergency, we also operate helicopter rescue facilities. Flight to Lukla can be an adventurous journey for the people who are adrenaline lovers and thrill-seekers and one can witness the long-fabled beauty of the Khumbu region and Everest.
Lukla Flight Information
| Country: | Nepal |
| IATA Code: | LUA |
| Flight Duration: | 25 – 40 Minutes |
| Airlines: | Tara Airlines, Sita Air, Summit Airlines |
| Flight Distance : | 138 km (straight line) |
| City: | Kathmandu(KTM), Lukla (LUA) |
| Flight Fare: | US$ 180 – 210 |
| Free Baggage: | 10 Kg |
| Hand carry: | 05 Kg |
| Airport Type: | Medium |
Flight Departure Schedules and Duration
The Lukla flight always gets scheduled in the morning because the flight to Lukla depends upon the weather condition of Lukla. If the weather gets bad, then there are more chances of flight cancellation. Most often the weather in Lukla becomes better in the morning time than in the noon and the evening.
It is about 35 min flight to reach Lukla from Kathmandu via aircraft. Landing at Lukla airport is thrilling because it is one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Some of the best operating domestic airlines that schedule (Kathmandu – Lukla) and (Lukla – Kathmandu) flights on daily basis are Simrik airlines, Goma airlines, and Tara airlines. These airlines hold great safety records despite having dangerous flight routes and treacherous runways in Lukla.
Lukla Flight Lists
There are a few lists of domestic airlines in Nepal that give Kathmandu to Lukla flight service. Some of them are listed below:
- Tara Air
- Sita Air
- Summit Air
Kathmandu to Lukla Flight Cost
The flight cost to Lukla is varied according to the citizen of different countries. The price fluctuates from day to day so it is hard to provide a direct answer regarding flight fare to Lukla. The flight fare for Nepalese citizens is Rs 6,280 and for Indian citizens, it is about 140 USD. For foreigners, the price costs around 180 USD. Our strong networks with numerous domestic airlines in Nepal enable us to offers you the best flight with the best ticket rate. We suggest you book a ticket at least 5-7 days prior to the flight because Lukla is one of the most crowded touristic hubs in Nepal.
Baggage
The total weight of luggage you can carry on a domestic airline is 10 kg with a 5 kg hand carry bag. If you want to carry more than 10 kg, the airline charges you nominal cost per kg and the extra luggage charge varies from airline to airline. If your purpose is to trek or climb Everest, then 10 kg luggage with 5 kg hand carry might cover all the necessary equipment and gear.
Kathmandu to Lukla Flight via Ramechhap Manthali Airport
In the trekking season in Everest Base Camp, air traffic causes the divert of Lukla fight to Ramechhap Manthali from Kathmandu. In such condition, Every Everest Trekker should catch the Lukla flight from Manthali airport which is 123 km far from Kathmandu. And it takes about 5 hours to reach at Manthali airport from Kathmandu by driving.
How to get to Ramechhap Manthali from Kathmandu?
To reach at Manthali Ramechhap, the one and only option is by taking a drive from Kathmandu. There are few options that you can choose to drive. And they are as follows:
If you book your full package trip to Everest with a trekking company, then they will manage all these things for you. So you do not need to bother on this matter. But if you are solo traveler, then you would like to take this service from us. We provide a shared bus ticket for you that takes you from Kathmandu to Ramechhap.
Kathmandu to Ramechhap Manthali Transportation by Private Vehicle (Car/Jeep/Hiace)
You can hire private car or jeep to go to Ramechhap. However, it costs more than any sharing transportation. But it ensures the flexibility and comfortability than shared vehicle. If you want to hire any private vehicle, you can contact us.
In addition, we are currently running Kathmandu to Ramechhap Manthali Sharing Transportation by Private Vehicle i.e Hiace (14 seated). It departures from Thamel, Kathmandu and drive all the way to Manthali. It also takes 5 hours to reach at Manthali and more comfortable than Bus.
One way sharing cost: $35 USD Per Person
Departure Time: 1:30 am and 2:05 am
Departure Place: Keshar Mahal, Thamel
Flight Cancellation and Delay
Domestic flights in Nepal (especially Lukla flights) are more likely to get delayed and canceled, owing to its difficult mountain terrain and climatic variation. We suggest you travel during the best trekking seasons (spring and autumn). In this season the weather is dry, clear, and stable due to which the flight delay and cancellations are very rare. If you are traveling to Nepal, we suggest you get one or two spare days in case your flights get delayed or canceled.
Safety and Security
Our first concern is safety and security so we operate our flights through experienced and best domestic airlines in Nepal which take the climatic factor in major before departure. Unless the safety factor is 100% assured, they never depart. There was only 3 accident before 2004 during Kathmandu – Lukla flight. After 2004, there were 6 accidents. 2 fatal crashes in 2008 and 2010.
Lukla Flight Fares
It is a fact that the Lukla flight cost is higher as compared to the distance as it will only take a maximum of 40 min to reach Lukla from Kathmandu. But if you calculate everything like risks, remoteness, etc, you will realize that the price of the Kathmandu – Lukla flight is fair enough.
| Regular Airlines Fare: | US$ 220.00 per person |
| Cost for Indians | NRs. 17200.00 Per Person |
| Cost for Nepali: | NRs. 8500.00 Per Person |
Note: Fares can fluctuate at any time. We don’t claim the certainty of flight fare. If you are in a group above 2 persons, then ask for a discount.
FAQs of Lukla Flight
How do I get from Kathmandu to Lukla?
One can either take a Lukla flight or drive from Kathmandu to get to Lukla. Lukla flight will take about 45 minutes to land on Lukla but drive from Kathmandu takes nearly 2 days to reach Lukla.
Is the Lukla flight really dangerous?
Of course, it seems dangerous as it is considered to be one of the most dangerous airports in the world because of the small and short lane of the airport. More than that, it is located in between the narrow space of two big hills and the lap of the Himalayas range. But very experienced and expert pilots make this flight safe.
