Over 280 people have died trying to summit Mount Everest. Plus, countless others have been injured. But the risks don't just start at base camp. Most people fly to Lukla, a small town high up in the Himalayas, situated at 2,860 metres (9,383 ft) above sea level, to begin their trek.
Lukla village has a small airport that serves the region. You'll also find shops and lodges offering Western food and trekking supplies. From Lukla, it takes about two days to reach Namche Bazaar, a stop where trekkers can acclimatise to the altitude before continuing their journey.
Lukla Airport - One of the most dangerous airport
Reaching Lukla means a few days of trekking, That's why there are so many flights between Kathmandu and Lukla daily. Even though the flight is short, the two airports are worlds apart.
Flying a plane can be tricky, especially at high altitudes. Low air pressure makes it harder to control the plane. Lukla Airport in Nepal has all these challenges and more.
Photos: Lukla Airport with its surrounding mountains and village
Lukla Airport, or Tenzing-Hillary Airport, is served by small planes like the Dornier 228 and the de Havilland Twin Otter. These planes fly between Lukla and Kathmandu during daylight hours, if the weather is good.
Lukla's short and steep runway, along with unpredictable weather, has led to several deadly accidents. Some people call it the most dangerous airport in the world. The airport has a 527-meter (1,729 ft) single asphalt runway, making it the shortest commercial runway in the world. Lukla may not be the highest civilian airport in the world—that's in China—but it's still high enough to give pilots trouble.
The airport is surrounded by steep mountains on all sides. The short runway is barely on a mountain ledge. There's a wall at one end and a steep drop-off at the other.
The air is less dense at high altitudes. This reduces the power of the plane's engines and makes it harder to slow down. That's why longer runways are better at high altitudes.
Lukla's runway is super short, only 1,729 feet long. Many international airports have runways that are over 10,000 feet long. To help planes slow down, Lukla's runway slopes uphill.
Ways To Reach Lukla from Kathmandu
There are many ways to get from Kathmandu to Lukla. You can fly, take a helicopter, or even trek. Each option offers a different experience and can be useful if flights are full or the weather is bad. Here's how you can get to Lukla:
Regular Flight
The most popular way to get to Lukla is by plane. The flight takes about 30 minutes, but it can be delayed by bad weather in Kathmandu, Lukla, or along the flight path.
It's a good idea to plan extra days in case your flight is delayed or cancelled. If your flight is cancelled, you can take a helicopter. Helicopters can fly in bad weather and can be used for emergencies. During peak climbing season times, flights to Lukla might leave from Ramechhap, which is a 4-5 hour drive from Kathmandu.
Flight to Lukla from Manthali Aiport
Since Kathmandu Airport is being renovated, all flights to Lukla are now operating out of Manthali Airport during peak trekking season (March, April, May, September, October and November). This airport is much lower, at 474 meters above sea level.
To get to Ramechhap, where Manthali Airport is located, you can take a bus or a private vehicle, which takes about 4 hours.
To catch the earliest flight, you'll need to arrive in Ramechhap the day before. If you don't want to stay overnight, you can take a tourist bus from Kathmandu that departs around 2 AM.
Helicopter Flight
A helicopter ride is a fast and scenic way to get to Lukla. It takes about 30-35 minutes and offers amazing views of the mountains. While it's more expensive than a regular flight, it's a great option if you're short on time or want to enjoy the breathtaking scenery.
Overland Travel to Lukla
Driving to Lukla isn't the most popular way to go, but it's a great road trip. You can drive about 367 kilometres to Thamdanda, but from there, you'll need to hike for 9 hours to reach Lukla.
The road from Kathmandu to Lukla is about 367 kilometres long. You can drive to Salleri, which is 267 kilometres away. From Salleri, the road continues for 63 kilometres to Thamdanda. They're currently building a road from Thamdanda to Chaurikharka, which is another 37 kilometres. So, once the road is finished, you'll be able to drive closer to Lukla. But for now, Paiya is the farthest you can go by vehicle.
Bad weather means bad visibility
The weather in the Himalayas can change quickly. Fog, rain, or snow can pop up suddenly. Even though Lukla isn't far from Kathmandu, the weather can be very different, and it can change while the plane is flying. Sometimes, planes have to turn back due to bad weather.
If the weather gets bad, planes have to turn back to Kathmandu or Manthali Airport, the nearest airport. Most flights are scheduled for the morning because the afternoons are often cloudy. Flights from Lukla are often cancelled.
Accidents at Lukla
Some airports that pilots consider difficult actually have a good safety record. But that's not the case for Lukla. There have been many accidents there, and some of the recent ones have been caught on video.
One of the worst accidents happened in 2008 when a Yeti Airlines plane crashed into a mountain just below the runway. The pilot lost sight of the runway in thick fog but tried to land anyway. Unfortunately, only the pilot survived.
To land at Lukla, pilots need a lot of experience. They must have completed 100 short takeoffs and landings, have at least a year of experience in Nepal, and have flown into Lukla ten times with an instructor.
There's a study to see if they can extend the runway by 100 feet. They're also building a new helipad to handle more passengers.
