Lukla is a popular and well-known name for trekkers, who have been to the Everest region for the Everest Trek, and also this is a must-to-know name for trekkers who are planning for the Everest Base Camp Trek.
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Notice: Nepal bans solo trekking for foreigners, coming into effect from 1st April 2023
Lukla is the gateway to the entire Everest/Khumbu region of Nepal, taking you to the highest mountain on earth Mt. Everest. As the entire region is remote, due to its location and high elevation.
Lukla is blessed with an active domestic airport, which supplies goods and carries trekkers to the starting point of the Everest Trek.
Lukla lies in the Solukhumbu District of Nepal, in Pasang Lhamu Village Development Committee at the altitude of 2840M/9318Ft. This is a small town mainly inhabited by Sherpa, a distinct ethnic community living at the highest altitude.
Lukla airport was built in 1964 under the supervision of Sir Edmund Hillary who was the first to climb Mt. Everest in 1953 with Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. This was a month-long journey to Everest Base Camp because there were no other shorter routes and means of transportation.
To make the Everest region popular, much of the credit goes to this first expedition group and thanks to Sir Edmund for shortening the entire trek to just 9 days Everest Base Camp Trek.
With a respect to the first expedition team, thus Lukla airport is named Tenzing Hillary Airport. Situated at such an altitude, it used to be farmland on the cliff of the mountain which makes the airport small in length with a runway of 527m only. This makes Lukla airport one of the most dangerous airports in the world.
Apart from being supported by the airport, Lukla is a beautiful place to observe the scenic view of the mountains and the Himalayas. Trekkers take an early morning flight to Lukla to avoid foggy and windy weather.
Only early morning flights are operated to and from Lukla airport which is a small ‘Twin Otter’ carrying around 16-18 passengers maximum.
Flying from Kathmandu 1350M/4430Ft, trekkers land at Lukla 2840M/9318Ft. this change in altitude sometime might create trouble, so to avoid physical difficulties, it is better recommended to have a short break for tea/coffee before starting the trek.
There are dozens of lodges and hotels around Lukla along with bars and pool houses to play and entertain. All lodges have electricity and Wi-Fi facilities, one can say Lukla is the only town in the entire Khumbu region well equipped with late available facilities.
Trekkers only spend a night in Lukla while descending from the trek to take the early morning flight the very next day. To conclude, Lukla is a majestic place surrounded by hills and the Himalayas, a real paradise.
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