The classic teahouse trek from Lukla through Sherpa villages to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m) and the Kala Patthar viewpoint, with acclimatisation days in Namche and Dingboche.
- Days
- 12 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,644 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
Everest Region (Khumbu)लुक्ला
Lukla
The airstrip town where most Everest region treks begin and end, on a shelf above the Dudh Kosi.
- Altitude
- 2,860 m*
- Best months
- Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Trek stop
- District
- Solukhumbu, Koshi
- Permit
- Permit required
Higher seasonal exposure: seasonal closure (Jun-Sep), road blockages (Jun-Sep).
Why go
Lukla is a small town at about 2,860 m on a hillside above the Dudh Kosi, in the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality. Within the Everest region it is the usual gateway: most trekkers bound for Namche Bazaar, Everest Base Camp, Gokyo or the Three Passes fly in here, and nearly all of them fly out again from the same short airstrip.
The Tenzing-Hillary Airport has a single, steep runway of a little over 500 m, built into the slope. Flights operate only in daylight and good visibility, so delays of a day or more are part of the trip. The main street is lined with lodges, gear shops, bakeries and small offices, and it is the last place with a choice of shops until Namche, two days' walk to the north. Lukla sits outside Sagarmatha National Park, which begins near Monjo.
History and culture
Lukla grew up around the airstrip, which was built in the 1960s with Edmund Hillary's support to bring in materials for schools and health posts in Khumbu. The name is usually explained as 'place with many goats and sheep'. Most residents are Sherpa, and the town's economy now depends almost entirely on trekking, mountaineering and the supply chain that runs up the valley by porter and pack animal.
Things to do in Lukla
Watch the airstrip
The viewing spots by the runway show how the aircraft land uphill and take off downhill in a few hundred metres.
Sort permits and gear
Collect the local municipality permit, buy last items and reconfirm your return flight before setting off.
Weather and the best time to visit Lukla
Weather in Lukla
Forecast for 2,860 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Mar-May, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- Good month: May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November usually bring the clearest skies and stable weather, with cold nights well below freezing.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is cold but often clear; flights run when visibility allows.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- March to May is warmer and busy, with more afternoon cloud; late spring brings expedition traffic towards base camp.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August brings rain and low cloud, and flights are frequently cancelled for days at a time.
Where to stay
LodgesTeahousesGuesthouses
A wide range of lodges and guesthouses line the main street; book ahead in peak season when flights back up.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Lukla is reached by a short mountain flight from Kathmandu or Ramechhap, or on foot over several days from the road heads further south.
Nearest hub: Kathmandu
- flightKathmandu or Ramechhap (Manthali) to Lukla, roughly 25-40 minutes, weather permitting; in busy seasons many flights leave from Ramechhap.
- roadKathmandu to Ramechhap (Manthali) airport, roughly 130-150 km and 4-6 hours by road, for flights in peak season.
- trekOverland from road heads such as Salleri, Phaplu or the Jiri side, about 3-7 days on foot depending on the start point.
Getting to Lukla, by mode
Nearest hub: Kathmandu. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By airfrom Kathmanduabout 0.4-0.7 hLukla (Tenzing-Hillary)often delayed or cancelled by weather
The usual arrival: a 25-40 minute mountain flight from Kathmandu, or from Ramechhap (Manthali) in the busy seasons, which adds a 3-4 hour night drive east from Kathmandu. Flights go at first light, the airstrip regularly stops operating when the south-west wind builds late morning, and monsoon visibility cancels about half of them, so spare days matter at both ends.
When to set off: Lukla flights are scheduled at first light, before the south-west wind builds from mid to late morning; Ramechhap departures leave Kathmandu by road around 03:00-04:00
By car or jeepfrom Kathmanduabout 3-6 h
There is no road to Lukla. The road leg that matters is Kathmandu to Ramechhap (Manthali) airport, roughly 130-150 km and 3-6 h, for peak-season flights; sources give 3-4 h and the record's own research 4-6 h.
Road: Sealed highway east then a hill road down to Manthali; no road continues to Lukla.
When to set off: Ramechhap transfers leave Kathmandu around 03:00-04:00 for the first flights
On footfrom Salleri, Phaplu or the Jiri side2-3 days on foot from Phaplu, or 5-7 days from the Jiri side
The overland alternative: walk in from the road heads, about 2-3 days from Phaplu, or 5-7 days from the Jiri side. Quieter and not weather-bound, but no single hour band fits, so none is given.
Where people go next
- Phakdingon foot, about 3-4 hDownhill first stage of the trek.
- Namche Bazaaron foot, about 8-11 hTwo stages, usually with a night at Phakding or Monjo.
- Kathmanduby air, about 0.4-0.7 hThe flight out, weather permitting.
- Phapluon footSouth towards the Phaplu road head, 2-3 days on foot.
Permits and fees
Permit required
Lukla is outside Sagarmatha National Park, but the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit is collected here, and anyone walking north needs the park permit at Monjo. Check whether a TIMS card is currently required.
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entry permit: Collected in Lukla or on the trail just north of it.
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit: Checked at the park entrance near Monjo; can also be bought in Kathmandu.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
On the trail
On the Everest Base Camp trek, Gokyo Lakes trek, Three High Passes trek.
- Next stop:
- Phakding
- A typical day:
- Arrive by air in the morning and walk 3-4 hours, mostly downhill, to Phakding; on the way out, a long 6-7 hour day from Namche ends with a climb back up to Lukla.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Lukla
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Seasonal closurehigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Lukla flights are the weak link in the monsoon: poor visibility stops operations at the airstrip about half the time in that season and about half of flights are cancelled, and waits of several days happen. Any itinerary built on the flight needs spare days at both ends.
Road blockageshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The mountain roads into Solukhumbu turn muddy and slippery in the monsoon and landslides are possible, so road journeys from Kathmandu run much slower in June to September.
Altitudemoderate in a typical yearAll year
Lukla is at about 2,845-2,860 m, and arriving by air means landing straight at that height from Kathmandu's 1,300 m. Acute mountain sickness is common on fast ascents - it affects roughly 40 per cent of people who go up quickly to 3,000 m, and more above that. General information, not medical advice: gain height slowly, keep sleeping-height gains small (about 300 m a day once high), build in rest days, learn the symptoms - headache, nausea, breathlessness, broken sleep - and descend if they get worse. See a doctor before travelling and carry insurance that covers helicopter evacuation.
Othermoderate in a typical yearAll year
Flights are scheduled in the early morning year-round: the wind usually blows from the north-east at dawn and turns to a strong south-west flow from mid to late morning, when the airstrip regularly stops operating.
Othermoderate in a typical yearJun-Aug
June to August is wet: heavy rain hides the mountains, the stone staircases and bridge approaches stay slippery, and leeches are a nuisance in the forest below about 3,000 m.
River crossingsmoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
The route crosses and recrosses the Dudh Koshi on suspension bridges between Lukla and Namche; the river runs high through the monsoon and the bridge approaches are slippery then.
Coldmoderate in a typical yearNov-Mar
Nights drop well below freezing from November to March, with frost most mornings and only the dining room heated in most lodges.
Snowlow in a typical yearDec-Feb
Snow reaches Lukla in some winters and can hold up flights, although the trails around the town usually clear within a few days.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- Keep one or two spare days before any international flight; weather delays at Lukla are common.
- ATMs are available but not always reliable; carry cash from Kathmandu as a back-up.
- Mobile signal and lodge Wi-Fi are generally available.
- Baggage limits on the small aircraft are strict; weigh your bags before you fly.
Treks through Lukla
A teahouse trek from Lukla up the Dudh Kosi valley to the turquoise Gokyo Lakes beside the Ngozumpa Glacier, with a dawn climb of Gokyo Ri (about 5,357 m) for views of four 8,000 m peaks.
- Days
- 11 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,357 m
- Difficulty
- Strenuous
A long, demanding circuit of the Khumbu over the Kongma La, Cho La and Renjo La, all above 5,300 m, taking in Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, the Gokyo Lakes and the Thame valley.
- Days
- 19 days
- Maximum altitude
- 5,644 m
- Difficulty
- Challenging
Questions about Lukla
How do I get to Lukla?
By a short flight from Kathmandu or, in busy seasons, from Ramechhap (Manthali), a 4-6 hour drive from Kathmandu. Walking in from road heads further south takes several days.
Why are Lukla flights delayed so often?
The airstrip is short and steep, and flights only operate in daylight with good visibility in the valley, so cloud or wind can stop them for hours or days.
How high is Lukla?
About 2,860 m. Most people feel little effect from the altitude here; the first night on the trek, at Phakding, is slightly lower.
More in Everest Region (Khumbu)
All of Everest Region (Khumbu)Lake · 4,750 m
Gokyo Lakes
A chain of glacier-fed lakes beside the Ngozumpa glacier, with views of Everest and Cho Oyu from the hill of Gokyo Ri.
Viewpoint · 5,644 m
Kala Patthar
A dark ridge-top viewpoint above Gorak Shep with a close view of Everest, Nuptse and the Khumbu Glacier.
Viewpoint · 4,065 m
Pikey Peak
A grassy 4,065 m summit in lower Solukhumbu with a long view of the eastern Himalaya, reached on a short trek through Sherpa villages.
Trek stop · 4,730 m
Chhukung
A high lodge settlement at the head of the Imja valley, below Lhotse's south face and Island Peak.
Mountain pass · 5,420 m
Cho La
A glaciated pass linking the Everest Base Camp trail with the Gokyo valley, crossed between Dzongla and Thagnak.
Trek stop · 4,410 m
Dingboche
A walled-field Sherpa village in the Imja valley, the usual acclimatisation stop on the way to Everest Base Camp.
Trek stop · 4,038 m
Dole
A small lodge village in the upper Dudh Kosi valley, the first night above Namche on the way to Gokyo.
Trek stop · 4,830 m
Dzongla
A tiny lodge stop on a high pasture below Cholatse, the eastern base for crossing the Cho La.
Nearby
Valley or region
Everest Region (Khumbu)
The Sherpa homeland below Everest, reached on foot from Lukla through stone villages, monasteries and glacial valleys.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Lukla, Wikipedia, Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Wikipedia, Everest Base Camp Trek, Wikivoyage