मन्थली

Manthali

The headquarters town of Ramechhap district, whose airport handles many Lukla flights in the busy trekking seasons.

Altitude: -*
Best months: Mar-May, Oct-Nov
Type: Town or village
District: Ramechhap, Bagmati
Permit: None needed

Higher seasonal exposure: landslides (Jun-Sep).

Why go

Manthali is the headquarters of Ramechhap district, a low-lying bazaar town in the warm valley of the Tamakoshi river south-east of Kathmandu. Until recently it was rarely visited by foreigners, but Ramechhap Airport at Manthali now serves as the departure point for many flights to Lukla, the gateway to the Everest region, during the spring and autumn trekking seasons.

Because flights to Lukla leave early in the morning, trekkers usually drive from Kathmandu in the small hours or arrive the evening before and stay overnight in Manthali. The town has grown a cluster of hotels and guesthouses around the airport to serve this traffic, along with shops and transport counters.

Beyond the airport, Manthali is a working district centre surrounded by terraced hills and river valleys. It offers a glimpse of everyday life in the middle hills of eastern Bagmati, and is a starting point for roads into the rest of Ramechhap, including the approach to the Sailung hills to the north-west.

History and culture

Ramechhap district lies between the Sunkoshi and Tamakoshi river systems and the high ridges towards Dolakha and Solukhumbu. Its population includes Tamang, Newar, Magar, Sherpa, Brahmin-Chhetri and other communities, with agriculture the main livelihood. Manthali developed as the administrative centre of the district.

The town's link with Everest trekking is recent. To ease congestion at Kathmandu's airport in peak seasons, the aviation authorities moved many Lukla flights to Ramechhap Airport, a change first introduced at the end of the 2010s. This brought a seasonal flow of trekkers and climbers through Manthali, changing the economy of the town around the airfield.

Things to do in Manthali

Fly to Lukla
Catch an early morning flight from Ramechhap Airport to Lukla to start an Everest region trek.
Walk the bazaar
Spend an evening walking through the town and along the river before an early flight.
Head to Sailung
Use Manthali as a base for road trips towards the Sailung hills and other parts of Ramechhap.

Weather and the best time to visit Manthali

Weather in Manthali

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 are the main trekking season, when Lukla flights from Manthali are busiest.
Winter (Dec-Feb): December to February is mild in the valley; flights to Lukla continue but are fewer.
Spring (Mar-May): March to May is the second trekking season, with warm to hot days in Manthali.
Monsoon (Jun-Aug): June to September is hot and wet, Lukla flights are infrequent, and landslides affect the roads from Kathmandu.

Where to stay

HotelsGuesthouses

Hotels and guesthouses near the airport cater mainly to trekkers on early flights; book ahead in October and April.

No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.

Getting there

Manthali is reached by road from Kathmandu, usually via the B.P. Highway; trekkers typically drive in a day ahead or in the early hours for morning Lukla flights.

Nearest hub: Kathmandu

roadKathmandu to Manthali by private vehicle, shared jeep or local bus, usually via Dhulikhel and the B.P. Highway; allow several hours.
flightRamechhap Airport at Manthali to Lukla, mainly in the spring and autumn seasons.

Boundary: Government of Nepal, Survey Department (2020). Peak data: Wikidata.

Permits and fees

None needed

No permit is needed for Manthali. Treks beyond Lukla need the Sagarmatha National Park permit and a local area permit.

Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-08 against Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

Risks and conditions

Seasonal risks around Manthali

What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.

Landslideshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Monsoon landslides can block the roads between Kathmandu and Manthali.
Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal
Othermoderate in a typical yearAll year
Lukla flights are often delayed or cancelled by weather at Lukla; build spare days into an Everest itinerary.
Tenzing-Hillary Airport, Wikipedia
Heatlow in a typical yearApr-Jun
The low valley around Manthali is hot before the monsoon.
Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Nepal

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

Confirm with your airline or agent whether your Lukla flight departs from Kathmandu or Ramechhap, as this changes by season.
Allow for very early departures if driving from Kathmandu on the morning of the flight; many trekkers prefer to stay overnight.
Check baggage weight limits for Lukla flights before you leave Kathmandu.
Carry cash; services are limited compared with Kathmandu.

Questions about Manthali

Why do Lukla flights leave from Manthali?

In busy seasons, many Lukla flights are operated from Ramechhap Airport at Manthali to reduce congestion at Kathmandu's airport.

Should I stay overnight in Manthali?

Many trekkers do, because flights leave early in the morning and the drive from Kathmandu takes several hours.

Do I need a permit for Manthali?

No. Permits are needed only for the Everest region beyond Lukla.

Are Lukla flights from Ramechhap reliable?

They are weather-dependent like all Lukla flights; allow buffer days.

Nearby

Trek stop · 2,860 m