Lukla is a gateway to Everest. Every traveler that wishes to reach Everest by hiking, Lukla is their initial stop. Lukla has an airport that is known to be one of the most dangerous airports in the entire world. Lukla is located in Khumbu Pasang Lamhu, a part of Solukhumbu district region, north to the capital city Kathmandu. The destinations after Lukla are: Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Thukla, Lobuche, Gorak Shep and Mount Everest at the end.
Lukla is located at 2,860 meters (9,383 ft) above sea level. Lukla is less remote compared to all the destinations afterwards. In this blog, we will discuss history and facts related to Lukla.
Lukla’s Significance
Lukla is a remote place located in the Solukhumbu region of Nepal. The direct road from Kathmandu to Lukla was opened after 2014. The remote location makes Lukla and its natural beauty untouched by the outside world. The limited access makes Lukla have limited facilities but with greater natural beauty which allows Lukla to be an ideal destination for Yoga Trekking.
Reaching Lukla
By Aircraft
It takes about 30-40 minutes to reach Tenzing Hillary airport from Kathmandu by aircraft. Around 40-50 planes land and take off in Tenzing Hillary airport during the peak season, carrying the passengers and all the necessary supplies from the mainland. On an average, the price for a helicopter ride to Tenzing Hillary costs you around 2300 USD, price may vary according to the agency. For trek to Everest Base Camp, one will need at least 12 days to complete the journey.
By Hiking
The other way to reach the gateway to Everest is by taking the “Pioneer’s Route” i.e. hiking for several days from Jiri or Phaplu. Jiri is the initial stop from where the traveler can reach there in five days. However, by hiking from Phaplu, one can reach Lukla in three days.
Jiri and Phaplu offer the slow yet very rewarding approach for Everest Base Camp summit which extends the trip by 6 or 7 more days due to acclimatization. By hiking from Jiri, a total of 18 days will be needed to complete the Everest Base Camp Trek.
By Bus
There is no direct bus route to reach Lukla from Kathmandu. Buses are available to Salleri/Phaplu and Jiri/Shivalaya. There is no need to travel to Lukla itself; a few days’ hike will take you to a location close by.
Buses from Kathmandu to Jiri and Shivalaya take a little over nine hours and cost between 600 and 700 Nepali rupees each. Depending on the bus, some may travel on to Bhandar. From there, the main EBC trek is around six days away. There is a public jeep too that travels to Salleri;.The journey to the main trail from there will probably take three days. A TIMS card and a national park admission ticket are both necessary for this trek. If you don’t have a guide or porter, the TIMS card will cost you about 600 NPR or about 300 NPR. By considering the discomfort of a long bus trip, a total of 15 days is suitable to complete a trek to Everest Base Camp.
By Jeep
It takes around 14 to 16 hours to drive to reach Thamdanda from Kathmandu. There is no direct jeep to Lukla from Kathmandu. There are sumo Jeeps to be found early in the morning at Chabahil, Kathmandu at around 4-5 A.M. can be found in Chakrapath. The passengers must change to a different Jeep from Solu to Salleri, operated by the same operator.
The public Sumo jeep costs around 40 to 50 USD during normal days but slightly more during the month of October, November due to the festive season.
If there is a group of 5 or more people traveling then, booking a private jeep is highly recommended, which costs around 450 USD to 500 USD at most.
Weather
The weather in Lukla is extremely cold, which may be unbearable to most people sometimes. Especially during the night, the temperature falls to less than 10 degree celsius. The morning and evenings can be bearable but nights get extremely cold in Lukla. The hotels in Lukla provide the best facilities possible but it is possible that there won’t be any facility of heater so, if you are planning to visit Lukla, get your hotel’s services enquired beforehand or put on really warm clothes for night. Morning is the only time for clear sky from about 6 A.M. to 9 A.M.
Activities To Do In Lukla
Here are some list of activities you can do while visiting Lukla Nepal:
1. Rest: If you are someone planning to go up the Everest Base Camp or Namche Bazaar then, it is crucial that you stay physically healthy. Since Lukla is relatively colder compared to Kathmandu, resting in your hotel room can be a really nice option.
2. Village excursion: For people who feel like going around the place to witness the lifestyle, culture or beautiful scenery offered by the place, Surke or Chaurikharka can be great options. Other options include going to Kemgon Gompa and Pasang Lhamu Memorial Gate.
3. Trekking to Phakding: For people who are well equipped, who have a porter and guide and everything sorted out, they can start their journey by trekking to Phakding which is approximately 6.2 km from Lukla. This is the initial journey from Lukla which can be completed in a few hours, with no acclimatization. The steep trails, cold weather and picturesque view makes the trek feel rewarding.
4. Trek to Manjo: If you are someone with great physical endurance and mentally very strong, you can trek to Manjo from Phakding which is approximately 3.6km. This might take an extra one hour at max. Take into consideration that the body needs rest constantly and there’s no need to push yourself too much. Consult with your fellow trekkers and decide whether to continue the journey or rest at Phakding.
5. Sightseeing: There is school, hospital and monasteries around in Lukla. Trekkers can visit school, hospital, take photographs, volunteer work towards community school and hospital to contribute medicine, school supplies for students or light their day by just showing up.
6. Drink Tongba: Tongba is a local drink of Nepal popular among Tamang, Sherpa, Rai folks. There are some soothing bars, cafes and restaurants in Lukla where you can drink beer or Tongba or any other drinks for cold weather. To give you a context, one of the highly imported goods in Lukla by aircraft is beer and drinks.
7. Watch flight landing at Lukla airport: Lukla is considered to be the world’s most dangerous airport due to its accident history and it’s nice witnessing the flight take off or landing in the world’s deadliest airport. The runway is smaller making the aircrafts visible just outside the window of your hotel room. Flights are run during the morning hours from 6am to 9am when the sky is clear. You can make videos or just enjoy the scenery and the aircraft.
8. Hire a guide and porter: We suggest all trekkers to trek with a local guide and porter to get the best experience as well as to get the cultural information. On booking a trip with manasukh, we take care of these things but if you are traveling by your own, you can hire a guide and porter while in Lukla.
A Kind Request
Keep Khumbu clean: While you are walking along the trail to EBC there are many dustbins and garbage collection baskets. We suggest you to keep garbage in dustbins, do not throw anything in the forest and help to keep the Mount Everest area clean.
Accident History
April 30, 2005 – Death of 18 people on board
The first event that occurred at Lukla Airport on April 30, 2005, involved a Gorkha Airlines aircraft. The incident resulted in a tragic crash that claimed the lives of all 18 people on board.The flight, operated by Gorkha Airlines, was on a domestic route within Nepal, traveling from Kathmandu to Lukla. The aircraft was a Dornier Do 228, a small twin-turboprop plane commonly used for short-haul flights. The plane encountered adverse weather conditions and challenging terrain as it approached Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla for Landing. Unfortunately, the aircraft crashed during the attempt of landing and a devastating accident occurred taking the lives of all the crew members and passengers on board.
The crash led to an investigation into the cause of the accident, focusing on factors such as weather conditions, pilot error, technical issues, and the challenging nature of the airport. The investigation aimed to determine the sequence of events that led to the tragic crash of the Gorkha Airlines flight on April 30, 2005. However, specific details about the investigation findings might be available in official aviation safety reports or through inquiries made to the relevant authorities in Nepal.
October 8, 2008 death of 18 people and several injured
The second significant incident at Lukla Airport occurred on October 8, 2008, involving Yeti Airlines Flight 103, a domestic flight within Nepal.
Flight 103, operated by Yeti Airlines, was a DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft flying from Kathmandu to Lukla. The Twin Otter is a popular aircraft for short takeoff and landing (STOL) operations, commonly used in mountainous and remote regions due to its ability to operate in challenging conditions.
As the aircraft approached Lukla Airport for landing, it encountered adverse weather conditions, including fog and low visibility. Lukla Airport’s unique geographical location, with its short, sloped runway surrounded by mountainous terrain, makes landings and takeoffs particularly demanding for pilots, especially in poor weather.
Despite the challenging weather, the pilot attempted to land the aircraft at Lukla Airport. However, during the landing attempt, the aircraft encountered difficulties, possibly due to the adverse weather conditions affecting visibility and the challenging terrain.
Tragically, Flight 103 crashed while trying to land at Lukla Airport, resulting in the deaths of 18 people on board and injuries to several others. The crash raised concerns about the safety challenges posed by Lukla Airport’s geographical conditions and the need for improved safety measures to mitigate risks during landings and takeoffs, especially in adverse weather.
As with any aviation accident, an investigation was likely conducted to determine the causes of the crash, examining factors such as weather conditions, pilot decision-making, technical issues, and the unique challenges presented by Lukla Airport’s terrain. The findings and details of the investigation report might be available through official aviation safety authorities or reports issued by relevant investigative bodies.
October 12, 2010 – 19 passangers and crew members all injured
The Sita Air flight was attempting to take off from Lukla Airport, embarking on a domestic flight within Nepal. The specific details about the aircraft type and flight number in this incident might require further investigation or access to official reports.
During the takeoff procedure, the aircraft encountered difficulties, resulting in an incident that caused injuries to all 19 passengers and crew members on board. The nature of the incident, including the exact cause of the difficulties faced during takeoff, might involve factors such as technical issues, weather conditions, or other operational aspects.
Unfortunately, comprehensive public information regarding the specifics of this incident, including the aircraft type, the exact circumstances leading to the difficulties during takeoff, and the injuries sustained by passengers and crew, might not be widely available or easily accessible.
Like other aviation incidents, this event at Lukla Airport would likely have been subject to investigation by relevant aviation safety authorities to determine the causes and contributing factors. The investigation’s findings might provide detailed insights into what led to the difficulties during takeoff and the subsequent injuries suffered by those on board. Access to the official investigation report or relevant authorities might provide a more comprehensive understanding of this particular incident at Lukla Airport in 2010.
April 15, 2019 – three deaths in total
The fourth incident at Lukla Airport occurred on April 15, 2019, involving a Summit Air aircraft.
During this incident, a Summit Air aircraft was preparing to take off from Lukla Airport, a domestic flight within Nepal. The aircraft involved was a Let L-410 Turbolet, a twin-engine short-range transport aircraft commonly used for regional flights.
As the Summit Air aircraft was taxiing for takeoff, it encountered an unfortunate collision with two parked helicopters on the tarmac. The helicopters were parked near the runway at Lukla Airport at the time of the incident.
The collision resulted in a tragic outcome, causing the deaths of three individuals. Among the casualties were two police officers who were near the helicopters on the ground and the co-pilot of the Summit Air aircraft.
The incident drew attention to safety concerns at Lukla Airport, particularly regarding the proximity of parked aircraft or helicopters to the runway and operational areas. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision would likely have focused on factors such as airfield safety protocols, ground operations, communication, and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
As with any aviation incident, an investigation by relevant aviation authorities would have been conducted to determine the causes and contributing factors that led to the collision between the Summit Air aircraft and the parked helicopters at Lukla Airport on April 15, 2019. Access to the official investigation report or authoritative statements might provide more detailed insights into this specific incident.
Till 2020, a total of 11 accidents had occurred in a span of 20 years. But considering the difficulty of the location, lack of radar system and weather inconsistency, it is praise worthy that pilots agree to take risk flying to such a place. Furthermore, it’s commendable to even traveler’s who go there and help sustain people’s life in Lukla by supporting their business.
Conclusion
We discussed everything from activities, accident history, significance, how to reach Lukla and risks too. You can contact us for any queries you have regarding trips to Nepal you can contact us. You can also check out our yoga trek packages by clicking here.
