Lukla
Lukla
Nepal Travel Destination
Both Lukla and Jiri are the two main towns to start any trek to the Sagarmatha (Everest) area in Eastern Nepal. Lukla translates to “the land with many goats and sheep” but this is not as true as it once was, Lukla is more famous now as a launching point for travel to Mt. Everest base camp as well as a pleasant resting town in the middle of travel through the region.
Lukla sits at an elevation of 2860 meters and has the last airstrip before the base camp, giving those who travel here a choice to shorten their trekking time by flying here and starting their travels to Everest Base camp, which is about 1½ weeks travel by foot from Lukla. Walking the extra week into the region from Jiri helps with acclimatization, but taking a 30 minute flight from Kathmandu to the Lukla airport is a convenient way to travel if you are short on time in Nepal.
Lukla has many shops with any last minute supplies for the trekking or mountaineering expeditions ahead. There are also plenty of lodges where travelers can have a semi-western style meal prepared, although locals always appreciate when travelers try their traditional food items. If one does not find their needed supplies in Lukla, they will probably have more luck after a 1-2 day walk to Namche Bazaar – one day is doable by walking 8-10 hours but could increase the risk of altitude sickness. Two days gives you enough time to acclimatize to the increasing elevation.
For those planning to travel to the Everest Region via flight to or from Lukla, it is best to double check your seat reservation with the airlines before leaving Lukla. Especially during the peak tourist season, empty seats on a flight between Lukla and Kathmandu is very unlikely and there have been cases of travelers being bumped off their flights. For those traveling with an agency, they will take care of the reservations for you.
To view pre-designed Nepal travel packages, see our programs page or the encyclopedia for more Nepal Travel items.