Lukla and its airport at a glance
Lukla is a small town in the Khumbu region at about 2,860 m (9,383 ft), and its airport is the gateway for most Everest Base Camp treks. The runway is short and sloped, and flights depend on visibility. Tara Air serves Lukla, and Summit Air also lists Lukla flights. In the main seasons many Lukla flights leave from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap instead of Kathmandu, so check your ticket for the departure airport.
Another source puts the Lukla weather station at 2,786 m. The sources use different reference points, so neither number is a new survey of the airport. This is an independent guide and is not run by any airline, airport or authority.
Kathmandu or Ramechhap: which airport?
The departure airport depends on the season and your booking.
| Kathmandu | Ramechhap (Manthali) | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Depends on the season and the airline | Main seasons, often March to April and October to December |
| Flight time to Lukla | 25–32 min (one seller), 30–45 min (another) | 15–20 min (one seller), about 12 min (another) |
| One-way price, 2026 | about $251 | about $209 |
| Before the flight | – | Road transfer of about 130 km, roughly 5 hours |
One airline describes March to April and October to December as the months when all Lukla flights move to Ramechhap. An adventure company says more carefully that main-season flights may start and end there. Treat the ticket as the final word, and ask your agency which airport applies to your date.
Our picks: treks with the Lukla flight
Packages that include the return flight Kathmandu–Lukla.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
12-day Everest Base Camp trek with guesthouses
A private airport or hotel transfer, twin-room guesthouses, the return flight to Lukla and a licensed guide from Lukla and back. Meals, porters and insurance are extra.
Check availability →
12-day guided Everest Base Camp trek
The return flight Kathmandu–Lukla, lodges, a guide, the required permits and TIMS are included. Meals and porters are not.
Check availability →
14-day Everest Base Camp trek with meals
Three meals a day on the trek, tea-house lodging, a licensed English-speaking guide, permits and the return flight to Lukla. International flights, insurance and drinks are not included.
Check availability →Tours that include the Lukla flight
Guided treks and packages for the Khumbu region that handle flights, permits and lodging, with live prices and availability.
Delays, cancellations and spare days
Flights to Lukla depend on weather, and delays and cancellations happen. Operators recommend at least 1 to 2 extra days at the end of the trip, and some describe delays of several days. Even that may not be enough in every spell of bad weather, so do not book an onward international flight for the day after your planned return from Lukla.
Tara Air's terms offer a full refund or rebooking on the next available flight when the airline cancels because of weather or technical reasons. That does not automatically cover an extra hotel night, a helicopter or a missed flight home. Ask your insurer what is covered.
On 26 September 2026 the Kathmandu Post reported snow at higher points in the Khumbu and disruption to scheduled flights to Lukla. The report also described damaged road diversions on the highway towards eastern Nepal, which matters for the Ramechhap transfer. It did not say whether the road was open or closed on a given day. Check the current position with your agency before you leave Kathmandu.
Baggage and children
- Adults: 10 kg checked and 5 kg hand baggage on Tara Air. Extra weight costs more.
- Children under 12: 7 kg free allowance, and 33 % off the base fare with an ID.
- Infants under 2: 10 % of the fare, paid at the airport.
Pack your main trekking bag so that it stays within the limit, or leave extra gear in Kathmandu. The flight limit is not a rule for porter loads.
After you land
Lukla is where most treks begin on foot. In the sample 12-day plan the first walk goes to Phakding, three to four hours away. Lukla also has the Tourist Information Centre where the Khumbu municipality lists its trek card, which takes about 15 minutes to issue and needs your passport. See the permits page for fees and rules.
On the way back, Namche to Lukla is about seven hours in the same plan and the flight follows on the next day. The trek page has the whole route, and the itinerary page shows each stage.
Helicopter flights to Lukla and above exist as well. A fast ride up skips acclimatisation, so read the helicopter tour page before you decide.
Weather at Lukla Airport in 2025
Monthly averages from the national weather service station at the airport. This is one measured year, not a long-term climate table, and it does not describe the temperatures at base camp.
| Month | Mean daily high (°C) | Mean daily low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 11.4 | -0.2 | 3.1 |
| February | 9.7 | 0.4 | 15.2 |
| March | 14.2 | 3.0 | 35.9 |
| April | 16.6 | 6.0 | 64.7 |
| May | 17.6 | 9.5 | 162.0 |
| June | 19.1 | 11.8 | 352.7 |
| July | 19.6 | 13.0 | 564.1 |
| August | 18.4 | 12.7 | 642.6 |
| September | 19.0 | 12.3 | 574.7 |
| October | 17.0 | 6.9 | 251.7 |
| November | 14.4 | 2.6 | 37.3 |
| December | 12.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
One wet October does not make the autumn season a poor choice, and the recommended seasons do not promise dry weather. For the month-by-month planning, see the best time page.
Related pages
More for planning the first and last days.
Lukla flights: frequently asked questions
Do all flights to Lukla leave from Kathmandu?
No. In the main seasons many leave from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap, with a road transfer from Kathmandu of about 130 km. One airline lists March to April and October to December for this. Look at the departure airport on your ticket.
How long is the flight to Lukla?
One seller lists 25–32 minutes from Kathmandu and 15–20 minutes from Ramechhap, another 30–45 and about 12 minutes. Times differ by airline and are not guaranteed.
How much does a Lukla flight cost?
A seller lists about $251 one way from Kathmandu and about $209 from Ramechhap in a 2026 table. Another operator gives a budget of $215–255 one way. Your ticket price is the one that counts.
How many spare days should I plan?
At least 1 to 2 extra days at the end, according to one operator, and more if you have a fixed onward flight. Weather can cause delays of several days.
What happens if my flight is cancelled?
Tara Air offers a full refund or rebooking on the next available flight if it cancels for weather or technical reasons. Extra hotel nights, a helicopter or a missed flight home are not covered automatically. Check your insurance.
Is it safe to fly straight to altitude by helicopter instead?
Rapid motorised ascents above 3,500 m should be avoided where possible, according to the German Federal Foreign Office. A short stop does not show that it is medically safe. Talk to a doctor before the trip.