Ramechhap to Lukla Flight- Manthali Airport, How to Get There?

Lukla Flight from Kathmandu or Ramechhap

Lukla, a small Sherpa village, is located at an altitude of 2800 meters above sea level. Kathmandu to Lukla flight offers spectacular views of the 18 highest peaks, and interestingly, four lie above an altitude of 8000 meters. Lukla, these days, has been creating a buzz as a trekking junction. Many shops and lodges, as well as trekking luggage for buying and renting, are the significant activities trekkers can do here. Lukla is an entry in the beautiful Khumbu region and the very best, Mt. Everest. Located at a distance of 900ft, it is the doorway to the Sagarmatha National Park. Lukla is the Gateway to the Everest Base Camp in the Khumbu area. The Khumbu area lies in the Solu-Khumbu district of Sagarmatha Zone.

The History Channel declared Lukla, Nepal, the most dangerous Airport in the world in 2010.
Lukla Airport is also a dangerous airport, and it is named Tenzing-Hillary Airport. It is on the side of a hill.

You can take 10 kg of baggage and 5 kg of hand luggage on a flight to Lukla. More than 35 flights operate daily at Lukla Airport.

It is about 35 minutes from Kathmandu to Lukla Airport.

It takes approximately 35 minutes to fly from Kathmandu to Lukla airport. Some domestic airlines operate flights from Kathmandu to Lukla, but direct booking is impossible. Thus, it is advisable to book the flight earlier.
Lukla lies in the famous trekking region of Khumbu, in the Solukhumbu District of northeastern Nepal. Lukla town consists of ups and downs, hills, and random trails.

Yaks serve as a wheel here. Most Sherpa people live here and open lodges in their homes. Sherpa people, known for their mountaineering skills, were actively involved in constructing the Airport. TAirports is considered the local drink of Nepal. These drinks are perfect for the winter period. Tongba drinks are made from millet. Sherpa’s Cuisine is the most popular food you must try while traveling to Lukla. Lukla has a subtropical highland climate with warm, humid, and wet summers and cold, snowy, and dry winters.

Kathmandu to Lukla Flights Information

Lukla is about 140 km from Kathmandu, and it takes just 25 minutes to fly from Kathmandu to Lukla. There is the highest probability of flight cancellation from Kathmandu to Lukla Flight. Between 6.00 am and 9.00 am, about 80 percent of Lukla Flight is operating.
In a peak season, there are almost ten flights in the operation of a single airline, whereas eight flights operate in a regular season. Around 40 flights per day are operating. These flights are used by the four major airlines (Simrik, Goma/Summit, Sita, and Tara).

Some of the facts of Lukla Flight

• Lukla says it is the most dangerous Airport.
• TAirportma/summit, Simrik, and Sita are the four airlines operating in this sector.
• Lukla is the start of a day hike around Lukla village, trekking to speak, or going to Everest Base Camp.
• A helicopter is available in case of emergency.
• A smooth 40-minute flight from Kathmandu will take you to Lukla airport.
• Tenzing-Hillary Airport got its name after two foreigners, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, stepped on the foot of Mount Everest.
• The code for Lukla airport is LUA.
• The 1 hour scheduled mountain flight offers you spectacular mountain views.
• The uneven weather conditions can make your Lukla trip worse. Choose the best months to visit Lukla for stunning mountain views.
• A flight is likely to get canceled because of bad weather conditions.
• Flight can be added according to demand and based on requests from travelers.
• The length of Lukla Airport’s runway is 527m. Thus, it can make landing planes and even takeoffs difficult.
• 15 kg of luggage is allowed here.
• Heli services are also available in case of flight cancellation.

During the season, flights to Lukla are from Ramechhap Airport.

From September, the direct operation of Kathmandu flights has been changed to Ramechhap airport. This Airport is 135 km away from Kathmandu. Driving overland and reaching Manthali airport is needed to catch the flight. Lukla, the Gateway to the Everest region, is marked as the most dangerous Airport. IAirportseason time, Sept to Nov and March to May,  the flight to Lukla is operated from Ramechhap Airport.

Lukla, the most popular trekking region of the Khumbu region, lies in the Solukhumbu district of northern Nepal. It lies at an altitude of 2860 meters. In 1964, Sir Edmund Hillary started the single-sloped runway as an initiative. Few experts and experienced pilots are permitted to land at the Airport because of the difficulty of landing. Kathmandu to Lukla airport has lots of options. If you are scared of the Lukla flight, you can opt for other options too. You can fly into Lukla, trek in Phaplu, and take various bus journeys.

Ramechhap airport

Ramechhap airport lies at Manthali, the headquarters of the Ramechhap district of Province No. 3 in Nepal. Lying 83 km from Kathmandu, Ramechhap Airport is also called Manthali Airport. Ramechhap Airport has become one of the easiest pre-destinations for the Mount Everest trek to reach Lukla. It takes three and a half hours to 4 hours to get to Ramechhap by drive first and then from Ramechhap to Lukla by flight. Ramechhap is a mix of two words, Ram and Chhap. Ram means person, and Chhap refers to the mark. Ramechhap is a beautiful place in Nepal, with an area of 546 square kilometers and an elevation of 474 meters (1,555 feet) above sea level.

It takes around 4 hours and 30 minutes to reach there by road as the road distance is about 154 kilometers. The Major Highlight of the Ramechhap is its various natural heritages. Rivers like such as Tamakoshi, Sunkoshi, Khimti), DudhKunda, LikhuKhola Glacier, peaks (Pathibhara and Numburchuli), Gaurighat cave; cultural and religious heritages like Thodung monastery, PanchPokhari, KhauGumba, Kanadevi, and JataPokhari; endangered natives Kusundas, Junar (citrus fruit), elevation variation, prosperous mineral existence like iron, copper, marble, and magnetite.

It is a short flight to Lukla from Ramechhap.

Ramechhap Airport consists of only one runway, 518 meters (1,699 feet) long. A new flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, also known as the Ramechhap to Lukla flight, is opening. Ramechhap Flight offers a glimpse of these attractions, some in high and some in low amounts. There will be ongoing runway maintenance from April 1st to June 30th,2019; due to this operation, all fixed-wing aircraft flights to Lukla from Manthali Airport will be closed this spring.

The official notice issued by CAAN (Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal) says that all Airlines are required to operate flights to Lukla from Manthali Airport. Ramechhap airport lies closer to Lukla than Kathmandu and takes approximately 20 minutes.

It is known that the flights from Lukla and Lukla are popular for cancellation and delays. We can find several instances in which trekkers were compelled to lie on the chilled floor of the Lukla airport for many days.
Thus, Ramechhap Airport is a perfect alternative to fly to Lukla as this Airport is used to operate Lukla flights.

All the flights to and from Lukla are rerouting from Kathmandu to Manthali Airport starting April 1st, 2019. The flight time will be comparatively shorter, taking approximately 48 minutes for a round trip Ramechhap – Lukla – Ramechhap. It would help if you traveled to Ramechhap from Kathmandu to catch your Lukla Flight. Follow the same route to return to Kathmandu.

Manthali Airport

Manthali Airport is 439 m above sea level and 132 km east of Kathmandu. It lies on the bank of the Tamakoshi River. This Airport is the closest to Kathmandu, so it is the best option for flying to Lukla. The Airport operates flights during the season, and there has been air traffic congestion at Kathmandu Airport (TIA) in the past. You can also reach Manthali airport by road, which takes 4-5 hours on average.

Catching the flight is possible if you travel early; thus, going before the day of the flight is advisable to avoid missing the flight. You can take your private vehicle to Manthali, as the other local transfers may differ in time according to the plane.

Flying to Lukla

Lukla weather is a primary concern while traveling to the Everest region. However, various factors such as the time of the flight, arrival, and departure may vary the time. You can book a flight online or with your travel agency. Choose your appropriate time and plan enough before heading to Lukla. A central hub for mountaineering, Lukla is a major tourist attraction center.
Hundreds of thousands of trekkers and visitors visit Lukla to explore the Everest region in peak seasons. The introduction of the airstrip from Kathmandu has made traveling to the Everest view trek feasible for many people.

Talking about the cost of the Kathmandu to Lukla flight (one-way flight) is USD 195 per person. However, the round-trip cost is USD 390. The flight duration is 35 minutes. Below is the table showing the list of the airlines, flight times, and schedules for Kathmandu to Lukla:

Conclusion

The high altitude is the primary reason for climate change. Lukla Airport has a short and steep runway, which ranks among the most dangerous trails in the world. Lukla is mainly famous for trekking, mountaineering, and sightseeing the beautiful scenery of the Himalayan region. It also takes an average of 35 minutes to reach there. It is supposed to lead to Gokyo Valley Trekking, Everest Base Camp, and Everest Comfort Trek.

You can enjoy your trip without worrying about return options and the non-availability of tickets. However, booking earlier tickets would provide many advantages, especially in peak seasons. Traveling to Lukla during the summer season is risky as it is prone to severe thunderstorms, rainstorms, and landslides at that time. Lukla has freezing weather for most of the year. According to the record and data, March, April, May, September, October, and November are the best months for Kathmandu Lukla Flight.

Lukla Flight Notice

Per the official notice issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), all airlines must operate flights to Lukla from Manthali Airport, Ramechhap, starting from the primary trekking season in October 2019. Also, for the spring season, it is applicable for March, April, and May 2020. Most flights from Ramechhap are in October, November, March, and April. In the off-season, the rest of the month’s flights are mainly from Kathmandu Airport.

The Civil Aviation Association of Nepal (CAAN) has decided on the Lukla flight from Ramechhap (Manthali) Airport until further notice. The Civil Aviation Association of Nepal (CAAN) has informed that there is an increase in traffic congestion at Kathmandu Airport, and the Lukla sector is Nepal’s busiest domestic flight sector. As a result, to avoid traffic congestion and minimize the load of Tribhuvan International Airport, they have decided to operate all the Lukla flights from Manthali Airport of Ramechhap.

Most of our trekking itinerary is only for trekking, and day 01 is to fly to Lukla, so we suggest you arrive in Kathmandu 1 day before. Per our guest demand and flexibility, most packages are only trackable now, so our day 01 is flying to Lukla. You need to arrive in Kathmandu 1 or 2 days before. If we are taking a flight from Ramechhap, we must start the journey at 2 am. For trekkers who want above the long drive and want to fly from Kathmandu, there are sharing helicopter flights also available by adding extra cost. We can book the flight with other trekkers. You can also book a private Heli flight if you are a group of friends.