Lukla is a town in the Khumbu region of eastern Nepal where most people visiting the Himalayas near Mount Everest start their journey. Lukla, at 2,860 metres (9,380 ft.), contains a small airport where most people begin and end their adventure in the region.  Although Lukla means place with many goats and sheep, one is not likely to see many roaming around these days.

Somewhere between 90-95% of the foreign nationals who reach Lukla will arrive by a ½ hour flight from Kathmandu. The remainder will mainly trek in from Jiri, about a seven to eight day walk. On organized treks, most of the Nepalese guides and kitchen staff will also walk from Jiri to Lukla, albeit in about half the time unless clients are also with them.

Lukla has a variety of shops and lodges where one can have basic western style meals and pick up any last minute items for the trekking or climbing ahead. There are a couple of good climbing shops (e.g. Mountain Madness) in Namche where one can rent carabiners, helmets, ice axes, jumars and harnesses. However, plastic mountaineering boots and crampons are best rented in Kathmandu if they are needed.

From Lukla, most trekking groups will take two days to reach Namche Bazaar, a nice easy pace to help in altitude acclimatization.Distance wise, this segment is double in one long day (~8 to 10 hours) but not advised due to increased risk of altitude sickness. If not in a formal trekking group, one should double-check tickets with the airline before leaving Lukla. Empty seats on flights between Kathmandu and Lukla are a rarity during the prime seasons and people being bumped off their flights is not uncommon.

If you want to trek to Everest base camp then you will come across lukla sooner or later. It is the last airstrip before base camp (still another week and half away by foot) and is handy if you don’t fancy the walk in or walk out from Jiri… which takes a week but helps you acclimatize. Lukla isn’t the nicest of towns but supplies can be bought here for your trek and it’s cheaper than the villages on route.

Accomodation is cheap on the trek as long as you eat a meal in your lodge. If you don’t have time for a trek (or the fitness) then walk for a day to Namche Bazaar, the last big town. It’s a lovely place with plenty of walking potential short or long and is right in the heart of snow covered peaks. Laden Yaks and Trekkers from all over the world make this a really great town. The trek to the base camp has the most beautiful scenery ive ever seen and should really be in the top 10 of things to do before you die.

Trek up Kalapatthar Mountain and get a fantastic view of Everest, It’s more than 3 miles above sea level!! Goyko Ri is also a trek worth doing and is so peaceful. You can get a magnificant view of the Himalayas and feel like you are on the top of the world!

Bet you want to have this place on your bucket list !!