Dubbed the world’s most dangerous airport, Lukla Airport – aka Tenzing-Hilary Airport – is also one of the most beautiful. Nestling on a mountainside at 9,380ft (2,860m), it is popular with mountaineers and trekkers heading for expeditions in the Himalayas, including people bound for Everest base camp. If the weather is fine, it receives daily flights from Kathmandu.
To get in and out, pilots have to expertly negotiate a vertical cliff face – watch how they do it! The runway is just 20m wide and is set on a slope, with a steep 700m drop at one end. For many, landing and taking off at this airport is something of a highlight. For others, a nightmare!
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.
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8 Comments
Come on, let’s be honest did you expect anything else? An airport that’s called the Gateway to Everest was never going to be a walk in the park.
I’m almost relieved to say that I’ve never landed at this airport. I’ve heard some hair-raising traveller’s tales from those who have flown there. Everyone I’ve spoken too, who has been there, has a story to tell. A visit is not on my bucket list.
I knew it was Lukla Airport from the title alone. I’ve watched too many unpleasant stories about this airport and I can say, boy am I so glad I’m not much into climbing. I’m not that extreme. But yes, salute to the very skilled pilots who have to do this every day.
I would not want to be the pilot navigating that runway! It’s definitely a memorable area and I’ve never known of a place quite like it for having planes taking off or touching down, but I imagine nervous fliers wouldn’t be in a rush to use this airport!
Haha, no thanks! This looks pretty terrifying. I can’t imagine ever going there … I get scared when there’s just a bit of turbulence on my flights. I’ll fly into Kathmandu maybe, but not here, thank you very much.
Come on, let’s be honest did you expect anything else? An airport that’s called the Gateway to Everest was never going to be a walk in the park.
I’m almost relieved to say that I’ve never landed at this airport. I’ve heard some hair-raising traveller’s tales from those who have flown there. Everyone I’ve spoken too, who has been there, has a story to tell. A visit is not on my bucket list.
it will be very challenging to go to that place :D
I know that it is only an 85 mile flight but I hope that there’s some inflight catering for a stiff drink before that landing.
But seriously all credit to the skilled pilots who take on that testing landing day in and day out.
I knew it was Lukla Airport from the title alone. I’ve watched too many unpleasant stories about this airport and I can say, boy am I so glad I’m not much into climbing. I’m not that extreme. But yes, salute to the very skilled pilots who have to do this every day.
This is a very dangerous airport. I am not that extreme. But yes, salute to the very skilled pilots who have to do this every day.
I would not want to be the pilot navigating that runway! It’s definitely a memorable area and I’ve never known of a place quite like it for having planes taking off or touching down, but I imagine nervous fliers wouldn’t be in a rush to use this airport!
Haha, no thanks! This looks pretty terrifying. I can’t imagine ever going there … I get scared when there’s just a bit of turbulence on my flights. I’ll fly into Kathmandu maybe, but not here, thank you very much.