Landing on the World’s Most Dangerous Airport

I got a nudge on my shoulder as I desperately tried to capture our landing at the world’s most dangerous airport, Lukla. I meticulously held my phone trying my best not to shake it and in the process, inadvertently, blocked my fellow passengers view that was consequently trying to do the same.

The Twin Otter made a sharp right turn and prepared us for an alternate landing at an airfield in Lamidanda which is about 10 minute flight from Lukla.

There after the captain announced that we couldn’t quite land at Lukla yet due to poor visibility and needed to wait sometime for the clouds to clear up before we could make a safe touch down on the 500m runway!

I think a lot of people who have been to Lukla, Nepalis or non-Nepalis, cringe at the thought of being stranded there due to its forceful and unpredictable weather. But we needed not to worry as we’re flying up to Namche under the wings of an internationally known beverage company, Pepsi, for their “Party @ Namche” campaign.

Finally, we landed at the Lukla airport; I got our nail-biting landing on video and heard cheers from the back of the plane for our safe landing. We got off the plane and awaited further instructions for our band. After sometime of baffled moments we figured we were waiting for a Pilatus to fly us into Syangboche and then walk back down to Namche.

DISTANCE LUKLA TO EVEREST BASE CAMP: 38.58 miles or 62 Kilometers 8 to 9 days walk in and a 3 to 4 day walk out. Walk in is slower due to the extra days needed to allow a persons body to adjust to the new altitudes.