We, Adventure Thamserku would kindly like to let you all know that due to taxiway maintenance and increment of air traffic congestion in Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, all flights to/from Lukla is being rerouted from Kathmandu Airport to Manthali/Ramechhap Airport from October 1^st 2019 to December 31^st 2019.

A formal statement to that effect has already been circulated by Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) and the concern airlines. The date and tentative time of the flights will remain the same as per the airlines. However, this will require you to travel to Manthali/ Ramechhap from Kathmandu on your way to Lukla and retrace the exact same route on your way back to Kathmandu.

Here is all you need to know to survive the change:

Manthali Airport is located in the Tamakoshi River Valley in Manthali, the capital of Ramechhap District at an altitude of 474 m. It is located 138 km east of Kathmandu and it takes 4 hours to get there from Kathmandu by road. The flight time from Manthali to Lukla is about 20 min.

It is a small town that doesn’t see many visitors ordinarily. Hence, accommodation facilities available are limited and the service level is not very high. With the large number of trekkers who will come here to catch their flights, it is highly likely that you won’t find accommodation in Manthali during the peak season of October – November so we have to book the lodge in advance.

Because of the above issue, we had conducted a risk assessment and feasibility check of the road and lodges to Manthali. On the basis of which, we have the following options available:

(Option 1)

Drive to Manthali airport the previous night and spend a night in a basic lodge/hotel and fly to Lukla following morning:  The drive to Manthali is about 4 hours from Kathmandu on a very windy and narrow road. The drive allows you to see the country side of Nepal. If you choose this option then the cost of transportation, accommodation, meals and flights will be within the trip cost.

(Option 2)

Wake up early in the morning, leave the hotel at 3 am and drive 138 km which is 4 hours approximately to Manthali airport and then fly to Lukla accordingly. The cost of transportation will be within the trip cost.

(Option 3)

Direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla by Helicopter: If you don’t find the option 1 and 2 convenient then you can fly to Lukla from Kathmandu by helicopter  and extra cost will be top of in the flight.