Tenzing-Hillary Airport
Lukla, Nepal
Tenzing-Hillary Airport
One of the world's most extreme and dangerous airports.
- ›The runway slope is approximately 12%, designed to assist with natural braking on landing and acceleration on takeoff.
- ›The airport was originally built with funding from Sir Edmund Hillary to support the local Sherpa community.
- ›It has been listed by multiple aviation sources as one of the most dangerous airports in the world.
- ›Flights are frequently cancelled or delayed due to fog, clouds, and high winds common in the Himalayan region.
- ›The airport operates without radar or instrument landing systems, relying on visual flight rules only.
Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, Nepal, sits at an elevation of approximately 2,860 metres in the Khumbu region and is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous and dramatic airports in the world. Named after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, who first summited Everest in 1953, the airport serves as the primary entry point for trekkers and climbers heading to the Everest Base Camp and surrounding peaks. Its single, steeply sloped runway of just 527 metres ends at a sheer cliff drop, making every landing and takeoff a remarkable feat of piloting skill.
- Main Terminal — A compact single-building terminal handling all passenger check-in, arrivals, and departures for scheduled and charter flights.
- Foot travel and porter services into Lukla village
- Yak and mule transport for cargo and luggage
- Helicopter charter transfers to Kathmandu or nearby airstrips
- Local guided trekking arrangements from the terminal area
- Lukla Lodge
- Hotel Sherpa Guide
- Yak Hotel Lukla
- Buddha Lodge Lukla
- Mountain View Guest House Lukla
The airport terminal has minimal food facilities, but Lukla village immediately adjacent offers numerous teahouses and small restaurants serving traditional Nepali dal bhat, momos, and basic Western trekking fare. Most trekkers find reliable hot meals and tea at lodges within a short walk of the terminal, with prices reasonable by international standards.
- Flights to and from Lukla operate only in clear weather and are frequently delayed or cancelled — build at least two extra buffer days into your itinerary.
- Baggage allowances on Twin Otter and helicopter flights are strictly enforced, typically 10–15 kg including hand luggage.
- Acclimatisation begins immediately at Lukla's altitude; avoid rushing onward the same day if you feel unwell.
- Book Lukla flights well in advance during peak trekking seasons (March–May and October–November) as seats sell out quickly.
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Tenzing-Hillary Airport, also known as Lukla Airport, is a domestic airport and altiport in the town of Lukla, in Khumbu Pasanglhamu, Solukhumbu District, Koshi Province of Nepal. The airport has gained worldwide fame, not only for its unusual location, but also because it was rated the most dangerous airport in the world for more than 20 years by a program titled Most Extreme Airports, broadcast on the History Channel in 2010.
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