Lukla sees a rush of tourists as trekking season picks up

Lukla is bustling with trekkers as the autumn tourism season gets underway, with growing numbers of international visitors heading to the Everest region. Tenzing-Hillary Airport is crowded with travellers from across the world, and demand for flights between Lukla and Kathmandu has made tickets increasingly difficult to secure. From early morning, the airport fills with trekkers arriving from Kathmandu and those preparing to fly out.

With flights limited and passenger numbers rising, travellers often have to wait for their turn. Some have been left waiting at the airport for extended periods because they cannot get tickets. The influx is driven largely by trekkers bound for Everest Base Camp, Gokyo and other destinations in the surrounding Himalayas.

Lukla is the main gateway to the Everest trekking region. From here, visitors travel through Namche Bazar to Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar and the Gokyo Valley. Tourists from a wide range of countries are arriving in significant numbers, said Lakpa Kaji Sherpa, Lukla chief of Summit Air.