Yes, you can reach Lukla without flying. Since January 2025 a jeep road runs from Kathmandu via Salleri to Surke (about 2,350 m), one to two and a half hours' walk below Lukla. Shared jeeps leave Gongabu Bus Park in Kathmandu around 4 to 6 am and take 10 to 14 hours to Surke, or you can break the trip in Salleri. A local seat costs about NPR 1,500 to 2,500, and agency-arranged seats run USD 25 to 65. The slower options are walking from Phaplu over the Taksindu La (three to four days) or the classic walk-in from Jiri (six to seven days). Many trekkers drive in and fly out.
- Road ends atSurke, about 2,350 m (opened January 2025)
- Kathmandu to Surke10 to 14 hours by 4WD jeep
- Shared jeep fromGongabu Bus Park, 4 to 6 am
- Seat priceNPR 1,500 to 2,500 local, USD 25 to 65 via an agency
- Surke to Lukla1 to 2.5 hours uphill on foot
- Best monthsOctober to May, avoid the monsoon
Most trekkers reach the Everest region by a short flight to Lukla. But flights get cancelled, some people dislike small planes, and others simply want to save money or see more of Nepal. The good news is that a jeep road now gets you to within a couple of hours of Lukla, and the old walking routes still work for anyone who wants a longer trek of its own.
We are talking about Lukla, the gateway to the Everest region. Lukla sits at 2,860 meters (9,383 feet).
Ask anyone who has been to Lukla and they'll tell you about getting there. The steep airstrip and fast-changing weather mean flights are often delayed, which is one reason people look at the road.
Most of the hikers to Everest follow the route of Lukla - it takes a couple of days to reach Namche Bazaar from here. Lukla has one small airport with a 527 m sloping runway, often listed among the most dangerous in the world, and flights run only in clear morning weather.
The word 'Lukla' refers to a 'place with many goats and sheep' and though only a few are found in the area, it has some other prospects from the tourism side. Today it is a busy little town of lodges, bakeries and gear shops.
The flight takes about 35 minutes from Kathmandu, or 20 minutes from Manthali (Ramechhap), where most flights leave in spring and autumn. Twin Otters, Dornier 228s and Let L-410s make frequent runs into the field.
Here are the overland options, step by step. A guide who knows the lower trails makes any of them much easier.
Arrival In Kathmandu
Arrive in Kathmandu from the flight and consult your travel agency for further process. The agency provides the best hotels to accommodate you according to your budget choice.
You can also explore the city before you start your journey to Lukla. Visit the temples and squares, and buy or rent any missing trekking gear in Thamel.
Shared jeeps leave very early, so stay somewhere with easy access to Gongabu Bus Park, or ask your agency to book a seat and arrange pickup.
By Jeep From Kathmandu to Surke
No road reaches Lukla itself. A jeep road runs from Kathmandu along the BP Highway to Salleri, the district headquarters of Solukhumbu, then on over a rough 4WD track through Thamdanda to Surke, just below Lukla. Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli opened the Surke section in January 2025, and work to extend the road toward Lukla and Chaurikharka was still under way in 2026.
Shared jeeps leave Gongabu Bus Park in Kathmandu between about 4 and 6 am and go when they are full. The first leg, Kathmandu to Salleri (about 270 km), takes 8 to 12 hours. Salleri to Surke is another 4 to 5 hours of rough, unpaved road. Some jeeps run straight through in 10 to 14 hours, longer after rain, and others stop in Salleri for the night. A local seat bought at the bus park costs about NPR 1,500 to 2,500, while seats arranged through agencies or tourist jeeps cost roughly USD 25 to 65. A private jeep costs around USD 500 for the vehicle.
From Surke it's a steep climb of about 500 m, one to two and a half hours, up to Lukla. You don't have to go to Lukla at all. The trail via Chaurikharka joins the main route at Chheplung, and you can walk from Surke to Phakding in three to four hours.
The road is at its worst in the monsoon, when landslides can block it and passengers sometimes change vehicles two or three times between Salleri and Surke. Floods on the Rosi Khola closed sections of the BP Highway in September 2024 and October 2025, so check the current state of the road with your agency before you go.
Permits: you still need the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipality card (NPR 3,000) and the Sagarmatha National Park permit (NPR 3,000). If you skip Lukla, buy both at the checkpoint in Monjo or in Kathmandu beforehand.
Walking From Phaplu Over the Taksindu La
If you'd rather walk than ride the rough road beyond Salleri, get off at Salleri or Phaplu and follow the old trail. It's quieter than the Khumbu, with Sherpa and Rai villages, monasteries and rhododendron forest.
The drive to Salleri takes 8 to 12 hours and can be tiring, but the hill scenery helps.
The initial journey will be soothing since you will travel on black-topped roads, but after you reach the countryside, you will experience lots of bumps due to its land structure. The last stretches are unpaved.
On a clear day the road around Patale gives you a first look at the high Himalaya. Spend the night in Salleri or Phaplu.
Phaplu, with its small airstrip, is a short walk from Salleri. The area is home to Sherpa, Rai and other communities. The town provides you with several shops and hotels to take your meal.
From Phaplu the trail climbs to Ringmo, where most people spend the first night, then crosses the Taksindu La (3,071 m) past chortens and mani walls and the Taksindu monastery, and descends to Nunthala for the second night.
After Nunthala the trail drops to the Dudh Koshi and climbs through Kharikhola and Bupsa to Surke and Lukla. Walking the whole way from Phaplu takes three to four days, so four to five days from Kathmandu including the drive.
Trekking From Jiri: The Classic Walk-In
First, reach Jiri from Kathmandu, a bus or jeep ride of about 7 to 9 hours. This is the old trail Everest expeditions used before the Lukla airstrip opened in 1964. From Jiri the trail crosses ridge after ridge, through Shivalaya, Bhandar, Sete and over the Lamjura La (about 3,530 m) to the Sherpa village of Junbesi, before joining the Phaplu route at Ringmo. It's a lot of up and down, which builds fitness and acclimatisation before you reach the Khumbu.
The walk from Jiri to Lukla takes six to seven days, and a full Jiri to Everest Base Camp trek about 20 days. Between Shivalaya and Kinja the trail crosses the Gaurishankar Conservation Area, which needs its own permit, about NPR 3,000, sold at Shivalaya or in Kathmandu.
In the last days you follow the Dudh Koshi valley north, and from Surke you can climb to Lukla or go straight to Chaurikharka and Chheplung to join the Everest trail.
Ways to Reach Lukla Compared
The bars show roughly how long each option takes from Kathmandu to Lukla, including the drive.
| Route | Time to Lukla | Transport cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight from Kathmandu or Manthali | Same morning | USD 180 to 230 | Fastest, but weather delays |
| Shared jeep to Surke, then walk | 1 to 2 days | NPR 1,500 to 2,500 local seat, USD 25 to 65 via agency | Cheapest quick option, rough road past Salleri |
| Jeep to Salleri or Phaplu, then walk over the Taksindu La | 4 to 5 days | USD 25 to 65 plus lodges | Quiet villages, Taksindu La |
| Bus to Jiri, then walk | 7 to 8 days | Bus under USD 15, plus lodges and a Gaurishankar permit | The historic route, best acclimatisation |
A popular mix is to go in by road and fly out of Lukla at the end of the trek. The walk in gives you extra acclimatisation, and flying out saves the long drive when you're tired. Our guide to the Everest Base Camp trek on a budget works out the real saving after the extra days.
Shared Jeep, Private Jeep or Bus?
For Surke, a 4WD jeep is the only choice past Salleri. A shared jeep is the cheapest way. A private jeep costs more but picks you up at your hotel, leaves when you want and stops for photos, and split between four to six people the difference shrinks.
Buses run to Salleri and to Jiri. They are cheaper again but slower and crowded, and you'll need to watch your bags. They only make sense if you plan to walk from Salleri or Jiri anyway.
Shared jeeps can't be booked in advance at the bus park, so in April, May and October arrive early or ask your agency to reserve seats.
Tips for Safe Traveling To Lukla
The overland routes are safe, but they're long, and the lower trails are hot and steep.
Carry water and snacks, because villages are further apart on the lower trails. Take a small first-aid kit and budget for the extra lodge nights. Teahouses run all the way, so you don't need a tent.
Expect a long, bumpy day in the jeep. Bring motion-sickness tablets if you need them, a dust mask or buff, and cash for food stops.
Lukla is just the gateway. From there, Everest Base Camp is about eight days' walk on a standard itinerary with acclimatisation days.
Getting to Lukla Without Flying: FAQs
Is there a road to Lukla?
Not into Lukla itself. Since January 2025 the jeep road reaches Surke, about 500 m below Lukla and one to two and a half hours' walk away. An extension toward Chaurikharka has been promised.
How long does it take from Kathmandu to Surke by jeep?
10 to 14 hours if the jeep runs straight through, or two days with a night in Salleri. Kathmandu to Salleri alone is 8 to 12 hours.
Where do jeeps to Salleri and Surke leave from?
Gongabu Bus Park in northern Kathmandu, between about 4 and 6 am. Jeeps leave when full and can't be booked in advance there, so arrive early or have an agency book a seat.
Is it cheaper to go to Lukla by road?
The transport is much cheaper, from about NPR 1,500 to 2,500 for a local seat against USD 180 to 230 for the flight. Extra lodge nights and guide days eat into the saving, so the real difference is usually USD 100 to 200 per person.
Do I need different permits if I go by road?
For the jeep route, no. You need the same Khumbu municipality card and Sagarmatha National Park permit, which you can buy at Monjo if you bypass Lukla. The Jiri route also needs a Gaurishankar Conservation Area permit.
Can I walk in and fly out?
Yes, and many trekkers do. Book the return flight from Lukla in advance and keep a spare day before your international flight.
