Jeep Ride to and From Thamdanda: Lukla Flight Alternative

Flights to Lukla, the entrance point to Everest Base Camp, are provided from two major airports: Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport and Manthali Airport in Ramechhap. Each of these has its advantages, and the choice depends upon the weather, logistics, and preferences of the travelers.

The flights from Kathmandu to Lukla are pretty convenient for trekkers. These flights are operated by various airlines, such as Tara Air and Summit Air and Sita Air. It is done, usually in the early morning hours of 6:00 AM–9:00 AM to avoid the afternoon winds and worsening weather at Lukla. The flight time is approximately 30–35 minutes. Due to frequent delays or cancellations as a result of unpredictable weather, it's wise to allow buffer days because sometimes conditions may worsen in heavy fog and strong wind. Ticket prices for foreigners are between USD 200-250 per person (one-way). Actaully, the Lukla flihts costs keep changing according to the seasons: off-season and peak season. 

Most of the Lukla flights in the peak seasons of trekking-that is, in spring and autumn-are shifted to Manthali Airport, which is 4-6 hours of drive from Kathmandu. Manthali flights are less prone to air traffic congestion as compared to Kathmandu. These flights, provided by the same airlines, generally take off between 6:00 AM–8:00 AM and take 20–25 minutes to reach Lukla. Tickets are similarly priced but travelers have to manage extra travel costs in order to get to Manthali.

Weather and Cancellations

Manthali to Lukla Flights connect the Everest Base Camp Trekking Trail from Lukla. The flights is only for 20 minutes.

Weather in Lukla is always unpredictably bad, causing flight cancellations or postponements. Check the weather forecast in advance, consider flexibility in travel dates, and be prepared to hire helicopters-USD 600-1000 per head if there is a long wait. It is highly recommended to have travel insurance that covers flight disruptions.

Due to the frequent disturbances by the bad weather conditions of Lukla airport, trekkers who are doing Everest trekking experience something nasty either at the end or in the beginning of the trip with either cancellation or postponement of flights to and from Lukla for Manthali or Kathmandu. It is better to find the alternative if Lukla flights are cancelled or postponed before your Everest Base Camp Trek begins and ends. 

To present the bitter fact that Lukla flights, sometimes, are cancelled or postponed even for a week; mind it.

There are two alternatives if your Lukla flights are cancelled or postponed. They are: Jeep Ride from and to Surke or Thamdanda via Salleri and Helicopter Ride from Lukla. 

Helicopter rides to and from Lukla are very costly and everyone who are doing Everest Base Camp Trek or any other trips in Everest region cannot afford it and you’d better go with 4WD ride from or to Thamdanda or Surke in case the regular Lukla flights are cancelled or postponed.

A Jeep drive to either Surke or Thamdanda is available for EBC trekkers who avoid flight services to Lukla or who prefer the beginning of the trek at a lower altitude. Surke and Thamdanda are two different alternative trailheads close to Lukla. Both destinations promise softer acclimatization. These two spots are reachable via rough roads from Kathmandu and demand careful planning for a safe and comfortable trip.

Kathmandu to Surke or Thamdanda is about  366 km, but as this is a recently upgraded dirt road, the overall time consumed in jeep travel is from 10 to 14 hours. Major towns like Khurkot and Salleri along the trail offer sights of beautiful terrace fields, dense forests, and small mountain villages. From Kathmandu to Salleri, the road is mostly blacktopped; from Salleri onward, it is just a dirt and gravel track. It contains steep inclines, sharp turns, and occasional landslides during the monsoon.

Trekkers generally hire 4x4 jeeps that can navigate the rugged terrain. Shared jeeps for Thamdanda from Kathmandu are available at about NPR 4,500–5,500 per person and private ones at NPR 25,000–35,000, depending upon the season and size of a group. Shared jeeps are usually very crowded, while private ones assure comfort and flexibility in terms of photo stops and schedules.

Thamdanda, although 2 hrs of walking below Lukla is considerably better regarding the road to jeeps. The latest destination for this option is a bit lower in the valley than Surke, though a preferred starting base many trekkers cherish in case they find it less crowded on village trails past Paiya to Phakding where it finally joins the EBC main course.

The sharing jeep from Kathmandu to Thamdanda costs NPR. 4500-5500 and private jeep ride costs NPR. 25000-35000 depending on number of trekkers and trekking seasons. If anyone asks you more than these costs, you have to think and can complain the concerned authorities if you want. 

Yes, you can do it but you can go only up to Surke or Thamdanda which is just below Lukla Airport and Lukla Town. Actually, Lukla is only 2 hours walk from Surke/Thamdanda. You can take 4WD jeep ride from Kathmandu to Thamdanda/Surke comfortably except in monsoon months: June, July and August to escape Lukla flights. If you take jeep ride from Kathmandu to Surke/Thamdanda, you don’t need to walk up to Lukla, you can directly walk to Phakding, Monjo and Namche via Chaurikharka. This way, you don’t need to depend on Lukla flights which are frequently disturbed by bad weather conditions and you can save your time and money while doing Everest Base Camp Trek. Actually, people want to avoid Lukla flights as the flights are frequently cancelled or postponed due to bad weather of Lukla airport. 

The distance from Kathmandu to Thamdanda is 166.9 km. The road passes through Bhaktapur, Khurkot and Salleri ( Phaplu).  You will have an opportunity to drive via local villages, mountain panoramas, wanter falls, winding rivers and beautiful landscapes while driving from Kathmandu to Thamdanda.

The drive from Kathmandut o Thamdanda takes around 14-16 hours dpending the road conditions and seasons. If it is winter and spring, the roads from Salleri to Thamdanda is good otherwise, it will be very challenging to drive along the off-gravelled road for 4-5 hours. 

Actually, the road from Kathmandu to Salleri is okay with blacktop but Salleri to Thamdanda/Surke is very roguh country road pasing through cliffs and Rocky Mountains. If it rains, the road conditions from Salleri to Thamdanda will be more troublesome. 

Get right and authentic information before you choose to go with jeep ride from Kathmandu to Thamdanda/ Surke via Salleri. 

Actaully, it is Lukla but just below Lukla, Surke or Thamdanda. One can go to Thamdanda or Surke by road from Kathmandu by jeep ride. Surke/Thamdanda is located just below Lukla and you don’t need to ascend to Lukla if you take use road to get Surke and Thamdanda; you can directly walk towards Chaurikharka, Phakding and Monjo. It takes 14-16 hours to get Thamdanda/ Surke from Kathmandu by jeep.

Not exactly Lukla but you can go Thamdanda/Surke by jeep ride from Kathmandu. Actually, going to Surke or Thamdanda is similar to flying to Lukla from Kathmandu because Surke or Thamdanda are located just below Lukla airport and you can have a direct access to Chaurikharka, Phakding and Monjo without flying or trekking to Lukla town. 

The jeep ride to Thamdanda from Kathmandu takes 14-16 hours covering the total distance of 266.9 km. 

If your flights to and from Lukla are uncertain, you can go with jeep ride to and from Thamdanda from Kathmandu.

The Jeep ride from Kathmandu to Thamdanda is the best alternative of Lukla flights. Another alternative of Lukla flights is helicopter ride but it is very costly and everyone cannot pay for it. 

The road condition from Salleri to Thamdanda is oaky so far and it gets worse during rainy days: June, July and August. Be careful. 

The road from Thamdanda and Surke is still being stretched and the road will connect Chaurikharka in few years and it will be good new for the trekkers who are doing Everest Base Camp Trek as they don’t completely depend on unpredictable Lukla flights. 

Be Ready to bear adventurous 4WD Jeep ride for 14-16 hours before or after EBC Trek and experience the distinct favor of Everest Base Camp Trekking with Kathmandu to Thamdanda Jeep Ride.