Gateway to Mount Everest: Lukla, Nepal

The primary gateway to Mount Everest is Lukla (officially Tenzing-Hillary Airport, LUA).

• Location: Khumbu region, Solukhumbu District, Province No. 1, eastern Nepal.
• Elevation: 2,860 m (9,383 ft).
• Access: 30–40 min flight from Kathmandu (KTM) — one of the world's most dramatic landings (527 m / 1,729 ft runway, 12% gradient, cliff drop).
• Role: Trekking hub for Everest Base Camp (8–12 days), Gokyo Lakes, Three Passes. Lodges, gear shops, bakeries, clinics, satellite internet.
• Alternative: Phaplu (24 km south, 2–3 day walk) or Salleri (road head, 10 hr drive + 3–4 day trek).

Lukla is the logistical and cultural entry point to the Everest region for 30,000+ trekkers/climbers annually.