How to get to Ramechhap from Kathmandu?

Mount Everest, the highest peak of the world standing at 8848.68 M is one of the prime destinations amongst the adventure enthusiasts. The Everest region offers some of the most beautiful and in demand trekking and expedition destinations of the world and every year thousands of thrill seekers around the world travel to the Everest region to tick the destination from their travel bucket list. Lukla, regarded as the Gateway To The Everest Region, is the starting point to reach any of the destinations within the Khumbu Valley. Inorder to reach Lukla the travelers need to arrive through a scenic flight to Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla from Kathmandu/ Ramechhap or at least 2 days of  trekking.

During the Peak season of trekking which usually falls during the months of March to May (Spring Season) and September to November (Autumn Season) the direct flights from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu to Lukla are shifted to Manthali Airport, Ramechhap as the air traffic during the peak season is quite high in Kathmandu and in order to decrease the traffic the flights are shifted as per the decision of CAAN (Civil Aviation Authority Nepal).

As the flights from Kathmandu to Lukla are shifted the travelers flying to Lukla will need to travel to Manthali Airport, Ramechhap to begin their adventure in the Everest Region. The Manthali airport is around 130 KM East from Thamel via the Araniko Highway which will take around 4-5 hours. The travelers will be required to embark on their journey to Ramechhap very early in the morning usually before 3 AM as the flights to Lukla operate during the morning time as the weather condition is stable and during the day time the wind currents are quite strong making it difficult to navigate through. During the Peak season the flights from Ramechhap to Lukla are quite difficult to book due to the demand of trekkers traveling to Everest region for adventure so if planning to travel to Everest region during the peak season booking the ticket in advance will be better.

Transportation’s available for Kathmandu to Lukla
Public Bus to Ramechhap: The public bus to Ramechhap is the budget friendly travel option which provides the travelers to experience the local way of traveling in Nepal. The public bus will be much more crowded and the seats will be uncomfortable for the journey of at least 4-5 hours. The public buses usually leave from Kathmandu at around 1:30 AM in the morning from the entry point of Garden of Dreams, Thamel.

Tourist Bus to Ramechhap: The Tourist bus is the most cost effective and the preferred way of travel amongst the tourists traveling to Manthali Airport as the seats are spacious and comfortable. The Tourist Bus is around 10 USD more expensive than the Public Bus but is much more luxurious than the Public Buses. The Tourist Buses also usually depart around 1:30 to 2 AM from the Lainchaur area.



Private Vehicle: The private vehicle is the most luxurious option of traveling to Ramechhap but is quite expensive in comparison to other options of commute. The travelers will be traveling via a private car or 4WD vehicle. The time of departure will be flexible in private vehicles but still during the early morning time in order to catch the flight to Lukla fromManthali Airport.

Rates charged by the Mountain Ram Adventures team for Kathmandu to Ramechhap.

Alternative of Kathmandu to Lukla via Ramechhap
Helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla: Helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla is an alternative to the Ramechhap/ Kathmandu to Lukla Flight. The helicopter ride from Kathmandu to Luka is around 30-40 minutes during which the travelers can experience some of the most majestic views of the Mahalangur Peaks. The helicopter flight to Lukla is also considered to be the safest way to travel as the weather of Lukla can change within mere minutes during which the visibility can be a huge challenge for aircrafts who will return back to Manthali/ Kathmandu if visibility is less than 5 KM but for the helicopter visibility to land should not be less than 1.5 KM. The helicopter ride to Lukla is the most luxurious option as it is quite expensive and its cancellation rate is also very low in comparison to commercial flights.


Tips for the Journey
Early departure: As the flights to Lukla from Ramechhap operate during the morning time the travelers need to reach Ramechhap early however the travelers are suggested to travel a bit early than scheduled as due to different traffic issues the roads might be blocked and it is always better to reach early than to travel in haste. During the monsoon season the roads might be blocked due to landslides as well as we will be passing through mid hills of Nepal.

Overnight: If the travelers don't want to travel early in the morning they can just reach Ramechhap a day early and stay there as there are accommodations near the airport which provide basic facilities and amenities. The accommodations sites might be packed during the peak season so it is better to book the accommodations in advance.

Well informed about the Scheduled flights: The flights from Ramechhap only operate to Lukla and operate strictly to their scheduled time which is usually during early hours so, the travelers should be diligent about their flight schedule to not have any hiccups during their travel.

Weight limit: The Luggage limit for the flights to Lukla from Kathmandu/ Ramechhap is 15 KG including 10 KG luggage and 5 KG hand carry.

1 Day itinerary of Kathmandu to Lukla via Ramechhap with the Mountain Ram Adventures Team
The travelers flying to Lukla via Ramechhap with the Mountain Ram Adventures team will begin their day around 1 AM from where they will be getting on their vehicle from the Thamel area and heading towards Manthali Airport, Ramechhap via the Araniko Highway. The journey will be as smooth as possible as the travelers will be accompanied by the representatives of the team. The journey to Ramechhap will be around 4-5 Hours taking us through a scenic winding road of around 130 KM. The travelers can rest during their journey as it will be a long one. After reaching Ramechhap the team will be unloading the bags from the vehicle and entering the airport.

After passing through the security check-in the travelers will be boarding on a short journey of around 15-20 minutes from Ramechhap to Lukla. The scenes of the Mahalangur peaks seen during the flight will be unparalleled as the early rays of the sun hit the peaks increasing the beauty even more.  After a while the aircrafts are carefully maneuvered by the pilots through the lush green hills after which the Lukla Airport will be visible. The airport of Lukla is constructed at the side of a mountain with one of the shortest runways in the world stretching at just 527 M. After landing successfully at the Tenzing Hillary Airport the travelers will be participating in their adventure to the Everest region accompanied by the representatives of the Mountain Ram Adventures team.          

FAQ’S

How Safe are the Flights from Ramechhap to Lukla?
The flights from Ramechhap to Lukla are safe even though Lukla Airport is considered to be one of the most dangerous airports in the world. The Civil Aviation Authority Nepal(CAAN) have set various criteria for the pilots to fulfill to gain permission to fly to Lukla due which only capable and skilled pilots are allowed to fly/ land at Lukla. If the weather of Lukla changes rapidly decreasing the visibility or causing any problem then the flights will turn back towards Ramechhap ensuring the safety of the passengers.  

Which airlines operate their flight  from Ramechhap to Lukla?
The airlines which operate the flights from Ramechhap to Lukla are Summit Airlines (Goma Airlines), Tara Airlines (Yeti Airlines) and Sita Air. The aircraft of the airlines are small fixed- winged propellers including aircrafts like DHC-6/400, DHC-6/300, Turbolet LET-L 410 and UVPE-20 STOL.

How many flights from Ramechhap to Lukla during the peak season?
The flights from Manthali Airport, Ramechhap only operate to/from Lukla and during the peak season the flights from Kathmandu to Lukla directly are diverted to Manthali Airport in order to maintain the air traffic in Kathmandu. In peak season the Ramechhap airport schedules around 30 flights per day (average flights) to meet the travel demand of the adventure enthusiasts traveling to the Everest region.

Can we book the flight tickets for Ramechhap to Lukla online?
Yes, the flights can be booked online through various portals. The tickets however during the peak season might be difficult to book due to the hefty demand so it is better to book the tickets in advance. The Mountain Ram Adventures team also offers the travelers to book their seats for the flight. The clients can contact the team at info@mountainramadventures.com to book their ticket for their adventure.

Will the insurance cover the fare if the flight gets canceled?
The chances of flight being canceled to Lukla is high as the weather of the Himalayas can change within a short time frame due to which we request the travelers to have a travel insurance which includes the policy of “flight/trip interruption” which will cover the cancellation fee of the ticket and the travelers will be reimbursed with their fare. The travelers traveling with Mountain Ram Adventures will provide the cancellation statement of the flight to ensure the clients will get reimbursed with their fare. 

What do we do incase of flights canceled from Ramechhap to Lukla?
If the flights from Ramechhap is canceled then the travelers have various option including:
Option 1: Drive Back to Kathmandu for a Helicopter ride to Lukla
Option 2: 9 hours of driving from Kathmandu to Salleri and 2-3 days trek from Salleri to Lukla.
Option 3: 6-7 hours drive to Jiri and begin the trek of 3-4 days from Jiri to Lukla
Option 4: Helicopter from Kathmandu to Phaplu and a trek of 2 days from Phaplu to Lukla.
Option 5: Helicopter ride to Surke from Kathmandu and a short hike to Lukla of just 2-3 hours.