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• By Monika Paris
• Posted October 17, 2016

Day 1: From Lukla to Phakding

There is really only one way to get from Kathmandu to Lukla: via a small propeller plane. The airport in Lukla is located in a valley surrounded by tall mountains and it has only a short runway. When bad weather moves in and prevents pilots from seeing the runway, there is only one option: wait for conditions to improve. This is just something one has to accept to be able to reach this remote and beautiful part of the world.

We waited all of Monday and most of Tuesday before we finally got on an airplane and flew safely into Lukla. The landing was exciting! We arrived in Lukla only at 4:00 in the afternoon, so we had to brave the trek to Phakding partly in the dark. It was a relatively easy five-mile trek to the village.

We are nicely accommodated in one of the tea houses. Lots of tea and Dal Bath helped us refuel and we are eager to get some good sleep to recharge for tomorrow’s hike up to Namche Bazar.