The Runway of Death, Lukla Airport Nepal

lukla airport nepal

Lukla Airport sits at an altitude of 9,380 ft (2,860 m) in the Nepalese mountains. The runway is a mere 20m wide and 527m long with a staggering 12% incline. There is a 700-metre (2,000 ft) angled drop at the end of the runway to the valley far below.

Since Lukla is the place most people start their Mount Everest trek, this Himalayan airstrip gets quite a bit of traffic – mostly to and from Kathmandu.

In January 2008, the government of Nepal announced that the airport would be renamed in honour of Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.

After watching this video footage of non stop take off and landings I’m certain you’ll score off conquering Everest from your ‘do before I die’ list.

Posted on May 14, 2009 | Filed Under Travel