October 2014
Our flight to Lukla was scheduled at 9:30AM. We were at the
airport well ahead of time. There were efforts to renovate the domestic
terminal which at present looked like an old bus stand.
airport well ahead of time. There were efforts to renovate the domestic
terminal which at present looked like an old bus stand.
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| Kathmandu domestic terminal |
The Lukla flight system does not have a transparent way of
working. As I mentioned in the earlier post, there is no easy way to book the
tickets online. Travelers have to depend on Nepal travel agents. Though
departure time is printed on the ticket, airline has their own list and issue
boarding tickets accordingly. With
Jugad, influence and bribe one can get an early flight!! As westerners pay
more, they get the preference. There is no point to become emotional here.
That’s the way things work.
working. As I mentioned in the earlier post, there is no easy way to book the
tickets online. Travelers have to depend on Nepal travel agents. Though
departure time is printed on the ticket, airline has their own list and issue
boarding tickets accordingly. With
Jugad, influence and bribe one can get an early flight!! As westerners pay
more, they get the preference. There is no point to become emotional here.
That’s the way things work.
 |
| Our flight at Lukla Airport |
But if the weather is good, there is nothing to worry. Flights
take off at regular intervals and everyone gets to fly at the scheduled time.
In fact, we got tickets to board 9:20AM flight. It was an experience to fly in
those small aircraft that has only 16 seats. Plenty of sound, turbulence and
rattling.
take off at regular intervals and everyone gets to fly at the scheduled time.
In fact, we got tickets to board 9:20AM flight. It was an experience to fly in
those small aircraft that has only 16 seats. Plenty of sound, turbulence and
rattling.
 |
| Inside the cockpit |
The Lukla airport being on an edge of the hill is one of the
most dangerous airports in the world. The runway is not level but has a
gradient of 12%. After landing, the flight has to climb uphill!!
most dangerous airports in the world. The runway is not level but has a
gradient of 12%. After landing, the flight has to climb uphill!!
 |
| Runway at Lukla |
Our flight landed successfully and at 10AM we were out of
the airport. My first job was to hire a porter. The back pain does not allow me
to carry load for several days. Hence I had to depend on porter for long
walking. I hope that I will be able to carry my load in future.
the airport. My first job was to hire a porter. The back pain does not allow me
to carry load for several days. Hence I had to depend on porter for long
walking. I hope that I will be able to carry my load in future.
As we got out of the airport, we were surrounded by porters.
After some discussion and bargaining, Sameer agreed to help me out for 1000 NPR
per day. We made sure that he did not have the habit of smoking and drinking.
We had some unpleasant experience in Annapurna Circuit trek with bad habits of
our porter and certainly we were not looking for similar experience. Sameer
claimed to be a clean person and he did in fact lived up to his word. He was at
the height of innocence!!
After some discussion and bargaining, Sameer agreed to help me out for 1000 NPR
per day. We made sure that he did not have the habit of smoking and drinking.
We had some unpleasant experience in Annapurna Circuit trek with bad habits of
our porter and certainly we were not looking for similar experience. Sameer
claimed to be a clean person and he did in fact lived up to his word. He was at
the height of innocence!!
 |
| Sameer |
Lukla is a big village. The ‘luxury’ of the trail was
evident as we passed though a Starbucks Coffee shop!! At a check post, we had
to register ourselves. Let me digress a bit here to describe the permit process
for EBC trek.
evident as we passed though a Starbucks Coffee shop!! At a check post, we had
to register ourselves. Let me digress a bit here to describe the permit process
for EBC trek.
It is necessary to have TIMS (Trekkers Information
Management System) card to trek to EBC. There are two types of card. One is for
individual trekker and another for people travelling with guide. While travel
agents can get the group card, for individual card the person has to present
himself to get the card. The card is available at Kathmandu but one can also
obtain it on the trail itself at Monjo. Indians need to pay INR 375 for the
card. Westerners had to be pay more.
Management System) card to trek to EBC. There are two types of card. One is for
individual trekker and another for people travelling with guide. While travel
agents can get the group card, for individual card the person has to present
himself to get the card. The card is available at Kathmandu but one can also
obtain it on the trail itself at Monjo. Indians need to pay INR 375 for the
card. Westerners had to be pay more.
EBC is inside Sagarmatha National Park and a permit is
required to enter. It can be obtained either at Kathmandu on the trail itself.
Indians need to pay NPR 1500.
required to enter. It can be obtained either at Kathmandu on the trail itself.
Indians need to pay NPR 1500.
Back to the check post at Lukla. We had no TIMS card; we
were just asked to show the passport for entering our details. Monjo, where the
card was available was further away. Hence, it is fine to just show the
passport and continue.
were just asked to show the passport for entering our details. Monjo, where the
card was available was further away. Hence, it is fine to just show the
passport and continue.
Our destination of the day was Phakding. Lukla was at 9383
feet and Phakding being at 8560 feet meant that we had to walk downhill for
most of the time.
feet and Phakding being at 8560 feet meant that we had to walk downhill for
most of the time.
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| On the way to Phakding |
As we crossed Lukla, we encountered several yaks carrying
supplies. At one point of time, we were struck behind them slowing our journey!!
supplies. At one point of time, we were struck behind them slowing our journey!!
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| Yaks on the way |
At the first hanging bridge, we had to wait for the mules
carrying empty gas cylinders to pass!!
carrying empty gas cylinders to pass!!
 |
| Mules also carry heavy load |
At 1PM we were at Phakding. It had taken us about 2 hours to
reach this place. We had walked 6.5 km and lost 800 feet altitude. We spent
rest of the day lazing out in the hotel. Clouds hovered above in the evening
bringing down the temperature.
reach this place. We had walked 6.5 km and lost 800 feet altitude. We spent
rest of the day lazing out in the hotel. Clouds hovered above in the evening
bringing down the temperature.
krishna
Hmm.. good experience except all the bribes, waiting, and other hassles.. but those are the part of.. excellent pictures..
Sana
Good pictures n some diverse experience shared here. Have heard a lot about traffic on EBC trek.
Aravind GJ
Krishna,
Thanks.
Sahana,
Thanks. EBC does attract lot of crowd in the months of April-May and October-November.
Preeti Datar
Some of my friends finished the EBC trek this year. I got interested in EBC and found your blog. I like your 'no-mess' writing style, it's crisp and informative.
And yes, nice photoo. Indeed the runway at Lukla looks scary!