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Lukla – Welcome to the Khumbu Region

Cabin service on an M-17 consists of passing around a bucket of ear plugs and getting one hard candy each. The flight takes about 40 minutes and reaches an elevation of 11,000 feet at it’s highest. When you land in Lukla you are at the base of the Khumbu region. At 9,000 feet, the Lukla air is cool and decidedly thinner. Aromas of juniper fires, yak dung, and helicopter exhaust wash over you, displaced by a light breeze of glacial air flowing down from the Khumbu and Tibet. The smell of Everest.

Landing in Lukla

Gear is loaded onto zopkios which are male yak-cow crossbreeds that are better adapted than yaks to carrying loads at elevations below 12,000 feet. From Lukla you travel north through the Dudh Kosi valley towards Everest. The trail passes through forest, villages, and beautiful shelved green fields of new wheat. The peaceful sound of ringing yak bells is ever-present around you. Of course the lovely aroma of yak dung is also omni-present.

Everest Base Camp Trek Journal:
Lukla – Welcome to the Khumbu Region
Phakding – It’s all uphill from here
Namche Bazaar – Never stand between a yak and a 1,000-ft sheer drop off
Thame – Good ‘ol sherpa hospitality
Khunde – May those who seek the Path of Peace find It, and Happiness
Tengboche – Hot showars for everyone
Dingboche – 14,300 foot high yak pastures
The Pyramid – Who built a pyramid in the middle of the Himalayas?
Gorak Shep – The inside of my tent is as cold as a meat locker
Kala Pattar – It’s all downhill from here, for us anyway
Everest Base Camp – We’ve already traveled a vertical distance of over 37,000 feet to get here – that’s more than one Everest!

map – gear – itinerary – news article