For most people trekking to Mt. Everest Base Camp, Lukla is simply the town where the planes take off and land. The flight to Lukla is how virtually all trekkers get on and off the trail, and once in Lukla, they typically get started after a quick tea or lunch. This is because the flights are weather-dependent, and in the mountains the best weather is usually in the morning.

Lukla does have services, shops and restaurants, and numerous tea houses where you can stay. There is one long, main street lined with them, many of them geared more toward Nepalis who live in the area. Trekkers starting out tend to leave right away, and those finishing up are just in for the night.

Still, in Lukla you can purchase (or rent) outdoor gear like packs, duffles, boots, sleeping bags, etc. You can also pick up basic trekking supplies like bottled water, snacks, drinks, and toilet paper. Souvenirs are plentiful, and there are restaurants for the first-day snack and well as bars and coffee shops for last-day treats.

There are a couple of hikes one can do from Lukla. Just a few minutes up the hill there is a park with a viewpoint. You can also walk down to a lower part of the village to visit a monastery and school.

But for most people, Lukla serves a specific purpose: Roll in, get what you need, and move on. If you’re heading down, it’s time for the famous Lukla flight once again; if you’re heading up, for most people the Day 1 destination, after a mostly downhill hike, is somewhere around Phakding about four hours away.

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