SOLUKHUMBU: The disruption of flights at Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla has caused significant stress for tourists.
Adverse weather has disrupted flights for ten consecutive days, severely affecting tourists visiting the Khumbu region.
Divas Dahal, an air controller at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN) in Lukla, reported that fog and poor visibility have hindered air services.
Since June 8, both airplanes and helicopters have been unable to operate.
“This is typically the time when foreign tourists return to Kathmandu after visiting the Sagarmatha area.
Currently, more tourists are trying to leave the district than those arriving.
However, the adverse weather has severely impacted air service,” Dahal explained. All flight schedules have been canceled for ten days due to thick fog causing poor visibility.
Despite this, Dahal noted that some helicopters have been able to operate from the Surke helipad, located below Lukla.
He mentioned that Lukla’s geographical specificity, which includes frequent dense fog during this season, is a recurring problem.
Surke, however, remains relatively clear.
Travelers can also trek four hours down from Lukla airport to reach vehicles that can take them to Kathmandu.
Alternatively, tourists can ride from Thamdanda to Kathmandu by jeep.
Thamdanda is located 70 kilometers away from Salleri Bazaar, the district headquarters of Solukhumbu.
The fare for a jeep ride from Salleri to Kathmandu, a distance of 275 kilometers, is Rs 2,000 per person.
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