So Long, Lukla✈️, back to Everest Base Camp

Left Lukla today after a much-needed stretch of rest, recovery, and relief from the biting cold at Base Camp. This little mountain town has been a welcome break — warm showers, a crisp bed to sleep in, laundry finally taken care of, and nourishing, protein-rich meals. My go-to drink every day: a soothing inflammation-fighting blend of honey, lemon, and ginger herbal tea.

In praise of a simple start today morning, I had a carb-rich breakfast of bread and jam, paired with protein and fat (omelet, butter) and coffee— ideal after high-altitude trekking or before a physically demanding day. 

Around Lukla in the day time during my stay.

Lukla Airport (Tenzing-Hillary Airport) offers one of the world’s most thrilling flying experiences due to its short, sloped runway, high-altitude location, and surrounding Himalayan terrain. With no room for error—one end drops off a cliff, the other ends in a wall—pilots land and take off using visual navigation only, often battling unpredictable weather. This makes every flight in or out of Lukla an unforgettable, adrenaline-filled experience for trekkers heading to Everest. Here is a capture of the flight landing and taking off on a relatively clear day

Flight landing

Flight take off

During my stay, I met two more climbers from Mumbai — Zeeba and Dr. Seema — both also a part of the 8K Expedition. 

I met them again today before leaving.

Over the past few days, more members of that team descended to Lukla, Namche, and Kathmandu as the expedition progressed. As of now, the team has fixed ropes just below Camp 4.

I also had the pleasure of connecting with the warm and wonderful staff at the lodge — Ishwor, the manager, and Sunitha, a sweet young girl around 14 or 15, who took great care of us. She's incredibly hardworking, sincere and kind-hearted — a quiet reminder of the human spirit that thrives in these remote places.

I landed at Base Camp around 9:30 am by helicopter, took a long look around — and what a place it is. Beautiful, unforgiving, and unforgettable.

One lingering visual of nature as I landed in Base Camp: the sight of an avalanche on nearby Pumori peak, a stark reminder of the mountain’s raw, unpredictable power.