Newbie question

So I am working a plan with tour company to go trekking to EBC , I am so worried about airplane/airport safety ,is this valid concern or I am just exaggerating ? I have heard about many planes crashes in Kathmandu and being called the 3rd worst airport in world ,and not sure about Lukla too, the initial plan was set to fly from Kathmandu to Lukla but I asked if there is alternative route and they customized the trip to leave from Kathmandu to Salleri by Jeep but this will increase my trip by 8 days( initially it was 16 days ) and also increase its cost ,they said the roads are paved but also curvy on cliffs .
I just would like to hear experience of others here so I know what to do ,please share with me your experience

Thank you for your time ,

It is safe enough and there are thousands of tourist flying in with major trekking companies both local and international using it.

When you read those exaggerated media and online airport safety reports you need to understand what the safety statistics are and often the crashes are above average in comparison to other places, so even though the average crash rate might be twice or whatever, it might be like 2 crash per 1000,000 landings instead of 1 so not practically significant. The aviation safety figures for Lukla and Kathmandu are here https://aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=LUA and not many. https://aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=KTM Same.

If you find that is not acceptable to you then consider land transport but the road is not yet all the way to Lukla and it’s very rough and long 10-12 hours on undeveloped road and the bus traffic safety is very bad.

The walk into Lukla instead of flying is very beautiful and worth it, but many newbies think the extra 7-8 days is impossible for the wrong reasons. It will depend on what kind of Trekker you are, in a hurry, not so fit or mentally can not take it when in fact you can. Refer to the many past forum posts on this.

If you cannot understand and handle these type of risks the whole trek will be a problem for you.

Two points to consider, and third as a bonus:

1) comparing air and road safety is quite impossible, but I would say there is no difference in the probabilities of getting involved in a plane crash or traffic accident when getting to Lukla. At least 100000 people fly to/from Lukla each year, and accidents happen only now and then. They always get to the news, while jeeps dropping of the highways get just 2 columns on the local paper. Certainly the statistics are not good compared to some other more civilised and flatter countries, but nothing can be done about that. Except not going.

2) If you walk in the trek will be longer that is for sure, but is it really more expensive also? First you save the flight ticket price. Secondly, when comparing prices you need to calculate same amount of time, not comparing 16 day trek to 24 day trek, but 16 day trek + the cost of 8 days somewhere else to the 24 day trek. Trekking in lower Khumbu is always cheaper than living in Kathmandu, for example.

and the bonus 3) Many older and more experienced trekkers just love the slow on foot approach to Khumbu from Jiri, or now from Salleri. It is real trekking in still fairly pristine areas, and it gives immense satisfaction to approach the mountains under your own power. The views from Traksindu are quite unbelievable, especially in moonlight. I have walked the route 5 times and would do it again.

Road safety is as much, or more of a concern, in Nepal as air safety. But no need for paranoia either.

It alwsys surprises me how many tourists stress about possible plane crashes and are then happy to get on any crappy old bus, with a driver tearing around corners using his mobile phone,and 1000m drops on the left and on the right...

OP there is a very small risk.That is life.Even if you stay at home locked in your house,there might be an earthquake or a meteor strike...

Maybe you should not have asked about the flight safety, when the only consolation we can give is to say roads are likely to be worse...

Anyway, when flying to Lukla the views are stunning, and you will be petrified for only the last 3 minutes of approach and landing. If you take a jeep to Salleri you will be scared stiff for 6 hours at least, and another 6 hours just medium scared.

I'd rather fly. Unless wanting to walk the hike-in trail, which I normally do.

Actually the road to Salleri is scenic, and rather good by Nepalese standards.

3) Many older and more experienced trekkers just love the slow on foot approach to Khumbu from Jiri, or now from Salleri. It is real trekking in still fairly pristine areas, and it gives immense satisfaction to approach the mountains under your own power. The views from Traksindu are quite unbelievable, especially in moonlight. I have walked the route 5 times and would do it again.

Amen to that!

Anyway, as for the dangers of flying I think the same applies to Nepal as in most countries, that the most dangerous part is the taxi to and from the airports.
Another option is obviously to spend your whole life in protection of your mother, but that may not be very much fun either.

Alot of foreigners died in Nepal plane crashes . The planes in Nepal are old and safety is almost an afterthought . The mechanics are just young farmer boys who have done a couple of semesters at Katmandhu College of Technology . Add to this the extremely dangerous conditions the pilots have to fly into, mountain walls with a 269 degree turn on a sixpence . they literally catapult the planes into the air the runways are so short . Always a good idea to avoid flying there and walk everywhere ..

They must have been hard at work building then . A couple of years ago and we were driving through fields and down riverbeds for part of the way .

I agree with Angus comments about the difficult flying conditions and level of pilot training and ability, which do account for accidents so should not be underestimated. However, the air safety crash figures in my link above does not show a large number of crashes so air travel can be relied upon.

Thank you for being very thorough and sincere ,my question since you seem familiar with the area ,why did the company added 4-5 days extra to my alternative itinerary when I choose to go to Lulka by land transportation ,I don`t get it ? I included the schedule for both trips ,they both looks the same after getting to Namche Bazaar

Jun 5th: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350m/4,428ft)
Jun 6th: Kathmandu: Sightseeing and trek Preparation
Jun 7th: Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding (2,651m/8,700ft): 40 minutes flight; 8km, 3 - 4 hours trek
Jun 8th: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,438m/11,280 ft): 11km, 5 - 6 hours
--------------------------
May 30th: Kathmandu: sightseeing and trek preparation
May 31st: Drive from Kathmandu to Salleri (2,390m/7,841ft): 8-9 hours
Jun 01st: Salleri to Nunthala (2,220m/7,280 ft): 6 -7 hours
Jun 02nd: Nunthala to Bupsa (2,360m/7,740 ft): 5-6 hours
Jun 03rd: Bupsa to Chaurikharka (2,650m/8,694ft)
Jun 04th: Chaurikharka to Monjo (2,840m/9,315ft): 4 - 5 hours
Jun 05th: Monjo to Namche Bazaar (3,438m/11,280 ft): 3 - 4 hours

Thank you very much ,that was very helpful !

The trekking company is correct to add 4-5 days as the land route does not go directly to Lukla as they have explained in the itinerary and you will still need to drive and walk extra days. Chaurikharka to Monjo is where you pass below Lukla unless you are feeling like superman and want to hike large uphill 2-3hours to Lukla to see what is there, large town with lots of wide eyed tourists high on Adrenalin after just getting off plane ride (sharp right turn on 15 degree landing strip uphill facing 6000-7000m mountain valley).

May 31st: Drive from Kathmandu to Salleri (2,390m/7,841ft): 8-9 hours
Jun 01st: Salleri to Nunthala (2,220m/7,280 ft): 6 -7 hours
Jun 02nd: Nunthala to Bupsa (2,360m/7,740 ft): 5-6 hours
Jun 03rd: Bupsa to Chaurikharka (2,650m/8,694ft)
Jun 04th: Chaurikharka to Monjo (2,840m/9,315ft): 4 - 5 hours
Jun 05th: Monjo to Namche Bazaar (3,438m/11,280 ft): 3 - 4 hours

I have not been to the area for many years to see the new road access or shorter land route but other people here on this forum have and are very experienced should be able to advise later.

Good posts above - if you have the time, do look at walking in from Jiri or Shivalaya or Phaplu - I have walked in from J and Ph - and may walk in again this winter, as I ponder which trek to do. I love (mots of) the walk in - the views and ambience are very different from the main trails above Lukla.

You could also look at using a helicopter - there are many, many more choppers around nowadays, especially in the main trekking regions (it is becoming increasingly popular for pilgrims and sight seers to use choppers to visit quite high places, stay 2-4 hours, then fly back). The 2 guides I trek with (brothers, 1 per trek), have used choppers to get to and from Lukla with other clients quite a few times now - usually when the weather prevents fixed wing planes from flying. I have never used a chopper, but they seem to be quite a bit more expensive - minimum price seems to be c. US$600 per person per flight (ie one way).

Whether choppers are safer, I have no idea, no statistics at all. The main guide I trek with had a very amusing experience 3-4 years ago - there was bad weather at Lukla (not uncommon), and he had managed to get his guests onto a chopper, which took them to Ktm. He and some other guides (many of the established guides know each other well), then managed to get what sounds like a lift on another chopper from Lukla to Phaplu - except that the Russian (or Ukrainian) pilot did not know the way (seriously) - he had to ask the passengers, who were almost all Nepalis, some of whom were locals, and even though things look very different from the air, they managed to guide the pilot to Phaplu. A picture of people's faces when the pilot had to ask the way would have been priceless - my guide said it caused much bemusement amongst the Nepalis (who are pretty phlegmatic).

Generally, the more time the better for treks in Nepal, especially high altitude ones.

Regarding chopper prices my brother and nephew did the EBC recently and were able to convert their plane departure from Lukla due to bad weather to chopper for only $100 more each. Not sure whether that price applies all the time but do enquire.

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