Having scaled EBC, it was now time for the descent. We had to get back to Lukla from the heights of Kala Patthar. But that was not going to be easy. My partner in crime, Arwa Hussain, had already decided that she would use the helicopter for the descent.

“My knees are screwed up. I’ve been very clear that I will not trek down from EBC. I’m taking the helicopter for sure. They’re saying it will cost us $700. Are you going to come with me?” asked the lady, who is a director at the top PR firm in the country.

“Well, I’m not too sure,” I replied, “but yes, even I don’t feel like walking all the way down to Lukla—especially after the nauseating bus ride from Ramechhap. I vomited and fell sick. The mountain terrain is very treacherous.”

Helicopter Ride

Soon, I too decided to take the helicopter down from Gorakshep.

So it was settled—we were to take the helicopter down to Lukla and hopefully catch a flight to Kathmandu. Arwa and I climbed up to the helipad with our bags, waiting for the chopper to arrive—and indeed, it did.

One has to be careful when the helicopter lands. It’s best to turn your back and bend as low as you can, as the propellers create a wind and dust storm all around, which can get into your eyes and ears and cause damage. Always bend as low as you can and avoid facing the chopper as it lands.

Soon we were inside the helicopter—three passengers in the back and one in front. I strapped myself in and also put on a headset, just to get a feel for the machine. It was a twenty-minute ride to Lukla, and finally, we arrived—at the same lodge where we had first started our journey. The first thing I did was take a hot shower and enjoy a warm meal of chicken and rice.

Lukla has one of the most dangerous airports in the world, situated at 2,860 meters above sea level. Also known as the Tenzing-Hillary Airport, it is considered one of the most challenging airports in the world due to its unpredictable weather, short and steep runway, and uneven terrain. It is the major gateway for trekkers heading to EBC.

I truly got a feel of Lukla and its weather—we had to wait two days to get out of Lukla, as no flights were taking off or landing due to bad weather. We had only one choice: to take another helicopter ride into Kathmandu, as helicopters were the only aircraft flying in such poor conditions.

I managed to kill time by writing my blog, and soon Arwa and I decided to explore Lukla and walk around its bustling marketplace.