Lukla lets you fly with 15kg. How to pack a whole Everest trek into it
Flights to Lukla allow 10kg checked plus 5kg hand luggage, strictly weighed. How to fit an Everest trek into 15kg, and what to leave in Kathmandu.
Prakash Tamang 4 min read
Flights to Lukla, the start of the Everest Base Camp trek, allow 10 kg of checked luggage and 5 kg of hand luggage, and the weight is checked. That 15 kg has to hold everything for two weeks at altitude. It sounds tight and it is not, once you know two things: the bulky warm kit can be rented in Kathmandu and still counts, and everything you need only in the city can be stored at your hotel. Here is how to make it fit.
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- Lukla flights allow 10 kg checked + 5 kg hand luggage, strictly enforced.
- Pack in a soft duffel, not a suitcase; porters carry duffels.
- Wear your heaviest items on the flight: boots, fleece, jacket.
- Store everything else at your Kathmandu hotel, and weigh the bag before you leave.
What the limit really means
15 kg across two bags, and the heaviest things are allowed to be on you. The checked bag is your duffel, which your porter will carry once you land. The 5 kg is your daypack. Boots, trousers, fleece and your down jacket can all be worn onto the plane, and a surprising amount of weight disappears that way.
What does not fit is usually city clothes, a laptop and souvenirs. Every Kathmandu hotel that works with trekkers will store a bag for you while you are in the mountains.
The bag
On our treks one porter carries for two trekkers, with a maximum load of 18 kg, so aim for about 9 kg in your duffel. That is also comfortably inside the 10 kg the airline allows.
A soft duffel of 60 to 70 litres, and nothing with wheels. Suitcases do not strap onto a porter’s basket and they do not survive a jeep roof. A duffel squashes, straps and survives.
What goes where
| Where | What |
|---|---|
| Wear on the plane | Boots, trekking trousers, base layer, fleece, down jacket |
| Daypack (5 kg) | Water, documents, cash, sunscreen, snacks, warm hat, headlamp, phone, power bank |
| Duffel (10 kg) | Sleeping bag, spare layers, socks, toiletries, first-aid kit, camp shoes |
| Hotel storage | City clothes, laptop, extra luggage |
How to save the weight
Rent the heavy warm things in Kathmandu, and do not pack for every possibility. A rented sleeping bag and down jacket still count towards your 15 kg, but you are not also carrying the ones you might have brought from home. Toiletries in small bottles, two base layers rather than four, and one pair of trekking trousers plus one spare are enough for two weeks.
Lukla flights are weather-dependent and delays are common. Build a spare day into your plan; our Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp guide explains the flights and the alternatives.
Our Everest Base Camp trek includes the Lukla flights, a loaned duffel and a porter shared between two trekkers: from US$1,850 solo.
See the Everest Base Camp trekWhat is the luggage limit for Lukla flights?
10 kg checked plus 5 kg hand luggage, 15 kg in total, and it is weighed at check-in.
What happens if my bag is over the limit?
Airlines may charge for the excess or hold the bag for a later flight. Weigh your bags before you leave the hotel.
Can I leave luggage in Kathmandu during the trek?
Yes. Hotels that work with trekkers store bags while you are in the mountains.
Should I bring a duffel or a backpack?
A soft duffel of 60 to 70 litres for the porter, plus a 20 to 30 litre daypack for you.
Keep reading
Flights, fares and alternatives.
The full checklist.
What you carry every day.
Without buying twice.
The verdict: a soft duffel, packing cubes, a luggage scale, your heaviest clothes on your body, and the rest stored in Kathmandu.
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Written by
Prakash TamangPokhara-based, NMA-certified trekking guides. We’ve led 5,000+ treks across the Annapurna and Everest regions since 1998 — every word here comes from the trail. More from this author →
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