Lying at the very end of Lukla bazaar, a ten-minute walk from the airport, past all of the town’s shops, cafes and pubs, this acclaimed lodge often serves as the first stop at the start of a trek, or the one at the end of it. But that’s still enough time to enjoy the local treats, and the sweeping views of Lukla bazaar and surrounding mountains.
Sizable rooms all have heated beds and private en-suite bathrooms with hot showers—a luxury in these parts. The extravagant windows, both in guest rooms and common areas, boast deep wood frames that double as lounging spaces for admiring the view—for perched slightly higher than rest of the town, guests here get a spectacular sight of the Lukla Ri peaks.
The aesthetic here, as with all the Mountain Lodges of Nepal in the Everest region, is a combination of Sherpa heritage and contemporary Himalayan home, in wood, stone and glass. A grand Buddhist shrine fitted with prayer wheels centers the sprawling lobby, shared by a fully stocked bar and typically some international guests. Upstairs, the dining room is indulgently ornate with traditional Sherpa murals on walls and ceilings.
If you’re visiting Kathmandu and you have but a single night free, this is your chance to experience the Himalayas up close. Take a 45-minute morning flight to Lukla, returning the next afternoon. As the sun sets in the Solukhumbu, you’ll outside be in the garden enjoying a rum punch. With clear evening weather, there’s nothing like a ringside view of those extraordinary mountains against the star-studded sky.