Road to Everest: Nepal opens new link to the top of the world

By Sangam Prasain

Kathmandu, Jan 19 (EFE).- Nepal’s new road connecting the Everest region to Kathmandu promises to transform travel and commerce, fueling hopes for economic growth while raising environmental concerns.

The newly constructed road to the Everest offers an alternative to the once-essential flight to Lukla, marking a pivotal shift in accessibility to the world’s highest peak.

The 64-kilometer road stretches from Surkhe, a village near Lukla, to Salleri, the district headquarters of Solukhumbu, administrative head of the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu municipality Jagat Prasad Bhusal told EFE.

It links to a 270-km route to Kathmandu, which can now be traversed in approximately 15 hours.

The Himalayan Trust’s airport in Lukla, built by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1964, remains a vital hub for trekkers and locals but faces growing competition from the road.

Until now, this journey could only be done by a plane – at exorbitant prices – or after a week of walking.

The road has also raised expectations that domestic tourism could rise, although foreign trekkers may prefer the quicker flights.

«The road will make our lives easier,» Jangmu Sherpa, the owner of a lodge on the route to Everest, told EFE.

Currently, buses and jeeps operate on the new route, with fares ranging from $22 to $25, offering a more affordable alternative to flights, which cost $360 for foreigners.

Economic Opportunities vs. Environmental Concerns Tourism entrepreneurs predict visitor numbers could skyrocket from 50,000 to 500,000 annually. The road promises reduced costs for supplies—essential goods like cooking gas, sold for $75 in higher passes, could become more accessible.

However, environmentalists warn of the ecological risks to the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

«Mass tourism cannot be ignored in such a delicate environment,» activist Pasang Sherpa told EFE, asserting that it should be managed carefully and emphasizing the potential for environmental degradation.

Despite its benefits, the road raises questions about balancing economic development with sustainability in one of the world’s most iconic natural landscapes. EFE

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