Lukla

Lukla is the gateway to Everest: almost every trekker heading up to Base Camp arrives and leaves through here, at Tenzing-Hillary Airport, one of the world's most challenging airports because of its short runway on the mountainside. One day is enough to acclimatize before starting the hike, or to wait out a delayed return flight if the weather turns (a common occurrence). The best windows are March-May and September-November, with clearer skies. It's expensive by Nepali standards — everything arrives on foot or by plane — but still much cheaper than an equivalent trek in other mountain ranges.