Flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa


Kahle Bergketten Tibets aus dem Flugzeugfenster beim Anflug auf Lhasa

The flight from Kathmandu to Lhasa could have been a highlight: almost two hours right across the Himalayas, straight past Mount Everest. But if ifs and ands were pots and pans – it was the only cloudy day of our almost four weeks. We probably did see Everest, but it wasn’t really worth a photo. We had more luck on the flight back, but more on that in a few days.
The approach to Lhasa, though, was really beautiful, with a view of the mostly barren landscape. The airport lies at around 3,600 metres, one of the highest in the world, and a good 60 kilometres south-west of the city.
And then at last we were there: Tibet. A small, big lifelong dream came true at that moment – and it was to last for three weeks.

Kathmandu airport with mountains in the haze
Kathmandu airport, the mountains behind it in the haze.
Runway of Kathmandu airport in front of the mountains
The runway in Kathmandu, pointing straight at the mountains.
Kathmandu valley from the plane shortly after take-off
The Kathmandu valley just after take-off, houses and fields under cloud.
Clouds over the Himalayan mountains from the plane
Clouds over the mountains, somewhere in the Himalaya.
Tibet's barren mountains through the plane window on the approach to Lhasa
Bare mountains through the aircraft window, on the approach to Lhasa.
Hairpin bends on a bare mountainside in Tibet from the air
Switchbacks on a bare slope, on the way to Lhasa.
Zigzag road and village in a valley near Lhasa from the air
A zigzag road and a village in the valley near Lhasa.
Brown mountain ranges under clouds on the approach to Lhasa
Brown mountain chains under cloud, still on the approach to Lhasa.
River plain with trees in autumn colours near Lhasa from the air
A river plain with trees in autumn colours near Lhasa.
Small house in front of bare mountains at Lhasa airport
A small house in front of bare mountains, at Lhasa airport.
Plane at Lhasa airport in front of the mountains
The aircraft at Lhasa airport, mountains behind.

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