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SDM to LUA: distance & flight time
San Diego (Brown Field Municipal Airport) → Lukla (Lukla Airport)
7,992 mi
12,861 km · 6,945 nm
16h 8m
estimated nonstop flight time
+12.8h
time difference · heading northwest
See live SDM→LUA fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
7,992 miles nonstop takes roughly 16h 8m gate to gate, flying northwest. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 12.8-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- SDM — Brown Field Municipal Airport · San Diego, United States
- LUA — Lukla Airport · Lukla, Nepal
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near SDM
Near LUA
- SYH · Syangboche Airport9 mi away
- PPL · Phaplu Airport15 mi away
- RUM · Rumjatar Airport29 mi away
- LDN · Lamidanda Airport30 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is SDM from LUA?
The flight distance from San Diego (SDM) to Lukla (LUA) is 7,992 miles (12,861 km, 6,945 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SDM to LUA?
A nonstop flight takes about 16h 8m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
Are there nonstop flights from SDM to LUA?
Nonstop service on SDM–LUA depends on the season and the day of week. Run the fare search on this page with the nonstop filter applied to see current direct options; when there is no nonstop, a single connection through a carrier hub adds roughly 2–4 hours to the 16h 8m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between San Diego and Lukla?
Lukla is 12.8 hours ahead of San Diego.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SDM to LUA?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SDM–LUA that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some SDM to LUA fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain SDM–LUA tickets below the price airlines permit us to publish online, so those fares can only be quoted over the phone. Call the travel desk and an agent will check phone-only inventory for your dates.