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SMO to LUA: distance & flight time
Santa Monica (Santa Monica Municipal Airport) → Lukla (Lukla Airport)
7,866 mi
12,659 km · 6,835 nm
15h 53m
estimated nonstop flight time
+12.8h
time difference · heading northwest
See live SMO→LUA fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
7,866 miles nonstop takes roughly 15h 53m 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
- SMO — Santa Monica Municipal Airport · Santa Monica, 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 SMO
- LAX · Los Angeles International Airport6 mi away
- HHR · Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport9 mi away
- BUR · Bob Hope Airport14 mi away
- VNY · Van Nuys Airport14 mi away
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 SMO from LUA?
The flight distance from Santa Monica (SMO) to Lukla (LUA) is 7,866 miles (12,659 km, 6,835 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SMO to LUA?
A nonstop flight takes about 15h 53m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between Santa Monica and Lukla?
Lukla is 12.8 hours ahead of Santa Monica.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SMO to LUA?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SMO–LUA that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.