Everest Base Camp Helicopter Trek blends the Everest Base Camp trek with a helicopter charter around Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. This Everest Base Camp Helicopter Trek is for you if you have a tight schedule but want to go on an Everest expedition.
In just over a week, you’ll reach Everest’s base camp, witness the iconic Kala Patthar viewpoint, and immerse yourself in the rich culture of the Himalayan people. In just over a week, you’ll reach Everest’s base camp, witness the iconic Kala Patthar viewpoint, and immerse yourself in the rich culture of the Himalayan people.
After a leisurely helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, You’ll begin your journey from here, crossing swaying suspension bridges decorated with prayer flags, a lush jungle of pines, oaks rhododendron, ferns, and orchids as you pass the picturesque Dudh Koshi Valley.
Trek to Everest Base Camp and walk beneath Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. Furthermore, you will hike to Kala Patthar, where you will be enveloped by an astonishing view of peaks ranging between 7000 and 8000 meters. Afterward, you will board a helicopter to relish an unmatched perspective of mountains, hills, and glacial rivers during a helicopter expedition to Everest Base Camp.
Your Everest Base Camp trek comes to an end with a helicopter ride to Lukla and then into Kathmandu.
Best Time to Travel & Weather Condition:
The ideal seasons for Everest Base Camp Helicopter Trek are spring (March to May) and fall (mid-September to November). During these seasons, the weather is dry and clear, making it perfect for trekking and basking in pristine mountain landscapes. The days are pleasant, while the evenings are cool. However, because these are peak seasons, the trails become crowded and busy.
The foothills are enchanting with wildflowers, especially rhododendron blossoms, in the spring. The Base Camp is transformed into a tented city during the climbing season, with climbers and Sherpa guides. Trekking to Everest Base Camp is extremely popular in the autumn, you may experience extremely clear sights during this season due to the ending of the heavy monsoon season, which clears the atmosphere.
Planning your journey for October offers the chance to attend Mani Rimdu, the Everest region’s most prominent festival. During this celebration, individuals from Tengboche, Chiwong, and Thame monasteries all come together to participate.
Helicopter Flight:
We will conduct all flight transfers by helicopter to save you time and energy, as well as to prevent the frustration of flight delays or cancellations. You’ll trek to Everest Base Camp, but instead of retreating by land, you will fly to Lukla in a helicopter. As you’ll soar relatively close to some of the world’s highest peaks and glaciers, helicopter rides may be the finest and most unforgettable aerial experience of your life.
On Day 2 of your journey, a 45-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,840 m) takes you from the busy capital city to the world’s highest trekking destination, the Everest Region. Tenzing-Hillary Airport, one of the world’s highest and most extreme airports, welcomes you. The airport is perched atop a cliff on a small plateau. The weather here is unpredictable and changes regularly since it is surrounded by some of the world’s tallest peaks. It would be clear and sunny one minute, then clouds would appear and everything would become foggy the next.
Flights are only permitted when the weather is clear and visibility is excellent.
On Day 10, you descend to Gorak Shep and board a helicopter after your trek to Kala Patthar. We will fly you to Lukla for a short break before proceeding to Kathmandu.
Entry Permits & Requirements:
The Everest Base Camp Helicopter Trek requires two permits:
1) Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit and
2) Khumbu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit.
Unlike many Nepal Himalaya climbs, you won’t require a TIMS (Tourist Information Management System) card for this one.
The Nepal Tourism Board’s office in Kathmandu or the park’s entrance gate in Monjo can provide you with Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit for NRS 3000.
The fee for citizens of SAARC nations is NRS 1500.
To ensure a smooth process, it is essential that you fill out the permit application and provide either your passport or a copy of it. Upon your arrival in Lukla, it is imperative that you are present to acquire the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit. This permit, priced at NRS 2000, can be easily obtained at the rural municipality counter situated on the outskirts of the settlement. There’s no need to be concerned about permit wait times, as the company or our guides will handle all the necessary arrangements seamlessly.
Travel Insurance:
All clients participating in any activity must have travel insurance. The insurance plan will provide coverage for personal injury, death, hospital expenditures, and repatriation fees. Additionally, it includes provisions for helicopter rescue and any other disease that is specifically mentioned in the plan. We strongly recommend that you obtain a comprehensive insurance plan from a reputable insurance company.
Passport and Visa:
Every client must have a valid passport from the return date with a 6 months prior validity by the Nepalese consulate in your country or immigration office at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.
Equipment lists
- Find the guidelines regarding essential trekking gears.
- Daypack above 40 liters. (Must be waterproof)
- Down jacket (rental available)
- Warm sleeping bag (rental available)
- Sun head, gulf cap, sunglasses, headlamp, and torchlight.
- Ear-muffs, sun Lotions/sun cream.
- One pair of liner gloves is thin wool and synthetic.
- Cotton t-shirts, Synthetic t-shirt.
- Two Long sleeve polyester or synthetic lightweight for sunny days.
- One Soft-shell jacket water & wind resist.
- One swimming dress.
- Inner clothes as your requirement.
- Liner socks, woolen socks.
- Proper trekking shoes.
- Imodium or Pepto Bismo capsules for upset stomach or diarrhea.
- Diamox for altitude sickness. The guide will help you to take it.
- One small personal-sized first-aid kit with blister treatments such as moleskin, bands, anti-infection ointments, muscle relief ointments.
Itinerary
With a panoramic view of the Himalayan ranges and the valley below, the flight into Kathmandu Valley is wonderful. Our representative will greet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport, drive you to your accommodation, and assist you with all of your essential travel needs. After you've checked in, you'll have time to tour the city (depending on your arrival time).
Board a helicopter from Tribhuvan International Airport and start your incredible Everest Base Camp adventure. As you hover over the mountains, glance down to see the Himalayan range's rugged peaks. It's a flight to remember, with breathtaking vistas of valley, hilltop towns, and towering Himalayan peaks. Till you reach Lukla, once you reach Lukla you'll be meeting with our representative at the airport, grab your belongings and hike to Phakding through the bustling Lukla market. Phakding, a riverfront village, is accessible by crossing a metal suspension bridge. Later, take a walk around the village and down to the riverbank to admire the Dudh Koshi, a glacier river that cascades down the valley. Later, return to the lodge and rest.
The trail passes through pine and rhododendron woodland, roaring glacier rivers, metal suspension bridges, you'll be crossing the iconic Hillary Bridge, the tallest suspension bridge in the Everest area. As you move upwards, you'll be encircled on all sides by massive mountain peaks. High summits peaks stretch towards the sky, as you arrive at Namche, a beautiful route with Mani stones, Buddhist monasteries, and vibrant prayer flags, and the mountains spread out like an amphitheater. From here, you can get the first glimpse of Mount Everest (8,848m), Lhotse (8,516m), and other peaks. Namche, commonly known as the Sherpa capital, has a variety of high-end and low-cost mountain lodges, after you get to your accommodation rest your weary limbs.
You'll be spending your day acclimatizing at Namche. The village is the economic core of the Khumbu area, featuring cafés, bakeries, mountain lodges, shops, and internet cafes. Take a stroll around the marketplace, talk to some friendly locals and soak in the mountains. Visit the nearby Sherpa village Khumjung or trek to the famous Hotel Everest View of Khumjung, as an acclimatization excursion. Ama Dablam, Tawache, Khumbu Himal, Mount Everest, and many more peaks can be seen from the hotel's terrace or you may hike up to Khumbu school which was established by Sir Edmund Hillary the first school in the Khumbu area in Khumjung. A visit to the historic Khumjung Monastery, which houses a Yeti (abominable snowman) scalp, is also recommended. Hike back to Namche afterward where you'll spend the night.
You'll be hiking along with one of the most exquisite sections of the trail today, cross an alpine meadow with pine trees and rhododendron blossoms on your way to Tengboche, take a break every now and then to take in the spectacular mountain scenery. Tengboche is just under Ama Dablam centered by the magnificent Tengboche Monastery which is one of the Everest Region's oldest and most prominent Buddhist monasteries, inside the monastery, old artifacts are displayed at the altar, and colorful Buddhist artwork covers the walls, observe the monks chanting the sacred texts. Later, walk down to Deboche, a monastic settlement where you'll spend the night.
Get up early in the morning to see the dawn over the mountains, after a quick breakfast ascends the route that leads upwards through the woods, from here Ama Dablam's pyramid rises just overhead, take a moment to take in this once-in-a-lifetime view. Along the way, you'll pass through Pangboche, a Sherpa settlement and as the tree line fades you reach Dingboche, from where the landscape becomes bleak and rocky. Dingboche is bounded by stone-fence farms. Once you've arrived at the village, rest at the teahouse where rooms have been reserved for you. Dingboche is where you'll spend the night.
You're over 4,000 meters in altitude, and you can feel the change in the air, the air is thinner, and moving especially upward, requires effort. Take an acclimatization hike to the nearby hills to get your body into that comfortable zone. Go to Chukkung Valley or Nangkartshang Peak, recommended your guide to make the selection for you, since they will consider your physical condition before deciding on the hike's goal. The non-technical trek to the Nangkartshang summit (5,083m) provides a spectacular vista of Makalu, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and many other peaks, while glaciers cascading down the mountainsides may be seen from Chukkung Valley. You can also hike any of the smaller hills surrounding Dingboche if you prefer to save your energy for tomorrow's journey.
Leave Dingboche early in the morning and pass through a deserted broad valley to get to Thukla. View of Mount Pumori, Khumbila, Lingtren, and other nearby peaks up close from here. Stone monuments honoring mountaineers and trekkers who have died in these mountains may be seen near the summit of Thukla Pass. Lobuche, a little town with only a handful of teahouses, is reached after a difficult climb, you can explore the nearby region if you are not too fatigued, a tiny slope nearby provides spectacular views of the Khumbu Glacier. You should get a good night's sleep because you have a major day tomorrow.
Early in the morning, leave towards Gorak Shep, as tree line disappears you'll be hiking in a bleak stony desert, when treading on loose rocks and stones, take extra precautions with cautious and steady walk along the Khumbu Glacier. The scenery is both harsh and gorgeous from here as you get to Gorak Shep, stop for lunch at a teahouse. After that, hike towards Everest Base Camp. The Khumbu Glacier is tracked all the way to Everest Base Camp, steep trail with rough rocks and gravel confronts you and the path is littered with massive rocks at the foot of Mount Everest, just below the Khumbu Icefall, Everest Base Camp is nestled. If you travel during the climbing season, you'll notice multicolored tents propping up against the shabby terrain where you'll encounter climbers preparing to conquer the world's tallest peak. As you get to the base camp you've accomplished your objective, and it feels incredible to be resting beneath some of the world's tallest peaks.
Early in the morning, hike to Kala Patthar. Kala Patthar offers a panoramic view of Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest, and is one of the highest and most popular overlooks in the Everest Region. The scenery is exhilarating and therefore should not be missed, watch incredible sights from here to Pumori, Nuptse, Changtse, and Mount Everest, some of the world's highest sights. This is one of those priceless sights that will stay with you for the rest of your life! Take some photos and return to Gorak Shep. Board a helicopter and fly to Lukla from Gorak Shep, Once on board, take in aerial views of some of the world's most magnificent places above the snow-capped peaks and the Khumbu and Nzogumpa glaciers. Once you arrive at Lukla express your gratitude to your support team and wish them farewell before proceeding on to Kathmandu. As you fly out of Lukla the majestic Khumbu mountains bid you farewell on this final stage of your journey. As you come closer to the valley the bird's eye view of Kathmandu valley will be available to you before you arrive. You'll be transported to your accommodation from the airport, check-in and relax, or go exploring in Thamel. In the evening, we will host a goodbye dinner for you later in the evening celebrating your success in the adventure.
Our staff will drop you off at the airport, you bid farewell to your newfound friends as well as Nepal. Note: All of the above-mentioned trekking hours and distances are estimations and should only be used as a general guideline.
