The Everest Base Camp Short Trek Helicopter Return takes you on a journey via the world’s highest trekking terrain. EBC is the ideal destination for enthusiastic hikers and explorers, located at the base of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain.
You can explore Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, the most renowned overlook in the Khumbu region, on this Everest Base Camp Short Trek with helicopter return. The short trek to Mount Everest Base Camp passes through rural Sherpa communities, old Buddhist monasteries, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Sagarmatha National Park. Once you arrived at the charming Phakding village when you see stone-paved steps, prayer flags floating in the breeze, and the houses which are attractively adorned, Mani walls have also been built near the location. The Sherpa ethnic group, mountaineers who live in Nepal’s Himalayas, make up the majority of the village’s residents. Warm-up with a cup of butter tea at night.
Lukla and Helicopter Flights:
A fixed-wing carrier will transport you to and from Lukla. On Day 10, you board a helicopter from Gorak Shep and return to Lukla after completing your trek to EBC. From Lukla, you’ll take a regular (fixed-wing) aircraft back to Kathmandu, you’ll save time and energy by choosing a helicopter flight from Gorak Shep to Lukla. The flight above enormous mountains, glaciers, and Sherpa towns is an incredible aerial experience that you will never forget. The helicopter also allows you to avoid the exhausting return walk to Lukla through the same route.
Challenges:
Flying to Lukla’s Tenzing-Hillary Airport has its own set of challenges. Among all, the weather stands as the most crucial factor, considering that the airport rests on a cliff atop a small plateau, subject to strong gusts that complicate maneuvering the plane on the compact and narrow airstrip. The unpredictable weather in this area, circled by some of the planet’s tallest peaks, leads to regular changes. Flights receive authorization solely during periods of stable weather and favorable visibility.
It’s difficult to say whether or not your Lukla flight will be canceled. If this happens, your journey may be postponed by one or two days. So come prepared and add days to your itinerary to ensure you don’t miss your overseas flight.
We will reserve a spot for you on a helicopter flight if there is a considerable delay due to inclement weather.
Transportation and Flights
The helicopter is not included in the vacation fee and must be paid for separately. Flights to and from Lukla are currently operated from Manthali Airport near Ramechhap, due to heavy traffic at the Kathmandu airport during the busy season (spring and fall). Kathmandu is 132 kilometers (4 hours and 30 minutes) away from the airport. However, airlines fly directly from Kathmandu and Lukla on their first and last flights (KTM-LUKLA-KTM). If you book in advance, we may be able to get you a ticket on a direct flight to or from Lukla. Instead of undertaking the additional route to Ramechhap, it will be easier and more convenient to fly straight from Kathmandu to Lukla and vice versa.
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.
You must complete the permit application and present your passport or a copy of your passport. You must be in Lukla to obtain the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit. The permission can obtain, costing NRS 2000, at the rural municipality counter located on the outskirts of the settlement. You won’t have to worry about waiting for permits since the company or our guides will take care of everything.
Travel Insurance:
All clients participating in any activity must have travel insurance. Personal injury, death, hospital expenditures, repatriation fees, helicopter rescue, and any other disease covered by the insurance plan will be given, we highly advise you to acquire a comprehensive insurance plan from a trustworthy insurance company.
Passport and Visa:
All participants must hold a valid passport with a minimum of 6 months validity, adhering to Nepalese regulations. You can fulfill this requirement through the Nepalese consulate in your home country or upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. This measure ensures compliance with entry and exit requirements for a smooth and enjoyable travel experience.
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
A member of our agencies will greet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel, once you arrive at the hotel check-in and rest. Later in the day, your guide will give you a travel orientation and assist you with all of the requirements for the trek.
Duration: 35 minutes flight, 3-4 hours (8 km) trek Take a morning flight to Lukla, the Everest gateway, you'll meet the rest of the team once you get in Lukla, sort your belongings before beginning your short hike to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar. Head down to Phakding after passing Lukla Bazar, It's a short trek that takes around 3 to 4 hours to get to Phakding, cross Dudh Koshi River to get to the lovely settlement of Phakding.
Walking Distance: 6-7 hours (10.5 km) trek The trail passes through pine and rhododendron woodlands. As you climb higher, you'll come across a series of suspension bridges, the highest of which is the Hillary Bridge across the Imja Khola (river), catch your first glimpse of Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, and other 7,000 and 8,000 meter giants just before arriving at Namche. Stop by a teahouse for a break.
Walking Distance: 4-5 hours (6 km) trek Take a day off and unwind in Namche, the Sherpa heartland. The village is carved into a mountaintop with views of Thamserku, Kantega, and Ama Dablam, which are all covered with snow, a short hike to Hotel Everest View and Khumjung Village for acclimatization is recommended. Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku can all be seen from Hotel Everest View, which is situated above Namche. Khumjung Village is an ancient Sherpa hamlet with a monastery (which includes a Yeti's scalp) and Sir Edmund Hillary's first school in the Khumbu Region.
Walking Distance: 5-6 hours (10 km) trek Depart Namche in the direction towards Tengboche a tiny settlement with only a few residences. Tengboche Gompa, the oldest and most prestigious Buddhist monastery in the Everest region, is named after the settlement, with your guide, you may visit the monastery and see a Buddhist prayer rituals.
Walking Distance: 5-6 hours (11 km) trek Early in the morning, catch the sunrise above Ama Dablam, a summit overlooking Tengboche. Ama Dablam is often regarded as one of the world's most beautiful mountains, continue hiking to Dingboche after breakfast, you may feel the effects of high altitude as you move past the 4,000 meter mark. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water take frequent stops making photography your excuse.
Walking Distance: 4-5 hours (4.5 km) trek Nagarjun Hill is a short hike from the village, the vegetation thins out as the tree line disappears and the scenery becomes barren and bleak. It's a steep ascent but the slope may be climbed without any technical climbing from the top you can witness 360-degree panorama of Ama Dablam, Island Peak, Makalu, Lhotse, and other peaks.
Walking Distance: 6-7 hours (8 km) trek Take the Lobuche trail and pass via Thukla and Thukla Pass on your way, stone monuments honor climbers who died while attempting to summit Mount Everest near Thukla Pass. Rob Hall and Scott Fischer, whose tragic Mount Everest trek is the subject of Jon Krakauer's popular book "Into Thin Air" and the film "Everest," are among the memorials. There is also a memorial dedicated to Late Babu Chiri Sherpa, one of Nepal's best mountaineer who set a new world record for climbing Everest without supplemental oxygen, remaining at the peak for 21 hours and 56 minutes, and reaching the summit in 16 hours and 56 minutes. There are a few teahouses in Lobuche that provide minimal services.
Walking Distance: 7-8 hours (12 km) trek You're Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar Short Trek's has arrived, your goal to reach Everest Base Camp on foot will be completed today but remember to keep your pace slow and steady because you'll be walking over 5,000 meters. Go to a teahouse once you've arrived at Gorak Shep. After meal, take a break and climb to Everest Base Camp, the Khumbu Glacier runs paralleled along the trail and is jagged rocks and gravel which might be difficult to walk on, so take extra caution. Capture images and enjoy the stunning view once you arrive at EBC. Though the peak of Mount Everest is not visible from EBC, the Ice Fall, Nuptse, and Lhotse can be seen.
Duration: 45 minutes flight, 2-3 hours (3 km) trek Start your Kala Patthar climb early in the morning, the most popular overlook in the Everest region is Kala Patthar, at 5,550 meters the highest point on your trek and brings you directly above Gorak Shep. Mount Everest, Pumori, Nuptse, Lhotse, and other world-famous peaks can all be seen from here Kala Patthar. Later, return to your teahouse and bid your goodbyes to the trekking group (porters and assistant guides) and board a helicopter which gets you to Lukla, flying close to the mountains for a bird's eye perspective of some of the world's highest peaks. Once you arrive at Lukla after a brief break you'll board a flight back to Kathmandu and will be transported to your accommodation once you arrived at Kathmandu. Take it easy and relax.
The valley of Kathmandu has much to offer, you may either join a guided city tour or go exploring on your own in Kathmandu. Later in the evening celebrate the completion of your Everest Base Camp short walk with a farewell dinner and cultural programmers.
Today you'll bid your farewell to Nepal and the friends you made along the journey. Our staff will drop you off at the airport 3 hours prior to your flight. Note: All of the above-mentioned trekking hours and distances are estimations and should only be used as a general guideline.
