Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour is a thrilling yet exciting lifetime experience Nepal has to offer besides trekking. The Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour gives you the closest view of Mount Everest within hours.

You can do the Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour at any given time of the year. The flight also offers a special breakfast to travelers at the Everest View Hotel, the highest placed hotel in the world.

The helicopter tour lands midway to Kala Patthar, a place higher than the Everest Base Camp. This destination lies at an elevation of 5643 m above sea level, while Everest Base Camp lies at an altitude of 5460 m above sea level.

The Landing in Kala Patthar is an alternative way to be on the foothills of the World’s highest peak, Mount Everest. This place is also the best to view Mount Everest and its surrounding Himalayan ranges.

Highlights of Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour

Sweeping Himalayan Flight with Scenic views to the heart of Mount Everest
Thrilling helicopter ride from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar with panoramic views of nature
Visit the highlander Sherpa of Everest region who offers their impressive Buddhist culture and rich customs.
Aerial sight of the luscious green alpine such as rhododendron, pines, etc., to arctic zones such as glaciers, ice, etc.
Dramatic heli ride to the base of the world’s tallest mountain, Everest
Fly near the Khumbu icefalls and glaciers
Final stop at Kala Patthar, the highest point of Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour
A warm and hearty breakfast at Everest View hotel, the highest placed hotel on the earth.
Experience one of the adventurous journey of the Everest region on a single day
Get a close-up view of Everest along with Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Makalu, and many more.

Itinerary

FAQs

Useful Info

ItineraryKathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Kathmandu Everest Helicopter tour itinerary is a few hour-long journeys with exciting ventures for the visitors. Written below is the detailed itinerary of the Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour.

6:00 Am- 6:30 Am: Hotel Pick up and transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport

You wake up early, freshen up, get ready and wait for your guide to pick you up. You have to catch the morning flight to begin your Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour.

We will send a vehicle according to your group size to pick you up at 6 am from your hotel. You need to prepare yourself 10 minutes before the arrival of our representative.

After picking you, they directly drop you off at the domestic terminal for further formalities.

6:30 Am- 7:00 Am: Complete Airport formalities

You need to go through the airport check-up for security purposes thoroughly. So, make sure to carry your tickets and valid passport along with you. After checking in the airport, the officer will check your documents and tickets.

7:00 Am- 8:00 Am: Fly to Lukla ( 25 to 30 min flight time) (Max. Altitude 2860 m above sea level)

After the completion of airport formalities, you move further to board the flight. Boarding the helicopter, you proceed towards Lukla. The aerial view of Kathmandu valley looks nice as you exit the city.

You get to see the scattered settlements and a few of the UNESCO heritage sites from above. You also witness dense rhododendron forests, the beautiful terrace farming done on the hills, and several rivers and waterfalls.

The panoramic view of Langtang ranges, Rolwaling ranges, Ganesh Himal, and other ranges are a few things this flight offers. The helicopter ride also flies you over the Jiri Bazaar.

8:00 Am- 8:15 Am: Refueling at Lukla

After a half an hour flight, you finally land at Tenzing- Hillary airport in Lukla for refueling. The runway is known as the world’s top thrilling airport. The refueling time here is about 15 min.

8:15 Am: 8:30 Am: Fly to Kala Patthar (15 to 20 min flight time) (Max. Altitude 5643 m above sea level)

After refueling, you again begin your Kathmandu Everest Helicopter journey. With an air time of about 15 to 20 min, you arrive at your first destination, Kala Patthar.

As you fly for a few minutes, you can see the beautiful Sherpa settlements below. The hotel arrangements around the hills of Namche look amazing and catch the eyes of the visitors.

You also fly over the Khumbu Glacier and Everest Base Camp, viewing Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, and many more. The green hills and dense forests look beautiful from above.

As you fly to Kala Patthar, the vegetation changes from alpine to arctic Zone. From mid-way, there are no jungles and dense forests seen on the way. So capture these beautiful scenarios with you.

8:30 Am- 8:45 Am: Land and explore the areas around Kala Patthar ( Max 15 min landing time)

At last, you have set your foot on the highest point of the classic Everest Base Camp Trek. Kala Patthar is a viewpoint for trekkers and climbers looking forward to the close-up sight of Everest along with its neighboring peaks. Also, this place is known for its sunrise view.

The landing time is only 15 min due to the high risk of altitude sickness. During this short time, explore around the area and capture memories of these moments. You can take photos or videos as a memento of this day.

8:45 Am- 9:00 Am: Fly to Everest View Hotel (15 min flight time) (Max. Altitude 3962 m above sea level)

After an exciting time in Kala Patthar, you must be pretty hungry, so your next destination is Hotel Everest View. The helicopter ride time is about 15 min to reach there from the recent destination.

You will be visiting the world’s highest hotel in this Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour to have your breakfast. You witness the great Khumbu Glacier and Khumbu Icefalls, along with several high peaks on your way back.

9:00 Am- 10:00: Breakfast at Everest View (1 hour landing time)

Finally, you reach our ending destination, the famous Hotel Everest View, a renowned hotel of the Everest region. This place gives you the opportunity to see the Marvelous Mount Everest while sipping your drinks and having breakfast.

The food, as well as the services, is luxurious. Many climbers, trekkers, and locals visit this hotel for breakfast with scenic views. You have an hour’s time in your hand, so you can roam around the hotel and click pictures of the view as well.

10:00 Am- 10:30 Am: Fly back to Lukla for Refueling

After a tasty breakfast with marvelous scenarios, you return to Lukla for refueling. Viewing the fantastic yet thrilling sights, you reach your destination. The refueling time is about 15 min.

10:30 Am- 11:30 Am: Return to Kathmandu

After refueling, the helicopter flies you back to Kathmandu. Viewing the same scenarios, you retrace your ride back to the airport. Landing at the terminal, the representative will transfer you to your hotel, bringing a halt to your Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour.

Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour routes

Flying to the nearest place to the world’s tallest mountain is a lifetime experience. The Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour is a short yet exciting one-day trip from Kathmandu to the Everest region.

The Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour is about 3 to 4 hours with landing time. You first fly to Lukla and stop there for refueling, then fly to Kala Patthar, a famous viewpoint of the Everest region.

The magnificent Everest, along with its surrounding peaks, looks mesmerizingly beautiful from the viewpoint. After staying for a few minutes, you fly to Everest View Hotel for a warm breakfast and down to Kathmandu.

The different Starting point for Everest Helicopter Tour

Other than Kathmandu, there are various destinations to start the Everest Helicopter tour from. You can begin the trip from within the Khumbu region as well.

Let’s say you are on your trek in the Everest region, and you can’t continue further but still want a close-up view of Mount Everest. Well, the Everest Helicopter tour is the best solution fast, comfortable and easy.

Lukla to Everest Base Camp, then Drop at Lukla airport or Kathmandu.

After flying from Kathmandu to Lukla on a small airplane in the regularly scheduled flight, you can join the helicopter ride to land at the Everest Base Camp from Lukla.

Many travelers, as well as trekkers, choose the Kathmandu Everest Helicopter tour to save time. They choose the heli ride to fulfill their urge to catch a close-up glimpse of Everest.

After your land, you can either fly back to Kathmandu or Lukla; the choice is yours.

Phakding to Everest Base Camp, then Drop to Kathmandu.

You can begin the Everest Helicopter ride from Phakding after flying to Lukla and walking there. The helicopter flies you directly to Everest Base Camp, allowing you to catch the close views of Everest ranges.

The Everest helicopter tour saves your valuable time by taking this great flight to reach the base camp of Mount Everest. After roaming, you take the same flight back to Kathmandu.

Many trekkers are not able to do the climb to high Namche, and some suffer from mild AMS, so this is another reason to fly from Phakding. But if you wish to walk, you can continue the trek after some rest and recovery.

Namche Bazaar to Kala Patthar helicopter ride then flies back to Lukla or Kathmandu.

You reach Namche from Lukla after walking for a day or two. But some trekkers shorten their Everest journey here by taking the helicopter flight opportunity to Kala Patthar over the Everest Base Camp.

The Namche Bazaar to Kala Patthar helicopter flight is a perfect choice for trekkers in a short time. The heli ride flies you to the closest point of Everest Base Camp.

The trek duration from Namche to Kala Patthar is usually 3 to 4 days long, and the helicopter ride shortens by 10 to 15 min long. You land at Kala Patthar, the closest place to give you the view of Everest along with other peaks.

After a beautiful time, you can fly back to Lukla or Kathmandu, ending your EBC helicopter tour.

Helicopter Ride from Tengboche to Everest Base Camp and drop at Lukla or Kathmandu

Tengboche is a beautiful place and has an ancient monastery adding color to the village. After staying in a scenic place like Tengboche, people desire to move ahead, but some have to stop due to time limitations. Thus, we have another alternative option for travelers like them: a heli ride to Everest Base Camp from here.

Your heli destination is quite near from here, and it takes about 5 to 10 min flight to reach the base camp. Then after staying and exploring for some time, you fly back to Lukla or Kathmandu.

Best time for Kathmandu Everest Helicopter tour

Spring and Autumn are the top seasons for Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour. The flight cancellations and delays depending on the weather and climatic conditions.

You can visit the Everest Base Camp any time of the year. But the months from September to November and March to May are the best time for Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour.

During these seasons, wildflowers bloom around 2000 to 3000 m elevations with a decline in rough arctic terrain. The temperature ranges from 20 to 5 degrees, depending on the elevation during the daytime.

The flight schedule mostly depends on the weather condition as bad weather can halt the Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour. So, study about the best time and climate around the Everest Base Camp beforehand.

Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour Cost

There are two different options for the Kathmandu Everest Helicopter ride: a Private or a Sharing flight. A total of only five people are allowed per flight in both options.

Private Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

Private helicopter tours are solely booked by an individual and can bring along a total of five people, including them. Private heli tours are expensive, but you get luxurious offers and superb comfort. Also, you will be traveling with your friends and family without outsiders, which is a plus point. During this Covid-19 pandemic, private heli tours are far more suitable and less risky. A private heli tour costs about 3600 $ to 4500 $ per person.

Sharing Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

Sharing Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour is a great option for an individual or budget travelers. They cost less, but you will be sharing the flight with other tourists. The Kathmandu Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour price is about 1000 USD to 1100 USD per person. During this Pandemic, many might find it risky, but there will be a well-maintained distance with sanitizer and wearing a face shield throughout the tour.

Packing list for Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour

Wind and waterproof down jacket and trousers
Warm shoes
Sneaker or boot
Sun hat or caps
Silk or nylon scarf
UV rays protected Sunglasses
High SPF sunscreen and moisturizer
Lip balm to protect your lips
Water Bottle
Camera cum video recorder and phone

Final Say

Kathmandu Everest Helicopter tour is full of adventure for visitors, so don’t miss out on this. Grab the opportunity to get a close-up view of Mount Everest along with its surrounding mountains.

Happy Journey!!

Kathmandu Everest Helicopter Tour