More than a thousand travelers go to Nepal every year to see the spectacular beauty of the Khumbu region and the world-famous Himalayas. Tourists have loved taking heli rides to Everest base camp for a long time. With an Everest Helicopter tour, you can have a nice time on Everest in just one day and save time. Well, the best way to see the natural beauty of the Khumbu region is from the air, where you can see the snow-capped Himalayas, glaciers, and Sherpa settlements all at once.
This amazing flight by helicopter starts in Kathmandu. Our rep will drive you from your hotel to the International Airport. Then, after almost an hour of flight, the helicopter lands at Lukla to get fuel. In a luxury helicopter, this exciting trip takes you through the beautiful Khumbu region for a great experience you will never forget. You can see the tallest peaks in the world from a comfortable seat that faces forward.
During this helicopter ride, you'll get a close look at the snow-capped peaks around you. The helicopter comes close to flying over the Everest Base Camp and the Khumbu glacier. The helicopter lands at Everest Base Camp or Kala Patthar after a 20–25 minute flight (5,545 meters). You will see Mt. Everest, Nuptse west face, Lhotse, Khumbutse, Pumori, and Ama Dablam right in front of you.
After you enjoy this beautiful moment and take pictures of it, you'll fly to the Everest view hotel for breakfast. You can eat a hot Himalayan breakfast while looking at the beautiful Himalayan mountains all around you. After this, you will fly back to Kathmandu, stopping for a few minutes at Lukla to get more fuel. When you get to the airport in Kathmandu, you will go back to your hotel.
“Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery.”
By John Ruskin
Everest Base Camp Heli Tour Highlights
Fly to the Mount Everest Base Camp, where mountain climbers camp before attempting to climb the mountain.
From a helicopter, you can see a great view of the Himalayan range.
Land at Kala Patthar, which is 5,545 meters above sea level.
Sagarmatha National Park is a nature reserve in the Himalayas that is known all over the world.
From above, you can see Mt. Everest and the other peaks around it, such as Lhotse (8,516 m), Nuptse (7,861 m), Phortse (3,950 m), Cho Oyu (8,210 m), and so on.
At the world's base camp, you can see the Himalayas in a way that will blow your mind.
A great look at the Khumbu icefall.
Enjoy a tasty breakfast at the Everest View Hotel, which is the hotel at the top of the world.
Weather and climate at Everest Base Camp
The weather depends on the season around Everest or other higher Himalayan belts, where Everest Base Camp can be visited at any time of the year. However, monsoon months of July to mid-September will be wet but much greener with heavy moisture. The best time is between September and May, from March to June, when wildflowers are in full bloom at altitudes between 2,000 and 3,000 meters and tree lines and vegetation thin out to make way for rough arctic terrain. The temperature will be between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius during the day, but it can be much cooler in the morning and evening, with temperatures ranging from -5 to +5 degrees Celsius, not including the effects of wind chill. As the flight takes you to land at above 4,000 m, the temperature drops in the shade and in the morning and evening. The day is clear with strong sunlight and UV (due to a drop in oxygen and air pressure at high elevation), so you need a strong sunscreen to avoid getting a sunburn in direct sunlight.
The weather will be clearest from about the middle of September to the end of December, but the days will be short. It will be between -5 and -10 degrees Celsius in the morning and at night, and it will be between 15 and 20 degrees during the day, depending on the altitude and where you go. December through March will be the coldest, with temperatures between -10 and -15 degrees Celsius and a high of 15 to 18 degrees Celsius without the effect of wind chill. However, most days will be clear with a fine blue sky.
Everest Base Camp Heli Tour Route
The Everest Base camp helicopter tour begins in Kathmandu and goes to Lukla. On the way, the helicopter flies east over Bhaktapur-Banepa and Dhulikhel to Charikot/Dolakha and Jiri. From Solu to Lukla in the high Khumbu area. From Lukla, the trail goes above the valley of the Dudh Koshi River, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, and Pheriche, all the way to Gorakshep.
Depending on how much room there is and where the Everest base camp is, the plane will land above Gorakshep, below the high Kalapathar Hill and Mt. Pumori. When the Everest Base camp helicopter tour lands at the base of Kalapathar, it gives you a great view of Mt. Everest and the other big peaks around it.
Please keep in mind that from Everest base camp, you can't see Mt. Everest because Nuptse, Lhotse, and Lola peaks are in the way. Below Kalapathar is where you can get the best and most mesmerizing views of Mt. Everest.
Everest Base Camp Heli Tour in Brief
06:00am: Pickup from hotel or designated meeting point
06:15 am: Transfer to Kathmandu airport
06:45am: Check-in to helicopter counter
07:00am: Takeoff, Kathmandu to Lukla
07:30 am: Landing, stop at Lukla to refuel Helicopter
07:45 am: Takeoff, Lukla to Everest Base Camp
08:00am: Landing at Everest Base Camp / Kala Patthar
08:15am: Takeoff, Everest Base Camp to Syangboche
08:30am: Landing, Breakfast at Everest View Hotel, Syangboche
09:30am: Takeoff, Syangboche to Lukla
09:45am: Landing, at Lukla for short time for refueling Helicopter
10:00am: Takeoff, Return flight to Kathmandu
10:30am: Landing, Arrival at Kathmandu, and successful completion of Everest Base Camp Heli Tour
11:00am: Transfer to hotel
Note: The exact timing may vary depending on weather, air traffic, and other factors.
Packing List for the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour
For the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour, you need to wear the right clothes for the season. During the warm season, you also need a down jacket and warm pants to stay warm at the high altitude. The temperature is usually below freezing most of the time.
Unlike the trek to Everest Base Camp, this helicopter tour won't require a lot of gear. To stay warm at a high altitude, all you need are some good clothes. You can use the list of must-have items below:
Down jacket (Windproof and waterproof)
Warm trekking boots
Gloves with layers inside and out
Bottle of water
Sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays
Scarfs, shawl
Warm hat or hat made of wool
Lip balm
Bottles of water and snacks
With a memory card and extra batteries
Toiletries
Is it safe to take a helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp?
Before we take off in the helicopter to go to Everest base camp, we check the weather and wind direction in the Everest area. When the experts finally say it's safe to fly, and only then, do we start the tour.
Getaway Nepal Adventure cares most about your safety. Our planes go through regular maintenance and inspections to make sure there are no problems. They are flown by some of the best pilots in Nepal, who have won many awards.
Also, it's important to know that we won't spend more than 10 minutes at Kala Patthar because it's at a very high altitude. We will gain so much height (5,545m) in such a short time that staying there for a long time could be dangerous for our health.
Everest Base Camp heli tour vs Trekking
It depends. Trekking to the Everest Region is a good way to get close to nature, but the EBC Helicopter Tour gives you the chance to see Everest from a bird's-eye view. Now, you will have some time on the ground, but not as much as if you trekked. So, if you don't mind spending long hours (about 5–8 hours) hiking for a few weeks, go for it. But the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour with Landing is the best way to save time and get a rush of adrenaline.
Cost for the Everest Base Camp helicopter tour
Due to the high altitude and difficult flying conditions in the area, helicopter tours to Mount Everest tend to cost more than other helicopter tours in Nepal. Mount Everest is more than 8,848 meters, or more than 29,000 feet, above sea level. This is much higher than the altitude of other popular tourist spots in Nepal. When you fly a helicopter at such a high altitude, you face a number of challenges, such as thin air, very cold temperatures, and the chance of getting sick from the altitude.
Because of these problems, helicopter tours to Mount Everest Base Camp need special equipment and pilots with a lot of experience. Because of this, it costs more to run these tours than it does to run other helicopter tours in Nepal. Also, planning a trip to Mount Everest is more complicated than getting a helicopter to land at Kalapathar. All of these things make it more expensive to take a helicopter tour to Mount Everest.
Even though these tours can be expensive, they are a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see some of the most beautiful and amazing places in the world. People who have been on these tours think they are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is worth the money. Helicopter tours of Everest Base Camp cost $1200 per person on a shared flight and $4500 for a private flight. For a set departure, there should be at least 5 people. The price per person can change based on how many people are going.
