Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

Duration: 4 Hours
At a Glance
  • Duration 4 Hours
  • Trip Grade Easy
  • Destination Nepal
  • Start/End Kathmandu/Kathmandu
  • Group Size 1-5
  • Max. Altitude 5555m

Highlights

  • Reach the base of Mount Everest, the Everest base camp, in the blink of your eyes
  • Witness dropping aerial mountain panorama throughout the helicopter tour
  • A very comfortable and safe way to travel to the Everest region recommended to people of all ages & family holiday
  • Short four hours program, which means you are not even spending a whole day, ideal for travelers bound by time
  • Multiple landings at Lukla to refuel
  • Land at Kala Patthar to see an outstanding view of Mt. Everest and many other mountains
  • Fly over Everest base camp and relish the striking aerial view of the Khumbu glacier and Khumbu Icefall
  • Savor a breakfast of your choice at the Hotel Everest View Hotel ( the highest 5-star hotel in the hotel)
  • Get to see beautiful Sherpa villages from the sky and unwind while you have short landing periods

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

Join our expert team on a four hours short trip to the Everest region. Enjoy spectacular aerial views of the river valleys, Sherpa villages, lush hills, mountains, glaciers, and moraines during the helicopter tour. Land at different locations and have a warm breakfast before flying back to Kathmandu.

If you ever wanted to travel to Everest base camp (5,364 m) but couldn't do so because of time, health, or other commitments that trekking to this point demands. Then here is good news for you, we have come up with the perfect one-day itinerary that will take you across the Everest region (aka Khumbu region) and involves multiple landings.

You do not need to trek up to EBC or spend numerous days walking and adjusting to the altitude. No more risks of altitude sickness and no more sacrifice of comfort. We present you with the Everest base camp helicopter tour with a landing at Kalapattar. As we mentioned earlier, it is a one-day program, more precisely, a 4 to 5 hours helicopter tour.

The Everest base camp helicopter tour serves people of all ages and makes a great family holiday package. What could be a great way to make lifelong memories with your loved ones than being in one of the most extreme parts of the world, enjoying immaculate mountain vistas? There is no difficult walking involved in this tour, and you do not need to do any preparation to join the Everest helicopter tour.

Everest base camp helicopter tour with landing is the quickest and by far the safest way to reach the lap of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world. Literally, in the blink of your eyes, you'll be flying over lush green hills and gorgeous river valleys. And in no time, Lukla airport (2,846 m) will be in front of your eyes.

The next part of the helicopter tour involves flying over picturesque Sherpa villages and the Khumbu glacier. You land at Kala Patthar and take a detour over Everest base camp before flying to Hotel Everest View (3,962 m) for a scrumptious breakfast.

Did we mention we also take a break to have breakfast in one of the highest hotels in the world? Well, you heard it right. Before we fly back to Kathmandu, we stop at Hotel Everest View to have breakfast of your choice, relishing snow-capped mountain views of Mt. Everest (8,848m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516 m), and Mt. Nuptse (7,861 m).

You can also join a helicopter to Annapurna base camp, Gosaikunda lake, or Muktinath with us. We pretty much customize helicopter tours everywhere in Nepal.

Main attractions of Everest base camp helicopter tour with landing

A quick and short trip to the Khumbu region

Everest base camp helicopter tour has made it possible for travelers to explore the Himalayas in a very short time. This makes it a great side trip too if you get an extra day or morning free during your trip to Nepal. Unlike the Everest base camp trek package, you do not have to commit to a long trekking period to reach Kala Patthar.

Get to see the beautiful Sherpa villages and have some memorable interactions with them

Everyone has seen the beauty of the Sherpa villages from the ground, but only a handful of travelers have watched the mesmerizing aerial views of the Sherpa villages. The tiny settlement areas from the sky add more character to the overall scenery.

Moreover, you land in some of the villages and get to meet the locals. Of course, you'll have a short moment to observe the daily lifestyle and have some meaningful interactions, but those little moments will enhance your tour.

You will see all the famous villages Lukla, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Pangboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep during the flight.

Enjoy the aerial views of the Everest region

The Everest base camp helicopter flight lets the participants have a stunning aerial view of the Everest region. Comparatively, a very less number of travelers get to witness the aerial scenery, which makes the helicopter flight very special. The densely forested trail, rivers, terraces, hills, glaciers, icefalls, moraines, etc from the sky are fantastic.

Multiple landings at different places

We have three confirmed landings and one optional landing during the Everest helicopter tour. The places where you land are Lukla airport, Kala Patthar, and Hotel Everest View. We only land in Pheriche if we have to add a helicopter to the tour. These landings take the whole helicopter tour to the next level. Touching down the ground even more in a short time will let you immerse more in the venture and feel the cold Himalayan air & soothing scent.

Witness some of the giant mountains in the world up close

You get to witness breathtaking views of many snow-clustered mountains during the Everest base camp helicopter tour with landing. The views include the five highest mountains in the world- Everest (8,848 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,463 m), and Cho Oyu (8,188 m).

Apart from them, numerous other peaks, such as Nuptse (7,861 m), Thamserku (6,608 m), Ama Dablam (6,812 m), Khumbila (5,761 m), Cholatse (6,440 m), Island Peak (6,160 m), Mera Peak (6,476 m), Baruntse (7,162 m), Kongde Ri (6,187 m), Pumori (7,061 m), etc, are seen.

The landscapes are diverse and jaw-dropping too.

Enjoy breakfast at Hotel Everest View Hotel: one of the highest luxury hotels in the world

Hotel Everest View is one the highest hotels in the world, situated at 3,962 meters/13,000 ft. It also holds a Guinness World Record for being a luxury lodge at such an elevation. Trekkers usually hike to this hotel for acclimatization and witness their first view of Mt. Everest during the trek. Here, we take an approximately hour-long break to have a delicious breakfast and enjoy the surrounding views.

They serve a wide range of breakfast options, from toast, egg, & sausage to soup, porridge, momo, dal bhat, etc. Yes, Nepali people do like to have dal baht as their first meal of the day!

A comfortable trip with no difficulty at all

The best thing about the Everest base camp helicopter tour is the comfort it offers. The helicopter has a spacious room, and each traveler gets a full wind seat. Our team obtains all the necessary permits, so you do not have to worry about that either. Everything is pre-planned and booked for you. You will have the most comfortable journey of your life in a remote area like the Everest region during this helicopter tour.

Itinerary

The Everest base camp helicopter tour flight begins from Kathmandu airport. After completing the boarding process, the tour begins. As you begin to fly in the sky, mountains like Ganesh Himal (7,422 m) and Langtang Lirung (7,234 m) will come into your sight. After 45 minutes of flying, you will reach Lukla airport (2,846 m). Here we stop for 15 minutes to refuel the chopper.

The helicopter tour then continues to Kala Patthar (5,644 m). If we have more than 3 passengers then we may stop at Pheriche (4,240 m) to make sure the weight of the helicopter is under 250 kg (above 4,000 meters). It takes around 5 minutes to reach Pheriche from Lukla airport and around 15 minutes to reach Kala Patthar from Lukla airport.

*Note: As per the aviation regulation in Nepal, helicopters weighing more than 250 kg do not go above Pheriche. So, in case the weight exceeds this number, we get another chopper and divide the group (additional charges apply).

You will spend approximately 5 to 10 minutes at Kala Patthar to witness the breathtaking mountain panorama, then board the helicopter. Flying over Everest base camp (5,364 m) and Khumbu glacier, it is now time to descend to Hotel Everest View (3,962 m). Here, you get 45 minutes to 1-hour to savor your breakfast. After that, we fly back to Lukla.

We will refuel the chopper and continue our helicopter flight to Kathmandu, which marks the end of the Everest base camp helicopter tour. Please take some moments to give us your review and feedback. Our team will drop you back at your hotel, or you can leave the airport on your own.

Everest Base Camp Helicopter flight route

  • Meet the team of Outfitter Himalaya at the airport
  • Flight briefing and saying hello to the captain
  • Board and fly to Lukla airport
  • Refuel the chopper and fly to Kala Patthar
  • Optional landing at Pheicher if group exceeds more than 3 people
  • Enjoy the view at Kala Patthar and fly over Everest base camp
  • Land at Hotel Everest View and have breakfast
  • Fly back to Lukla and refuel
  • Descend to Kathmandu
  • Helicopter tour review and go on with your remaining day
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Phase I: Wake up early and reach the domestic airport by 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM

The Everest base camp helicopter tour with landing takes place in the morning because of the favorable weather condition. You can come to the airport at the assigned time or let us know in advance for hotel pickup & drop. Our representative will assist you through the boarding process. First, you will join a short briefing session that will inform you about the helicopter flight.

The flight instructor will brief you about the tour and safety precautions. You will learn all the necessary information regarding the Everest base camp helicopter tour. After the briefing, the pilot will introduce himself. We then proceed towards boarding and hop on the helicopter.

Phase II: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla Airport

  • Altitude: 2,845 m/9,334 ft
  • Duration: 45 minutes

It's time to fly to Lukla airport. Enjoying the stunning views of the Ganesh Himal and Mt. Gaurishankar, we keep flying towards Lukla. As we fly, the historical sites will come into our sight. The aerial landscape during the flight is phenomenal. You will realize how mystical Nepal is and its geography. You will be flying over the lush green hills and settlements. The snow-capped mountains in the distance will make the flight intriguing.

Phase III: Refuel and fly to Kala Patthar

  • Altitude: 5,644 m/18,519 ft
  • Duration: 15 minutes

After a 45-minute flight, we will land at Lukla airport, the gateway to the Everest region. We land here for 15 minutes to refuel the chopper. Until then, feel free to stretch your body and look around. Stay close by and do not walk further.

We’ll then continue our flight to Kala Patthar. This part of the flight lets us see stunning views of the Sherpa villages like Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorak Shep. Likewise, the views of rivers, suspension bridges, and forests are tempting too from the helicopter.

Mountains like Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Khumbila, Cho Oyu, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Island Peak, Pumori, Makalu, etc, are seen on the way. We may stop at Pheriche before flying to Kala Patthar if the group is more than three people.

Phase IV: Land at Kala Patthar and explore

  • Duration: 10 minutes

The helicopter lands at Kala Patthar for 5 to 10 minutes. We cannot stay more than 10 minutes at Kala Patthar because of the high altitude. The longer we stay here, the higher the chances of altitude sickness will get. Moreover, the pilot cannot stop the engine, so we have to rush back as soon as we can.

10 minutes will be more than enough to soak in the views and click some pictures. Be mindful and do not pester the pilot to stay long.

Phase V: Fly to Syangboche Airstrip (3,780 m/12,402 ft) and hike to Everest View Hotel (3,962 m/13,000 ft)

  • Altitude: 3,962 m/13,000 ft
  • Duration: 15 minutes

Taking off from Kala Patthar, we fly over Khumbu glacier and head to Everest base camp. We will not land at the base camp because of insufficient space. However, we will enjoy the mountain views and also fly over Khumbu Icefall before turning towards the Hotel Everest View. We'll land at the Syangboche Airstrip and hike to the Hotel Everest View.

From Syangboche Airstrip, Hotel Everest View is located 182 meters above, so the walk will not be tiring. Here, we spend 45 minutes to an hour having breakfast with mountain views. Hotel Everest View is one of the luxury lodges in the Khumbu region and offers a very comfortable stay to trekkers.

*Fun Fact: Mt. Everest is seen from every window of Hotel Everest View.

Phase VI: Fly to Lukla for refueling and back to Kathmandu

  • Duration: 1-hour

After breakfast, we fly back to Lukla and refuel the chopper. Then the flight gradually descends to Kathmandu, offering sensational sceneries. Upon landing at the airport, our representative will ask you to give your review, and you can go on with the rest of your day.

    Is the offered itinerary not suitable for you?

    Looking for a customized itinerary? Reach out to our experts.

    Inclusions

    • Pick up and drop from and to hotel (If you hotel are inside the ringroad of Kathmandu)
    • Helicopter seats 5 people maximum in one Helicopter
    • Domestic airport taxes
    • Oxygen for quick evacuation if required in Helicopter

    Exclusions

    • Breakfast and tea, coffee in Everest View Hotel
    • Sagarmatha National park entry and Local Tax fees (NPR 5500.00)
    • Bar bills and Personal Expenses
    • Tips and gratitude provided to staff
    • Anything not mentioned in the included section

    Essential Info

    Packing list for Everest base camp helicopter flight

    Even though you will not need any physical preparation for the Everest base camp helicopter tour, you must be well-equipped for the flight. To make sure you enjoy every moment you have to carry essentials and wear suitable clothes.

    Follow the below list to pack and prepare for the EBC Heli flight Tour:

    • Windproof down jacket
    • Full sleeve shirts
    • Warm pair of trousers
    • Comfortable shoes
    • UV protection sunglasses
    • A water bottle
    • Lip balm and moisturizer
    • Silk/Nylon scarf
    • Toiletries
    • Camera essentials

    *Note: Make sure you are not carrying anything useless. It will only increase the weight of the chopper unnecessarily.

    FAQs

    • Q1. Do you land at Everest base camp on the Everest Heli Tour?

      Unfortunately, we did not land at the Everest base camp during the tour. It is because there is not enough landing space at the base camp, and the risk is huge. Instead, we land at Kala Patthar for 5 to 10 minutes at 5,644 meters. For your information, you cannot see Mt. Everest from its base camp because other giant mountains block the view. Whereas the view of Everest from Kala Patthar is incredibly gorgeous.

    • No, a guide doesn't accompany you during the Everest base camp helicopter flight unless you request one (an additional charge applies). During the helicopter tour, the captain will act as your guide. He will show you around the Khumbu region and introduce you to the mountains & the villages. Our pilots are very friendly, so you will not be uncomfortable.

    • Yes, the Everest base camp helicopter tour is safe. You fly with a very experienced crew who knows the air route of the Khumbu region inside and out. Our captain has hundreds of hours of flying experience, which makes them very reliable and the flight safe.

      We have a strict protocol that we follow before each take-off. Likewise, our fleet team does proper inception of the chopper before every flight. As you keep moving and do not spend a long time in one place, there is no risk of altitude sickness. We keep an oxygen cylinder tank in the chopper and a first-aid box for any emergency.

      Likewise, the Everest helicopter tour does not involve any other risks whatsoever. You do not have to worry about anything during the Everest base camp helicopter flight.

    • We organize Everest base camp helicopter tours for both solo travelers and groups of all sizes. Solo travelers can join our group departure or opt for a private helicopter tour. Flying a group means there will be two other participants with you. Our Everest base camp helicopter tour cost may differ depending on the number of people. Group flights get much cheaper per head than private flights.

      If you want to join the group EBC helicopter tour, then do not worry our team will arrange other two participants for you. These days Everest base camp helicopter tours with landing have become very famous, so it is better to book your spot early.

      Our booking for the Everest base camp helicopter tour 2023 spring, autumn & winter departures are open. You can choose one of our departure dates or customize the tour as per your requirements.

      For any assistance, get in touch with us.

      • A group of 1 to 3 people can place a booking for an EBC helicopter tour directly through the package page
      • A group of more than 3 people can send us booking requests through our customization section on the package page
      • To book a private helicopter tour to Everest base camp, leave your inquiry with us
    • Outfitter Himalaya Holidays have been working in the travel and tour industry of Nepal for many years. From trekking to tour, climbing, & helicopter tours, we specialize in many things. Our team is well-trained, has numerous years of expertise, and leads many individuals in the Himalayas.

      We assure you a safe helicopter flight to Everest base camp and rather a very immersive venture. Likewise, we do not compromise on safety, quality, and small details of our trip, which makes us one of the best trekking & tour companies in Nepal. Locally based, we have been working with all the legal authorities closely to provide some of the best helicopter flights to the mountain of Nepal.

      The below points make us a highly reliable adventure company in Nepal:

      • Highly Experienced Licensed Team
      • Professionally Designed Itinerary
      • 24x7 Customer Service
      • Secure Payment
      • Best Price
      • Eco-Friendly Trips

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