Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

13 reviews in Tripadvisor

Duration

1 Day

Group Size

1-16

Difficulty

Easy

Max. Altitude

5,545m. / 18,192ft.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation

Hotel

Transportation

Helicopter

Activities

Tour

Price starts

US$ 2835

We offer group discounts

1 - 1 person
US$ 2935
2 - 5 person
US$ 2835
6 over 9999
US$ 2735

What is your group size?

Total Cost:

US$ 2935

Need Help? Ask Questions

Dipendra Dhakal

+977-9851093471 (Whatsapp)

Introduction of Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

Why Everest is so special, people often ask us and we answer them nothing is more beautiful and impressive than the sunrise over the top of the world. For regular trekkers, the journey to Everest will take 10 to 14 days but with our Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour, we will take you to the legend in just a few hours.

If you do not have time or desire for the torturous treks, and climbs, if you wish to avoid the risk of altitude sickness, the need of local shelter stay, and see the Himalayas from a bird’s eye view, then come join our one-day Everest Helicopter tour with landing at Kala Patthar.

You will be able to observe the snowy peaks in the bright rays of the sun storing its beauty in your memory for a lifetime. You will be able to discover the fantastic landscapes of Nepalese terrain and have an adventure that will stay with you for a lifetime.

You will also have the incredible chance to take a peek into the rich Sherpa culture, Buddhist practices, and daily activities at each technical stop during the tour.

For you, through our Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour, we will at a rapid pace without acclimatization, but completely safely fly you over the 5364 m Everest Base Camp and land you at 5644 m high Kala Patthar.

With no requirement of special preparation, any active and any age group can be the participant in our Everest Heli Tour 2025 and 2026. In addition, we like to assure you our Everest Base Camp helicopter tour is not an overly expensive experience. The pricing is equal to the amount you pay for the usual EBC treks.

Throughout the tour, we will look after your safety and comfort and provide you with additional oxygen support (if needed). Always before the journey, our assigned helicopter goes through technical checks every day. We go only with the best pilots who are highly experienced professionals, each with thousands of hours of flying experience.

Our Everest helicopter tour with landing at Kala Patthar will commence from the helipad section of TIA. Before you get on board the shuttle, our pilot will share a quick information about our flight plan. He will also explain the safety measures, landing spots, and our ultimate destination to you.

Once you put on your seat belts and headphones, you will be airborne and fly to Lukla. After a short technical stop here, you will again rise to the sky and fly over the landscape rich with green forests, and the white currents of the Dudh Koshi River.

Listening only to the sound of the helicopter blades, you will then fly by the blue-roofed houses of Namche, and the colorful red, and yellow buildings of Tengboche and Pangboche Monasteries. Once at the rocky stone desert of Pheriche, a group will be split into two due to technical reasons.

Then, once again, you will be flying deep into the Himalayas of Khumbu over Thukla Pass (4830 m), Lobuche and Gorakshep (5140 m).

Once above the Everest Base Camp, our pilot will circle you around the massive yet very beautiful features of Khumbu Icefall (5486 m), Khumbu Glacier (7600 m), Ama Dablam (6,812 m), Gaurishankar (7,134 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Ganesh (7,422 m), Lobuche (6,119 m), Nuptse (7,851 m), Khumbutse (6,636 m), Pumori (7,161 m), Langtang (7,246 m), Manaslu (8,163 m), Changtse (7,583 m), and of course, Everest (8,848 m).

Now the black stone walls of Kala Patthar awaits your landing (10-15 minutes) to reward you with the incredibly stunning Himalayan views of Everest, Khumbutse, Pumori, Changtse, Lhotse, Lingtren, Nuptse, Lobuche, Ama Dablam and many alike.

After capturing the moment with both your eyes and your camera lenses, you will then head to the magnificent tallest building of Everest View Hotel (3880 m) in Syangboche.

Here, you will have a breakfast experience like no other with the beautiful and eternal company of Everest and its sister peaks. After an hour, you will again be airborne to travel back to Kathmandu.

Please note that our Everest Base Camp helicopter tour is available every day, so get ready to travel to the limitless world of the Himalayas whenever you want, whenever you desire.

Highlights of Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

Experience the remarkable landing at the famous and infamous Tenzing Hilary airstrip runway of Lukla
A refreshing break at Lukla, Pheriche, and Everest View Hotel with the chance to meet the Sherpa community
Fly over the green rich hills, forests, rocky and sandy desert, and the glacial world of Khumbu
Circle around the notoriously known Khumbu Icefall and the Everest Base Camp itself
Continuous spectacle of the high sky touching the Himalayas including Everest
Stand at one of the highest platforms in the world- the Kala Patthar
No requirement of preparation, no age bar, no AMS, and no lengthy torturous hikes

Itinerary of Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

5:30 AM: Hotel Pick Up and Transfer to the Domestic Terminal of TIA

Namaste! Your exciting Everest Base Camp helicopter tour is set to commence early morning today. Precisely at 5:30 am, our Adventure Walk Way tour guide will meet you at your accommodation and lead the group towards the domestic unit of TIA.

Before you set off, we request everyone of our Everest helicopter tour to recheck if they have put away their documents (passport). It will also be a good idea if you pack warm down jacket, gloves, sun glasses, lip balm, hat, and a water bottle.

The morning street of Kathmandu just starts to wake up as we drive through the lonely road. Within 20 to 30 minutes, we will be at TIA ground.

6:00 AM: Proceed to the TIA Helicopter counter to check-in

Once we are at TIA, we will immediately proceed to take care of all the necessary paperwork before heading to Lukla. The staff at TIA will examine if we have all the documents or not, they will also weigh our luggage which will take around half an hour to complete.

Please understand that all these measures are essential as the helicopter has a weight limit when flying at high altitude which will determine how many can fly at a time.

After we are done with all the procedure, we will get our boarding passes and head towards the waiting area of the airport. Meanwhile, the flight technicians at TIA will ensure that our helicopter is safe to fly us and they will also keep checking for the weather around Everest.

If all well, they will let us know time we can take off. As our boarding time nears, we will head to the helipad of TIA. We will find our captain- the lead pilot waiting for our arrival.

After greeting us, he will go over all the safety details that we need to follow during the flight, like how to get in and out of the helicopter, how to open and close its door, how to put on the headphones and communicate, and how to ensure we have an enjoyable tour.

We encourage you to pay close attention to what our pilot says as these instructions are really very important for the safety of all the passengers. Once the briefing is over, we will get in our heli and get ready to fly in the sky over Everest.

We understand the fact that everyone desires the best window seat to observe the best Himalayan view. However, it is essential that everyone in the group has the fair chance to appreciate the landscape. So, at regular intervals, we will keep exchanging the seats so each member have equal chance to take in the scenery.

6:30 AM: Board the Helicopter for a flight to Lukla (2820 m), 45 minutes

On board the helicopter, we will get to Lukla in about 45 minutes. It is a transit town in the Himalayas where our helicopter will stop for a short technical break and refueling.

Once we take off from TIA, our pilot will turn our chopper in the east direction. Within just ten minutes of flying in the sky, we will begin to see the amazing profiles of the high Himalayas breaking through the white clouds.

Manaslu, Kanchenjunga, Langtang, Dorje Lhakpa, and Ganesh are some of the mountains that we start to see clearly. Next, our chopper will fly above the 3550 m high Lamjura La Pass.

The impressive frame of Everest will slowly begin to emerge followed by Lhotse and Nuptse walls. Our pilot will then turn us north to land us at the thrilling runway of Tenzing Hilary airstrip. Right outside our window, we will see the massive figure of 6187 m high Kongde Ri.

7:15 AM: Technical Break at Lukla for 10 to 12 minutes

Till the short technical break, we will enjoy the surroundings of the Lukla town. It starts to get chillier so warm up yourself with your down jackets and gloves. We can get a refreshing hot cup of coffee or tea at one of the lodge at Lukla.

7:25 AM: Continue the flight to Khumbu through Pheriche (4200 m) and Group Split

After a short technical break at Lukla is complete, we will fly even deeper into the Himalayas to land in Pheriche. The landscape below will become more and more beautiful as we proceed with our journey.

The journey will become even more interesting as our pilot begins to give us interesting facts about the villages, the details about the Everest Base Camp track, and interesting facts about the landmarks below.

We will soon see the chalk-white colored waters of the amazing Dudh Koshi River flowing by the small villages. If the weather is excellent, then we may also spot the hikers walking along the trail.

From the sky, it is interesting to see the Sherpa people without any care just engaging with their daily routine. The dense green thickets of fir, conifer, and rhododendrons can also be seen from our heli.

Eventually, the blue-tiled houses of Namche Hill can be seen. We will fly over its busy Tibetan and Nepali market, and start to see the colorful building of the renowned monastery of Tengboche.

Prepared to be amazed by the incredible beauty of Ama Dablam. Alongside, the Lhotse, Everest, and Nuptse will also be prepared to amaze us with their huge white frames.

Shortly after, we will see the ancient Pangboche monastery, followed by the dry rocky landscape of Pheriche, surrounded by towering mountains.

From here, the helicopter can only take 3 people on the further journey, so we will divide into two smaller groups. Each group will have turn to reach near the highest mountain in the world.

This measure is taken because the weight carrying capacity of the helicopter decreases with the increase in elevation. Up to Lukla, it can carry up to 500 kg of weight but after Pheriche, its weight carrying capacity limits to only 250 kg.

Among the two group, our pilot will lead one group towards the Everest and the other group will remain at Pheriche. Here, the group will have the remarkable chance to talk with locals, get the insight into their unique lifestyle and tradition.

8:00 Am: Scenic flight above EBC (5364 m) with a short 10-15 minute landing at Kala Patthar (5644 m)

As we take off from Pheriche, we will begin to fly over the Dughla Village and adjacent to the village, we can also see the 4830 m high Dughla/Thukla Pass.

The countless amounts of the lungtas (prayer flags) can be viewed moving with the wave of wind and small memorial stone dedicated for the courageous climbers can also be seen.

Now, the landscape shifts to rugged barren wilderness and we begin to see the snowy white tips of Lobuche peak, Cho La Pass (5420 m), Pumori, Khumbu Glacier, and Lobuche village itself.

Below us the sandy terrain of Gorakshep (5140 m) will appear which used to be the base camp for the highest Everest. Now, it has turned into one of the highest located settlement of the world.

Buckle up and be prepare as we are just moments away form seeing the Khumbu Icefall, the commonly used route of the climbers set to conquering Everest, and the spot meant for their rest- the grand Everest Base Camp itself.

If we are in the spring, then we can see numerous colorful tents set up by the daring climbers. Along with the massive structure of the Khumbu Icefall, we will also be attracted by Lhotse, Khumbutse, Pumori, and Nuptse.

After about ten minutes of flying, we will see the striking high black stone of Kala Patthar- our landing site. It is a unique place very different from the busy Kathmandu.

All around, we can see the ice and stone desert, the largest mountains in the world, a mighty glacier, and the Khumbu Valley. This will certainly be an unforgettable moment for us.

For safety reasons, we will stay on Kala Patthar for about 10-15 minutes. Do not think much and enjoy the company of very extraordinary friends: Everest, Khumbutse, Pumori, Changtse, Lhotse, Lingtren, Nuptse, Lobuche, Ama Dablam, and many alike.

Don’t worry about your safety, because we have our best pilot taking care of it. Of course, both here and during your entire stay in the mountains, you will have additional oxygen in cylinders at your disposal.

8:20 AM: Resume flight over Syangboche and landing at Everest View Hotel (3880 m) for Breakfast, 1 hour

After a unique exciting experience at Kala patthar, it is now time to resume our flight to land in Syangboche where we will have the joy and the privilege to eat breakfast in the tallest luxury hotel of the world: the Everest view Hotel.

Its building is very bright red and it is designed by the Japanese architects. It has also been named in the 2004 listing of the Guinness World Records.

As the name suggests, we will have an all round attractive views of the Khumbu Valley, Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Cholatse, Taboche, Thamserku, and Nuptse.

You don’t have to hurry now and can enjoy your drinks and breakfasts leisurely as we will have full one hour here. Meanwhile, our pilot will head back to Pheriche to pick up the other group.

9:20 AM: Return Flight to Kathmandu after refueling in Lukla

We will now leave the Himalayas of Khumbu and set to fly back to Kathmandu with a ten minute refueling stop at Lukla where we can have a final look back at the astounding landscape.

10:20 AM: Hotel Transport from TIA

Once we touch down at TIA, we will once again go through the necessary procedures after which we will guide you to your lodging. Be happy and take a pride in what you have just achieved and enjoy the excitement of undertaking the Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour.

Trip Information

Why should you go with Adventure Walk Way Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour?

We, the Adventure Walk Way travel, tour, and trek agency in Kathmandu, are immensely proud of our status as one of the best and reliable tour agencies in Nepal.

We are officially registered in the Nepal Government authoritative bodies of Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation (MOCTCA) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB).

We also have selected team of only efficient and capable staffs along with certified best local guides. We have very long experience in arranging multiple tours and treks inside Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan.

As for our Everest heli tour for 2025 and 2026, we have come up with an incredible plan that takes care of your:

Tour Safety

We assure you that the assigned helicopter for our Everest Heli Tour 202 and 2026 goes through the thorough check ups by our expert technicians.

They examine every part, gear and component of the chopper before it takes off every morning. Our pilots are also the best ones who are highly motivated, licensed and experienced professionals.

They have well known knowledge about the terrain, and they have thousands of flight hours which proves their capability. Looking after your safety, our pilot will also give you a briefing about the needed safety protocols.

He will also make your flight entertaining by sharing all the facts and knowledge about the mountains, routes, and villages you will see below.

Great and Standard Helicopter

The helicopter that you will be flown in are very updated, modern, and different from those which are used for flying in the lowland zones. These are specialized aircraft, equipped with excellent power and strong strength designed to tackle the challenges of high mountains.

The chopper will also come with a large window so you can see every part of the wide Khumbu landscape very clearly.

See Everest as the Climber

We will also fly you over the Khumbu Icefall which lies between Lhotse and Everest. One can get near to Khumbu Icefall only if they are the climbers or the trekkers. But with us, you will be able to fly over it and take a close look at it.

As many as 4 stopovers

Our flight plan includes as many as four stopovers for the breaks and landing: two in Lukla where you can go for a short walk, and one at the Hotel Everest View where you will have breakfast on its terrace with the splendid views. And the last one is at Kala Patthar from where you can see the perfect profiles of Everest and many other mountains of Khumbu.

Everyday Easy Tour

You can take part in our Everest Base Camp helicopter tour nearly any time of the year so you can see Everest in four different seasons of Nepal.

Spring will show you the green and pink beauty of the Everest landscape while summer will show you the lush forests and magnificent waterfalls. The winter displays the grandest and clearest views of the mountains and the autumn showcase the bluest skies.

Private Everest Heli Tour vs Group Everest Heli Tour

If you desire a more intimate or personal experience with the stunning charm of Everest, if you want to personally feel its towering presence, then a private Everest helicopter tour with landing at Kala Patthar will best suit you.

A private tour means a customized travel plan that fits into your time, budget, and preference. You don’t have to compromise with the changing seat arrangements and get all the views that the Everest has to offer.

You will also not face any delays that often comes with the group Everest heli tour. Also, a private Everest base camp helicopter tour means the heli will be total on your disposal and will be very light.

Thus, it can take you to the ultimate maximum height of even 7000 m into the sky. From this incredible height, you can see the spectacular sights that are often hidden when you fly at lower altitudes.

However, the private Everest helicopter tour with landing at Kala Patthar means you won’t be able to save much money as only you will be responsible for the related cost of the tour.

On the other hand, when you travel in a group, means all the related tour cost will be equally distributed among each member so your expenses will be shared and you won’t have to pay a huge amount as in private tour.

But, you will have to compromise this benefit by waiting for your turn for the best window seat.

Thus, if you are considering your budget, then the group Everest base camp helicopter tour will suit you. If you like to have the very personal experience, then private Everest heli tour will suit you.

Everest Helicopter Tour with Landing at Kala Patthar: Best Season

The Everest helicopter tour with landing at Kala Patthar can be taken every day of every season so you can choose the time that works best for you. This is because helicopter can even fly in mild poor weather while the domestic flights by the common airplanes often get delayed or postponed.

However, it is still an air journey so most stable and possible clearest atmosphere is needed. Therefore, it is best that you engage in our Everest Heli tour 2025 and 2026 in the autumn and spring period.

The mildly pleasant and dry climate of spring (March-May) and autumn (September-November) will enable you to travel lightly, enjoy the bluest skies, see the many different colors of rhododendron in the hills, and have the outstanding mountain view before your eyes.

The winter (December-February) mornings are often very foggy and cold which can delay the early morning flight time of the heli flight. But there will be very little possibility of tour cancellation as once the sun starts to shine, the day will be very clear and beautiful.

The summer (June-August) time often wets the landscape with monsoon rain which frequently causes the flight delays and tour cancellation. However, not every day in summer rains, so a little patience may be required to find the ideal clear day for your flight in this season.

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour: Difficulty Level

If you want to experience the mountain of Nepal specially the great Everest in the easiest and most convenient way, then look no more. Our Everest Base Camp helicopter tour is the quickest, most luxurious, and the safest journey towards the Everest.

Any active people between 5 to 80 age groups can easily engage in the tour without thinking twice.

The air tour will commence and end in Kathmandu without the need for sleeping in the mountain lodges, or very difficult long walking journeys. The duration is also short ( 4 to 5 hours) and can be completed within half a day.

Additionally, you don’t have to think much about the threat of acute mountain sickness. Even if it occurs, our pilot will quickly take you to a lower altitude for treatment. Plus we also have oxygen cylinders available through the mountain flight.

Thus, even if you have mild health issues, you can easily think about joining this tour without any hesitation.

When not to go for the Everest Heli Tour 2025 and 2026?

If you have serious bronchitis, asthma, heart problems, lung problems, or any other serious form of health concerns, then we encourage you to talk to your doctor first and tell him all about this tour and your intention of joining.

This measure is necessary and only if your doctor allows, should you undertake this adventure. Please understand that although this is not a hiking journey, it will still take you to the altitude above 3500 m.

At the Everest View hotel, you will be almost at 4000 m for an hour and for around 10 to 15 minutes, you will be above 5500 m at Kala Patthar. Such heights can easily worsen these health issues even if you stay for a short while.

Also, if you are afraid of flying, feel anxious at small space, and are afraid of higher heights, then please reconsider our tour.

Altitude Sickness/Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and Acclimatization

The chances of struggling with the AMS in our Everest helicopter tour with Kala Patthar landing is very low but we cannot say it is totally absent.

After all, we will be quickly shifting from lower plains to high mountains so our bodies will not get enough time to acclimate to the thinner air. To help reduce this risk, we have included four to five stopovers during the tour.

You can then stretch your legs with short walks in the area. We have also strictly controlled the time of stops in the higher areas. Still, some of us may feel the minor effect of elevation that can lead to shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, drowsiness, and headaches.

Fortunately, our helicopters have oxygen systems that activate automatically at altitudes above 3,000 meters, and we also have extra oxygen cylinders available if necessary.

If you begin to feel unwell, please tell our pilot immediately, and he will quickly fly you down to a lower altitude. If you want to save yourself from the discomfort, take the Diamox pill in Kathmandu to help with your body’s adaptation.

Also, keep hydrating yourself (remember we have suggested you carry a bottle of water at the beginning).

Are any permits required for the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour?

Since we will have an hour stop at Syangboche and a 10 to 15-minute stop at Kala Patthar, we must have two mandatory permits for our Everest Heli Tour 2025 and 2026.

The first one is permit for the National Park of Sgaramatha (Everest) that can be procured from the tourism board office or Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) in Kathmandu at the payment of USD 35 per tourist.

The second one is the Pasang Lhamu municipality Local Government permit which can only be obtained at Syangboche at the payment of USD 20 per tourist.

At the Everest View Hotel, a government representative will be present to collect the permit fee. Please note that you can also get the park permit here together with the local area permit.

You can yourself get these essential papers or our guide can also assist you with the procedure. Kindly note that these costs are not covered in our tour package.

Travel Insurance

You don’t have to get travel insurance for our Everest Base Camp helicopter tour, but we really encourage you to take one that has a thorough coverage.

We look after all the safety measures for you during the tour still any thing can go unplanned such as flight cancellation, tour cancellation, extra stays, lost baggage, or even medical assistance or evacuation.

Without a travel insurance policy, you will personally have to bear the costs. So prevent financial stress and take the right coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

The load capacity of a helicopter is much effected by the altitude. Up to Pheriche, our heli can carry the weight limit of up to 500 kg and onward it drops to 250 kg.

It is because the surroundings of the EBC are very delicate and any loads or changes can immediately cause the avalanches which can be threatening to our passengers.

Yes, any people between 5 to 80 can come with us to Everest in heli.

No, this is impractical and off-limits. The heli need certain air pressure to lift in the air which is absent at Everest.

Sure you can but remember to stick to the guidelines as has been given by our pilot. You should avoid any behavior that could risk your safety or that of your fellow travelers.

The heli can fly up to 5000 to 6000 m elevation but if it is light than it can also soar up to 7000 m in the air.

Our guide or any other correspondent will be at your hotel step to collect you for the tour.

No, all meal and snacks arrangements will have to be made by yourself including the one at Everest View Hotel.