Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour with Landing

Available Tour Options 

Travelers can choose between two options for the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour. One is a scenic flyover tour. The other is a more immersive Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour with a landing at Kala Patthar. 

You can choose one of the two packages for a complete view of Everest and its surrounding peaks. Both packages are designed to address your needs of time constraints, physical limitations or preference for luxury travel.

Use the following brief comparison to determine which option is suitable for you.

 

Tour Options At a Glance

Flyover Tour	Tour with Kala Patthar Landing
Route: Kathmandu – Lukla – Pheriche – Flyover – Lukla – Kathmandu	Route: Kathmandu – Lukla – Kala Patthar (Landing) – Lukla – Kathmandu
Landing Point: No landing at Kala Patthar or Everst Base Camp	Landing Point: Quick landing of 10-15 minutes at Kala Patthar
Highlights: Aerial views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Khumbu Icefall, Tengboche Monastery	Highlights: Close-up views of Everest, landing at the best viewpoint, Kala Patthar
Duration: 4 to 5 hours (approximately)	Duration: 4 to 5 hours (approximately)
Helicopter Capacity: 5 passengers (up to Pheriche), 3 passengers (for high-altitude flyover from Pheriche)	Helicopter Capacity: 5 passengers (up to Pheriche), 3 passengers (up to Kala Patthar from Pheriche)
Photography Options: In-flight aerial photography	Photography options: In-flight aerial photography and ground photography at Kala Patthar

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour: The Benefits

There are only good memories and experiences if you choose the Everest helicopter tour. From saving time and energy to enjoying a luxurious and safe flight, it is an efficient way to witness the grandeur of the Himalayas of Nepal.

There are many benefits to this tour. The explanation below sheds light on them:

A Quicker Alternative to Trekking

Why trek for days when you can witness Everest Base Camp up close in just a few hours? The Everest Helicopter Tour is the best alternative for those short on time but unwilling to miss the views. It takes around two weeks to finish the Everest Base Camp trek. But you can enjoy the same breathtaking panoramas in just a few hours of the day via a helicopter ride. This tour is also suitable for those with a strict timetable. After all, setting aside a few hours in a day is far easier than committing weeks to trekking.

Suitable for All

Trekking to Everest Base Camp comes with several requirements. You need to be physical fit and must possess good stamina. Then the acclimatization factor is there. On the contrary, people of all age groups and fitness levels can try the Everest Helicopter tour. Neither one needs to worry about long and strenuous hikes nor fear the risk of rugged terrain. The age-related limitations are also not an issue. You just need to sit back and relax on the heli’s seat and set off on the winged odyssey. It is suitable for people regardless of age, fitness level, physical limitations or mobility challenges.

Exceptional Aerial Views of the Himalayas

The sky is the limit in your Everest Base Camp tour by helicopter. Take that phrase literally because this trip presents an endless and unobstructed view of the Himalayas. You can examine the world’s tallest peak from aerial perspective. 

You are able to see the exceptional views of mountains like Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori and Ama Dablam from the helicopter. Also the landscape below looks beautiful. You are able to see Tengboche Monastery, Gokyo Lakes, Khumbu Icefall and Dudh Koshi River among others. The villages of Namche Bazaar as well as Phakding and Pheriche are also seen. 

If you choose the Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour with landing, then Kala Patthar welcomes you with its magnificent view. You might not be able to experience all these views as trekkers on the ground. 

The grandeur of the Everest region is truly apparent from the chopper. Great opportunity to treat your eyes while capturing invaluable photographic moments. 

Luxury Adventure

Adventure does not always need to be full of difficulties and discomforts. You need to book the Everest Helicopter tour to validate this saying. Flying instead of trekking is one definition of comfort and luxury in this trip. But there is more to that. 

You can charter a private helicopter for yourself or your loved ones. It means making it an exclusive experience. And you can use this tour for different purposes like planning a honeymoon, celebrating a family member’s birthday or marking a milestone with friends. 

You can share the flight with a small group of like-minded adventurers if you are a solo traveller. Even with the sharing option, you can enjoy a deeply personal Everest experience. 

All in all, the helicopter tour elevates your adventure experience by adding comfort to it.

Know Your Stopovers

 

Lukla Airport

The Lukla Airport rests at Lukla which is a small town in the Solukhumbu district in Nepal. Lukla is the most common starting point for those who set off on the trek to the Everest Base Camp. The expeditions to the summit of Mt Everest begin from here. And even those opting for the Everest Helicopter tour must land here. That is why it is called the gateway to Mount Everest.

Trekkers and adventurers follow a plane or helicopter journey from Kathmandu to this airport. Then they embark on their next leg of the journey. 

Have you read that Lukla Airport or the Tenzing-Hillary Airport is one of the most challenging airports in the world? That is true. Its runway is exceptionally short. Add to that the unpredictable Himalayan weather. 

So, do you dare to fly to such an airport? You need not fear that because you are well taken care of during these flights.

How? Only experienced pilots are allowed to land at Lukla Airport. According to a report by BBC News, the pilots are required to have made at least 100 takeoffs and landings on short runways before they can land at Lukla. The report also adds that the pilots must have a minimum of 1 year’s experience operating under such conditions in Nepal.

With such strict measures implemented you are in capable and trusted hands during the trip. And the breathtaking aerial views of the mountains are worth the risk.

Pheriche

Pheriche is a small village in the Khumbu region. It is an important stopover for both trekkers and helicopters heading to higher altitudes. It is also one of the best stops for acclimatization during the Everest Base Camp Trek. For helicopter operators, it is the strategic stop for logistic support and other safety issues. It is also a point where the helicopters stop for refueling purposes.

Meanwhile, many helicopter trips begin from here, taking back the returnee trekkers of the Everest Base Camp trek by helicopters. Such trekkers trek with a helicopter return as an option. And as mentioned earlier, for those taking part in the heli tour of the region, this is the point for passenger rotation. 

The village is a Sherpa settlement that has guesthouses for the trekkers. There is also a health clinic run by the Himalayan Rescue Association. It offers treatment for those suffering from altitude sickness. The aid post is also known for providing information on mountain-related illnesses to the trekkers and climbers.

The village is like a viewpoint offering views of different Himalayan peaks. You are able to see mountains including Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Nuptse. 

There are also helicopter pick-ups at Pheriche for the trekkers returning from the Everest Base Camp trek. They are flown directly to Kathmandu. Sometimes the flights go to Lukla.

You can engage with the locals while waiting for your helicopter here. Learn more about their culture, traditions and the area during the process. You might also meet the trekkers heading to or returning from Everest Base Camp and other trekking trails. A brief chat with them allows for mental preparedness for what to expect ahead.

Everest Base Camp

Located on the southern side of Mt Everest in the Khumbu region, the Everest Base Camp is a popular destination amongst trekkers in Nepal. Meanwhile, it is the main starting point for those attempting to summit Mt Everest. 

It is surrounded by ice formations, Khumbu Glacier, and rocky terrain. If you reach here on foot during the peak climbing season, you can see it filled with mountaineers and their tents. 

The helicopter, however, does not land on the Base Camp directly due ot the uneven and unstable terrain. Yet you have a rare chance to witness the close-up view of the camp, glaciers and surrounding peaks during the flyover. 

While the helicopter flyover is the best for those who do not wish to trek at all, you can also opt for the Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return. The tour operators also put on offer the Short Everest Trek with Helicopter Return.

Or you can even choose the Everest Comfort Trek with Everest Base Camp by Helicopter. Such and more offers from the tour operators in Nepal make the encounter with the Everest Base Camp an unforgettable experience.

Kala Patthar

One of the flyover destinations, Kala Patthar located on the southern ridge of Pumori peak. It is just above Gorakshep. Kala Patthar means black rock. And it is popular with the trekkers in the Everest region. Trekkers prefer to go to this destination to get a clear and close-up view of Everest. One can also see Nuptse and Changtse along with the northern flank and summit of Lhotse. While trekking is one option, your flyover also takes you to this destination, letting you incomparable view of the Everest region. 

For the unversed, Kala Patthar is not a mountain in itself. But it is the highest point one can reach during the trek to the Everest region without obtaining a climbing permit. 

Hotel Everest View

It is situated within the boundaries of Sagarmatha National Park of Nepal and offers a complete view of the mountain ranges in the Everest region. The hotel says that one can see Mt Everest from every room. It earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2004 as the highest placed hotel in the world.

And this trip allows a quick glimpse of the hotel. You can also visit it at other times and plan a stay here. That’s because it also provides accommodation services. 

During your stay at the hotel, you can also try exploring the nearby villages of Khumjung and Namche. Tengboche Monastery, Khunde Peak and Mongla are other nearby places to visit. Or choose the 8-day Everest luxury Hotel Trek.

Best Time for the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

You are readying for helicopter tour of the Everest region. The objective is to get the best possible views of the area. So, clear weather with the best visibility is the prerequisite for this trip. Good weather conditions are essential for a quality and safe sky tour. The winds should be low. The skies need to be clear. And the temperature is required to be moderate.

In this regard, the autumn and spring months offer the best weather conditions for a helicopter ride in Nepal. However, if the weather is ideal, the tour is possible all year round.

Here is a brief review of the seasonal effectiveness of the helicopter tour in the Everest region: 

Spring 

March, April and May are considered the best times to opt for the Everest Helicopter Tour. One of the reasons being the flight friendly weather conditions. The days are warm in spring. The nights are usually cool. Spring weather in regarded as stable. The temperatures can range somewhere between -10°C to 5°C during the daytime. And at night they can be as low as -15°C to -20°C. With such conditions the spring months are ideal for sightseeing tours. And that tour includes that of the Everest. The clear mornings reveal the Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and the Khumbu Glaciers in their best forms. Overall, the skies are clear and days are calmer. It proves to be favorable for helicopter flights. 

Autumn

Autumn months are also regarded as ideal for helicopter flight in the Everest region. The arrival of September means the monsoon is over in Nepal. The post-monsoon skies are exceptionally clear and free of dust. This allows a brilliant visibility to witness the panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks that define the Everest region. The variation of temperature is similar to that of the spring season. They can be between -10°C to 5°C in the daytime and drop to -15°C and -20°C at night. As such, these months also offer good visibility of the Everest massif and other areas during the tour.

Winter

It is possible to opt for the Everest Helicopter Tour in winter in Nepal. Winter begins with December and ends with February. During winter the temperatures during the day are somewhere betweeen -15°C and -5°C. While at night it can drop from -20°C to -25°C. 

The days and nights, therefore, are colder, and the landscapes are snow-covered. You need to fear that you might have to step on the snow. Rest assured, you won’t be touching it with your feet. Rather, from the chopper, it looks like you are flying above a snowy wonderland. 

Monsoon

Temperatures in June, July and August on an average can range from -5°C to 5°C in the daytime. They are from -10°C to -15°C at night.But rather than the temperatures, it is the precipitation that challenges helicopter tours on the Everest. The heavy rainfall can affect flights as well as lead to poor visibility. Thus, you should check weather conditions before choosing the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour in these months.

Packing List for Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

Pack light and smart before you embark on the Everest Helicopter Tour. Carry all your essential documents and permits. Do not forget to bring clothes that are able to deal with the temperature variations from Kathmand to Kala Patthar. Health and safety items are also essential.

Here is list of packing items in detail. It will help you stay safe and comfortable during the tour: 

Essential Documents

• Passport and visa
• Permits
• Travel Insurance
• Flight Ticket 
• Cash

Clothing

• Base layers like synthetic tops and thermal leggings that dry quickly
• Insulated mid layers like fleece or a light down jacket
• Waterproof jacket as well as windproof jacket
• Waterproof trekking pants
• Heavy down jacket
• Down pants
• Insulated gloves
• Warm hat or beanie

Footwear

• Sturdy hiking boots
• Warm socks

Electronics and Optics

• Camera 
• Smartphone
• Portable power bank
• Extra batteries
• Memory cards
• Power adapter

Accessories

• Daypack
• UV-blocking sunglasses
• Neck gaiter or scarf
• Sunscreen
• Lip Balm with SPF
• Personal first aid kit
• Reusable water bottle
• Hand sanitizer and a quick-dry towel
• Snacks
• Binoculars (optional)

Altitude and Health Considerations

The Everest Helicopter Tour is known for rapid ascent near the world’s tallest peak with smart health safety measures, ensuring a safe and exhilarating experience. The helicopter tour operators take proper care of you during the trip. Yet as you are heading to higher altitudes, you must be aware of risk factors. Understand the factors that can affect your health and how they can be addressed: 

Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is not that common during the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour. That is because of the fast ascent and limited exposure to high altitude. Following a rapid ascent from Kathmandu at 1,400m to Kala Patthar at 5,550m, you can get out in the open for some 5-15 minutes. This short stay at Kala Patthar and up to 1 hour stay at Hotel Everest View (3,880m) reduces the time you spend in higher altitudes. Despite that, some might experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness. To address the issue, you can take preventive pills after consulting your medical practitioner. Also, the helicopters are equipped with first aid and medical emergency facilities, in case you experience any discomfort. 

Supplemental Oxygen

The helicopters flying in the Everest region are equipped with supplemental oxygen tanks. In case you experience any difficulty, the crew members administer supplemental oxygen. This aids in resolving mild to moderate difficulties related to oxygen levels in the blood. As such, with such a facility, you can be a part of the trip even if you have a history of mild altitude reactions.

Safety Concerns

The Everest Helicopter Tour is a unique mix of adventure and luxury. When talking about adventure, the risk factor is always there. In this regard, you might wonder if the flight to the base camp of Everest is safe.

Do not stress about that. We promise a safe and comfortable flight. The flights that are operated adhering to certain international protocols are a testimony to that. 

Below are a few reasons why the tour is considered a safe option: 

Expert and Experienced Pilots

The Nepali helicopter pilots operating in the Everest region are exceptionally well-trained. They have specialized training in high-altitude flying. They are also expert in aerodynamics and emergency procedures of high altitudes. Likewise, the helicopter operators also use pilots with a good mountain flying background.

Regular and Strict Maintenance of Aircraft

The aircraft operating in the Everest region maintains aviation standards at an international level. They undergo pre-flight checks every day. Likewise, the maintenance is also done routinely. As such, this ensures reliable and safe performance in high altitudes.

Safety Briefings

Before boarding the helicopter, the crew and captain brief you about seating on it. They also inform you about door-operation protocols, the use of oxygen masks, and emergency exits. You must follow their briefings properly to ensure a safe flight. 

Flight Regulations

The helicopters operating on this route follow the flight regulations seriously. One of the regulations prevents them from carrying more than 3 passengers above Pheriche. This is done for the smooth and safe ascent of the helicopter. And the helicopter operators in Nepal follow this regulation strictly. 

Flights in Good Weather Conditions

The flights in this region operate only when the weather conditions are favorable. The pilots do not force the helicopter into unfavorable weather conditions. The fights are postponed or even cancelled in case the weather is not favorable. This is done to ensure the safety of the passengers.

Passengers’ Roles

You play an important role as a passenger during a helicopter flight to keep yourself safe. This means everybody on board is safe, too. 

Follow these guidelines: 

• Attend pre-flight briefings and ask if anything is unclear
• Wear weather-appropriate clothing and footwear to deal with rapid changes in temperature
• Put loose items like a camera, phone or hat in a pocket or zip lock bags so that they do not get lost
• Fasten your seatbelt unless the pilot tells you it is safe to unbuckle
• Don't stand or move when the helicopter is in flight
• Do not lean out of open doors or windows
• Stay hydrated, avoid alcohol consumption, to help your body adjust to the higher altitudes
• Follow baggage restrictions and carry only the weight allowed by the helicopter
• Monitor your health, and if you experience any symptoms of altitude sickness, inform the crew immediately

Photography and Scenic Highlights

One of the things most travelers of the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour look forward to is the photography of scenic highlights. You can capture stunning views from the air and during a brief landing at Kala Patthar, depending on your tour package. 

To ensure you have the best photography moments, the tour offers a window seat for each passenger. As such, you can capture unobstructed views during the tour. 

Here are some precious photographic moments that you can capture and tips to enhance your mountain photography experience:

• You can capture your heli’s Lukla touchdown moment. Using a fast shutter, capture the chopper’s arrival moment on the world’s shortest runway
• Early morning flights offer a chance to capture the sunrise in its pristine form
• Frame the Everest’s towering profile from Kala Patthar from the helicopter doorway
• Shoot the Khumbu Glacier from above to record its crevasses and more
• Take a photo of the Hotel Everest View at Syangboche with the Everest in the background
• Get an aerial view of the Namche Bazaar and its colorful roofs
• Lastly, don’t forget to photograph yourself in every stopover, especially your silhouette at Kala Patthar with the snowy peaks as your backdrop