Helicopter Tour to Everest Base Camp - All You Need to Know

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour is an enthralling adventure flight that is one of the best tours for mountain lovers. The tour's main highlight is landing at Kala Patthar (5550m) for a stunning view of the tallest mountain on Earth, Mt Everest, within just a few hours. The flight rewards you with majestic views and exciting trips against Mt Everest.

Heli Tour to Everest Base Camp  (EBC) is a highly suggested tour in Nepal that takes you to the maximum altitude of Mt Everest, land at Kala Patthar and fly over the Everest Base Camp. You can get aerial views of stunning landscapes, waterfalls, villages, and many more along with the mountains. It is easily accessible and suitable for anybody to enjoy the Helicopter view of Mt Everest.

This tour is perfect for people who do not have enough time or cannot walk for more hours but still lures to explore the tallest mountain on earth. This trip is designed for such people to offer stunning views of majestic mountains very closely. You can see famous peaks like Gaurishankar, Lhakpa Dorje, Cho Oyu, and many more along with Mt Everest. The tour is certain to give you extra thrill and joy after you stand against Mt Everest on Everest Base Camp.

The tour begins from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, where you get a fantastic view of Kathmandu valley itself. You will observe many snowcapped peaks as you move towards the eastern side of Nepal. Get an aerial view of the capital city and its UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Boudhanath and Pashupatinath before flying to Lukla, the ‘Gateway to Everest’.

As you fly parallel to the Himalayan range, you can view an endless chain of frozen mountains. The Helicopter will land at Lukla where you can enjoy the stunning landscape around the village. The Helicopter later goes above Everest Base Camp where you can witness the tallest peak right in front of your eyes, along with it, you can Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Thamserku, and Khumbu glacier. The flight lands at Kala Patthar, the highest vantage point of the trip which rewards you 360-degree views of Mt Everest and other peaks. You will fly to the exclusive hotel in the Everest region, Everest View Hotel which is the highest elevation. Enjoy the beauty and once-in-a-lifetime experience in the Everest region.

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour Highlights

• Experience the thrill helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp
• Short and easy tour to see the tallest  mountain on Earth, Mount Everest
• Enjoy the views of the mountains above 7000m and 8000m
• Enjoy the view of Kathmandu and its UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Enjoy the meal with a stunning mountain view at the highest elevation hotel, Everest View Hotel
• Step foot on the Everest Base camp to experience Mt Everest right in front of you
• Land at Kala Patthar, the highest vantage point of the tour for 360 degree view of the peaks
• Get the amazing views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and so on
• Aerial view of the majestic peaks, villages, waterfalls and glaciers
• Get the aerial views of Sherpa village of Namche, Tengboche, Phakding etc. and Sagarmatha National Park, a natural UNESCO World Heritage Site.

EBC Helicopter Tour Cost

The tour cost to Everest Base Camp by Helicopter depends on whether you are taking the private helicopter tour or joining in a tour as a group. Most of the operators do not offer an option to join others in a group on a certain date, so you may have to do extensive research.

A private Helicopter Tour is an expensive option. But if you are splitting the price with your friends or families, the cost is normal. The flight takes 4-5 people on each trip and the average cost is in the range of USD 4000-5000 per flight depending on the helicopter’s seat capacity and group size. You can book the entire flight for yourself but you have to pay the full flight cost.

The operators that allow joining as a group with other passengers have a set date when they have available seats. On average, you have to pay around USD 990-1100 per person, if 5 people are joining the tour. Make sure you read all the terms and conditions written before you make a booking. The tour is around 4-5 hours long that including breakfast time.

Private Tour (Own Group, 5pax Each)

The private tour to Everest Base camp by Helicopter tour will depend on the group size. The helicopter has a certain weight limit to fly over 4350m altitude. If there is a need for a single shuttle, the price around USD 4000 per trip. The cost of a double shuttle i.e. more than 3 people or more weighing more than 250 kg will be USD 5000 per trip.

Join Group Tour

Some tour operator offers you to join another group so that you can fly at a minimum cost. Depending on your group size, you will have to pay USD 990-1100 per person which can be shared by 5 people. If there is a need for a heavyweight shuttle, it will render some extra cost.

Our Recommendation

A helicopter ride to Everest Base Camp is certainly once in a lifetime experience to relish the beauty of the Everest region and stand tall in front of Mt Everest itself. The Helicopter ride is an easy and quick way to fulfill your dreams in one day. Based on the suggestions and recommendations, you can choose whichever group size you want depending on your comfort and budget.

The private tour will give you personal time and more privacy if you are a couple or an individual. But it will cost you a lot of money. You can have your own time schedule and depart at any feasible time depending on your private group. You will be sharing the total cost with the other group member, which will reduce the price. Depending on your group, you can spend more time on a particular site, have breakfast early and enjoy the views more freely.

On the other side, you will have to share a seat with others on the group tour. Group joining tour is effective to save the cost rather than being on a private tour. You will be sharing the total cost of chartered helicopter members, you will pay less. Also, it will be a great chance to bond over with other people in the group. Not all the tour operator offers to mix two groups and make a single trip but if you research and find a good tour operator that allows so, it would be a cherry on top. So, if you have to choose one, go for a group tour for timely schedules, less payment, and enjoying the company with others.

Related Trips:

Everest Base Camp Heli Trek - 11 Days
Everest Base Camp Short Trek Heli Return - 12 Days
Luxury Kongde Trek with EBC and Kala Patthar Heli Tour - 11 Days
Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Helicopter Trek - 8 Days

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour Itinerary

Depending on your tour operator, the helicopter tour itinerary can be very different. Some companies initially take you for breakfast and then land at Kala Patthar and back to Everest Base Camp; some take you to Everest Base Camp and to Kala Patthar and finally stop at Syangboche for breakfast.

For the Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour, the tour operator initially conducts a meeting to clarify the confusion or questions you have about the trip. The meeting is unnecessary; however, clearing out confusion before the trip might ease the tensions you might have. There shall be a discussion about the climate, weather and aids for the tours.

Heli tour from Kathmandu to Lukla

The travel agent will meet you and come to pick you from the hotel and transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport, depending on your booking policy and group size. You will board on the helicopter and the flight will take off as per the sequence maintained. Flights take off in a sequence to maintain a certain gap between the two flights. The flight will take about 30 minutes to reach Lukla Airport. Enjoy stunning views of Kathmandu before enjoying the sights of the mountains. Fly over snowy peaks till Lukla, a Sherpa village which is also the ‘Gateway to Everest’. Land at Tenzing-Hillary Airport for refueling the helicopter. The landing at Lukla Airport is exciting and enthralling at the same time. Enjoy the view of Lukla village while the helicopter will fuel up.  You can take some photos if you want but do not take more time as the helicopter has a particular schedule for its flights.

Fly Lukla to EBC- Stopover at Kala Patthar (5550m/19,290ft) (10-15 minutes)

Relish the stunning views of the Sherpa village, monasteries, glacials and the mountains itself. Enjoy the aerial view of Gokyo Lakes. It is to be noted that the weight is maintained at Pheriche because the helicopter will now reach to the higher altitude to Everest Base Camp. The helicopter will carry 500kg up to Pheriche and 240kg to Everest Base Camp. Within 20 minutes, you will reach Everest Base Camp where you will relish the views of Mt Everest and other mountains. Enjoy the magical feeling and get ready to go higher in the highest landing point of the tour. If it is the climbing season, you can see the snowy landscape with colorful tents. Observe the view of broad glacial basin, Khumbu Icefall and Glacier. Reach the highest point of the tour, Kala Patthar and click some great photos. Spend some time here and observe the majestic mountains right in front of you. Since the Kala Patthar is at 5550m, the air is thin with low oxygen level. We will be here for only 15 minutes because of the high altitude, low oxygen level, and sudden elevation gain. If you have some trouble breathing, make sure you let everyone know. Later, fly to Shyangboche.

Breakfast at Shyangboche (30-40 minutes) – Fly to Kathmandu

Enjoy the breakfast at Shyangboche with the views of Thamserku, Ama Dablam, and Khumbu Himal on the background. Say goodbye to the majestic mountains before you fly to the capital city, Kathmandu.

Landing at Kala Patthar and Photography

Landing at Kala Patthar is one of the exclusive experiences to people from any part of the world. The Everest region is filled with stunning views that offer views of the high mountains, blooming flowers, lush forest, hills, and landscapes. Kala Patthar(5550m) is a stunning area located in Pumori's southern ridge and over the Gorakshep. From Kala Patthar, you can get stunning views of Mt Everest, Makalu, Cholatse, Nuptse, Gaurishankar, Mt. Ama Dablam, Pumori, Lhotse, and many more.  With these beautiful mountains surrounding you, you can get a dreamlike photo and video. If you are someone who is a photography fanatic, this tour is the perfect choice for you.

Best Time For Everest Helicopter Tour

The weather around Mt Everest is very unpredictable, especially when you are planning a trip. The best time to fly to Everest Base Camp is the same as the best time to trek to it. Thus, the best time for an Everest Helicopter Tour is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

Spring (March to May): The best time to fly around Everest is during the spring as the weather gets clearer and the temperature is the best. The temperature ranges from 15-20 degrees in the day and can be 5 degrees in the morning. Since the weather is clear and bright, you can clearly see the mountain views.

Autumn (September to November): Another best time to take a flight to Everest Base Camp as the weather is clearer as it is the post-monsoon season. The days are shorter and chiller in the night but the day is warmer.

December to February is also possible for the flights as there is no chance of rain and the days are clear. But the temperature gets cold and winds get stronger that may increase the chances of flight cancellation. Summer/ Monsoon ( June to August) is not recommended for a flight to Everest Base Camp as there are heavy rainfalls and clouds reduce the visibility of the mountains. Also, with continuous rainfall, there are higher chances of flight delay or cancellation.

Recommended Read: Best Time To Visit Nepal

Weather Condition And Cancellation

The weather around Mt Everest is very unpredictable. However, a helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp can be done in all the season except during monsoon. The weather is always clear and bright in the morning in other seasons- Winter, Autumn and Spring. If the weather cancels the flight, your payment will be refunded fully. But this completely depends on the terms and conditions of the company. So, make sure you check their policies before booking the trip.

It is to remember that if the condition in Kathmandu is not favorable, the flight shall not take off even if the weather in Lukla is fine.

The day's temperature will be 15 degrees to 20 degrees whereas the night is colder will temperature -0 degrees to 10 degrees. The tour will take you to 5550m at Kala Patthar, the highest landing area in the tour. Thus, with clear weather and a suitable temperature you can easily and clearly view the majestic mountains. During the autumn season (September to November), the weather is clean with the temperature -5 to 20 degrees in the day and -5 to 10 degrees at night. In winter, the temperature is colder that ranges from 10 to 15 degrees in the day and 15 to -10 degrees at night.

Since the weather is very erratic at the higher altitude, pointing out a certain temperature range is vague, so before you book your tour, make sure you check out the weather condition in a trusted site. 

Helicopter Model Used In The Trip

Model: AS 350 B3 E Airbus

AS 350B series manufactured by French company Airbus (formerly known as Eurocopter).  The interiors are roomy and spacious and can seat up to 5 passengers (excluding the pilot) comfortably. These lightweight helicopters are ideal for mountain flights and can land up to at an altitude of 23,000 feet. At high altitude, the choppers can manage to carry only 3 passengers per flight

Clothing For Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

The clothing depends on the season you are traveling in. Even in the summer season, you need to wear warm jackets as the camp lies in a higher altitude Here are some clothing and extra gears needed for the Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour

• Down Jacket (Windproof)
• Warm and Thick Trousers
• Long-sleeve t-shirts
• 100% UV rays protected Sunglasses
• High SPF sunscreen
• Warm Cap
• Lip Balm/Water Bottles
• Scarf
• Toilet Paper
• Sanitizers

Safety

To ensure you have a safe and enjoyable flight, take the following measures:

• Wear your seat-belt during a helicopter tour.
• Make sure you are in the assigned seats during the time of boarding.
• Do not throw anything from the helicopter during or in the flight.
• Do not smoke during the flight.
• In case of any problem, make sure you let the pilot know.

Everest Helicopter Flight Alternative Routes

Flight from Lukla - Everest Base Camp- Lukla or Kathmandu

You can start your Everest Helicopter Flight from Lukla which is a famous place to get to Everest Base Camp. Lukla is at an elevation of 2860m and you will take a scenic flight of 30 minutes from Kathmandu to Lukla, initially. Then, you can take this heli tour from Lukla that will take you to Everest Base Camp and back to Lukla or Kathmandu depending on the itinerary you have booked.

Flight from Phakding- Everest Base Camp- Lukla or Kathmandu

Phakding is the stopping standard for most Everest Base Camp trek. You can take a helicopter tour from Phakding and fly over the Everest Base camp overlooking the stunning mountains in the Everest region. Later, fly back to Lukla or Kathmandu.

Flight from Namche - Everest Base Camp- Lukla or Kathmandu

You can fly from Namche Bazaar which offers a view of Kapsale (5583 m) and Khumbi (5761 m). Flying over the Khumjung village, enjoy the green landscape and Sherpa settlements. Overlooking Ama Dablam (6812 m) and Lhotse (8501 m), fly over Everest Base Camp and return back to Lukla ot Kathmandu.

Flight from Tengboche -Everest Base Camp- Lukla or Kathmandu

Take up the helicopter tour from Tengboche which is the home to the Dawa Choling Monastery at the elevation of 3860m. Tengboche is a stunning village in the Everest region where you can find the biggest monastery in the region. The 15minutes tour from Tengboche to Everest Base Camp takes you to Khumbu Glacier overlooking Ama Dablam (6,856m), Changtse (7,543m), Lhotse (8,516m), and Mt. Everest (8,884m).

Flight from Pangboche - Everest Base Camp- Lukla or Kathmandu

Enjoy the helicopter tour from Pangboche where you can get an aerial view of Pangboche Monastery. The flight then takes you over the Everest Base Camp and return to Lukla or Kathmandu.

Flight from Pheriche - Everest Base Camp- Lukla or Kathmandu

You can enjoy the helicopter tour from Pheriche which is used as a shuttling point for the tour. Pheriche is located at the elevation of 4240m which rewards you the stunning views of Mt. Everest (8848m), Cho Oyu (8201m), and Lhotse (8516m). The trip offers mesmerizing views of the mountains in the Everest region of Nepal.

Flight from Gorakshep - Everest Base Camp- Lukla or Kathmandu

You can take up the helicopter tour pickup service from Gorakshep and fly over Everest Base Camp and return to Lukla or Kathmandu. The distance from Kathmandu to Gorakshep is 151km. you can enjoy the scenic views of the mountains vistas and the complete beauty of the Everest region. The total time taken from Gorakshep to Kathmandu will take about 80 minutes.

Flight from Kathmandu - Everest Base camp - Kathmandu

This is the popular route for Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour where you will be doing the helicopter ride from Kathmandu and flying over the Everest Base Camp. After enjoying the aerial view of the Everest region and getting a close view of Mt. Everest, return back to Kathmandu.

Flight from Namche - Everest Base Camp - Gokyo - Lukla or Kathmandu

Enjoy the helicopter tour from the Sherpa capital of the Khumbu region, Namche Bazaar. The helicopter tour takes you from Namche over the Everest Base Camp. The flight goes to Gokyo offers a stunning view of the Gokyo Lakes and the Gokyo Valley. Later, the flight goes back to Kathmandu. The helicopter trip offers an aerial view of Sagarmatha National Park in the Everest region.

How To Choose The Best Tour Operator

There are various tour operators that offer the trip to Everest Base camp by Helicopter. Choosing one out of many tour operators can be very difficult and tricky. There are many flights on offers and people mostly choose the cheaper one, which turns out to be a disaster. So, if you are planning to take a trip to Everest Base Camp on Helicopter, you have to do some extensive research on companies offering the tour. The tours are generally the same with the same itinerary but different prices and other services.

If you are in Nepal and looking for a tour operator that offers a tour package to EBC by Helicopter, then there are plenty of companies to choose from. The best thing to do is surf the internet and look into the companies' information and decide on what is best for you.

You can check about the tour operator on sites like TripAdvisor, one of the trusted sites to find out about the companies based on their real people's reviews. You can check on the honest and unbiased reviews, services, descriptions and worthiness.  You can also ask reviewers for their suggestions about the companies through the messaging system.

You can check on the third party sites where customers give their authentic reviews on different tours, travels, packages based on their real experience. You can also check on the company’s site, their customer feedback sections, policies, and registration details to ensure that the company is well-trusted.

Third Rock Adventures has been serving their customers for many years now with 100% satisfaction. We offer one of the best tour packages and customer services. Our customers from all over the world are pleased to travel with our company. You can check our customer feedback to know more about our customers and our services.

Optional Short Trek To Everest Base Camp And Return By Helicopter

Many people want to spend their time on the Himalayan lap with immense beauty to discover and witness. It is true that the Helicopter tour is only for a day that might not fill your desire to closely know the people and culture of the region. So, as an alternative, there are tour packages that let you do trekking and fly via helicopter at the same time.

1. Everest Base Camp Heli Trek-11 days

Everest Base Camp Heli Trek is a perfect blend of Everest Base Camp trek with a helicopter charter. If you have a short time yet you do not want to miss any adventurous trip to Everest, this is just the right package. In just a week, you will trek to the Everest Base Camp and enjoy the ambiance. You can taste the lovely cuisine made by the locals, stay with them and know about their culture and lifestyle. After reaching the base camp, you can then fly back to Kathmandu in a few minutes.

The trek is graded moderate to difficult and if you are physically and mentally fit, the trip is easily made. You will have to walk for an average of 5-6 hours daily.

2. Everest Base Camp Short Trek Heli Return-12 days

Everest Base Camp Short Trek Heli Return is one of the best tours for people who want to take on the adventurous trails along with the aerial view in the Everest region. The trip to Everest Base Camp is an ultimate destination that offers to exchange stories with the locals, enjoy their hospitality and food along with a trip along the national park, ancient monasteries and villages. In this package, you will acclimatize for 2 days so that you can easily adjust to the environment. On the final day, you will have a helicopter ride to Lukla to enjoy the mountains' aerial views and the landscape. The trek is graded moderate to difficult and if you are physically and mentally fit, the trip is easily done. You will have to walk for an average of 5-6 hours daily. There are gentle ascends and descends along the trails which are easily done.

Conclusion

The Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour is an exclusive trip to the foothills of Everest Base Camp which offers breathtaking views of the mountains, landscape and villages. With ease and quick accessibility, you can enjoy and fulfill your dreams to stand against the tallest mountain on earth, Mt Everest in one day. We believe in 100% customer satisfaction and we want to give the best to our customers.

If you are planning on a helicopter tour on your next travel, make sure you remember us for the service. You can contact us directly with the number given on the site or email us. We shall get back to you in no time.