Dream of going to the Everest Base Camp but hate long multi-day treks?
Well, here is an alternative! You can easily hop on to a helicopter and fly to the base camp – well, a little above the base camp actually.
Don’t get me wrong! I intend to trek to the base camp in a few months – all the way from Lukla to EBC. My doing an off-season, post-birthday helicopter tour doesn’t change that. If anything, I am even more determined to trek – but that is another story.
The tour that I loved so much
We didn’t make it on Day 1 due to the weather – but on Day 2 we returned and were rewarded with great weather and quickly were cleared to fly. This was exciting because after the mountain flight that showed us the Everest view, we wanted to stand touch down at EBC and ‘feel’ and mountains as against seeing it from the plane window. The trip was arranged by Trek Ways Nepal – a company I trust absolutely, since I have previously done my Annapurna Base Camp trek with them.
We boarded the helicopter, settled in and soon took off to Lukla. The weather was lovely, and the view of the villages, valleys, rivers and canyons were simply stunning. About forty-five minutes later, we landed at Lukla (Tenzing Hillary Airport, the most dangerous airport in the world) to refuel before heading off to Kala Patthar at the base of Mt Everest (5660m). Before landing, we had a good look at the Khumbu Icefall and a sweeping view of the Khumbu glacier.
From here, everything took a dramatic turn. Through the biting cold and thinning air, the world’s highest mountain – Mt Everest appeared – cold and distant and yet alluring. And beside it Mt Lhotse, Mt Nuptse, Mt Ama Dablam and Mt Pumori (and so many other snowcapped peaks) It was unbelievable how a short 10-minute stop at this altitude could change the way you feel forever.
The Final Moment
Nothing prepares you for the moment when you step out of the heli straight into the freezing cold and stare at the highest mountain on earth. I don’t cry easily, but at the sight of the Mt Everest, I cried.
Unashamedly. No matter how many times I imagined standing there, I was not prepared for this moment.
From here, we flew to Hotel Everest View for our breakfast at the highest luxury hotel in the world.
Quick facts
Your big adventure begins in Kathmandu. please note that this tour starts very early. Arrive at the airport by 6 am to finish your formalities. However, your helicopter will take off ONLY if weather permits. The
Your first stop is at Lukla, where you arrive about 45 minutes later. Lukla is the gateway to the Everest region and is situated at an altitude of 2860m.
Depending on the number of people, you will be flown to Hotel Everest View first. From here, only 2 people can be taken to the base camp at one time. The heli will come back to fetch you – while you wait, you can enjoy a hearty hot breakfast in the highest luxury hotel in the world.
***Since it was a private tour, we flew straight to EBC from Lukla, stopping at Everest View Hotel on our return.
- Duration: Four hours (starting early morning from Kathmandu)
- Cost: Typically ranges from $1,000 to $1,500 per person for group-sharing tours (max 5 people), and $5000 + for private charters.
- Highlights: Panoramic aerial views of Mt Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam and stopover at 3,880m (12,730 ft) for breakfast.
Typical Itinerary
- 06:30 AM: Arrival at Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport.
- 07:00 AM: Takeoff for a scenic flight over lush valleys, landing at Lukla for refueling.
- 08:00 AM: Fly past Namche Bazaar and the Khumbu Glacier directly toward EBC/Kala Patthar.
- 08:30 AM: Brief, awe-inspiring landing at Kala Patthar.
- 09:00 AM: Fly to the Hotel Everest View for a hot breakfast with unobstructed views of Mt. Everest.
