Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour - 1 Day Everest Heli Tour

Everest Base Camp helicopter tour, a 1-day Everest heli tour with a landing at Kalapatthar, is a thrilling and scenic adventure to experience the beauty of the Everest region within an hour without undertaking a strenuous trek. It is the best and most luxurious way to explore the beauty of Mt. Everest and the Himalayan landscapes, including the beautiful Sherpa village and Nepal’s countryside landscapes, for those who have limited time and can’t walk for a week due to physical conditions and age factors. During the helicopter tour, you'll fly over the stunning landscapes, soaring mountains, deep valleys, and glacial lakes and get to see up-close views of some of the world's highest peaks, such as Lhotse (8,516 m), Nuptse (8,201 m), Amadablam (6,812 m), and many other Himalayas, including Mount Everest (8,848.86 m), the world’s highest peak. It is also popular with different names, like Everest base camp helicopter tour with landing flight, Everest heli tour, Everest base camp heli tour, helicopter trip to Everest base camp, helicopter ride to Mount Everest, and Mount Everest helicopter tour among tourists. Whatever they look for, whatever they need, or wherever they look for information on the Mount Everest helicopter is the same as a 1-day Everest base camp heli tour.
The highlight of the Everest base camp helicopter tour with landing flight is the pristine bird-eye view of some of the highest peaks in the world and the local area, which includes excellent Sherpa settlements, ancient monasteries, temples, and some beautiful lakes. The focal point of the Everest helicopter tour is the Everest base camp. Everest Base Camp is the gateway to the Everest Summit. Summiting Everest once in a lifetime is the dream for every climber throughout the globe. So, many climbers, including thousands of trekkers, flock to EBC every year from all over the world. It has a long history of pride, glory, and tragedy. It is a convenient alternative for those travelers who have limited time or physical constraints but are interested in experiencing the grandeur of the Everest region without embarking on a multi-day trek.

Everest helicopter tour is a great way to experience Mt. Everest in a single day. The Kathmandu to Everest helicopter tour begins from Kathmandu Airport, flying towards the east to Lukla Airport for defueling, which is a beautiful Sherpa village and the famous airstrip in the lap of the Himalayas. Then, the helicopter flies over Everest Base Camp, the most popular trekking destination in the world, close to the high camp over the Khumbu galcier, and lands at Kalapathar for about 10–15 minutes.

The landing at Kalapathhar is for the grandest and most magnificent views of the world’s highest mountain and its adjescent Himalayas. Then fly to Syangboche to spend some time, about twenty minutes for breakfast, admiring the beautiful Himalayan vista. After this great experience, fly back to Lukla for fueling and return to Kathmandu, ending this amazing one-day tour of Mt. Everest on a helicopter. The entire day tour of Everest Base Camp in a helicopter provides a unique opportunity to not only reach the base camp of Everest, the highest mountain on Earth, but also get the best aerial views of Everest and the adjacent Himalayas in the Everest region of eastern Nepal.

There are two options or choices for the Everest Base Camp Heli Tour: 1. Private Tour,  2. Group Joining Tour. Except for the price, both options offer a unique and convenient way to experience the breathtaking beauty of the Himalayas and the iconic Mount Everest. A group-joining tour is less expensive than a private tour because of the sharing of prices among the group.

1. Private Tour of Everest Helicopter

This is ideal for those travelers seeking more exclusive and personalized experiences who are not interested in sharing their trips with other travelers. Although it is quite expensive in comparison to a group-joining tour (fixed departure tour), with a private tour, you can customize the itinerary and have more flexibility in terms of timing and activities. It allows you to enjoy the trip with a group of your choice, such as family, friends, and colleagues. This is available throughout the year at your request.

2. Group-Joining Tour of Everest Helicopter or Fixed Departure Tour of Everest Helicopter

It is suitable for individuals or smaller groups who are open to sharing the experience with like-minded travelers. It is a more affordable option compared to a private tour since the cost is divided among the group. However, it depends on the availability of the group on your preferred date for the Everest Base Camp helicopter tour. Therefore, it needs to be checked for the availability of the group for a fixed departure. Usually, there is a regular helicopter flight to Everest from mid-September to December and from March to the end of May.

Important Note: Spending about 10–15 minutes at Kalapathhar will prevent you from getting altitude sickness. The helicopter will be on standby at Kalapathhar; therefore, it is technically impossible to spend more than the allocated time.

Major Highlights of Everest Helicopter Tour

1. Lukla Airport (2,840 m)

Lukla is a small Sherpa town located in the lap of the mountain and quite popular as a gateway to all the trekkers and summits in the Everest region, mostly Everest base camp trek. It has a domestic airport called Lukla Airport, built in 1964. It is one of the world's most dangerous airports, hanging on the lap of mountain cliffs and having a very short and sloppy airstrip or runway of about 520 m. It is also called Tenzing Hillary Airport. Because It was named after the names of the first two ascents of Mount Everest, Tenzing Norgay Sherpa (Nepali citizen) and Sir Edmund Hillary (a US citizen). There are regular flights between Kathmandu and Lukla, especially in the morning. However, most of the flights are operated from Ramechhap in tourist peak seasons in Nepal due to heavy air traffic in TIA. It is the center of defueling and refueling for a helicopter ride to Everest.

2. Everest Base Camp (5,364 m)

Everest Base Camp is 5,364 meters (17,598 feet) above sea level in the Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. It is located in the northeastern part of Nepal, closer to the border with Tibet (China). Every year, thousands of tourists visit this place from all over the world. It offers stunning views of the Himalayan mountain range, including famous peaks like Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam, as well as exploration of the Himalayan Sherpa culture, monasteries, and unique flora and fauna along the trail. The most common way to reach Everest Base Camp is through a trek that starts in Lukla, a small town accessible by a short flight from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The trek is challenging and typically takes around 12–14 days, depending on the itinerary and the pace at which the trekker deals with weather and altitude problems. So, a helicopter tour is the best option to explore the beauty of the Himalayas within 3–4 hours.

3. Kalapatthar (5,550 m)

Kalapatthar, which means black rock in the Nepali name, is situated at 5550 m above sea level and lies on the southern ridge of Mt. Pumori, just above Gorak Shep.

It is the perfect vantage point to have an ultimate up-close view of Mount Everest and other neighboring Himalayas like Mt. Pumori (8,516 m), Nuptse (7,855 m), Changtse, and Lhotse. It is also famous for hosting the first global ministerial summit on World Environment Day in 2015. The helicopter is landed over here for the ultimate view of the majestic Himalayas. The helicopter lands over here for about 10–15 minutes for the audio and video shoot for a lifelong memory.

A 10- to 15-minute landing of a helicopter in the switch-on condition at Kalapatthar is enough time due to the following reasons.

1. Our body can adapt to this altitude’s climate for a short time only because of the thin air (low oxygen level at this altitude). The longer the stay, the higher the risk of altitude sickness (AMS).

2. The helicopter is in switch-on mode because it needs certain air pressure to restart the engine, which is unavailable at this altitude.

The base camp is not allowed to land the helicopter because of topographic and environmental factors.

1. Topography factor

The terrain at Everest Base Camp is rugged and uneven, with a limited flat area suitable for landing a helicopter. The available space may not be sufficient for a safe landing and takeoff, posing risks of accidents or damage to the helicopter.

2. Environmental factors

Everest Base Camp is located within the Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO-protected area of great ecological importance. Allowing helicopters to land frequently at EBC could have negative impacts on the fragile ecosystem, including noise pollution and disturbance to wildlife.

4. Everest View Hotel (3,950 m)

It is the highest-placed luxury hotel in the world, located at 13,000 ft above sea level. It was opened in 1971. It was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest-placed hotel in the world in 2004. It offers a 360-degree view of the awe-inspiring peaks, including Mt. Everest. Taking a delicious breakfast with a cup of hot tea or coffee and enjoying the breathtaking view of the mountains and beautiful landscapes filled with evergreen fir trees, shrubs, and rhododendron forests makes for a once-in-a-lifetime memory.

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour Price | Mount Everest Helicopter Tour Price

Everest Base Camp helicopter tour price or Mount Everest helicopter price varies depending on whether you select a private tour or a group-joining tour (fixed departure). A private group tour is more expensive than a fixed-departure tour because the cost is shared among the individuals on a group-joining tour as opposed to a private tour. For more information on our fixed departure tour and private group tour prices, please select the appropriate option and check out our cost details provided in the price section.

Everest helicopter tour cost also depends on the number and weight of passengers on board. It is capable of carrying up to 500 kilograms from Kathmandu to Lukla and then Pheriche. And 250 kilograms from Pherich to Kalapatthar and back to Pheriche. In other words, a maximum of 5 people weighing no more than 500 kg in total can travel from Kathmandu to Lukla, then from Lukla to Pheriche, but only 2-3 people weighing no more than 250 kg can travel from Pheriche to Kalapatthar and back. The cost of a helicopter decreases with the number of passengers. Please contact us via email, social media, or phone calls provided in our contact information for the best Everest helicopter tour price or Kathmandu to Everest base camp helicopter cost.

Everest Base Camp Heli Tour with and without Shuttle Flight

The Everest helicopter flight entails an ascent to a height of 5500 m. The weight capacity decreases with increasing altitude. Therefore, it depends on the passenger's weight when aboard. At about 4200 m in height, it can support 500 kg, and above this point, 250 kg. The number of passengers in a helicopter must be kept below this weight restriction. It can carry a lower number of passengers as altitude rises.

2-3 passengers with a combined weight of 250 kg flying from Kathmandu can fly directly to EBC without taking a shuttle. Additionally, a shuttle flight from Pheriche will be available if there are 5 passengers in order to keep the weight restriction based on elevation. It indicates that the helicopter will land at Pheriche to change the 250 kg weight restriction. After that, it will fly to the Everest base camp before returning to Pheriche to pick up new passengers by dropping off the old ones.

The maximum weight for an Everest helicopter ride and the number of passengers allowed, depending on elevation, are provided below for your best knowledge.

Duration of the Everest Base Camp Heli Tour

The total duration of the helicopter ride to Everest Base Camp, starting from Kathmandu and going back to Kathmandu, is about 4 hours.

Best Time for Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

A helicopter tour of Everest Base Camp is offered all year. This is appropriate year-round because each season has its own charm. However, the aircraft will be at a high altitude, and the weather in the Himalayas is uncertain.

When taking a helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp, the weather is quite important. Cloud cover, wind speed, and visibility are just a few variables that can affect how the weather affects flights. Your itinerary must be flexible in order to account for any potential weather-related modifications.

Of all the seasons, autumn and spring are the best. These times of year are ideal for viewing the Himalayan scenery since the sky is blue and the weather is almost always clear.

Autumn Season

The Everest Base Camp Heli Tour runs from late September to early November, and it is one of the best times to go. The sky is typically clear during this season, with no clouds in the air, allowing for superb visibility of the mountains. Additionally, the daytime temperature is mild, making it a pleasant time for outdoor activities.

Spring Season

The period from March to May is another fantastic time to take a helicopter tour to Mount Everest. It's another best time of year for outdoor activities because the skies are typically clear and it's comfortable outside during the day.

Winter Season

In high altitudes, the temperature drops almost to freezing during the winter. Snow has completely blanketed the mountains of the Himalayas, as well as all of the vegetation. Everyone notices the wonderful white fog that blankets the valleys and gives them the appearance of a bed draped in a soft blanket.

Summer season

In the summer season, the climate is warm, and the temperature is above freezing in the Himalayas. So you don't need to worry about the icy winds. The days are sunny, and the sky is clear. It provides a mind-boggling view of the majestic Himalayas and their surroundings.

Therefore, the optimum times for the Everest heli trip are in the autumn and spring, which are also the busiest travel seasons in Nepal. The months of June, July, and August are not advised for Mount Everest helicopter tours because they fall during the rainy season.

It's important to note that weather conditions is unpredictable in the Himalayas, so it's always best to check the weather forecast before planning your helicopter tour.