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Everest Helicopter Tour Cost

Why an Everest helicopter flight costs what it does, the three ways to book it, and which fees you'll pay on top.

Everest Helicopter Tour Cost

The price of an Everest helicopter tour really comes down to one thing: flying hours. A helicopter from Kathmandu to Kala Patthar and back flies for about three hours, refuels in Lukla, and has to carry fuel up to a landing above 5,500 metres. The cost is the same whether one person flies or five, and that's why the way you book matters more than anything else.

Three ways to fly to Everest

Private charter

You book the whole helicopter, for up to five passengers. You choose the morning, and the pilot will hold or circle for photos wherever it's safe. Split between four or five people, the cost per person comes close to a shared seat. You'll find today's price on the private Everest Base Camp helicopter tour page.

Shared seat

You pay for your own seat, and we fill the rest of the helicopter with other travellers flying that morning. For one or two people, this is by far the cheapest way to go, and the route and landing are exactly the same. See the shared Everest helicopter tour.

Fly-over without the high landing

The helicopter circles over Base Camp and lands only at Lukla and Syangboche. There's slightly less flying and no landing at 5,545 m, so the price is a little lower. It's the right choice for young children and anyone who's been told to avoid high altitude. See the Everest fly-over.

What the price includes

  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kathmandu
  • The helicopter, the pilot and the ground crew for the whole route
  • Fuel, landing fees at Lukla and Syangboche, and airport taxes
  • Breakfast at Hotel Everest View
  • Passenger insurance, carried by the operator

What is on top

  • **Sagarmatha National Park and local area entry fees.** Everyone who lands in the Khumbu pays these, in Nepali rupees. We arrange them for you and tell you the current amount when we confirm your booking.
  • **Your own travel insurance.** Just make sure it covers helicopter flights.
  • **Tips**, if you'd like to give them.

Why some prices look much lower

When you're comparing quotes, it's worth checking three things:

  • **Is it per person or per helicopter?** A low "per person" figure is often a shared seat.
  • **Does it land at Kala Patthar?** Some cheaper flights only land at Syangboche or Lukla.
  • **Is breakfast at Hotel Everest View included?**

How to pay less

  • Travel in a group of four or five and split a private helicopter.
  • Flying alone or as a couple? Book a shared seat.
  • Keep your dates flexible: shared flights fill up fastest in October, November and April.

Questions

Is the Everest helicopter tour worth the money?

For most people who do it, yes. It's the only way to stand face to face with Everest without two weeks of trekking, and the flight up the Khumbu valley is spectacular in its own right.

Do children pay full price?

On a private charter, you're paying for the helicopter, so children cost nothing extra. On a shared flight, every passenger needs a seat, children included.

When do I pay?

You can pay in full by card when you book online. For private charters, we can also take a 25% deposit, with the balance paid before the flight.

Flights to book

  • About 4 to 5 hours▲ 5,545 m

    Kathmandu – Lukla – Kala Patthar – Syangboche

    Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour with Kala Patthar Landing

    A private helicopter all to yourselves, from Kathmandu to the foot of Everest. You'll land on Kala Patthar facing the summit, fly over Base Camp and the Khumbu Icefall, then sit down to breakfast at Hotel Everest View. And you're back in Kathmandu before lunch.

    from US$4,800per helicopter

  • About 4 to 5 hours▲ 5,545 m

    Kathmandu – Kala Patthar – Syangboche

    Shared Everest Helicopter Tour: Join a Flight

    Travelling alone or as a couple? Rather than book the whole helicopter, take a seat on a shared Everest flight. It's the same route, the same Kala Patthar landing and the same breakfast at Hotel Everest View, paid per person.

    from US$1,250per person

  • About 4 hours▲ 5,364 m

    Kathmandu – Lukla – Everest Base Camp

    Everest Base Camp Fly-Over: Helicopter Tour Without the High Landing

    All the Everest scenery from the comfort of the cabin, without stepping out at 5,500 m. It's a gentler choice for young children, older travellers or anyone worried about the altitude: you fly over Base Camp and only land at Lukla and Syangboche.

    from US$4,300per helicopter