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Charter Nepal

Private helicopter tour · 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.

Highest point
5,545 m
Length
About 4 to 5 hours
Passengers
Up to 5
Price
US$4,800 per helicopter
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour with Kala Patthar Landing

This is the classic Everest flight, and the one most people have in mind when they ask us about an Everest helicopter tour. The helicopter is yours for the morning, so the pilot can hover over the Khumbu Glacier while you take photos, and the whole day runs at your pace.

You'll leave Kathmandu at first light and follow the Dudh Koshi valley north to Lukla, where the helicopter refuels. From there it climbs past Namche Bazaar and Tengboche monastery, then over Pheriche and Lobuche to Gorak Shep and Everest Base Camp. You land on Kala Patthar, the dark ridge above Gorak Shep. Right in front of you are Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and Pumori, close enough to watch the wind pulling snow off the summit.

Kala Patthar is far higher than anywhere you'll have slept, so the landing is kept short, usually 5 to 10 minutes. The helicopter then drops down to Syangboche, where breakfast is served on the terrace of Hotel Everest View with Ama Dablam across the valley. After that, it's back via Lukla to Kathmandu.

Facts

Duration
About 4 to 5 hours
Flight time
About 3 hours in the air
Highest landing
Kala Patthar, 5,545 m
Passengers
1 to 5 per helicopter
Starts
About 6:00, pickup from your hotel
Best months
October to December, March to May

Highlights

  • Landing on Kala Patthar, face to face with Everest
  • Flying low over the Khumbu Icefall and Everest Base Camp
  • Breakfast at Hotel Everest View, looking across to Ama Dablam
  • A private helicopter: just your group, at your own pace

Flight route and altitude

Highest point 5,545 m

  1. 1Kathmandu 1,338 mDomestic terminal, Tribhuvan Airport
  2. 2Lukla 2,860 mRefuelling stop
  3. 3Kala Patthar 5,545 mLanding, 5–10 minutes
  4. 4Hotel Everest View 3,880 mBreakfast stop
  5. 5Lukla 2,860 mRefuelling stop
  6. 6Kathmandu 1,338 mBack by late morning

How the day goes

  1. Kathmandu to Lukla

    • We'll pick you up from your hotel at about 6:00 for a short check-in at the domestic terminal.
    • Take off over the Kathmandu valley and head east along the Himalaya; it's about 45 minutes to Lukla.
    • A quick refuelling stop at Lukla, where you'll stay close to the helicopter.

  2. The Khumbu valley and Kala Patthar

    • Climb past Namche Bazaar, Tengboche monastery and Pheriche.
    • Fly over Everest Base Camp and the foot of the Khumbu Icefall.
    • Land on Kala Patthar for 5 to 10 minutes, with Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and Pumori right in front of you.

  3. Breakfast and the flight home

    • Breakfast at Hotel Everest View in Syangboche, looking across the valley to Ama Dablam and Thamserku.
    • Fly back via Lukla to Kathmandu, and you'll be at your hotel by late morning.
  • Helicopter on a stone helipad high in the Khumbu
    Helicopter on a stone helipad high in the Khumbu
  • The Everest range seen from the helicopter
    The Everest range seen from the helicopter
  • Snowy Khumbu lodges seen through the open helicopter door
    Snowy Khumbu lodges seen through the open helicopter door

What's included

  • Pickup and drop-off at your hotel in Kathmandu
  • The helicopter, pilot and ground crew for the whole route
  • Fuel, landing fees and airport taxes
  • Passenger insurance, carried by the helicopter operator
  • Breakfast at Hotel Everest View
  • Portable oxygen on board

Not included

  • Sagarmatha National Park and local area entry fees (we arrange these for you; they're paid in Nepali rupees)
  • Your Nepal visa
  • Your own travel insurance (do check that it covers helicopter flights)
  • Tips

Good to know

Pickup
Your hotel in Kathmandu. We'll send you the pickup time the evening before.
Before you fly
  • In the Himalaya, helicopters fly on weight rather than seats. Please tell us everyone's weight when you book, and bring just one small bag each.
  • In the thin air at Kala Patthar, a helicopter can carry less. With four or five passengers, the pilot may land the group in two short lifts.
  • Flights leave early, while the mountain air is at its clearest. Safety is the pilot's call: if conditions aren't right, you'll fly on the next clear morning instead, or have your money back in full.
Weather and cancellation
If the weather grounds your flight, you can pick another day or take a full refund. Should you cancel with more than 10 days still to go, you'll get 50% back. Within 10 days of the flight, or once the trip has started, there's no refund. Booking terms

New to mountain flights? Read about altitude and safety and the best months to fly.

Questions

Will the altitude make me sick?

Short landings rarely cause problems, because you're only at 5,545 m for a few minutes before heading straight back down. Take things slowly after you step out, and if you have a heart or lung condition, please mention it when you book. Oxygen is carried on board.

Can we land at Everest Base Camp itself?

Helicopter tours don't land at Base Camp itself, which sits on moving glacier. The landing is on Kala Patthar instead, and the view there is better anyway: you can't actually see the summit of Everest from Base Camp.

Is there a cheaper way to do this flight?

Yes. If there are just one or two of you, join a shared Everest flight and pay per seat.

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