Helicopter Tours in the Everest Region

Trekking for twelve days through treacherous high-altitude terrain is not the only way to see Mount Everest up close. For those pressed for time or with an aversion for high-altitude labor, a helicopter tour to Kala Patthar can be the perfect way to experience the best that Everest has to offer.

We understand that the popular 3 hours heli tour from Kathmandu to Kala Patthar can seem a bit like a whirlwind of a tour that afterward feels more like a dream. The good news is that there are multi-day heli tours too. These tours help you soak in the vistas gradually and are much more rewarding.

Why are Helicopter Tours getting popular in the Everest Region?

While some trekkers feel that helicopters have become a nuisance, helicopters have become a ubiquitous part of life in Khumbu. Helicopters have made mountaineering safer, construction more predictable, and health care more accessible. Both locals and visitors have benefitted enormously.

Hence, helicopters are now stationed at Lukla nine months out of twelve. There are ten helicopter companies with forty helicopters in Nepal. And the resulting competition has led to highly competitive pricing.

These factors are gradually changing the notion that mountains are only for fit adventurers with the luxury of time. The mountains of Everest have, as such, become more accessible to more people. Even a lot of trekkers use a helicopter on the way down!

Now let us look at some of the popular helicopter tours in the Everest Region:

Helicopter Tour to Hotel Everest View (5 days)

Heli Tour to Hotel Everest View is one of the most immersive helicopter tours out there. In this heli tour, you will not only see Mount Everest up close from Kala Patthar but also stay two nights at Hotel Everest View, the world’s highest luxury hotel. You will also get to explore the Sherpa villages of Lukla, Namche, and Khumjung at your convenience.

Here is an outline of the itinerary:

Please note that overnight at Lukla and Namche is mandatory to reduce chances of Acute Mountain Sickness. We do not entertain requests to remove those night stays.

Check out the product page, if you are interested in this heli tour.

Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour with Gokyo from Kathmandu (1 Day)

If you are looking forward to exploring Everest Region but don’t have much time, then a one-day heli tour will be the perfect option for you. You can explore all the main attractions of the Everest Region in a single day. From Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar to Gokyo Lakes, you will see them all. You will also be able to get out of the helicopter at Kala Patthar and Gokyo Lakes in this heli tour. And once you are done, you can sit back and enjoy your breakfast at Hotel Everest View, the world’s highest hotel.

Here is an outline of the itinerary:

Check out the product page, if you are interested in this heli tour.

Helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes (2 days)

If a heli tour from Kathmandu feels like a whirlwind tour, you have an option to stay a night at Lukla. This itinerary is getting increasingly popular for the following reasons:

1. You get to spend more time at Hotel Everest View. If we use a helicopter based at Lukla, chances are it has other things to do for the rest of the day. As such, the heli can come to pick you up later after finishing other tasks.
2. It is more immersive as you get to explore Lukla. More time at Hotel Everest View and overnight at Lukla means you get to breathe in the mountain air more. Of course, while you are breathing, you also get to talk to more people and, of course, see more.
3. It is substantially cheaper. Planes are cheaper than helicopters. Given that you will be traveling between Kathmandu and Lukla in a fixed-winged aircraft, the cost comes out a lot more reasonable. 

Here is an outline of the itinerary:

You can also change this itinerary to have extra nights at Lukla and Namche.

Check out the product page, if you are interested in this heli tour.