Wouldn’t it be exciting to watch the highest mountain in the world from its foot? If you have wondered about anything like that, Everest Base Camp at Kala Patthar is a place for you to be. Situated at 5643 meters from the sea level, Everest Base Camp is an ideal place to gain a clear sight of Everest (8848 meters). Trekking through long trails could be a way to reach the base camp, but it may not be fit for you if you have limited time or have no interest in trekking. Everest Base Camp helicopter tour can help you take the view of Everest in just 4 hours, with least physical burdens to you.
Let us take you through the details about the Helicopter Tour in order to help you decide whether it is for you or not.
The Tour: From Beginning to End
You begin the helicopter tour from Kathmandu at about 6 am. Early morning is best for the Helicopter tour since the sky is clear, which makes the visibility strong. Strong visibility means a safe flight as well as an outstanding view of Mt Everest.
We will stop at Lukla airport in order to refuel the helicopter. After that, you will fly over the settlements of Tengboche, Dingboche, and Gorakshep and also the Khumbu Glacier to reach Kala Patthar. That is exactly the Base Camp for Mt Everest.
You will spend about 10-15 minutes at Kala Patthar during which you can enjoy the still view of the gorgeous Mt Everest and the neighbouring peaks including Lhotse (8516 meters), Nuptse (7861 meters), Makalu (8,481 meters), Cho Oyu (8201 meters), among others, and can take photographs of the mountains. However, we cannot let you stay at Kala Patthar for more than 15 minutes.
This is because people get adapted enough to the higher altitude climate when they trek to the base camp, but you will not have adapted well since you flew there just within hours. We assure you that 10-15 minutes is enough for you to collect enough experience of the standstill view of the Everest.
After your time at the Base Camp, you will fly to the Hotel Everest View–the hotel at the highest altitude in the world. Breakfast at the hotel will refresh you and prepare you for your flight back to Kathmandu.
It will have been approximately 4 hours when you land back in Kathmandu. You can engage yourself for the rest of the day by visiting the cultural heritage of Kathmandu. We can help you plan your overall visit to Nepal, not just the Helicopter Tour. In that case, you will need to let us know through an email. We are here to cooperate.
Why should you take the Helicopter Tour?
Everest Base Camp can be reached with the help of a classic trek starting from Jiri. One can even fly to Lukla and trek from Lukla to the Base Camp. Since both the treks last for weeks, it may not be appropriate to some or even physically tiring. In such case, Helicopter Tour to Everest Base Camp can be useful since it takes a short time (just 4 hours) and does not create any sort of burden.
One can also take a Mountain Flight to the Everest region, but they will need to satisfy themselves with the view of Everest from the flying aeroplane. The Mountain Flight does not land at the Base Camp. Helicopter Tour can help you land at Kala Patthar and take enough of your time to view the Everest while you are at rest.
Also, the Helicopter Tour is ideal for families and peer groups since the tour can provide a privately arranged experience.
Simply put, if you want a quick and refreshing experience of the Himalayas, Helicopter Tour to Everest Base Camp can be a major option for you.
When to take the Helicopter Tour?
Understanding the Everest region is important before you decide about your travel to the Everest region. You may want to learn about the weather, temperature, humidity, etc in the Everest region. Here you go.
The weather is particularly fair and stable during the months of September, October, November, and December. This is the Autumn season. During these months, the temperature can be as low as -5 to -10 degree Celsius in the morning and the night. On the other hand at day time, the temperature averages around 15-20 degree Celsius.
December to March is the winter season of Nepal. Snowfall is a feature of this season and temperatures can fall as low as -10 to -15 degree Celsius in the morning and evening. However, the temperature will be moderate at about 15 to 18 degree Celsius at day time. Winter is an appropriate time to view the mountain since it is fully covered with snow. A little bit of sunshine can provide you with a sparkling view of the mountain.
Spring season begins with the month of March and lasts until May in the Everest region. The spring is accompanied by melting of snow and increase in temperature, making it more favourable for the Helicopter Tour. Spring is, in fact, the best season for Helicopter Tour to Everest Base Camp since there is a very low chance of rainfall and the air and sky are clear which makes it easier for you to have a view of Everest and other mountains.
Monsoon begins in June and ends in September and this time period is the time of rainfall. One needs to be clear that Monsoon does not mean rainfall all day. There can be frequent rainfalls in the evening and night, but mornings are usually clear making the Helicopter Tour possible. In case there is rainfall or poor visibility in the morning, we manage the Helicopter Tour for you by delaying the take-off from Kathmandu or postponing it to the other day. You will have a great view of Everest if it rains just before the Helicopter Tour.
To sum up, Spring is the best season to experiment the Helicopter tour, but other seasons are not obstacles if you really want to make the Tour possible.
What things will you need?
You need to be prepared enough if you want to make the most out your Helicopter Tour to the Everest Base Camp. Since this is a short tour, you need not equip yourself with sophisticated types of equipment and goods. We will have managed an oxygen cylinder for you in case you need it under certain circumstances.
Apart from that, you will need to be prepared for the tour with the following set of things:
- Down jacket to protect you from cold at the high altitude of Kala Patthar
- Woollen socks, gloves, trousers and caps
- Camera with the help of which you can capture the photographs of Everest and other mountains
- 2 bottles of water
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, and moisturiser
- Some light snacks, chocolates and dry fruits
- Fleece Jacket
You may also need to carry other goods depending on your circumstances. For instance, if you are under a certain type of medication, we recommend you to carry along medicines with you.
How can you make the Helicopter Tour safer?
You need to be aware of a few safety concerns if you want a comfortable helicopter tour. Such concerns are presented to you as:
- Helicopter seat belts are meant for your safety. You will need to put on the seat belt throughout your time in the helicopter. Also, you cannot stand up from your seat. You should not move from one place to another during the flight.
- Smoking during the tour is not encouraged. You cannot smoke during the flight without the permission of the captain.
- You will need to inform us in case you have some sort of health issues. That will help us care more about making the tour better with extra care to your health.
What kind of helicopter will you fly with?
You must have had that question in your mind if you are concerned about the safety and the quality of your tour.
AS350b3e series of helicopters are mostly used in any flight in the Himalayan region since they have been designed to operate in high altitude. These helicopters are manufactured in the United States of America by Eurocopter and Bell Helicopters.
We will fly you with B3+, B-3, and B-2 models of Helicopters that are efficient in flying above high mountains. These are the helicopters that are used in rescue operations at Everest Base Camp.
Different models have different carrying capacities. There may be slight changes in itinerary depending upon such circumstances. You can enquire us through email in order to choose the model in which you will fly.
What are the costs? And how to book the Helicopter Tour?
Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour can be made possible with a cost of $1,000 per person plus FSC. The maximum number of people that can be accommodated in a single helicopter tour is 5 and the maximum total weight is 500 kilograms.
So, if you have a group of five people, you can have a more personalized experience with your closed ones. But, if you are in a smaller group or alone, we can help you team up with other people who are interested in the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour. If you want to book the whole tour with your small group (less than 5 people), the price will increase.
The cost for the Helicopter also includes a guide who will help you maximize your experience of viewing Everest.
You can book the helicopter by paying 20 per cent of the total cost via bank transfer. You will also need to provide us with a copy of your passport before we book the tour for you. You can pay the final sum via government-approved means of payment such as cash, cheque, visa/MasterCard, etc. after you arrive in Nepal. Other banks service charges regarding the bank transfer should be covered by you.
You can reach us via email and provide us with your desired date and details so that we can help you make the most out of Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour.
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