One-day Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour with landing at Kala Patthar is for all kinds of travelers. Whether with family, friends, or a couple on honeymoon, flying on a helicopter over the world's highest mountain offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp runs for four hours. And during this, you'll fly close to Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and other highest mountains. The expansive windows of the helicopter make you feel like a bird soaring over the spectacular haven of mountains. Moreover, the breakfast at the world's highest altitude seated hotel while returning adds the cherry on the cake of your tour.
The concept of the luxury Everest Helicopter Tour started a decade ago. In recent years, more and more travelers are opting for the one-day helicopter tour to Everest. Why? It's because of the luxury, safety, exquisite experience, affordability, and accessibility.
As people struggle to find time for adventure, the 12-day Everest Base Camp Trek is impossible due to time-bound. The time-bound travelers who dream of glimpsing Everest from a close distance have now been made possible with a one-day EBC Heli tour. Also, some senior citizens wish to see the world's highest mountain once in their lifetime. However, the strenuous trek often limits their desire. However, with the luxury, safety, and accessibility, they can now enjoy the four-hour Everest Helicopter Tour from Kathmandu.
Highlights to Look Forward to
The entire EBC Helicopter Tour runs for four hours, divided into multiple phases. However, here's a highlights of the tour you can expect.
One-day Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour with landing at Kala Patthar starts from Kathmandu. First, you'll fly on a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla. From Lukla, the chopper flies along Dudh Koshi River, over Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, and stops at Pheriche.
From Pheriche, the helicopter can carry only three pax at a time. You'll fly over Lobuche, Gorak Shep, Everest Base Camp, Camp I, Khumbu Glacier, and land at Kala Patthar.
Due to altitude concerns, you'll stop for 5-10 minutes at Kala Patthar for sightseeing.
After flying from Kala Patthar, the helicopter takes you to Hotel Everest View for breakfast. Feasting an elegant breakfast with a panoramic view of Everest and other mountains is the best experience you'll enjoy.
Past Hotel Everest View, the helicopter stops at Lukla airport for refueling. After flying for 40 minutes, you'll reach Kathmandu, which marks the end of the tour.
- Ecstasy of a once-in-a-lifetime experience of flying over the most beautiful landscape in the Himalayas.
- Bird's eye view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and many beautiful mountains in the Everest region.
- Fly over the mighty Khumbu glacier, ice fall, Everest Camp I, and land at Kala Patthar for ultimate close-up viewing.
- Elegant breakfast at Hotel Everest View, the world's highest altitude seated hotel.
- Utmost safe and luxury helicopter tour at the most affordable rate with Dream Heaven Adventure
What is the best time for Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour?
The clear weather days of Spring and Autumn are the best times for the EBC Heli Tour. However, you can experience the snow wonderland of Everest if you fly here in winter, in December-February.
Late September, October, and November are the three best months in Autumn to plan the Everest Helicopter Tour. The primary reason is the clear weather, snow-capped mountains, and the best sightseeing pleasure. Moreover, the temperature in Autumn also favors the helicopter tour.
Similarly, the Spring months, from March to May are the perfect time to plan EBC Heli Tour. The vibrant landscape, crisp weather, and elegant mountain panorama favor this four-hour-long helicopter tour. Moreover, in Spring, you'll get to see the tented camps at Everest Base Camp where climbers prepare for the Everest expedition.
Despite the cold, flying on a helicopter in winter to Everest Base Camp is best. The snow covers the entire landscape, making it a snow wonderland. Also, it's the right time to plan the helicopter tour if you want to see Mt. Everest covered entirely in snow.
12-day Everest Base Camp Trek or one-day Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour?
Witnessing the world's highest mountain Mt. Everest is the epitome of high-altitude adventure. Whether you fly on a helicopter or trek for days, the thrill of seeing Everest is out-of-this-world.
Here are some comparisons between the trek and helicopter tours.
What is Everest Base Camp Trek?
Adventurers embark on 12 days (the most popular) Everest Base Camp Trek by foot, starting the walk from Lukla airport. The trek progresses through the verdant pine and oak forest, over cascading rivers, beautiful Sherpa villages, monasteries, beautiful valleys, and awe-inspiring mountain glimpses.
The trek itself is somewhat challenging with altitude, arduous glacier moraines, and rugged terrain. However, setting foot on Everest Base Camp gives a sense of accomplishment. It rewards in multiple ways, the Sherpa cultural experience, believing in yourself, and bringing a lifelong memory of the greatest adventure in the Himalayas.
What is the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour?
The aerial excursion of the world's highest mountains with utmost luxury, comfort, and safety, offers the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Travelers experience the never-seen-before prospects of mountains and awe-striking landscapes of Everest.
Physical Exertion: Everest Base Camp Trek vs Everest Helicopter Tour
Everest Base Camp Trek is physically demanding as you go through a series of ascends, glacier moraines, and freezing weather. The uphill sections of Larcha Dovan-Namche Bazaar, Pungi Thenga-Tengboche, and Thugla-Lobuche are extremely tiring. With ascending and descending on each day, the trek tests your limits of endurance.
Contrary to the trek, the helicopter tour is extremely luxurious, comfy, and safe. There's an absolute zero physical demand for the helicopter tour. The luxury and comfort of flying on a helicopter is also what makes it accessible to everyone. Individuals with varying fitness levels, mobility issues, and physical disabilities can enjoy the bird's eye view of mountains without any physical extortions.
Everest Base Camp Trek Cost vs Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour Cost
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour Cost is more expensive than the trekking to EBC. It's because of the premium experience of the helicopter tour.
Trekking to Everest is an economical way of experiencing the ultimate joy of seeing Mt. Everest. However, with varying itineraries, the cost of the trek also varies. If you prefer the Luxury Everest Base Camp Trek, the cost of the trek is higher than the helicopter tour. Also, there are hybrid trekking where you trek first and fly out by helicopter which is way more expensive than the one-day helicopter tour.
But in general, yes! Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour Cost is more expensive than Everest Base Camp Trek Cost due to the premium luxury experience.
Accessibility
Everest Base Camp Trek is physically demanding. Without proper trek planning, preparations, fitness, and acclimatization, trekkers often fail to complete the trek. Hence with physical extortions and high-altitude complications, trekking may not be suitable for everyone.
The one-day Everest Helicopter Landing Tour however is more accessible for a wide array of people. People with time constraints, physical mobility issues, age factors, and altitude sickness-prone individuals can benefit from the thrill of a four-hour scenic helicopter tour.
Please note that accessibility here doesn't completely mean that anyone can join the helicopter tour. The age factors, chronic health issues, and weight limitations often rule out people from joining the helicopter tour. However, the helicopter tour still offers great accessibility to individuals.
Flexibility
A chartered helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp offers great flexibility. It lets you plan other add-ons, like visiting Gokyo Lakes or stopping at Hotel Everest View for an extended period.
In our previous experiences, what we've experienced is that our clients who were on chartered flights also flew to beautiful Gokyo Lakes before returning to Kathmandu. After flying to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar landing, they fly on a helicopter to beautiful Gokyo Valley. And their experience was wholesome.
Gokyo is a beautiful valley with several turquoise freshwater lakes and mountain scenery. Termed the 'gem of Everest', touring Gokyo Valley would be an amazing decision. Also, Gokyo is just 15 minutes away from Kala Patthar by helicopter.
However, please inform us about the possible add-ons before starting the tour. It helps us to determine the entire Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour Cost and also plan the tour wisely.
Understanding Altitude Sickness during Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour
While on the Everest Helicopter Tour, you'll reach 5,645 meters altitude at Kala Patthar. Upon starting the tour from Kathmandu, you'll gain nearly 4000 meters altitude in two hours. Hence, the rapid altitude gain often causes altitude sickness. However, for your safety, the time above 3000 meters altitude often gets limited to prevent getting altitude sickness.
Compared to trekking, the helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp is less prone to altitude sickness.
But for caution, here are some symptoms that often relate to altitude sickness.
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness and lightheaded
- Shortness of breathing
What should you do?
If you experience some of these symptoms, here's what you should do on the tour:
- Inform the pilot
- Get an oxygen supplement mask on the helicopter
- Spend less time at high altitude and prepare for the rapid descent to Hotel Everest View or Lukla
Know the helicopter model you’ll tour on
We at Dream Heaven Adventure are committed to providing you with the best helicopter tour experience. Thus, we partner with some of the best helicopter companies in Nepal.
The helicopter you'll fly on this tour is an Airbus AS350 B3e. These helicopters are best for flying in mountain terrain. These helicopters are best for effortless flying with five passengers at a time. These helicopters have spacious cabins, broader windows for better visibility, and exceptional high-altitude flying capabilities.
Why should I consider the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour in 2025?
The one-word explanation would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Flying on a helicopter in the Everest region offers a bird's eye view of the world's highest mountains and the most spectacular landscape.
The first thing is the time constraints. If seeing Everest is your dream but with time constraints, you're limited, a four-hour helicopter tour can make your dream real. Four hours on the helicopter is far better than trekking for 12 days.
Another great reason for considering the EBC Heli Tour is accessibility and convenience. Kids over the age of 5 years and senior citizens aged 90 years with no health complications can join this tour. Moreover, people with physical disabilities can enjoy the helicopter tour to Everest with ease and utmost comfort.
Furthermore, the Everest Helicopter Tour is best to create a wholesome personalized experience. You can fly around the base camp, Kala Patthar, and return to Kathmandu. Or, you can land at Kala Patthar for a close-up view of the world's highest mountains. And even fly further to beautiful places like Gokyo Lakes and return to Kathmandu.
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour Cost
How much does a day Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour cost?
For 2025, we've set Everest Base Camp Helicopter Landing with cost of USD 1,350. This cost is for group joining flights. However, if you wish to charter the entire helicopter, it costs USD 5500.
Please note that the helicopter tour cost may change due to fuel prices, government regulations, etc.
What are helicopter chartered and group joining departures?
While on a chartered flight on Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour, you'll get an entire helicopter for the tour. It means that you'll have flexibility and private spaces for everyone on the flight. This exclusive tour however is expensive.
Group joining flight is the most affordable and comes under USD 1,350 per person. On this tour, you'll join the same departure group on the specified day. Group joining EBC Heli Tour is best for individual travelers who want affordability but also want to experience the luxury Everest tour.
Both tours offer a similar experience. However, if private space and flexibility are your preference, we recommend you book a chartered helicopter tour with us.
Will the helicopter tour cost decrease if the group has less than five pax?
Sadly, no! The helicopter tour cost is per flight and is independent of the number of people. Hence, the tour cost remains the same even if you fly alone or in a group of five.
For example, if you're on a group joining flights with three pax, the helicopter tour cost gets divided per head. Thus, the per head cost of this tour on a group joining tour depends on the number of pax on the group.
Also, upon flying on a chartered flight, the helicopter cost remains the same.
