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Best Time for Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

2 August, 2024 By Dambar Khadka

Best time for Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour are spring and autumn. These seasons offer the ideal conditions for a luxurious tour of the Everest region. The EBC Heli tour offers the best Everest mountain range view. If you do not have the time for the Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal, then the Everest Base Camp Helicopter flight is the best option to witness Mount Everest. This short helicopter ride is the fastest and the most luxurious way to witness the gigantic Everest from its base. 

Overview of Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

The Everest Helicopter ride begins at Kathmandu Airport, where you take a short 20-minute flight to Lukla. There will be a short stopping at Lukla for refueling and weight balancing. You will now fly towards the Everest Base Camp. During this tour, you will fly over the beautiful Sagarmatha National Park, witnessing its rich biodiversity. You’ll fly to breathtaking viewpoints like Kala Patthar, which has the highest elevation on the tour. This vantage point will allow you to witness the best Everest view. Moreover, you will witness the breathtaking mountain view of the Everest region from Namche Bazaar while having breakfast at one of the finest high-altitude hotels in the world.

Best Time for Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

This tour is only a few hours long and lets you witness a bird’ s-eye view of the beautiful Khumbu Himalayas. A helicopter tour to Everest Base is safe for any age group. You can see views of the mountains, such as Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Khumbutse, etc. 

Best time for Everest Helicopter Tour

The helicopter tour to reach the Everest Base Camp is possible throughout the year. If the weather is favorable for choppers to fly, you can visit the Everest Base Camp at any time of the year. However, Autumn and spring are the peak times for touring the Everest Base Camp. These seasons offer the ideal conditions for the helicopter return tour. You can witness the best views of the different peaks of the Khumbu region, including Everest. The seasonal overview of the climate in the Everest region is discussed below. 

Spring Season

Spring is one of the best times for the Everest trek or Everest Base Camp Helicopter flight. The temperature in the Himalayas will be rising during this time. The temperature during the day will be around 5-15 degrees Celsius, whereas the temperature will go below freezing at night. The weather is stable throughout the season. The skies get clear, allowing you to witness the best views of Mount Everest. Moreover, Nepal’s national flower, Rhododendron, blooms this season, making the trials colorful. You will be flying over a colorful forest during spring. 

Autumn Season

Autumn is another good time to trek or tour the Everest Base Camp. The weather conditions are similar to those in spring. The temperature in the Himalayas will start to decrease during this season. Generally, the Everest daytime temperature ranges between –5 to 20 degrees Celsius. The temperature drops to negative during the night. The clear skies will allow you to witness the best view of the Everest range. Moreover, Autumn is the festive season in Nepal. During this season, you can experience festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Chhat, etc. Autumn is one of the best seasons to visit Nepal. 

Winter Season

Winter is the coldest season in Nepal. The temperature in the Everest Base Camp goes below the freezing point. There are a few days when the temperature ranges around 0-10 degrees Celsius. Generally, the daytime temperature in winter ranges between -5 to -15 degrees Celsius. The temperature worsens at night as it drops to -20 to -30 degrees Celsius. However, you can fly to the Everest Base Camp during winter. The Helicopter companies identify the weather conditions and take the helicopter to the base camp. The skies are clear during the winter season. Experiencing the Everest during winter is one of the most challenging tours. 

Monsoon Season

Many people trek or tour the Everest Base Camp in Monsoon. This period is the hottest time in the Himalayas. Except for the unprecedented rainfall, the conditions for the way to base camp are extremely favorable. The temperature during the daytime ranges between 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. The temperatures at night reach the freezing point. The cloudy weather might disturb the helicopter tour during this season. However, you can visit the Everest Base Camp during this season. You can check the weather forecasts and fly to the base camp during this season. 

Gear and Equipment for EBC Helicopter Tour

Touring the Everest Base Camp requires a lot of gear and equipment. The chances of altitude sickness are very high in high altitudes. You need to protect your body with proper gear to prevent yourself from such acute mountain sickness. One cannot compromise on the quality of the gear while visiting or trekking in the Himalayas. Preparing a checklist to sort out the essential gear and equipment you will need while visiting the Everest Base Camp would be better. Some essential gear and equipment to visit or trek to Everest Base Camp are listed below.

  • Base Layer (Thermals)
  • Insulating Layer ( Lightweight jackets)
  • Outer Shell (Waterproof jackets)
  • Trekking trousers
  • Moisture-wicking socks
  • Sturdy hiking shoes
  • Sunglasses
  • Gloves and hats
  • Sunscreen
  • Camera and smartphone
  • Personal medications
  • First aid kits
  • Permits and travel documents
  • Water bottles

Altitude sickness concerns on Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

Flying to a higher elevation always increases the risk of altitude sickness. This tour to Everest Base Camp will take you to an elevation of 5600 meters, where the chances of acute mountain sickness are very high. The oxygen level at this altitude is very low, making breathing difficult. However, the Helicopter will have oxygen tanks, which you can use if needed. Headaches, Nausea, Vomiting, Fatigue, etc. are the common symptoms of altitude sickness. You should inform the pilots if you feel any discomfort during the helicopter tour. Moreover, you should inform your tour operators if you have any illness before flying towards the Everest region. 

Group Size and Weight Limitation in Everest Base Camp Heli Tour

The Everest Base Camp Heli Tour typically accommodates a group size of up to five passengers per flight. This limitation ensures a comfortable and safe journey for all aboard, as helicopters used for these tours are designed to handle specific weight capacities. The collective weight of the passengers, along with their gear, must not exceed the helicopter’s maximum load limit, which is generally around 500 kilograms up to 4000 meters. The maximum weight the Helicopter carries above 4000 meters is 250 kg. You will be landing at Pheriche to adjust the weight limit. This ensures optimal performance and safety during the high-altitude flight.

Weight distribution is also critical to maintaining balance and stability during the flight. Tour operators may request the weight of each passenger in advance to plan seating arrangements accordingly. To ensure compliance with safety regulations and a pleasant experience for everyone, passengers are advised to pack light and adhere to the specified weight limits. Proper weight management helps the helicopter navigate the challenging Himalayan terrain, providing breathtaking views and a smooth ride to Everest Base Camp.

Why Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour?

Reaching the Base of Mount Everest is one of the must-visit places during your Nepal tour. Many tourists visit Nepal for the Everest Base Camp Trek every year. There are many reasons to pick the helicopter tour to visit Mount Everest. Firstly, it is the most comfortable and lavish way to explore the beauty of Nepal’s Himalayas. This Helicopter tour offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the majestic Mount Everest without the physical demands. You can enjoy panoramic views of mountains like Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Nuptse.

Moreover, Passengers can enjoy a brief stop at Everest Base Camp or Kala Patthar for incredible photo opportunities and a firsthand experience of the high-altitude environment. The feeling of enjoying your breakfast and soaking yourself in the beauty of Everest is surely unmatchable. Even when you have a shortage of time, the Helicopter tour ensures that you will reach the base of the highest peak in the world. Likewise, many more reasons ensure the helicopter tour is the best option to visit the base of Mount Everest In Sagarmatha National Park

Highlights of Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

  • Fly to the base of the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest. 
  • Witness the aerial views of the mountains of the Khumbu region. 
  • Observe the breathtaking views of Khumbu Glacier.
  • Land at Kala Patthar, the highest point on the tour at 5,644 meters. 
  • Enjoy breakfast at one of the world’s highest hotels, soaking up the beauty of the Himalayas. 
  • Fly over the beautiful Sagarmatha National Park.
  • Observe the beautiful Himalayan town of Namche Bazaar. 
  • Get an opportunity to interact with the locals and learn about their lifestyles and cultures.
  • Witness the remote lifestyle of the Sherpa people.

Conclusion

To conclude, visiting the Everest Base Camp via helicopter is one of the fastest and most lavish ways to explore the Everest region. This tour will allow you to soak in the beauty of the Himalayas. During this tour, you will fly over beautiful places like Namche Bazaar, Lukla, Khumbu Glacier, and Mount Everest. Flying to the Everest Base Camp during the spring and autumn is the best time to explore Everest. The weather conditions during these seasons make it an ideal time for visitors to experience the views of the mighty Everest. The tour to the Everest base will give you a feeling of accomplishment that you will cherish for the rest of your life. Therefore, it is one of the trips you should have on your bucket list while visiting Nepal. 

FAQ of Best Time for Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour

We are operating max five people in a Helicopter. The weight limit for passengers on the  helicopter tour is generally 350 kg between five of you. But, If some of you are already more than 150 kg then, He/She porches double tickets.

 

You will have Three to four hours around trip from Kathmandu to till Kathmandu including refueling and Breakfast break.

An Everest Base Camp helicopter tour generally costs between $800 to $1500/-Per person with out National Park fee and the cost of the Breakfast while you are landing. The price varies based on factors like the specific tour package, inclusions such as meals and accommodation, and the season.

Spring and Autumn are the best seasons for touring to Mount Everest By Helicopter. During these seasons, the stable weather makes it safe for the helicopter tour. Additionally, It will be clear sky and weather from Morning to Evening every day.

You will need two permits for the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour. It’s requires the Sagarmatha National Park permit and the Khumbu Rural Municipality permit. The cost of a rural area permit is NPR 2000 for all foreigners. Meanwhile, a national park permit costs NPR 3000 for foreigners and NPR 1500 for visitors from SAARC nations.

No, a helicopter can’t fly to the top of Mount Everest according to the law of Nepal. You may landed at the Base Camp and Kalapathar. Some time you can’t land even though at Base Camp due to the wasted the Helipad by Glacier.

Dambar Khadka

Dambar Khadka, a passionate adventurer and the founder of Boundless Adventure Nepal, has spent his entire life writing about nature and Nepal's developing tourism business. Dambar's passion with nature and its different cultures began as a child in Nepal's stunning landscapes. He began writing following successful treks and expeditions across Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. Dambar Khadka created Boundless Adventure Nepal in 1992 to share the majesty of the Nepal Himalayas with the rest of the planet. As an explorer and writer, he is committed to responsible tourism and cultural connection, allowing readers and adventurers to immerse themselves in Nepal's enchantment through his works.

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