Kathmandu has added an exhilarating new dimension to the country's tourism by introducing a new helipad. Excitingly, Boundless Adventure tops the list, offering the chance to experience the thrill of Kathmandu's new helipad and explore Nepal's numerous captivating areas.
The new helipad of Kathmandu is in Suryabinayak Municipality, Chitapur, at Nalinchok, Bhaktapur. The helipad is located 21km from the tourist hub of Kathmandu, Thamel. With an area of 175,232 square feet, Nepal's aviation department opened the helipad on 21 June 2024.
Helipad Shifted at Bhaktapur with modern amenities
Kathmandu's new heliport marks a shift from the helipad at Tribhuvan International Airport. Because Tribhuvan International Airport is Nepal's only airport serving international flights, it is the busiest, so Nepal's aviation department has introduced a new helipad in Bhaktapur.
Kathmandu's latest helipad is not just a shift from Tribhuvan International Airport but also an upgraded version with modern amenities. More than just a helipad, Kathmandu's new helipad has become a convenient gateway to popular destinations in Nepal.
Not far from Kathmandu's central hub, the new heliport is accessible from all areas of the city. The new helipad in Nalinchok, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, lies 15km from Tribhuvan International Airport and just 6km from Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The development of a helipad is already underway, with plans to connect Nepal's transport network to more remote areas.
Boundless Adventure welcomes you with open arms to experience the thrill of Nepal's stunning areas via the new helipad in Kathmandu. We suggest you take a helicopter flight from the new helipad during the Autumn and Spring seasons to enjoy the thrill and excellent visibility fully.
Helicopter Service and Direction
Visitors should drive 13.3 km from the Thamel area towards Amrit Marg to reach the new airfield. Then the road continues along the Puspahal highway from Amrit Marg. Afterward, it follows the Arniko highway alongside the Manohara River and covers approximately 21km upon reaching the helipad of Word no.10, Nalinchok. The new helipad of Kathmandu lies 120 degrees east of Thamel.
In the new helipad of Kathmandu, the Helicopter operates daily from 7 a.m. The helicopter service allows individual travelers to explore Nepal's stunning landscape. Some of the well-known area services that the new helipad of Kathmandu offers include:
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour
A helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp from a new helipad in Kathmandu is one of the most desired expeditions by tourists. The Base Camp lies at 28°0′26″N 86°51′34″E at an elevation of 5,364 m/ 17,598 ft in the Khumbu region. The Everest Base Camp is a popular trekking destination in Nepal where more than 40000 people trek each year. The base camp lies within the Sagarmatha National Park in the Solukhumbu district in Province No. 1 at Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality. Everest Base Camp lies 90 degrees east of the new helipad of Kathmandu.
As the Helicopter takes off from the heliport, it offers a bird's-eye view of the Kathmandu Valley. The flight flies over lush hills, terraced fields, and winding rivers. A 20-25-minute scenic flight takes visitors to Lukla, where the helicopter lands for fueling.
As the Helicopter flies from Lukla, travelers get a stunning bird' s-eye view of the Khumbu region and Sagarmatha National Park. Flying through the Everest region and around the Mount Everest massif, the Helicopter lands at Kalapathar. At Kalapathar, the flight lands for a while, allowing visitors to appreciate the area's beauty fully.
The Helicopter returns from Kalapathar to Kathmandu, passing through majestic mountains and valleys and offering aerial views from a different perspective. The round-trip flight takes 3 hours. This incredible adventure tour offers a memorable blend of luxury, comfort, and remarkable natural beauty.
Panorama of Mount Everest (8848m), Mount Lhotse(8516m), Mt. Lhotse Sar(8383m), Mt. Nuptse(7861m), Mt. Ama Dablam (6812m), and Mt. Khumbutse(6,665m) from a different perspective is the highlight of the helicopter tour from the new helipad of Kathmandu. Likewise, the spectacular views of the Khumbu Glacier and Icefall, and the stunning landscape of the Everest region with traditional villages are visually appealing during the heli tour to EBC.
Langtang Helicopter Tour
The Langtang helicopter tour is another popular tour in Nepal's Himalayas, offered from the new Kathmandu helipad. Langtang Valley, also called Lamtang Valley, lies in the Rasuwa district of Bagmati province. The valley lies within the boundaries of Langtang National Park and north of Kathmandu. Likewise, the Langtang Valley lies 42 degrees Northeast of Kathmandu's new helipad.
The Langtang Valley helicopter tour is time-efficient and allows one to experience the beauty of the Langtang region from a vantage point. The helicopter tour is a two-and-a-half-hour round trip.
The helicopter tour to Langtang takes off from Kathmandu's new heliport and flies over the crowded city to the tranquil Langtang valley. The helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Langtang takes 45-50 minutes, flying over the lush landscapes of Shivapuri National Park and the terraced fields of the surrounding villages. After a smooth journey and appreciation of the stunning scenery below, the Helicopter lands at Kyanjin Gompa.
Upon landing at Kyanjin Gompa, the crisp, fresh air, with prayer flags fluttering in the sky, creates a peaceful atmosphere. After exploring Langtang, tourists have 40 minutes to explore the surrounding area and admire its beauty, then board a helicopter for the return journey to Kathmandu. The return flight offers a different perspective on Langtang's beauty and some of the incredible mountain sights. Helicopter overflies through Mount Langtang (7234m), Ganesh Himal (7422m), Mt.Shishapangma (8027m), Mt.Dorje Lakpa (6999m), and Mount Manaslu (8163m) on the Langtang heli tour. Similarly, flying over the Langtang National Park is the highlight of the heli tour.
Gosainkunda Helicopter Tour
Within the Langtang Valley National Park, Gosainkunda is another beautiful destination accessible by Helicopter. Travelers can take a direct flight from Kathmandu's new helipad to Gosainkunda. At an elevation of 4,380 m/ 14,370 ft, Goainkunda is an alpine freshwater lake in the Rasuwa district of Nepal. The lake of Gosainkunda is 42 degrees northeast of the new heliport of Kathmandu.
The helicopter tour to Gosainkunda begins with taking off from Kathmandu's new heliport. From there, visitors see drastic changes in the landscape, from the cityscape to panoramic views of the Himalayas, including Langtang and Ganesh Himal of the Langtang region. The flight to the Gosaikunda heli tour is one hour, promising a remarkable expedition.
It takes 15 minutes to reach Gosainkunda from the helipad of Bhaktapur with a bird's eye view. At Gosainkunda, travelers get half an hour to explore the surrounding area of Gosainkunda Lake. After exploring Gosainkunda, the Helicopter flew back to Kathmandu's helipad, offering a final surreal view of the area. Visitors can extend their tour to include a round trip around Langtang and Kyang Glacier, but only at their request. A helicopter flies over Langtang National Park. From the comfort of the Helicopter's seat, the Helicopter's crew appreciates the views of the Manaslu Himalayan Range, Shishapangma, and Ganesh Himal.
Muktinath Helicopter Tour
Muktinath is a sacred Vishnu temple located in the Mustang district of Nepal. The temple is highly significant to two prominent religions in Nepal: Hindu and Buddhist. At an elevation of 3800m, the Muktinath temple lies at the bottom of the Thorong La mountain pass. The temple is renowned for its religious practices and serves as a prominent spiritual hub for visitors worldwide. In such a sacred and spiritual area, the new helipad in Kathmandu offers helicopter tours.
The Muktinath helicopter tour commences at the new helipad in Kathmandu. Muktinath lies 281 degrees West of Kathmandu's new helipad. Visitors can get a bird's-eye view of lush valleys, terraced fields, and snow-capped peaks from the Helicopter's window. Helicopter's off.
The Muktinath helicopter tour is more remarkable than others due to its longer ground landing time. The total tour time is four hours on a round trip from Kathmandu to Muktinath. Kathmandu to Muktinath is a one-hour scenic flight with views of Nepal's varied landscape, and travelers have two hours on the ground at the Muktinath helipad.
A helicopter tour to Muktinath from Kathmandu's helipad offers panoramic views of the Manaslu, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, and Annapurna Himalayan ranges. The Helicopter flies over the profound and longest gorge, Kali Gandaki, offering exceptional scenery that appeals to visitors.
The helipad lies 2km from the Muktinath temple, so to reach Muktinath from the helipad, travelers must walk, providing a unique combination of flight with a short hike. The hiking option lets travelers experience the region's beauty and culture more deeply. However, a horse-riding option is also available to reach the Muktinath temple from the Muktinath helipad for people with walking difficulties.
Upper Mustang Helicopter Tour
Upper Mustang in the Gandaki province is a remote yet culturally rich region of Nepal. It lies in the Mustang district near the border with Tibet. Upper Mustang is distinct from other Himalayan areas of Nepal due to its arid landscape, rain-shadow location, and the persistence of Tibetan culture. To allow travelers from around the world to explore the exceptional beauty of Upper Mustang, a new helipad in Kathmandu offers helicopter flights.
Located 281 degrees West of Kathmandu's new helipad, Upper Mustang's helicopter tour completes a round trip within four hours. Reaching Upper Mustang by trekking or jeep takes a full day, but a helicopter flight takes just a couple of hours, making the tour popular and ideal for time-bound tourists.
When travelers take off from the Kathmandu helipad, the Kathmandu Valley's rural beauty will be before their eyes. The Helicopter flies over hills with terraced fields, and glimpses of the Himalayas come into view, making for a remarkable journey. As the aircraft enters Upper Mustang, the landscape changes, and the scenery becomes more stunning.
One of the most fascinating sights during the flight is the Kaligandaki Gorge, the world's deepest gorge. Likewise, views of the Annapurna Range, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Tukuche Peaks are highlights of the Upper Mustang helicopter tour from the new Kathmandu airstrip.
How to Reach the New Helipad Location?
Manohara Khola Bridge
To reach Kathmandu's new helipad in Nalinchok of Bhaktapur, travelers must travel some distance from their areas in Kathmandu. Along the way to the helipad, the road passes alongside numerous rivers. Among the various river bridges the route to Nalinchok crosses, the Manohara River bridge is notable.
The Manohara River is a tributary of the Bagmati River that flows from the ridge of Nagarkot. Along the way to Nalinchok, the Manohara River flows from the Jadibut. Due to inhumane behavior, including past dumping of sewage and garbage into the river, the river is not as attractive as it should be. However, the authorities are trying their best to manage the river's waste and have restricted sewage from entering it.
The Manohara Khola bridge board showcases the start of the Bhaktapur district while driving from Kathmandu. The Khola Bridge is the key link connecting Bhaktapur to Kathmandu. Moreover, the river bridge is 80m long.
Traffic station
Nalinchok, Bhaktapur, a new helipad, is 21km from Kathmandu's Thamel; travelers must drive from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur to begin their helicopter tour of different parts of Nepal. The road is blacktop, with a well-maintained trail to Nalinchok. As the route passes through main roads, travelers will likely encounter numerous traffic stations.
Due to the growing number of ground vehicles, Kathmandu faces heavy traffic on every road. The city has numerous traffic stations to manage traffic and provide a traffic-free and congestion-free highway. Among the numerous traffic offices and stations, one notable traffic station along the way to Nalinckok is the Koteshowr traffic station.
Koteshwor is among the areas of Kathmandu with high traffic. Travelers will not face traffic in the morning, but will face heavy traffic during the day and evening on the Koetwshor. Thus, traffic stations are vital in regulating and managing road traffic in the Koteshwor area.
Conclusion
With its modern facilities and improvements, Kathmandu's new helipad enriches connectivity to Nepal's domestic destinations. The helipad focuses on developing remote locations by offering helicopter flights to Nepal's hidden gems. Establishing a new helipad also opens new opportunities for tourism, economic growth, and the betterment of Nepal's aviation sector.
You can travel around the Nepalese Himalayas and take a pilgrimage tour that includes Manaslu Conservation Area, Sagarmatha National Park, Phokosundo National Park, Annapurna Conservation Area, and Muktinath Temple.