Overview of Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return
The Unique Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return to Kathmandu is an enthralling experience at the base of the tallest structure on the earth, Mt. Everest (8848.86 m). Amongst 600 Himalayan peaks located in the Nepalese Himalayan belt is Mt. Everest which portrays an enigmatic experience for the trekkers. With our Everest region Helicopter Trek package, you will have a wonderful trekking experience.
Heli Trek to Everest is a trip for those constrained by time who want a fruitful yet adventurous vacation in the Nepalese Highlands. The trek takes the classic route to Everest, beginning from Kathmandu’s bustling city.
Your walk to the base of Everest starts with a thrilling flight over the hilly outskirts of Nepalese territory and heads eastward. 30-35 minutes of the flight gets you to one of the iconic airstrips of the world in Lukla, named Tenzing-Hillary Airport.
Lukla is stationed amidst a gigantic hill and is a small commercial town with limited amenities. Your trek then follows the River basin of Dudh Koshi River and heads northbound towards another tourist spot of Phakding. From Phakding, you will make a steep ascent toward the largest Sherpa settlement, Namche Bazaar, an iconic village shaped in an amphitheater style.
Helicopter return trip around Namche Bazaar
Namche Bazaar is one of the busiest towns in Everest Trekking for last-minute shopping or hopping bars for your usual entertainment. The trek in the following days becomes even more rugged and remote, traversing through small Sherpa settlements through the villages of Tengboche, Dingboche, and Gorakshep until you finally reach your end destination, Everest Base Camp.
The trek to Everest starting from Lukla is similar to your classic Everest Base Camp Trek -14 days. The return journey will be less strenuous with this trip as an AS350 B3 Helicopter will be waiting for you at Gorakshep for an exciting return journey. Relative to other treks in the Everest region, this trek provides a fantastic opportunity to gaze at the Everest range massifs from a bird’s eye view.
As you ascend after the take-off, you will be bestowed with a picturesque Everest vista that portrays: Mt. Everest (8848m), Mt. Lhotse(8516m), Mt. Lhotse Shar (8383m), Mt. Ama Dablam (6812m), Mt. Nuptse(7861m), Mt. Khumbutse(6,665m) among others.
The Everest region trek passes through sparsely distributed Sherpa settlements until your final stop at Everest Base Camp. Sherpas, who have earned the fame of being the most formidable mountaineers, will welcome you all along the trail. They have a typical lifestyle not to be found elsewhere in Nepalese territory. Similarly, The Helicopter returned a trip to the Sagarmatha National Park.
Most of the Sherpa people are engaged in trekking and mountaineering, making it highly likely that the guide you will be provided for your journey to Everest Base Camp will be a Sherpa native to the Everest region. Apart from tourism, most Sherpa people are engaged in agriculture and trade.
Sherpas celebrate their biggest festival Manirimdu which usually falls on the first day of the tenth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, which falls between October and November under the English calendar. You are looking for a treat if your travel plans match the date of this festival.
Be sure to check our Mani Rimdu Festival in Solukhumbu (Blog Post) for detailed insight into the festival.
Essential Information - Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return
Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return
Helicopter Trip from Everest Base Camp has become one of the most extensive talks of the town in recent times. During the peak season (Spring and Autumn), Everest Base Camp on Helicopter can be an enriching experience. In fact, we’ll trek to the EBC all the way from Lukla, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Tyangbouche, Dingbouche, Lobuche, Goreakshep, and EBC. The Altitude of EBC is 5364 meters from sea level.
Taking a Heli outright from the Everest region for your return journey makes it convenient for your legs, and we will be grateful to you for the less stress you might encounter if you opt to return by Heli.
The return flight via Helicopter is rewarding for its breathtaking view and adventurous ride. Here are two options that you can choose for your Helicopter return journey on your trip from Everest Base Camp.
Trek to the Base of Everest and descend via Helicopter to Lukla
Alternatively, I offer you a Helicopter ride from Gorakshep to your starting point in Lukla. The trip initiates after your morning breakfast at Gorakshep. Your pilot will look for a clear weather window before your take-off and communicate accordingly.
The flight ascents steeply above, hovering right next to Mt. Amadblam, considered one of the prettiest mountains in the world.
Your flight then heads southbound, flying above various Sherpa settlements. You will observe multiple sparsely distributed Sherpa villages along the way, flying above the raging Dudhkoshi river and densely populated Namche bazaar to reach Lukla.
This flight reduces your trip duration from four days of descent to a mere 25-minute ride to Lukla. You will take a scheduled flight to Kathmandu from Lukla the following day.
Everest Hike and Descend via Helicopter to Kathmandu
Another popular alternative for the return journey of this trek is flying directly to Kathmandu from Gorakshep on a Helicopter. When trekking to Everest base camp, many travelers prefer taking the Gorakshep to Kathmandu helicopter flight back instead of retracing their steps on foot.
This option saves time and energy and helps avoid discomfort and altitude sickness, mainly since Gorakshep, the last village with accommodation, is situated at a very high altitude.
Therefore, many trekkers prefer to spend only one night in Gorakshep before taking the helicopter flight the next day. The helipad at Gorakshep is secure and easily accessible, making it a popular hub for trekkers who want to fly back to Kathmandu.
Similarly, Trekkers can save up to 4-5 days of trekking time by taking a helicopter flight from Gorakshep to Kathmandu, reducing their expenses on food, lodging, guides, flights, porters, and other personal costs.
The money saved can be used to pay for the helicopter ride, a breathtaking experience that allows passengers to fly over the Everest valley, see the villages they walked through and recall their memories of the mountains they photographed from the ground. Furthermore, this fascinating flight is considered one of the best Helicopter trips in Nepal.
The Cost of Helicopter Return from Gorakshep
The cost of a Helicopter flight from Gorakshep to Lukla or Kathmandu varies depending on the season and time of the year of your trek. During Spring(March-May) and Autumn(Sept-Nov), which is considered to be the peak season for trekking in Nepal, this cost plummets while the price might be high if you happen to be trekking during the off-season, Winter (Dec-Feb) and Summer(June-Aug).
This is due to the readily available Chopper at Lukla during the peak seasons and the multiple Charter flights you can hop on your return journey. Please ensure that your flight is booked beforehand for a hassle-free return journey.
Price of Gorakshep-Lukla Helicopter Flight
The cost of the Gorakshep-Lukla flight depends on the season and is subject to the availability of the Helicopter. For a general idea, refer to the following price table.
No of Pax |
Price |
Shared flight (4 pax Max) |
$450 per person |
Chartered Flight (5 pax Max) |
$350 per person |
Price of Gorakshep to Kathmandu Direct Helicopter Flight with Trip
From Gorakshep to Kathmandu, Chopper is subject to availability and time of the trek. The costs during the spring and autumn are relatively lower compared to other seasons since the Helicopters are readily available at Gorakshep and Lukla
No of Pax |
The price includes the whole trip. |
Shared flight (2 to 4 pax ) |
$2200/- per person |
Chartered Flight (5, 10, 15 pax Max) |
$2000 per person |
Note: The tariffs of Helicopter flights may change without any prior notice. Make sure to confirm the prices with your trekking agent before you depart for the trek.
Booking and Service by Company
Boundless Adventures is a dedicated company that emphasizes reliable travel solutions. Located in the core heart of Kathmandu city, Thamel, we have been crafting fantastic holiday experiences for our clientele, whether the rigorous Tour and trek to Everest Region or the tranquil trip to Pokhara.
Our sophisticated online payment gateway and booking system provides easy access for our customers to craft their vacations here in Nepal. We have been a reliable and trustworthy travel partner for Indian Subcontinent for over three decades. Furthermore, our customers’ honest testimonials during this period are a testament to our dedicated team and synergized effort.
Best Time for Everest Base Camp Trek, Return by Heli
The foothills of the Himalayan belt in Nepal are blessed with a perfect weather pattern for adventure activities almost all year long. Nepal’s weather is divided into four seasons: (March, April, and May). Summer/Monsoon (June, July, and August), autumn (September, October, and November), and winter (December, January, and February).
The most favorable time of the year for Traversing to the Base Camp of Everest is spring and autumn because of their pleasant and calm weather. Spring can be characterized by the time of the year when the environment blossoms with greenery and flowers after the harsh winter. Autumn generally falls before summer and winter, making it the perfect time for traveling.
The upper section of the Everest region (beyond Namche Bazaar) lies in a dry and arid area beyond the Himalayas that receives occasional rainfall during the monsoon/summer season (June-August). Despite this, visitors may still consider trekking to Everest Base Camp in the summer, although the stunning view of the Everest vista may not be visible due to the monsoon clouds.
That being said, winter trekking is possible, but more risk factors accompany it. During the winter, colossal snowfall in the Everest region makes the trail slippery and visibility a significant issue. Also, the temperature of the Everest region falls way below its average level for humans to sustain.
Specification of the Helicopter
Various Helicopters are used for Gorakshep to Kathmandu on Helicopter tours, and it differs from one Airline Company to the other. Generally, an Airbus B350 helicopter is used for the flight for its high altitude traversing capability beyond 5000 meters.
Apart from these are Robinson R66 and R44; however, these aircraft are limited to a low elevation of a maximum of 3800 meters.
Helicopters used for Gorakshep to Kathmandu are designed to accommodate a maximum of 5 individuals. If you have a group of 5 people, you can book your return flight through your agent beforehand. Similarly, We don’t mind operating even solo, a couple to share Helicopter with others.
Owing to the higher elevation at Gorakshep, your heli will first take three people on board from Gorakshep and drop them off at Pheriche; it then flies back again to Gorakshep to pick up the other two passengers. It will finally take off from Pheriche after gathering all five passengers from Pheriche.