Everest Base Camp Heli Trek

At Tribhuvan International Airport, our team will welcome you and assist you in checking into the hotel on your arrival day. We use a private vehicle to pick you up from the airport. You'll meet our manager with the rest of the group members in the evening.

Our manager will explain the program in detail and reach your needs, too. 

You'll have an extra day in Kathmandu to prepare for the trek and visit a few tourist sites. After breakfast at the hotel, you can say hello to your tour guide and driver in your hotel lobby. On the tour, you will visit monuments like Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhnath Stupa, and Patan Durbar Square.

You have a small meeting with the trek guide in the late afternoon. There will be a final check of your packing list. If you need any gear to buy or rent, our guide will assist. 

To reach the starting point of the trek, you'll take an early morning flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. The flight is very scenic and enjoyable, with aerial views of lush green hills and snow-capped mountains. It is a short scenic mountain flight, 25-30 minutes.

After reaching Lukla, you'll meet your porters and get a refreshment time at a tea house. From Lukla, the trail descends to Phakding village. Phakding is your first night stop in the mountains. The route goes along a forested path following the Dudh Koshi River.

You'll walk through lovely settlement villages such as Chaurikharka, Cheplung, Thade Koshi, and Ghat to reach Phakding. You can see a superb view of Kusum Kangaru Peak from Thade Koshi village during the walk.

Important Note: During the peak season, flights will be operated from Manthali Airport, Ramechhap, to Lukla. In the spring, from mid-March to mid-May and late September to November in the autumn season, all flights take off and land at Manthali Airport.

The Manthali airport, Ramechhap, is 142 km from Kathmandu, a 4-5 hour drive. To catch a flight to Lukla from Ramechhap, you must depart around 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. from Kathmandu. 

Our next stop is the famous Sherpa town called Namche Bazaar. After the hot breakfast, youll walk upstream of the Dudh Koshi River and cross this river five times through suspension bridges. You'' witness a magnificent view of Mount Thamserku (6,608 m) while reaching Banker Village.

The trail continues going gradually to Manjo village, where the Sagarmatha National Park office is, to buy the permit to enter the world's highest national park. 

You'll stop at Jorsalle village for lunch, the last village before Namche bazaar. After lunch, you'll walk along the Dudh Koshi River to get to the bottom of Namche Hill. Then you ascend uphill and go through the highest suspension bridge called "Hillary Suspension Bridge."

On ascending through deep pine and rhododendron forests, you may see a glimpse of Mount Everest, the top of the world, if you are lucky with the weather.

You reach Namche Bazaar, known as the Gateway to Mount Everest, where you deserve a good rest after the hike. 

The rest day in Namche Bazaar means exploring the village and spending more time with locals. Today, after breakfast at the guest house, you'll hike to reach the Nepal Army Camp. Army Camp is the best site to see Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Ama Dablam, and its surrounding peaks with greenery. This site offers incredible views of high mountains.

Then you'll continue hiking to Syangboche Airstrip and ascend a few hundred meters to reach the Everest View Hotel, the highest hotel in the world. Everest View Hotel offers stunning views of Mt. Everest, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Pumori, Mt. Nuptse, etc.

You'll take a tea break at the Everest View Hotel, then descend a different way to Namche Bazaar for lunch. After lunch, you have a free afternoon to explore Namche Bazaar. 

The trail to Tengboche village gradually ascends, offering sensational views of the snow-capped Himalayan giants. The trekking route is awe-inspiring. First, you'll reach the Army camp nearby, and then the trail goes primarily flat and gradual to Kenjuma village, a small village with a couple of tea houses.

The trail to Kanjuma offers incredible views of Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Ama Dablam, and its surrounding peaks. Mount Ama Dablam is Lady Peak because Ama is Mother, which is our language. Mount Ama Dablam is the most beautiful peak in the Everest region.

The trail descends to Punki Thagna through pine and silver birch forests. In the Sherpa language, Thagna means resting place. You'll have a lunch break at Punki Thagna before ascending to Tengboche Hill, where Tengboche Monastery is located. After lunch, it takes around 2 hours to reach Tengboche monastery through pine and rhododendron forests. 

Fact: This village is home to the biggest monastery in the Khumbu region, the Tengboche monastery.

After the sunrise view and hot breakfast, you'll descend to the Imja River through deep rhododendron forests. You'll pass nunnery and substantial mani walls. The trail onwards is entirely mountain scenery, so bear your heart. You'll reach Pangboche village, from which you can see the stunning view of Mount Ama Dablam from a close distance.

Then, the trail gradually ascends to Dingboche via Somare village. You'll have your lunch at Somara Village. Dingboche is a beautiful village with grasslands and yak herding. 

Fact: This village is also known as the Summer Valley.

The acclimatization day in Dingboche is perfect for taking a break to adjust your body to thin air and elevation. You will already be over the tree line and entering the alpine zone. Today, after breakfast, you'll hike Nagarjun Peak at 5,050 meters. The hike is important for acquainting your body with elevation.

The hike offers tremendous views of mountains, including Island Peak, Lhotse, and the different shapes of Mount Ama Dablam. 

Today, the trail gradually ascends towards Thukla (4,620 m). You'll have a tea break at Thukla before climbing to the memorial top. Memorial Top is also known as Dhugla Pass. It takes one hour to reach Memorial Top from Thukla, which is pretty tough because of the elevation.

After you'll reach the memorial top, you'll see the hundreds of memorial monuments. These monuments are made on behalf of those people who have lost their lives in the Mount Everest expedition.

Then, the trail joins a higher route that leads through the moraine of Khumbu Glacier. The trail then goes through the valley to Lobuche, which is an hour more. Lobuche is a small village with 6-7 tea houses. The village offers a close-range view of Mount Nutpse, Mount Pumori, Mount Lingtren, and Mount Khumbutse. 

Today, you will finally reach Everest Base Camp. The day begins with an early morning breakfast. You'll follow the gradual trail before Lobuche Pass. The trail climbs steeply to the pass. Then the trail goes through the ice pinnacles and crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier to reach Gorak Shep.

You'll check in at the tea house at Gorak Shep and prepare yourself for hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp. After a quick lunch, you must prepare with water and chocolate energy bars. You'll follow your lead guide to reach your destination.

The trail from Gorak Shep is like rocky paths and steep over the Khumbu Glacier to the Mount Everest base camp. The Everest base camp is marked with colourful prayer flags, and you can see mountaineers & their tents during the peak climbing season.

After spending some time in Everest Base Camp, taking pictures and videos, you'll return to Gorak Shep for a good night sleeping in the world's highest inn. 

Before you'll fly to Kathmandu by helicopter, you hike to the famous viewpoint, Kala Pathar. Kala Pathar is the highest point of the trek. You'll hike Kalapathar early in the morning for a sunrise view of Mount Everest, the surrounding peaks, and Khumbu Glacier. The first part is more gradual than the last part.

You'll begin ascending following a rugged, sloppy route and gradually reach the half point, then the trail steeply climbs to the top. As you reach the top, you will be rewarded with heartwarming views of mountains and a gorgeous sunrise. The top of Kala Patthar offers a heavenly mountain panorama above the clouds. 

After exploring the views, you trek down to Gorak Shep, have breakfast, and pack your belongings. Then, you walk up to the helipad for a thrilling helicopter ride to Kathmandu. The ride will add stunning aerial views of the Himalayas. Not many trekkers get to behold the aerial beauty of the Everest region.

You'll have a free afternoon in Kathmandu to relax and go shopping.

The Everest Base Camp Trek with helicopter return ends on this day. Our airport team will drop you off with all your luggage and bid you our last goodbye.