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Everest Base Camp Trek With Helicopter Return

12 Days, Adventure
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Grading:
5550m, Kalapather
Activities

2 Days arrival & Departure

2 Days Rest day

7 Days Trek

1 Day Flight

Best Season

March, April, May

October, November, Dec

Meals

11 Breakfast,

9 Lunch

9 Dinner

Accommodation

2 Nights at Hotel in Kathmandu

9 Nights at Lodge

Transportation

Private Vehicle, Flight, Helicopter

PRICE STARTS FROM

USD 2000 1925

Per Person

X =

We Offer Group discount

No of PAX Price / PP
10-30 1725
5-9 1825
2-4 1925

Overview

Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return offers a unique and thrilling way to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the Himalayas. This package is perfect for adventurers seeking to explore Mt. Everest region in a shorter time frame.

Despite its shorter duration, the trek doesn't compromise on adventure or scenic splendor. Covering approximately 65 km, it provides an unforgettable journey to the foothills of Everest. By concluding the trek with a helicopter return from Gorakshep (5,140 meters), the trekking duration is halved, reducing the strain of one of the world's toughest treks. The helicopter ride offers a bird's-eye view of majestic mountain ranges, high-altitude settlements, valleys, and lush hills, providing a perfect conclusion to this high Himalayan adventure.

Everest Base Camp Trek With Helicopter Return Details

Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return from Gorak Shep to Lukla is ideal for adventurers seeking a shorter yet luxurious exploration of Everest Base Camp. This journey combines the thrill of trekking in the Himalayas with the convenience of a helicopter return tour, offering an unforgettable experience.

Venture on a scenic 35-minute flight to Lukla, the starting point for Everest Region Treks. From there, trek through Sherpa settlements, entering the Sagarmatha National Park and crossing suspension bridges to reach iconic villages like Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Pangboche, and Lobuche. Finally, arrive at Everest Base Camp, a moment of celebration amidst breathtaking Himalayan scenery.

The adventure continues with a climb to Kala Patthar, offering unparalleled 360-degree views of the world's highest peaks, including Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Descend to Gorak Shep and conclude the trek with a scenic helicopter flight back to Lukla, enjoying spectacular views of the Himalayas and surrounding valleys. Further ahead, take a thrilling flight from Lukla to Kathmandu ending your adventurous Everest endeavor.

Route

After a flight eastward from Kathmandu, within 30-35 minutes, you'll land at Lukla, home to the renowned Tenzing-Hillary Airport, nestled amidst towering hills and boasting a modest commercial town. From Lukla, your trek follows the Dudh Koshi River basin, leading northwards to Phakding before embarking on a steep ascent towards Namche Bazaar, the largest Sherpa settlement shaped like an amphitheater. Namche Bazaar serves as a bustling hub for last-minute essentials and entertainment options.

Continuing onwards, the trek traverses through remote Sherpa settlements, passing through Tengboche, Dingboche, and Gorakshep until reaching the ultimate destination, Everest Base Camp. While the journey mirrors the classic Everest Base Camp Trek from Lukla, the return leg offers a less strenuous option with an AS350 B3 Helicopter awaiting at Gorak Shep for a thrilling aerial journey back to Lukla.

Compared to traditional treks in the Everest region, this unique trek presents an unparalleled opportunity to witness the Everest range massifs from a bird's-eye perspective. As you ascend during takeoff, prepare to be mesmerized by the picturesque vista featuring Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, Mount Ama Dablam, Mount Nuptse, Mount Khumbutse, and more, painting a breathtaking scene against the horizon.

Best Time

The best time for trekking to Everest Base Camp with Helicopter Return are during the spring and autumn seasons. While trekking remains possible in summer and winter, these seasons pose challenges due to adverse weather conditions, requiring prior trekking experience.

Spring, spanning from March to May, offers a blend of warm temperatures and captivating mountain landscapes. Similarly, autumn, from September to November, boasts pleasant weather and breathtaking mountain vistas in Nepal.

Winter, occurring from December to February, brings cold temperatures and snow-covered terrain, yet offers stunning mountain views. Despite rains in the lower regions, trekking remains viable in the upper regions during summer, from June to August, though it is less favored due to potential weather uncertainties. That being said, opting for a trip during this period allows for a quieter experience. Below given table shows the range of temperature in various months in Everest region along the year.

Month Temperature
Upper Extreme Lower Extreme
January 5°C -20°C
February 7°C -17°C
March 9°C -10°C
April 12°C -5°C
May 15°C 0°C
June 18°C 5°C
July 20°C 7°C
August 20°C 7°C
September 18°C 5°C
October 12°C -5°C
November 9°C -10°C
December 7°C -15°C



Difficulty

For beginners, especially those unfamiliar with Himalayan trekking, embarking on the Helicopter Return Everest Base Camp Trek can be daunting due to the rugged terrain and potential hazards along the route. Each day of the journey requires a minimum of 5 to 6 hours of hiking, navigating steep inclines and declines on challenging terrain. Physical and mental fitness is essential for this demanding trek, as it involves traversing remote, mountainous landscapes with elevations exceeding 4000m, increasing the risk of altitude sickness.

Trekkers must prepare to encounter various obstacles such as small cliffs, rocky paths, meadows, deep valleys, and boulder-strewn trails. Building abdominal strength and endurance is crucial to overcoming these challenges. The length and difficulty of the trek may prove overwhelming for novices unaccustomed to such conditions.

Cost of Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return

The cost of a helicopter flight from Gorak Shep to Lukla varies depending on the season and time of year of your trek. During the peak seasons of Spring (March-May) and Autumn (September-November), which are considered prime times for trekking in Nepal, the cost tends to decrease. However, if you're trekking during the off-season of Winter (December-February) or Summer (June-August), prices may be higher.

This fluctuation in cost is primarily due to the availability of helicopters at Lukla during peak seasons and the availability of multiple charter flights for the return journey. It's important to book your flight in advance to ensure a smooth and hassle-free return journey. Please send us an inquiry and the Himalaya trip will respond back with competitive rates for your requirements.

Helicopters used in this Tour

Different airlines may use various types of helicopters for the EBC trek with Heli return tour, with the choice depending on the company. Typically, an Airbus B350 helicopter is favored for its capability to traverse high altitudes beyond 5000 meters. Alternatively, Robinson R66 and R44 helicopters may be used, but these are limited to lower elevations, with a maximum of 3800 meters.

Helicopters utilized for the Gorak Shep to Lukla route are designed to accommodate a maximum of five individuals. If you have a group of five people, it's advisable to book your return flight through your agent in advance. Alternatively, solo travelers or couples may opt to share the helicopter with other passengers.

Due to the higher elevation at Gorak Shep, the helicopter will first transport three passengers from Gorak Shep to Pheriche, then return to Gorak Shep to pick up the remaining two passengers. Once all five passengers are assembled in Pheriche, the helicopter will depart for Lukla.

Outline

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu

Day 02: Fly to Lukla , trek to Phakding 2610m, 8 km walk

Day 03: Trek Phakding – Namche 3440m ,11 km walk

Day 04: Rest day

Day 05: Namche – Tengboche 3860m ,9 km walk

Day 06: Tengboche – Dingboche, 4410m, 10 km walk

Day 07: Rest day

Day 08: Dingboche – Lobuche 4910m, 8 km walk

Day 09: Lobuche – Gorakh shep 5140m – Everest Base Camp 5364m, 11 km walk

Day 10: Visit Kalapather , helicopter return to Lukla

Day 11: Lukla – Kathmandu

Day 12: Final departure home

Travel Map
Everest Base Camp Trek With Helicopter Return Map
Video Download PDF

Daily Itinerary

Whats Included?

  • Pick-up and drop-off service at Trivuwan International Airport in Kathmandu by private Car/Van/Bus depending on group size.
  • 2 Nights Hotel in Kathmandu on BB Plan.
  • Sagarmatha National park fee and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality entrance fee.
  • Kathmandu- Lukla - Kathmandu flight ticket with Airport departure tax.
  • Gorak Shep - Lukla by Helicopter.
  • All the meals (11 Breakfast, 9 Lunch, 9 Dinner) with 9 Nights at Lodge accommodation during the trek.
  • 2 Hot Shower (One in Namche and One in Lukla ).
  • One English speaking government certificate holder trekking guide and trekkers 2:1 porter.
  • Guide and porters: foods, accommodation, insurance, salary, flight ticket, and equipment etc.
  • First Aids Kid.
  • Seasonal fresh fruit such as Apple and Pomegranates etc.
  • Duffel Bag.
  • Fingertip Pulse Oximeter (we use every day to check your oxygen level and pulse in your body to avoid high risk ).
  • Himalaya Trip T-shirt.
  • 13% government VAT and official charge.

Whats not Included?

  • International airfare and visa fee (15 Days US$30 and 30 Days US$50).
  • Hotel and meals in Kathmandu.
  • All the drinks like tea, coffee, Coke, Fanta, mineral water, boiled water, hot shower, battery charge etc.
  • Your trekking gears.
  • Your travel insurance which should include the emergency rescue.
  • Tips for guide and porters.

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Frequently Asked Questions

There are two Base Camps on Everest. The south Base camp is Nepal side and North Base Camp is from China.


Important Note

Available of the trip

We organise small group private trip. If you are 2 or more people in your group, you may book any dates.

Travel Insurance

The travel insurance is need in case of any emergency. It is recommend to have.  If you are doing short  and low elevation trek, you can do normal insurance. But if you are doing high altitude or adventure trek, you should have emergency rescue.

Last Minute booking

Normally, trekkers plan the trip before 3-9 months.  Some trekkers decide the trip in last minutes. It is also possible to book your trek at last minutes. For the Last minutes booking, you need to make a full payment.

Tipping

Tipping is highly expected. Our staffs try their best during the trip. After the trip, Tipping is expected. It is not fixed amount or percentage. We recommend the tipping according to their services.

Safety

When you are travelling, the safety is most important. For the safety of our clients, we trained our guide and porters. They are all register trekking / Tour  / Climbing guide and experience porters.

Extra personal expenses

For the extra expenses, it is good to bring USD / Euro / Pound Sterling or ther currency. You may change to Nepali Rupees (NPR) at Tribhuwan International Airport or near your Hotel in Kathmandu. You will use only Nepali rupees during the trip.

Nepal visa

Accept few countries , you will get on arrival Nepal’s Visa at the Tribhuwan International Airport or Nepal board. I recommend to fill up Nepal Visa online form and bring it with you. It will be faster and easy for you and visa fee is recommended to bring cash US dollar. You can’t pay by using credit card.

Trip extension or Itinerary Disclaimer

We organize small group private trip. The trip extension is possible but you have to figure out when you booking the trip.

Group joing and Fixed departure

Most of the time, we have small group private trip. Group joining or fixed departure will be available only at the clients request. 

Luggage store

You are not taking all the lugguage on the trek. You will take only necessary gears on the trek and rest of the gears, you will store at your Hotel in Kathmandu or Pokhara or in our office in Kathmandu. All the Hotels have free luggage store services. It is more convenient to store at your Hotel.

Responsible travel

  • Ask permission to photograph people.
  • Do not remove or purchase antiques, it is illegal.
  • Avoid wearing revealing clothes and avoid outward displays of physical affection.
  • Do not anything to disturb environment or wild animals.

Domestic flight

Normally, domestic flight is not on time. If you have international flight with domestic connection flight. It is always better to keep some gaps.

Trek Booking

For the Booking, we need passport copy, passport size photo by email or What's App  and 20% deposit.

Why Himalaya Trip ?

  • Fast response
  • Small group private trek
  • Safety is top priority
  • Recommended on TripAdvisor
  • Tailor made itinerary
  • Seasonal package
  • 200 plus  trekkers take service every year
  • 30-40% repeated customer

 

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