Why I Took A Mt. Everest Helicopter Tour, And You Should Too
Do you dream of seeing Mt. Everest and the Himalayas? Check out why I took a Mt. Everest helicopter tour, and why you should do the same!
I ended up in Kathmandu, Nepal, after a last-minute change to my itinerary. As usual, most of my trips are shorter than I would like them to be, forcing me to get creative in finding the best ways to see as much as I can in a short amount of time. As much as I would have loved to hike to Everest Base Camp and see Mt. Everest, spending a few weeks doing the hike was not feasible given my time constraints.
After talking with some fellow travelers at my hostel, one of them suggested a helicopter tour of Mt. Everest instead. While the price was intimidating, I am beyond thankful that I went. Here’s why I think you should consider doing the same thing.
Why Should You Take a Helicopter
Many people dream of seeing Mt. Everest and the Himalayas for themselves sometime in their lifetime. Some adventure-seekers hike from Lukla, Nepal, to Everest Base Camp and back. The more extreme thrill-seekers try their luck and skill at summiting Everest.
It’s no secret that hiking to Base Camp will give you some of the most spectacular views of the mountain, but for people like me who are only spending a few days in Nepal, the 2 weeks or more of hiking the trail might not be feasible. If you don’t have the time to hike to Base Camp or are physically unable to make the journey, taking a helicopter is the ideal choice to save time or your back.
What Makes Flying In The Himalayas Special
Taking a helicopter in Nepal and flying by Everest is an experience that you won’t get to have anywhere else in the world, and not only for passengers. Pilots from across the globe come to fly helicopters in Nepal to further their careers. Most of us have seen helicopters around at some point or another, but in Nepal, there are many strict requirements for flying in the area. Unlike normal conditions, these skilled pilots fly at altitudes far greater than they would otherwise have the opportunity.
What Does The Itinerary Look Like?
While there are many options and varieties of flight choices, should you choose to take a helicopter tour to Mt. Everest, you will most certainly be able to find a trip to suit your wants, needs, and budget. Most of the trips begin from Kathmandu airport, which if you are already in Nepal, was likely your ingress into the country.
Depending on which package you choose, you will likely make at least two stops: Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla, and the Everest View Hotel. These aren’t the only stops you can make, but here is what that itinerary could look like during the day.
05:30 am | Transfer by car to Kathmandu Airport
06:00 am | Check-in at the Helicopter Counter
06:45 am | Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla
07:45 am | Unloading Fuel Return at Lukla
08:00 am | Flight from Lukla towards Khumbu and Everest Base Camp
08:30 am | Flyover of Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar
09:00 am | Flight to Syangboche Hill and Everest View Hotel
09:15 am | Brunch at the Everest View Hotel
10:30 am | Return Flight from Syangboche Hill to Lukla
11:15 am | Return Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu
12:15 pm | Arrival at Kathmandu Airport
12:30 am | Transfer by car back to your hotel
Safety and Weather
When booking a helicopter tour in Nepal, particularly to get some good views of Mt. Everest and the surrounding mountain range, visitors need to ensure that they are somewhat flexible in their travel plans. Due to the altitude and unpredictable weather at such heights, both companies and pilots take many precautions to ensure a safe flight. It is not uncommon for the tour carrier to contact visitors that the weather is not suitable for flying.
Don’t worry about losing your money, as this happens often, and the company will certainly offer a refund or ask if you would like to opt for an alternate flight date. When booking your flight, ensure that you leave some wiggle room in your itinerary in case your flight gets delayed or pushed to another day.
Altitude Sickness
One of the common illnesses that people suffer while making their way to Mt. Everest and Base Camp is altitude sickness. This occurs when your body doesn’t have enough time to adjust to higher altitudes where the oxygen in the air is thinner than at lower elevations. If you suffer headaches, nausea, or shortness of breath, altitude sickness is likely the cause.
Since your helicopter tour is only a few hours long, most healthy passengers will be back at a lower and more comfortable elevation before symptoms are likely to set in. However, during your tour, you may yet experience some of these symptoms. Prior to committing to an excursion like this, please make sure to consult your doctor to ensure that you are in good health and are capable of taking this trip with minimal risk.
The Best Time To Go
Helicopter tours can be booked year-round, but some seasons are better and more weather-permitting than others. If you would like to book a helicopter tour with more certainty that your flight will happen on time for your trip, the best times to go would be in spring from March through May, and autumn from September through November.
Though the pilots still fly the rest of the year to pick up hikers or people will immediate medical needs, most recommend avoiding monsoon season (June through August) to ensure a safe trip.
What You Should Bring
There are several items that passengers should bring with them to ensure a comfortable journey. Some of these are optional, some are required, and there are a few items that you should leave back at the hotel.
Required
- Passport & Identification Documents
- Booking Reference Documents
Recommended
- Camera or Smart Phone
- Travel Insurance
- Jacket
- Hat or Cap
- Scarf or Neck Warmer
- Gloves
- Wool Socks
- Close-Toed Shoes
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Snacks
- Water
- Small Day Bag
What NOT to bring
- Anything that you wouldn’t normally be able to fly with; knives, firearms, etc.
- Large amounts of luggage or bags. Only so much weight is allowed on the aircraft, so be sure to know what your limits are.
Note For Airports
While you may stop in Lukla for a bit on your way, the airport and amenities are extremely limited. Toilets are available, as well as water, tea, and a small snack, but if you need something more, it’s best to bring it with you if you don’t think you can wait until the end of your tour.
How Much Does It Cost?
Depending on the time of year, as well as the demand, helicopter flights (at the time of writing) can range from $1,200 to $2,500 or more depending on how long the trip is and how many stops you want to make along the way. Looking at prices, I see $1,500 being about the average price at the time of writing.
How You Can Book a Tour
Many helicopter operators in Nepal have sites and information available online. However, I prefer to use a centralized service for my excursions like GetYourGuide, Viator, or others. Plus, when I make several bookings and maybe need to cancel or change one of them, I only need to look in one place and don’t usually need to make any phone calls.
This isn’t a sponsored post; I simply like their offerings and customer service when problems arise. If you like, I’ve included a few links for some of their offerings for helicopter tours around Mt. Everest. Enjoy!
Other Flight Options
As opposed to taking a helicopter, many tourists choose to take a passenger plane that passes by Mt. Everest at even higher altitudes. The flights run from Kathmandu airport and back. Many of these pilots will also allow the passengers to come up to the cockpit for their photo opportunity of the world’s tallest mountain peak. Taking one of these options will save you quite a bit of money compared to a helicopter tour.
However, if your budget allows, I would choose the helicopter tour, which gives you more time in the area and gets you up close and personal to the mountains.
Thanks for Reading!
Thank you for checking out this post about Mt. Everest Helicopter Tours in Nepal! While my site normally focuses on trying to save money and travel on a budget, sometimes spending a little more on your trip gets you the best bang for your buck. This was one adventure that I am glad I spent a bit extra on. I hope for your trip, you can find the best fit for your wants and budget.
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