Pheriche
4,371 m
Lukla
2,845 m
18 mins
7:30 AM
$400
per seat
$1,250
aircraft
CAAN licensed
Free weather reschedule
Lukla to Everest Base Camp helicopter flight
Lukla
2,845 m
Everest Base Camp
5,364 m
- Flight time
- 25 mins each way
- Seats
- 3
- Baggage
- 5 kg
- From
- $600
Flight overview
Flying Lukla to Everest Base Camp helicopter flight
| Route | Departs | Seats | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lukla to Everest Base Camp helicopter flight | 6:45 AM | 3 | 25 mins each way |
The short version of the Everest Base Camp scenic flight, for people who are already at the trailhead. Twenty-five minutes up the Khumbu, a landing above five thousand metres, and back to Lukla before the morning is over.
The aircraft runs up past Namche, Tengboche and Pheriche, crosses onto the Khumbu Glacier, and overflies base camp and the icefall before putting down at Kala Patthar or Gorakshep.
Who books it
Travellers whose schedule will not stretch to the full trek. Trekking groups with a spare day at Lukla waiting on weather. And people who walked in, got as far as Namche, and want to see the top without walking to it.
The altitude
Lukla is 2,845 metres and the landing is above five thousand. That is a serious gain in under half an hour, and you will feel it. Ground time is short by design, oxygen is carried, and the crew would rather you said something than tried to be stoic about a headache at 5,545 metres.
- From
- Lukla
- Aircraft
- AS350 B3e / H125
- Passenger insurance
- Included
- Flight rules
- Visual, daylight only
Pilot advisory
One early departure. This flight takes an unacclimatised passenger from 2,845 metres to above 5,000 in under half an hour, which is a large gain. Time on the ground is deliberately short and oxygen is carried.
Pricing
What this flight costs, and what it does not include
Both figures are the price we quote on WhatsApp. A shared seat puts you on a scheduled departure with other travellers. A private charter is the whole aircraft on your schedule.
Included
- Confirmed seat or aircraft on the stated departure
- All government taxes on the charter
- High landing at Kala Patthar or Gorakshep, conditions permitting
- Passenger liability insurance
- Free rescheduling if the flight is held for weather
Not included
- Sagarmatha National Park entry fee
- Personal travel and medical insurance
- Supplementary oxygen, available on request
- Meals and accommodation
- Anything arising from a delay outside our control
We publish how these prices are set and when they move. Read the price transparency policy.
Operators
CAAN licensed operators
We charter aircraft only from operators that hold a current air operator certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Each one below is reviewed by us before we put passengers on their aircraft.
Air Dynasty Heli Services
Manang Air
Simrik Air
Mountain Helicopters
Altitude Air
Heli Everest
Kailash Helicopter Services
Prabhu Helicopter
Upcoming departures
The next flights on this route
All departures are subject to visual flight rules and weather. Seat counts are confirmed with operators each morning.
Landing site
Where you land at Everest Base Camp
- Helipad
- Everest Base Camp, seasonal pads on the Khumbu Glacier
- Area
- Khumbu, Everest region
- Altitude
- 5,364 m
- Coordinates
- 28.00260, 86.85280
Base camp sits on moving glacier ice. Pads are established seasonally by expeditions and shift year to year. Landings are only made during the spring and autumn seasons, by prior arrangement, and only when the surface has been confirmed.
Safety
What you need to know before you board
A rapid altitude gain of more than two thousand metres. Expect a headache and shortness of breath at the top, and tell the crew if it is more than that.
Time outside the aircraft at the high landing is ten to fifteen minutes. Move slowly. Supplementary oxygen is on board and available without ceremony.
If you have a heart or lung condition, are pregnant, or have had recent surgery, speak to a doctor before booking.
Landings at base camp itself are conditional on seasonal pads. Most flights land at Kala Patthar or Gorakshep and overfly base camp.
Questions
What travellers ask about this route
It is half the price and half the flying, because you are already at the trailhead. You miss the flight up through the middle hills, which is the least interesting part of the Kathmandu tour anyway.
Normally at Kala Patthar or Gorakshep, with an overflight of base camp and the icefall. See the note on seasonal pads.
It is a big gain from an unacclimatised start. We carry oxygen and keep the ground time short. If you have been in Lukla or Namche for a day or two first, you will enjoy it considerably more.
About an hour and a half to two hours, including the landing.
Yes, that is the Lukla to Gorakshep charter rather than the tour. Ask us and we will price it.
Hold a seat
Request this flight
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