Kothe
3,600 m
Lukla
2,845 m
18 mins
8:00 AM
$350
per seat
$900
aircraft
CAAN licensed
Free weather reschedule
Rescue capable
Tengboche to Lukla helicopter flight
Tengboche
3,867 m
Lukla
2,845 m
- Flight time
- 12 mins
- Seats
- 5
- Baggage
- 15 kg
- From
- $350
Flight overview
Flying Tengboche to Lukla helicopter flight
| Route | Departs | Seats | Flight time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tengboche to Lukla helicopter flight | 8:00 AM | 5 | 12 mins |
Tengboche sits on a forested saddle at 3,867 metres with the most important monastery in the Khumbu on it and Ama Dablam filling the eastern view. The flight to Lukla takes twelve minutes.
What it replaces on foot is a long day: down through the rhododendron to Phunki Tenga, back up the switchbacks to Namche, and then the descent through the Dudh Kosi gorge with the final climb into Lukla at the end of it.
A quieter pad
There is less traffic here than at Namche or Pheriche. Most movements are pickups rather than scheduled seats, so if you want a shared seat, give us a day of notice so we can match you onto an aircraft already coming down the valley.
Respecting the site
The pad is close to an active monastery. We keep engine runs short, avoid prayer times where we can, and will be specific with you about timing if you are arranging a charter.
- From
- Tengboche
- To
- Lukla
- Aircraft
- AS350 B3e / H125
- Passenger insurance
- Included
- Flight rules
- Visual, daylight only
Pilot advisory
The pad sits on a saddle beside the monastery and wind funnels across it from mid-morning. Landings are made early. Crews keep engine runs short out of respect for the monastery.
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
- Passenger liability insurance
- Pilot and crew
- Free rescheduling if the flight is held for weather
Not included
- Personal travel and medical insurance
- Meals, accommodation and ground transport
- National park permits and TIMS cards
- Excess baggage above the stated allowance
- 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 Lukla
- Helipad
- Tenzing-Hillary Airport helipad
- Area
- Khumbu, Everest region
- Altitude
- 2,845 m
- Coordinates
- 27.68690, 86.72970
The airstrip is 527 metres long, slopes uphill at around twelve degrees, and ends in a rock face. Helicopters use the pad adjacent to the apron rather than the runway itself. Stay behind the marked line until the rotor has stopped and approach only from the front, where the crew can see you.
Safety
What you need to know before you board
A saddle pad surrounded by forest, with wind across it later in the day.
The monastery is an active religious site a short distance from the landing area. Movements are kept brief and we avoid operating during morning prayers where possible.
Standard fifteen kilo allowance. Tengboche is low enough that payload is not usually the constraint.
Questions
What travellers ask about this route
A long day: the descent to Phunki Tenga, the climb to Namche, then the gorge down to Lukla.
Helicopters are noisy, which is why crews keep engine runs short here and avoid prayer times. If you are chartering, we will discuss the timing with you.
Yes. We run charters into Tengboche for the festival each autumn. Book early; the dates move with the lunar calendar.
Twelve minutes instead of fifteen, from a lower pad, on a corridor the aircraft is already working.
No. It is on the saddle a couple of minutes from the monastery and the lodges.
Hold a seat
Request this flight
No payment now. Tell us the date and the group, and we will come back with a confirmed aircraft, a confirmed price and a deposit link.
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