Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour: Kathmandu Landing Kalapathar

The Airbus H125 lands at high altitude so you stand at Everest Base Camp itself, not circling it.

This helicopter tour departs Kathmandu at dawn, lands at Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar for direct views of Mount Everest and the surrounding peaks, then stops at Hotel Everest View for optional breakfast before returning to the city by midday. The flight runs 5 to 6 hours total with hotel pickup and drop-off included. You fly in a shared group of up to five passengers plus pilot, and if weather prevents departure, you receive a full refund and can fly on a different day. The operator flies only on clear days and the pilot decides all landing sites based on conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp

• Hotel pickup in Kathmandu
• Transfer to Kathmandu airport
• Check-in at helicopter counter
• Flight to Lukla airport
• Stop at Lukla for refuel
• Flight towards Everest Base Camp
• Landing at Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar
• Flight to Hotel Everest View for breakfast
• Breakfast at Hotel Everest View
• Flight back to Kathmandu via Lukla
• Arrival at Kathmandu airport
• Drive to hotel in Kathmandu

The experience

The day starts with a 5:30 AM pickup from your Kathmandu hotel and a drive to the airport for check-in. The Airbus H125 helicopter departs at 6:30 AM toward Lukla, where the pilot refuels and you're airborne again by 7:50 AM. By 8:25 AM you're on the ground at Everest Base Camp or Kalapathar (the landing site depends on weather and pilot discretion) standing at the actual base camp elevation instead of viewing it from above. You'll see Mount Everest, Pumori, Lhotse and Nuptse clearly from the landing zone, with time to photograph and film before the return flight begins.

The flight back to Kathmandu includes a stop at Hotel Everest View (around 8:55 AM) where breakfast is available if you want it. This stop is optional and doesn't change the tour cost. The return leg takes roughly an hour depending on fuel needs and air traffic (the pilot may refuel at Lukla or fly direct), and you're back at Kathmandu airport by 12:50 PM, then driven to your hotel by 1:15 PM. The entire itinerary shifts if weather turns. The operator flies only on clear days, and if conditions ground the helicopter, you get a full refund and can rebook for another date during your stay.

You'll share the helicopter with up to four other passengers and one pilot. The operator handles all group matching, you don't arrange co-passengers yourself, and asks you to provide flexible dates so they can fly you on the best weather window. Bring a warm jacket. Temperatures at the landing zones run around 0°C in summer and –2°C in winter. If you weigh over 100 kg, message the operator after booking so they can confirm weight distribution with the pilot.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Kathmandu accommodation.
• Airbus H125 helicopter flight with an experienced pilot.
• landing at Everest Base Camp and/or Kalapathar.
• stop at Hotel Everest View with optional breakfast.
• pre-trip briefing the day before departure.
• shared flight with up to five passengers total.
• full refund if weather grounds the flight.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:15

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (5 to 90 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 1000007

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 50

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Himalaya Holiday service Pvt. Ltd.(HHS)

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to land at Everest Base Camp itself rather than fly over it, and you're flexible on dates so the operator can fly you on a clear day. The shared group keeps the cost down, and the 5 to 6-hour round-trip fits a single day in Kathmandu without committing to a multi-day trek.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

725 verified traveler reviews

5 ★724

4 ★1

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between landing at Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar?

Both are landing options on the same flight, and the pilot chooses which one based on weather and safety. Kalapathar sits at a slightly lower elevation and often offers clearer views of Mount Everest itself. Base Camp is the actual trekking destination. Either way, you land and stand on the ground, not circle from above.

What happens if the weather is bad on my scheduled day?

The operator flies only on clear days. If weather prevents departure, you receive a full refund and can fly on another date during your stay in Nepal: the operator asks for your flexible dates when you book so they can reschedule you without extra cost.

Is breakfast at Hotel Everest View included, or do I pay extra?

Breakfast at Hotel Everest View is optional and costs nothing extra if you choose it. The stop is built into the itinerary. You can skip it and return to Kathmandu instead.

How early do I need to wake up, and when will I be back at my hotel?

Hotel pickup happens at 5:30 AM, and you're back at your hotel by around 1:15 PM. The entire round-trip takes 5 to 6 hours from departure to landing back in Kathmandu.

Do I need to bring my passport on the helicopter?

You need to bring your passport (or a photo copy on your phone) for check-in at the helicopter counter in Kathmandu. You don't need the original document, and a digital copy works.

What if I'm traveling with someone heavier? Does weight matter for the flight?

If you or a fellow passenger weighs over 100 kg, message the operator after booking so the pilot can confirm weight distribution across the helicopter. This is a safety check, not a restriction on who can fly.