Everest Base Camp & Kala Patthar helicopter tour from Kathmandu

Fly over Mount Everest and land where few travelers reach

A shared helicopter tour from Kathmandu that flies over Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, landing at Hotel Everest View at 3,880 meters for breakfast. The route covers the Khumbu Glacier and surrounding peaks in a single morning, with hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide included. Weather determines the clearest departure day from your available dates.

Step-by-step itinerary

Everest helicopter tour and breakfast

• Pickup from Kathmandu hotel
• Transfer to Tribhuvan Airport
• Complete check-in and briefing
• Helicopter flight to Everest region
• Refuel at Tenzing-Hillary Airport
• Fly over Everest Base Camp
• Fly over Kala Patthar area
• Breakfast at Hotel Everest View
• Return helicopter flight to Kathmandu
• Transfer back to Kathmandu hotel

The experience

The tour starts with early morning pickup from your Kathmandu hotel and transfer to the domestic terminal. After check-in, security and a pre-flight briefing, you board a shared helicopter with up to five other passengers. The flight heads first to Tenzing-Hillary Airport for refueling and operational checks (a brief stop that itself sits surrounded by Himalayan landscape) before the helicopter turns toward the Everest region.

Once airborne toward Everest, the helicopter flies close enough to Everest Base Camp to see the Khumbu Glacier and the icefalls in detail. The route then climbs to Kala Patthar at approximately 5,545 meters, where the views of Mount Everest and the surrounding peaks open up at close range. Depending on weather and operational conditions, a short landing near Kala Patthar is possible for photography and mountain views.

After the high-altitude flying, the helicopter descends to Hotel Everest View, one of the world's highest luxury hotels at 3,880 meters, where you have breakfast surrounded by panoramic views of Mount Everest and the Himalayan range. The return flight to Kathmandu follows the same aerial route in reverse, with the domestic airport transfer completing the tour. The entire experience runs four to five hours from pickup to drop-off. Flexible scheduling means the operator will arrange your flight on the clearest day from the dates you provide, prioritizing the best possible mountain visibility.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within Kathmandu Valley.
• shared helicopter flight with up to five passengers and one pilot.
• breakfast at Hotel Everest View.
• free consultation and assistance from Everest helicopter tour experts.
• English-speaking guide throughout the flight.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (4 to 80 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

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$ 850

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Luxury Holidays Nepal Pvt. Ltd.

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar without spending days trekking at altitude. The four- to five-hour flight from Kathmandu covers terrain that would take a week on foot, and the landing at Hotel Everest View adds a luxury stop most helicopter tours skip.

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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 exactly is Kala Patthar and why is it part of this helicopter tour?

Kala Patthar is a viewpoint at 5,545 meters in the Everest region that offers close-up views of Mount Everest, the Khumbu Glacier and surrounding Himalayan peaks. The helicopter flies over it and may land there briefly depending on weather, making it a key stop for aerial photography and mountain views that ground-based trekking would take days to reach.

How does Hotel Everest View fit into the tour, and what happens there?

Hotel Everest View sits at 3,880 meters and is one of the world's highest luxury hotels. The helicopter lands there after the Kala Patthar overflight, and you have breakfast with panoramic views of Mount Everest and the surrounding peaks before boarding for the return flight to Kathmandu.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

Hotel pickup and drop-off within Kathmandu Valley, the shared helicopter flight, breakfast at Hotel Everest View, and consultation from tour experts are included. Upgrades to a Kala Patthar landing experience or a Gokyo Lakes landing experience cost additional payment. Everest National Park permits, local taxes and airport taxes are not included.

How does the tour handle weather, and can I reschedule if conditions are poor?

The operator schedules your flight on the clearest day from all the dates you provide, prioritizing the best possible mountain views. Send your available dates when booking so the team can arrange the flight when weather conditions are optimal for visibility.

Is this tour physically demanding, or can anyone do it?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You spend most of the time in the helicopter, and the only walking happens during the brief landing at Kala Patthar and at Hotel Everest View for breakfast. No trekking or high-altitude acclimatization is required.