Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return: Kathmandu

The helicopter ride down is what saves the knees on the way back.

A 12-day trek from Kathmandu to Everest Base Camp and back, with an English-speaking guide, all meals and accommodation, permits, and a 20-minute helicopter return from Gorakshep to Lukla. The trek climbs through Namche Bazaar, Tengboche monastery, and Dingboche before reaching Base Camp at 5,365 meters; the morning after, you climb Kala Patthar for views of Everest and the surrounding giants, then fly down instead of walking the descent. Minimum two people; moderate fitness required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrive in Kathmandu and meet guide

• Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport
• Meet official and transfer to hotel
• Attend pre-trip meeting with guide

Day 2 — Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding

• Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla
• Meet guide and porters at Lukla
• Trek from Lukla to Phakding

Day 3 — Trek to Namche Bazaar

• Trek along Dudh Koshi river
• Cross suspension bridges
• Arrive at Namche Bazaar

Day 4 — Acclimatize in Namche Bazaar

• Short trek around Namche Bazaar
• Enjoy views of Himalayas

Day 5 — Trek to Tengboche

• Trek along Dudh Kosi river
• Reach Tengboche monastery
• Observe prayer ceremony

Day 6 — Trek to Dingboche

• Descend to Debuche
• Cross suspension bridge on Imja Khola
• Climb to Pangboche and Dingboche

Day 7 — Acclimatization hike to Nangkartshang Peak

• Hike to Nangkartshang Peak
• View Ama Dablam mountain
• Rest or stroll in Dingboche

Day 8 — Trek to Lobuche

• Trek along Khumbu Glacier moraine
• Pass stone memorials
• Arrive at Lobuche village

Day 9 — Trek to Everest Base Camp and Gorak Shep

• Trek to Everest Base Camp
• View Khumbu Icefall
• Return to Gorak Shep for night

Day 10 — Hike Kala Patthar and helicopter to Lukla

• Climb Kala Patthar peak
• Descend to Gorak Shep
• Have hot breakfast
• Fly by helicopter to Lukla

Day 11 — Fly back to Kathmandu and farewell dinner

• Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu
• Transfer to hotel
• Attend farewell dinner with cultural dance

Day 12 — Transfer to international airport

• Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport

The Experience

Twelve days means time to acclimatize properly instead of racing altitude. You fly into Lukla on day two, then trek to Phakding in 3 to 4 hours before the real climbing starts. The next day is a 6-hour push to Namche Bazaar, where you stay an extra day to adjust to the thinning air — short hikes around the village let you see the Khumbu peaks without the strain of forward progress. From there the route climbs steadily through Tengboche, where you watch a prayer ceremony inside the monastery, and on to Dingboche, a traditional Sherpa village ringed by Lhotse, Island Peak and Ama Dablam. Another acclimatization day here includes a hike to Nangkartshang Peak, which gives you a clear view of Ama Dablam from summit to base if the weather holds.

The final push to Everest Base Camp is 7 to 8 hours along the Khumbu Glacier, and it is the hardest day of the trek — you reach 5,365 meters, the closest you can get without mountaineering gear. The Khumbu Icefall spreads below you, and during spring, expedition teams are usually preparing for summit attempts. You sleep at Gorakshep that night instead of staying at Base Camp itself. The next morning, before the helicopter ride, you climb Kala Patthar, a small peak at 5,555 meters that takes 4 hours round-trip. The ascent is steep and the air is thin, but from the top Everest towers directly ahead at 8,848 meters, with Nuptse, Pumori, Lhotse and the other giants surrounding it on all sides. After a hot breakfast back at Gorakshep, you board the helicopter for the 20-minute flight to Lukla, then fly back to Kathmandu the next day for a farewell dinner with cultural performances.

Your guide is a first-aid trained, English-speaking trekking professional licensed by Ace the Himalaya. Porters carry your luggage — one porter for every two guests — so you trek with a daypack. All meals are included: breakfast, lunch and dinner on the trail, plus breakfast in your Kathmandu hotel before and after. Accommodation is twin-sharing guesthouses with attached toilets in Lukla, Phakding and Namche, and a three-star hotel in Kathmandu. The trek includes all permits, park entry fees, filtered water from a Katadyn system on the trail, a comprehensive first-aid kit with an oxymeter to check oxygen levels, and both domestic flights between Kathmandu and Lukla. You also get a duffel bag, trekking map and sun hat to keep. Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu, travel insurance, international airfare, personal trekking gear and tips for staff are not included and can be arranged separately.

What’s included

• English-speaking, first-aid trained guide.
• all meals on the trail (breakfast, lunch and dinner) plus two breakfasts in Kathmandu.
• twin-sharing guesthouse accommodation with attached toilets in Lukla, Phakding and Namche, and a three-star hotel in Kathmandu.
• all park permits and TIMS trekking permits.
• domestic flights Kathmandu to Lukla and back.
• the 20-minute shared helicopter flight from Gorakshep to Lukla.
• porters to carry luggage (one per two guests).
• filtered water on the trail.
• comprehensive first-aid kit with oxymeter.
• and a duffel bag, trekking map and sun hat to keep.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Ace the Himalaya

Is this one for you?Book this trek if you are flying into Kathmandu without a car or staying in the city — pickup from the airport and all transport to the trailhead are arranged, and you return to your hotel after the final flight back. The helicopter descent from Gorakshep saves the strain of a full day's walk down at high altitude, which matters if your knees or lungs are already working hard by day ten.

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Top questions

What is Namche Bazaar and why do you spend an extra day there?

Namche Bazaar is the largest Sherpa settlement on the Everest trail, sitting at 3,441 meters. You spend an acclimatization day there because the altitude jump from Phakding is steep; a rest day with short local hikes lets your body adjust to the thinner air before you continue climbing.

How difficult is the climb to Kala Patthar on the final morning?

Kala Patthar is a small peak at 5,555 meters and the ascent is demanding — it takes 4 hours round-trip from Gorakshep and the air is very thin. It is the hardest morning of the trek, but the views of Everest and the surrounding Himalayan giants from the summit are the reward.

Do I need my own trekking boots and gear, or is equipment provided?

Personal trekking equipment is not included, so you bring your own boots, layers, sleeping bag and other gear. The operator provides a duffel bag, trekking map and sun hat to keep, plus a comprehensive first-aid kit on the trail.

What meals are covered and what do I need to arrange myself?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included every day on the trek, plus breakfast in your Kathmandu hotel before departure and after return. Lunch and dinner during your time in Kathmandu are not included and you arrange those yourself.

Is the 20-minute helicopter ride from Gorakshep to Lukla shared with other trekkers?

Yes, the helicopter ride is shared. You fly with other trekkers who are on the same trek, which keeps the cost lower than a private helicopter charter.