Overview
About this journey
Key Highlights
What makes this journey stand out
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Sunrise lift-off from Kathmandu
An early start to beat the afternoon Khumbu winds, with the Kathmandu Valley still glowing under the Himalaya skyline as you climb out.
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Landing on Kala Patthar (5,545 m)
Eight to ten minutes on the highest point of the day, eye-level with the south face of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and Pumori.
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Aerial pass over Everest Base Camp and the Khumbu Icefall
See the actual climbers’ camp and the broken seracs of the Khumbu Icefall from above, without the eight-day trek to reach them.
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Breakfast at Hotel Everest View (3,880 m)
Buffet breakfast on the terrace of one of the world’s highest hotels, with Ama Dablam and the Everest amphitheatre directly in front of you.
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Khumbu villages from the air
Lukla, Pheriche, Tengboche monastery and the Sherpa villages spread across the valley — all in a single morning, back in Kathmandu before midday.
Costs Include
What's covered
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Hotel–airport–hotel transfers in Kathmandu by private vehicle
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Helicopter charter (Airbus AS350 B3 / H125) with pilot and fuel
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Kala Patthar landing (subject to weight, altitude and weather)
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Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
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Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee
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Domestic airport tax and landing fees
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Supplementary oxygen and first-aid kit on board
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Government taxes and VAT
Costs Exclude
Not included
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Breakfast at Hotel Everest View (approx. USD 35 per person, paid on site)
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Travel insurance with high-altitude and helicopter evacuation cover
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Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
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Any additional costs caused by weather delays or itinerary changes beyond our control
Essential Tips
Things worth knowing before you go
Dress in real layers
The ten-minute Kala Patthar landing is windy and below freezing even in spring. A down jacket, hat and gloves stay essential — sneakers and a fleece are not enough.
Eat light before flying
Rapid altitude gain combined with an early heavy breakfast often triggers nausea. Hydrate well, eat lightly, and save the buffet for Hotel Everest View at 3,880 m.
Body weight matters
Total passenger weight is recorded at check-in. At Pheriche the group is often split into smaller shuttles so the aircraft can safely lift to altitude — this is normal, not a downgrade.
Sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen
UV at 5,500 m is intense and the snow glare on a clear morning is unforgiving. Category-3 or category-4 sunglasses and SPF 50 sunscreen on every exposed surface — including under the chin and inside the nose.
Weather has the final say
Flights are weather-dependent. Rescheduling inside your trip window is normal; if the weather is closed for the whole window, the heli portion is refunded — but a forced reschedule is not.
