Short Everest Base Camp Trek Return By Helicopter
5/5 based on 05 reviews
Trip Duration
7 Days
Group Sizes
10- pax
Transportation
Private Vehicles & Helicopters
Destination
Nepal
Max. Altitude
5545m
Best Season
Spring/Autumn
Difficulty
Easy
Meals
B.L.D.
Start & End Point
Kathmandu
Accommodation
Tea house & Hotel
Will you believe us when we say you can reach and return from Everest Base Camp just within 7 days? You don’t have to pinch yourself when we say you can through our short Everest base camp trek. This trek will take you to the highest mountains in the world and almost endless glaciers, in remote and hidden valleys of rivers that roar furiously to infinite forests under snowy peaks.
Our extraordinary short Everest Base Camp trek unlike any other, short yet most beautiful and rewarding will partly lead you in the footsteps of Tenzing and Hilary who opened the route in May 1953. Then, we will return by helicopter in style from Gorakshep. Thus our 7-day Everest base camp trek return by helicopter is a one-of-a-kind experience that not only fascinates the hikers, and trekkers but also ordinary mortals.
Situated at an impressive altitude of 5364 meters above sea level, Everest Base Camp is nestled in front of the majestic Khumbu Icefall within the Sagarmatha National Park in the eastern region of Nepal.
The legendary site has so far witnessed countless record-setters and their remarkable achievements, including the likes of Kami Rita Sherpa, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, Reinhold Messner, and many others.
Apart from the closeness to Everest and the thrilling helicopter ride, the next highlight of our short Everest Base Camp trek is reaching the summit of Kala Patthar, standing tall at an impressive altitude of 5545 meters. This magnificent vantage point offers an unparalleled view of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Lingtren, Khumbutse, Pumori, Lobuche, Changtse, and many other remarkable peaks.
Other than the great precious Himalayan panoramas, the Everest base camp trek return by helicopter also allows you to feel the friendly mountain atmosphere of the Sherpas who wholeheartedly will serve you in their simple yet coziest lodges.
Here you can drink a very hot tea in moments of rest and introspection, and taste a succulent Sherpa soup while remembering the moments you have lived throughout the day.
So if you are in love with nature, and want to explore the most overwhelming geology, then we are waiting for you to join our short Everest Base Camp trek today!
Like many other adventurous journeys in the Khumbu region, our short Everest Base Camp trek also starts from Lukla with just 30 30-minute flight from Kathmandu. Then walking past Phakding, Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche, we will be at Everest Base Camp on the 5th day of the trek.
Then, we will reach the top of Kala Patthar on the seventh day and return to Kathmandu via Gorakshep the same morning.
Early in the morning, our guide will pick you up from the hotel and take you to TIA from where we will board the small aircraft that will take us to Lukla. The flight lasts only 35 minutes giving us glimpses of marvelous Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Everest, and many other sparkling Himalayas of Nepal.
Our local team of guides and porters will relieve us from our luggage then we start our 3 to 4-hour trek to Phakding which is a fairly easy and short transition. Marching alongside the wild Dudh Koshi River, we will bypass the narrow street along the descending slope through the small villages of Chheplung, Chaurikharka, Thadokoshi, and Ghat to reach Phakding resting peacefully by the shore of the Dudh Koshi River.
Attention
Depending on the schedule, we may have to drive to Manthali Airstrip situated in Ramechhap town to board a flight to Lukla. This particularly happens in spring and autumn when the air traffic can be pretty loaded. The drive to Ramechhap spans 4 hours in a private transport.
Today, we will have quite a long hike due to the difference in level and altitude, as we will advance beyond Phakding. After we leave Phakding, a gentle uphill slope will take us to Benkar. From here, we will enter the gorge, cross a small bridge, and reach the beautiful and wonderful village of Monjo.
Thamserku (6608 m) peeks between the clouds which is truly beautiful. A short descent will take us to the Sagarmatha National Park where our permits will be inspected.
From here we will enter the wonderful pine and rhododendrons jungles to reach Jorsalle. The walk will then lead us to cross the legendary Hilary Suspension Bridge from where the steep winding road with a view of Kusum Kanguru (6367m) and Kongde Ri (6187 m) lead us to Namche Bazaar.
The village welcomes us with its numerous blue-roofed houses. We will have a sensational view of Mount Everest and Lhotse from here.
From Namche, our route trail will skirt the valley side, high above Dudh Koshi. We will get excellent views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Nuptse.
The trail then shortly climbs downward towards a handrail stretching about 700 m passing through the alpine environment amidst the refreshing pine and rhododendron forest. We will reach Phungi Thenga- an ideal natural spot to eat our lunch.
After some rest, we will now make the steep climb to Tengbche Monastery- known to be the largest Gompa in the Khumbu Valley. We can witness the priest-Lama and monks active in prayer, surrounded by tall trees and mountains here.
We will then check into our shelter between the beautiful surroundings of Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Everest, Kwangde, Kangtega, and Thamserku.
The path from Tengboche will take us on a gentle descent past the small village of Deboche. Now, the lush green vegetation will leave us slowly making a place for tall alpine grasses and bushes.
We will reach a steel bridge over the Imjatse River where the vegetation becomes more arid but with a magnificent view of Ama Dablam. With a slow ascent, we will reach Pangboche, the last permanent village, after which we will encounter only temporary settlements, to meet the needs of travelers.
As the trek continues through dry and arid terrain, we will cross a small bridge with steep and short climbs to reach the beautiful Imjatse Valley, where Dingboche is located. Here we can enjoy the panorama of the amazing peaks of Nuptse, Lhotse, and Taboche with the northern area of Ama Dablam.
We will continue up the Imjatse Valley with the impressive peaks of Cholatse and Tawache on the left. We will then turn right and engage in a steep climb towards the foot of the Khumbu Glacier.
Dughla welcomes us to stop for a little rest and lunch. Now, the trail zigzags up through the boulders of the glacier leading us to the Thukla Pass at 4830 m. At the top are many built stones as memorials to Sherpas who died while climbing Mount Everest.
After offering our condolences, we can watch the remarkable playground of Ama Dablam, Lobuche, and Lobuche Peak Base Camp. The road now climbs gently along the glacier to finally reach Lobuche.
Finally, the long-awaited day has arrived when we can step foot in the majestic Everest Base Camp. To reach our stop, we will follow the Khumbu Glacier for about 3 hours.
The trail offers great views of Everest, Changri, Pumori, Mahalangur, Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Nuptse, especially from where the trail is forced to climb to cross a glacier to reach Gorakshep- the ultimate settlement with few tea houses in the Khumbu region.
We will reserve our rooms here, leave our backpacks, eat our lunch then head to Everest Base Camp. We have a few more hours of climb as the trail weaves its way through and past ice peaks and crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier.
Here we are at the dreamy and wondrous location of Everest base camp shining with colorful camps set on to the expedition to Everest. The gigantic Khumbu Icefall, Nuptse, Lhotse, Khumbutse, and Pumori will be smiling at us.
After a worthy visit and interaction with the brave climbers who will soon go down in history, we will return to our shelter in Gorakshep.
In the morning, around 4:30 am, we will prepare to leave for Kala Patthar to catch the beautiful sunrise over the Himalayas. The route follows the glacial path along the Khumbu Glacier once again. The climb is easy with no technical challenge but it can be slippery at times so please pay attention.
After around 3 hours, we will reach the summit of Black Stone Peak locally known as Kala Patthar. The top offers the glowing Himalayan views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Lingtren, Khumbutse, Pumori, Lobuche, Changtse, Ama Dablam, and many other neighboring peaks.
After enjoying this moment for the last time, we will then descend to Gorakshep, from where we will depart by helicopter to Kathmandu; possibly with a short refueling stop in Lukla.
You will definitely not forget the experience with the helicopter and the view of the Himalayas will always remain imprinted in your memory.
The Everest base camp trek return by helicopter can be best done in the fall months of September to November. These months bestow the trekkers with the most beautiful and most stable weather conditions with crisp air and sensational panorama of mountains, rivers, and landscapes. The day begins to warm up at 15 to 20 degrees Celsius but it can drop to -1 degrees Celsius at night.
The second best time for a short Everest Base Camp trek is from Match to May in spring when the rhododendrons are in bloom, but it rains a little more then than in the fall. As the strong days advance, the temperature also becomes warmer and pleasant with 12 to 16 degrees Celsius in the daytime and -8 °C at night.
Winter months from December to February are for experienced hikers or those who don’t mind that it can get really cold this time of year, especially up in the mountains.
The Everest region in the rainy season from June to August is pretty affected by the monsoon rains making it challenging to have a cloudless day for the beautiful mountain views.
Standing gently as an inspiration for many at the height of 5364 m above sea level, the Everest Base Camp is about 200 to 300 km away from the lowland city of Kathmandu. The summit of our extravagant Everest Base Camp trek return by helicopter is the prominent peak of Kala Patthar smiling at 5545 m. While the Gorakshep at 5180 m will be our highest overnight stop.
Our short Everest Base Camp trek on the very first day will take us to the mountain village of Lukla perched at 2800 m elevation and 135 km away from the capital. Throughout our short trek of 7 days, we will cover a total distance of 65 km, comfortably walking only 10 km each day on foot.
During the entire 7-day period of our short Everest Base Camp trek, we will traverse the breathtaking landscape of Khumbu Valley for approximately 5 to 6 hours each day starting from the early morning hours. Every day, our trekking journey will lead us through diverse trails, sometimes challenging with steep ascents and descents, and other times offering a short and picturesque walk.
Therefore, each day, the duration of our walks differs, with the shortest and easiest one occurring on the first day of our trek from Lukla to Phakding, taking only 3 hours. However, the longest trek of our entire journey takes place on the second last day, as we make our way from Lobuche to Everest Base Camp via Gorakshep.
The Everest Base Camp trekking route is technically simple that will take you to the world of giant glaciers and snowy peaks. With daily hikes lasting 5 to 7 hours, each day of your journey will be peculiar taking you from the thriving forests to alpine thin bushes. And to conclude the iconic journey in a lavish style, you will fly in the clouds via helicopter from Gorakshep to Kathmandu.
However, the initial trekking journey will transport you from the flatland of Kathmandu to the mountain village of Lukla in just 30 minutes. Within a span of 6 days, you will ascend to an altitude of over 5000 m. As a result, your body may not have sufficient time to adjust to the thin and dry Khumbu air, potentially leading to altitude sickness.
Our trekking itinerary is thoughtfully designed to allow for proper acclimatization, thus minimizing the risk of altitude sickness. However, it is important to acknowledge that this condition can affect anyone, irrespective of age, gender, fitness, or experience level.
If you experience a slight headache, nausea, loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing, it indicates that you are suffering from mild altitude sickness. If so, take Diamox- the diuretic drug that can help you reduce these signs within a few hours.
Additionally, please stay hydrated by consuming enough fluids, particularly 3 to 4 liters of water throughout your trek. And, please maintain a slow pace while walking and avoid overexertion, as these measures can help prevent altitude sickness to some extent.
Our Everest base camp trek return by helicopter will take you on a spectacular journey known to be the best in the world. Therefore, this journey is not only reserved for climbers and mountaineers but for anyone who likes to enjoy the mountains.
This trek therefore doesn’t need you to be an expert mountaineer, but a reasonable level of physical fitness is required. After all, this shortest route involves 7 days of trekking, staying within the range of 2,800 m in Lukla and around 5,500 m in Kala Patthar and some stages can be long and tiring. Therefore, although simple, you must treat this trek with respect.
To make your 7-day trekking journey more convenient, we have arranged your stay during the trek in the finest tea houses available along the route. Our porters will carry your luggage and equipment, while our experienced guide will be there to lead and support you throughout the journey.
Despite the fact that the Everest Base Camp trekking route is simple, it does not hurt to be in good physical shape so that the trek does not seem painfully difficult. Begin training 4-6 weeks prior to your journey. Enhance your stamina through cardio workouts like jogging, walking, swimming, or biking.
For better outcomes, carry a backpack with essential gear during cardio workouts. Strengthen your muscles with exercises such as squats, push-ups, and pull-ups.
Taking a short hike in the nearby mountains will also help you get ready for high-altitude treks like Everest Base Camp, familiarizing you with the conditions you may encounter during long hiking journeys.
There are several options to trek to Everest Base Camp based on your time availability, your liking, budget, and health. You can engage in a full trekking journey following the foot trail of Tenzing and Hilary from Jiri. This route will acquaint you with more rural and ethnic settings of Nepal but the conditions along the route can be very rustic and the trekking journey can extend by 3 or 4 days.
Or, you can start the trek from Lukla undertaking the classic trail to Everest Base Camp taking only two weeks to complete. In this journey, you will trek in a circular route covering 130 km in total within a span of two weeks.
The other option to reach the Everest Base Camp is to take the route through the Central Khumbu Valley and return through the Gokyo Valley. It avoids repeating the downhill route and involves crossing the Cho-la Pass at 5,420 m, a mountain pass with a glacial area, which requires a little more caution, and crossing a glacier tongue to reach Gokyo. It can be a little intimidating and should be treated with due respect, but Gokyo is a beautiful area that is well worth exploring.
And the other most complete option will be passing through the four valleys to reach Everest Base Camp. It involves crossing the Kongma La Pass at 5535 m, the Cho-la Pass at 5420 m, and the Renjo-la Pass at 5360 m with a short detour to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar en route.
However, the easiest and most convenient option would be to take a day tour of the Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar within a few hours via helicopter. This incredible excursion allows you to witness the majestic beauty of Everest from the sky, without the need for any trekking.
We as your travel partner in Nepal will take care of all the details so you can concentrate on your Everest Base Camp trek. We will arrange transportation, accommodation, meals, and drinks throughout the journey so you have a stress-free and enjoyable experience trip ahead.
We will offer you the Kathmandu Lukla flight, which includes airport transfer to and from TIA. If you have to take a flight from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap, then a comfortable private ride will drive you to Ramechhap. During the return journey, a shared helicopter will be available from Gorakshep to Kathmandu.
As for accommodation, you will sleep in the finest trekking lodges or tea houses along the route. You will be provided with three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), along with a cup of hot drink (Tea/Coffee) with each meal. Additionally, fresh fruits will be served every night after dinner.
The main dishes in the lodges will be rice, pasta or noodles with vegetables, momos (a kind of dumpling), and Dal Bhat. You can have eggs in all their forms (fried, in omelets, with potatoes) and porridge and Tibetan bread for breakfast.
For communication, you can purchase a local SIM Card for a very low cost in Kathmandu. All you have to do is show your passport for a visa photocopy and a photo. Ncell and Nepal Telecom are the primary telecom companies, providing reliable coverage in most areas of Nepal. However, signal availability may be limited once you travel beyond Lukla and Namche Bazaar.
For internet connections, you have the option to use the local mobile networks that offer 4G service at reasonable rates. Additionally, along the trekking route, many lodges provide a card containing a username and password to access Everest Link Wifi.
These cards may cost you NPR 500 to 600 for unlimited data access for 24 hours. As you progress forward, the card may cost you NPR 700 for 1 GB of data.
There will be no problem for charging your gadgets as the accommodations en route are equipped with electricity and solar panels to ensure a steady power supply for charging your electronic devices such as power banks, laptops, cameras, and mobile phones.
The cost for charging ranges from USD 4 to USD 10 per hour. As you ascend higher, the charging fees also increase, with a maximum charging limit of 1 hour due to high demand.
Although we will be returning via helicopter in our short Everest Base Camp trek, we will still be hiking through the protected area of Sagarmatha National Park. So we need to acquire both a Khumbu Rural Municipality Permit and a Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit.
Our team will take care of obtaining these permits on your behalf at Kathmandu or Lukla. The cost of these permits is already included in the overall itinerary cost.
It is essential to have travel insurance for our short Everest Base Camp trek. When you make a reservation for our Everest Base Camp trek return by helicopter, we kindly request you provide us with a copy of your travel insurance.
Your insurance policy should include coverage for mountain rescue, helicopter evacuation, medical and hospital expenses in the event of injuries, luggage loss, flight cancellation, extra days stay, and similar incidents.
Additionally, please ensure that your travel insurance covers a maximum altitude of 5,000 m or above. It is important to note that only insurance policies specifically designed for high mountaineering activities will cover the full height of this trip.
Helicopter return is part of our short Everest Base Camp trek shortening the trip by 7 days. But we promise you that the unparalleled scenery of the Himalayas, the adventure, and the experience you will feel in the presence of his majesty Everest will be just like you would get on the traditional 14-day Everest Base Camp trek.
During this journey, you will have the opportunity to meet new people, explore various landscapes, and create ever-lasting friendships with your accompanying team. You will carry these emotions and experiences in your heart for the rest of your life. This trek will also give you an intense experience in contact with the cultures, scents, and religions of the people of Nepal.
Each day of your hike will be different which offers you a unique and spectacular experience. The environment and vegetation will gradually change, taking you from lush forests and local vegetable gardens to arid landscapes with arid bushes and meadows. After traversing through these diverse environments, you will finally arrive at Everest Base Camp and conquer Kala Patthar the next day.
Throughout the entire trail, the majestic Himalayan peaks will accompany you. Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Thamserku, Nuptse, Cholatse, and many other lesser-known yet equally breathtaking peaks will play hide and seek with you.
Probably this short 7-day journey is one a kind of journey where you can immerse yourself in the realm of true nature, spirituality, and culture in such a short time.
The main difference is that we will not be completing the entire Everest Base Camp route. Instead, after summiting Kala Patthar, we will shorten our hiking days and head back from Gorakshep to Kathmandu. This trek is specifically designed for those who lack time in Nepal but still wish to experience the closeness of Everest. It is also designed for those who are unable to dedicate long days to hiking due to health concerns. Additionally, we have organized this trip to be suitable for families, children, and senior citizens looking to add some adventure and joy to their dull retirement days.
No, helicopter landing at the Everest Base Camp is not possible and prohibited in fact because the camp is located just in front of the massive Khumbu Icefall making the landing very dangerous for the risk of avalanche.
We offer a sleeping bag, a down jacket, and walking poles (in case you do not possess your own) for your trip. These items are to be returned upon completion of the trip. A maintenance and washing charge of $10 USD has to be paid for each of these items.
Good quality hiking boots, waterproof underwear, warm trekking pants, waterproof thermal trousers, thermal T-shirts and full shirts, summer and winter socks, thin and winter gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat and neck warmers, flipflops or sandals, microfiber Towel, GPS, compass, toilet paper are some of the items you will need for this adventure
No, staying at the base camp is allowed only to the climbers embarking on conquering Everest. The base camp is their acclimatizing stop where they spend multiple nights in tent shelters. For us who are only for the trek, we will visit the Base Camp, spend about 30 minutes or so at the camp, and return to Goraskhep.
2550 US$
Total Cost:
US$ 2950
Write a Review
