Everest Helicopter Tour – 10 Days

Trekking starts early morning and continues along the northern banks of the Dudh Koshi River as you enjoy the views of several snow peaks all around. The thrilling suspension bridges will infuse excitement into the whole trek. You will reach Monjo village and then the Sagarmatha National Park. At the Sagarmatha National Park checkpoint, we register permits and then climb a dense forest. From the forest, you can get the first glimpses of Mount Everest. Up ahead, you will come across a stone-paved way that will take you to Namche Bazaar - the gateway to Everest. You will be spending one day at Namche Bazaar for acclimatization.

You will be spending one more day at Namche Bazaar so that you can adjust to the thinning air at a high altitude. However, we will keep you busy. There are plenty of things to do, such as exploring Namche Bazaar, hiking to Sagarmatha National Park, or visiting Khumjung or Khunde villages. We can also take you to Syangboche Airport (3,780m) - one of the highest airports. If you want to enjoy the views of Everest, we will take you to the premises of Everest View Hotel.

From Namche, a relatively easy trek takes you to Phunki Village. From there, you will be hiking through steep uphills as you advance to Tengboche. Though the hike might exhaust you a little, the views will keep encouraging you to move further. If you are lucky, from the trails, you can spot Himalayan wildlife like musk deer, Himalayan tahr, and pheasants. When you reach Tengboche, you can get a panoramic view of several mountains like  Everest (8,848m), Lhotse (8,516), Nuptse (7,861),  Ama Dablam (6,812m), and Thamserku (6,623m). Tengboche houses one of the largest and most famous monasteries in the Khumbu region - Tengboche Monastery. This monastery, also known as the monastery on the top of the hill, is a not to miss site.

The trek continues from Tengboche and heads to Dingboche via the Pangboche village through trails that provide fascinating views of stupas, mani walls, and Sherpa villages. You will find yourself trekking in an alpine forest that gradually transfers into shrublands and finally to a high-altitude desert-like landscape. The most challenging climb starts from the Lobuche river as the trails elevate steeply all the way to Dingboche. At Dingboche, the summer valley of Khumbu, you will find a long stone wall protecting the farmlands from the cold winds and wild animals. The views of snow peaks look gorgeous from this village.

One more day to acclimatize and explore places in and around Dingboche (4,360m/14,290ft). We will take you for a hike up the ridge above Dingboche to get a panoramic close-up view of Mount Lhotse (8,516m/27,940ft), the backside of Ama Dablam (6,812m/22,349ft), and Island peak (6,189m). While your body relaxes, you will find your mind calming down.

Early morning, we leave Dingboche and head towards Lobuche. Throughout the path, you will get amazing views of some of the tallest mountains in the world. The trail ascends a short hill and takes you through the Khumbu Glacier moraine, elevating while offering you stunning views, and reaches Thukla. At Thukla, you can see a memorial of those who fell in this harsh terrain. Then you will hike some more to arrive at Lobuche.

Today will be your special day as your hike cumulates to reaching the Everest Base Camp. You will wake up early and start trekking on a path that takes you across many glaciers, including the famous Khumbu Glacier. At a distance, you will also see the Khumbu Icefall (5,486m). However, before reaching Everest Base Camp (EBC), you will head to Gorakshep, leave your belongings in a local lodge, and climb up to reach Everest Base Camp (5,364m). At the EBC, you will find yourself surrounded by high snow-capped mountains all around. As you enjoy the scenery, you might feel overwhelmed with happiness. After enjoying the views to the heart’s content and taking tons of pictures, you will return to Gorakshep and rest.

We wake up very early morning and head to Kala Patthar Viewpoint (5,555m) to see the dawn breaking from behind Everest and nearby snow peaks. Kala Patthar is also the highest point of your trek. After enjoying the sunrise views, you will head back to your Lodge in Gorakhshep, have breakfast, and hike for around two and a half hours to reach Lobuche. From Lobuche, we will board you on a helicopter heading to Lukla. Your helicopter ride will be comfortable as you fly, and you will gain a broader view of the stunning Everest region.

After concluding your trek in Lukla, you will fly to Manthali or Kathmandu, depending on the ongoing trekking season. Most likely, if your trek occurs in March, April, May, September, October, or November, you'll fly to Manthali and then take a five-hour drive to Kathmandu. During the remaining months (December, January, February, June, July, and August), you will fly from Lukla to Kathmandu directly. Should you wish to avoid the Lukla-Manthali-Kathmandu route, you can consider teaming up with four others to book a helicopter. The additional cost per person will be approximately 950 USD. We hope your return to Kathmandu will be memorable as you recollect the memories you made during your trek. Your trek will finally end in Kathmandu.