Everest Heli Trek – 9 Days
(ETNNP063)  Nepal

Overview

This 9 days Everest Heli trek gives you the glimpses of Kathmandu’s cultural richness and some days in the Khumbu (Everest) region of Nepal.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Kathmandu

Our airport representative will receive you at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. You will be then transferred to your respective hotel in our private tourist vehicle.

Note: Either on Day 1 or Day 2, depending upon your arrival time, we will host a pre-trek meeting in our office or at the hotel and introduce you to your trekking guide. Please seek this opportunity to ask questions about your trek. We will also supply you with our duffel bag and cap. For the meeting, please make sure you bring your passport, three copies of passport-size photos and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance if any, and sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer.

Overnight at a hotel. No meals included.

Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing

After breakfast, your sightseeing trip will start at around 8:30. You will have a private vehicle and a professional tour guide at your disposal. Visit the following heritage sites:

Pashupatinath (World Heritage Site): Pashupatinath Temple is one of the most significant Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world, located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Though you are not allowed to go inside the temple as it is strictly for Hindus only, you can clearly see the temple and the activities from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. It is a square two-tiered pagoda temple built on a single-tier plinth which is famous all over the world.

Boudhanath (World Heritage Site): Boudhanath is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Kathmandu. It was built in the 5th century. The stupa has four pairs of eyes of Lord Buddha in four cardinal directions keeping an eternal watch over the people and their doings. You will find Buddhist pilgrims circumambulating the stupa spinning the prayer wheels.

Kathmandu Durbar Square (World Heritage Site): This complex of palaces, courtyards and temples, built between the 12th and 18th centuries, used to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. An intriguing piece here is the 17th- century stone inscription set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages. The Durbar Square is the social, religious and urban focal point of the city. There are also three museums inside the palace building.

The rest of your time today in Kathmandu is free for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in Thamel.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast included.

Day 3: Fly to Lukla (2804 m) from Kathmandu or Manthali and then, Trek to Phakding (2,610 m) – 3 to 4 Hours

For Manthali – Lukla flight: Wake up around 2:30 am, drive to Manthali by shared tourist vehicle for about 4 to 6 hours, and fly to Lukla (20 minutes); Applicable for the peak trekking month of March, April, May, October and November.

For Kathmandu – Lukla flight: Wake up around 5 to 6 am and drive to the domestic airport in Kathmandu for about 30 minutes and fly to Lukla (35 minutes). Applicable for the remaining months, except peak trekking months.

Flight to Tenzing-Hillary Airport usually takes place early in the morning. We suggest you to make all the sorting and packing the day before, so there is no rush on Day 3. Once you reach Lukla, have your breakfast while our guide will make an arrangement of porters. We assign one porter to every two clients. Begin the trek by descending towards the Dudh Kosi River where you join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, located just above Chaunikharka (2,713 m). The walking is easy and after passing through the small village of Ghat (2,550 m), it is a short walk to Phakding.

Read: For peak trekking months (March, April, May, October and November), the current Lukla flight operation to and from Manthali airport that was started from the trekking season of March 2019, will continue for the upcoming years. This means you need to wake up early, around 2:30 am to reach Manthali and catch your early morning Lukla flight. In such cases, the hotel you are staying will provide the packed breakfast. Otherwise, except peak season, you can fly to Lukla directly from Kathmandu airport.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast included.

Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,441 m) – 5 Hours

Of the three days of trekking, today you will walk for the longest hours. After having breakfast, leave Phakding and head towards Namche Bazaar. Continue trekking along the banks of the Dudh Kosi and cross the majestic river many times on exciting suspension bridges laden with prayer flags. After entering the Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park, the trail climbs steeply with breathtaking views. During your uphill walk, if weather is clear enough, you will get your first view of Mount Everest. Continue climbing and you will reach Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa Capital.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast included.

Day 5: Acclimatization Hike around Namche Bazaar – 3 Hours

Trekkers and climbers who have arrived in Khumbu region spend time in Namche Bazaar to acclimatize to thinning air of the mountains. It’s exciting to be in this Sherpa town, which is a center of both commercial and cultural activities. During the first half of the day, your guide will take you for a hike around the Bazaar. Visit Sherpa Culture Museum and hike up to Syangboche Airstrip. In your walk, if weather is clear, you will be rewarded with magnificent views of mountains such as Kongde, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Everest.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast included.

Day 6: Trek to Thame (3,800 m) and Return to Namche Bazaar – 5 Hours

We have one more day of acclimatization before we fly to Everest Base Camp. Today we will take a day hike to a small traditional village called Thame which is located off the main trail to Everest. It will take us 5 hours to get there and return back to Namche. Thame was the childhood home of Tenzing Norgay, one of the first climbers of Everest, and was part of the ancient salt trading route between Tibet, Nepal and India.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast included.

Day 7: Scenic Helicopter Flight from Namche to Everest Base Camp/Kalapatthar to Lukla

It is the most exciting day of this entire trip. From Namche, we will take a helicopter. You will go for a ride over the majestic Khumbu Valley. The heli sightseeing takes you over Everest Base Camp, Khumbu Glacier and Kalapatthar. You will see the Himalayan giants such as Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Lhotse, Nuptse and many others. The tour will stop at Lukla from where you will take a flight on the next day.

Note: In the event the helicopter can’t be flown because of bad weather or any other technical reason, we will refund the cost of the helicopter ride which is valued at USD 250 per person. And to return back to Lukla, we will be trekking which takes about 6 hours.

Overnight at a guesthouse. Breakfast included.

Day 8: Fly back to Kathmandu or Manthali from Lukla

Lukla to Manthli flight – 20 minutes and same day drive to Kathmandu by shared tourist vehicle for 4 to 6 hours (Applicable for the peak trekking month of March, April, May, October and November)

Lukla to Kathmandu flight – 35 minutes and transfer to hotel by shared tourist vehicle which takes about 30 min (Applicable for the remaining months, except peak trekking months).

You might want to stay a little more in Nepal. If you are looking for extending your trip, there are options such as a visit to Chitwan National Park, known for wildlife viewing and to Pokhara, considered one of the most beautiful cities of Nepal. You can also extend your trip to Tibet, India or Bhutan.

And, at the end of this day, we host a farewell dinner at a Nepali restaurant with cultural performances.

Read: During the peak trekking months (March, April, May, October and November), the ongoing flight operation to and from Manthali airport that was started from the trekking season of March 2019, will continue in the forthcoming years. Kathmandu can be reached within 4 to 6 hour drive from Manthali. Otherwise, except peak season, you can fly to Lukla directly from Kathmandu airport.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast and farewell dinner included.

Day 9: Depart from Nepal

The trip concludes. Our airport representative will drop you at Tribhuwan International Airport three hours before your flight time.

Breakfast included.

Tour Cost & Schedule in 2022 & 2023

• Calendar
• List

Value Added

We are ready to welcome you with all the necessary safety measures (Post -19 Pandemic Halt). Hence we assure you of safety and security by following the optimal precautions.

Safety Assurance from Us (Tour/Trekking Operator)

• Vehicles fully cleaned and disinfected
• Foot bath mat available at entrance
• Extra masks available (if required)
• Safe distancing
• We carry limited number of passengers
• Our crew wear full PPE while disinfecting the vehicle
• Temperature screening available
• Our crew tested fit to travel
• Sanitizers available
• We carry additional deep wipe down cleaning of high touched areas
• Hygiene kit available for sale
• Our crew wear face mask and face shield

Safety Rules for Travelers (You)

• Namaste over handshake
• Do not travel if unwell
• Wear face mask all the time
• Maintain safe distancing
• Use foot mat while boarding
• Undertake temperature screening
• Ventilators over air conditioning
• Avoid unnecessary surface touching
• Wash/Sanitize hands regularly
• Follow sneeze etiquette
• Follow safety instructions (from local authority)
• Carry your personal hygiene all the time

Customer Reviews (17)