0
6 Great Helicopter Tours in Nepal
A helicopter tour is probably the most exciting and quickest way to get a real view of the Himalayas in Nepal. While expensive a helicopter can save you days of trekking and for some might be the only option to reach Everest or Annapurna Base camp. Here is a quick look at the different helicopter tours in Nepal and the highlights of each.
1) Helicopter Tours to Everest Base Camp
Everest Base Camp is situated at 5,364 metres (17,598 ft) on the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Immediately above Base Camp is where the climb starts and the famous Khumbu IceFall. It’s not an easy place to get to and trekkers spend 8 or 9 days walking from the small air strip at Lukla to reach Base Camp. If you don’t have the time or inclination to spend the two weeks walking back and forth to Basecamp a helicopter tour is a great option. The views are incredible and it’s certainly a once in a lifetime experience!
The typical helicopter tour will get an early start from Kathmandu and make the 45 minute flight to Lukla. You will likely stop for a brief amount of time to offload fuel in Lukla so that your helicopter is lighter and can make it all the way to Basecamp. Leaving Lukla you will take a quick flight to the Everest View Hotel above Namche. Here you may stop and have breakfast and tea or coffee and enjoy the dramatic views of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam.
The final leg of the journey is to Kala Patthar, a small peak that looks down on Everest Base Camp. Here you can get out of the helicopter for a few minutes and take pictures before heading back to Kathmandu. The Helicopter will normally circle Everest Basecamp several times and you will get a stunning view of the peaks and the ice fall.
Learn More: Everest Helicopter Tours
| Everest Helicopter (ex-Kathmandu) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. of Person | Cost Per Person | Extra Shuttle(if Needed) |
| 1 | USD 4750 | USD 500 |
| 2 | USD 2400 | USD 500 |
| 3 | USD 1650 | USD 500 |
| 4 | USD 1350 | USD 500 |
| 5 | USD 1200 | USD 500 |
| Everest Helicopter (ex-Lukla) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. of Person | Cost Per Person | Extra Shuttle(if Needed) |
| 1 | USD 1800 | USD 500 |
| 2 | USD 900 | USD 500 |
| 3 | USD 665 | USD 500 |
| 4 | USD 525 | USD 500 |
| 5 | USD 420 | USD 500 |
2) Gokyo Lake Helicopter Tours
The Gokyo Lakes lie high in the Everest region of the Himalayas and are world famous for their beauty. While Everest gets all the attention it is actually a difficult mountain to see from any angle and even from Everest Basecamp only the top is visible. If you decide on a helicopter tour to the Gokyo Lakes not only will you see Everest but you will also get to see the Gokyo Lakes and further up the valley Cho Oyu (the world’s 6th tallest peak).
The Gokyo Helicopter tour is similar to the Everest tour in that you will start from Kathmandu, stop in Lukla and then stop briefly in Namche for breakfast before making the short flight to the Gokyo Lakes where you will be able to get out of the helicopter for a few minutes and take pictures. Leaving Gokyo you will head back to Kathmandu after making a short stop in Lukla.
Find out More: Gokyo Lake Helicopter Tour
| Gokyo Lake Helicopter (ex-Kathmandu) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. of Person | Cost Per Person | |
| 1 | USD 5500 | |
| 2 | USD 2750 | |
| 3 | USD 1850 | |
| 4 | USD 1375 | |
| 5 | USD 1100 | |
3) Gosaikunda Helicopter Tours
The Gosaikunda Lakes lie at approximately 4400m in Nepal’s Langtang Himal. They are an important pilgrimage site for Hindu. They are known as the abode of the Hindu deities Shiva and Gauri and the waters of the lakes are considered sacred. Many pilgrims make a 3 or 4 day trek to the lake but the steep terrain and time requirements mean that a helicopter is the best option for some visitors.
The helicopter tour will make an early start from Kathmandu and you will head north out of the valley and over the foothills of the Himalayas to Syabru Besi where you enter the proper Langtang Himal. It’s a scenic flight through the mountains with views of Ganesh Himal (7,407m) and Langtang Lirung (7,246m). You will have about half an hour to enjoy the beauty of the lakes and take in the scenery before returning to Kathmandu.
See More Details: Gosaikunda Helicopter Tour
| Gosaikunda Helicopter (ex-Kathmandu) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. of Person | Cost Per Person | |
| 1 | USD 2000 | |
| 2 | USD 1000 | |
| 3 | USD 670 | |
| 4 | USD 500 | |
| 5 | USD 400 | |
4) Langtang Helicopter Tours
The Himalayas of Nepal are divided into a number of sub-ranges with Everest to the east of Kathmandu and Annapurna to the west. Directly North of Kathmandu you will find the Langtang Himal which is often visible when you have a clear day in Kathmandu. Most visitors will drive 7 or 8 hours to Syabru Besi before taking a week-long trek up the Langtang valley. The entire region can be experienced in an exciting half day helicopter tour.
The helicopter tour gets an early start enroute from Kathmandu to Syabru Besi which is the gateway village to the Langtang region. Continuing from Syabru Besi the helicopter will track up the canyon following the path of the Langtang Khola (River) to Kyanjing Gompa at 4085m where tours stop for a 30 minute break so you can enjoy the scenery. Langtang Lirung Glacier is seen directly above on the slopes and while flying you can see Langtang Lirung (7,246m) and the nearby Yala trekking peak. After our brief stop we will head back to Kathmandu for the conclusion of our tour.
Find out More: Langtang Helicopter Tour
| Langtang Helicopter (ex-Kathmandu) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. of Person | Cost Per Person | |
| 1 | USD 2000 | |
| 2 | USD 1000 | |
| 3 | USD 670 | |
| 4 | USD 500 | |
| 5 | USD 400 | |
5) Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tours
The Annapurna Base Camp lies in a high glacial cirque often called the “Annapurna sanctuary” in that it is enclosed by spectacular peaks the highest of them being Annapurna I at 8091m directly behind the base camp. Trekkers will spend on average 10 days hiking back and forth to the base camp but the tour can be made in a half a day from Pokhara by helicopter.
This tour gets an early start from Pokhara and you will head north towards the dramatic peak of Machapuchare (Fishtail) sometimes known as the “Matterhorn” of Nepal before crossing the ridgeline and following the canyon of the Modi Khola (River) towards Base Camp. You will have dramatic views of surrounding peaks including Annapurna South, Annapurna I and Gangapurna.
Upon reaching the basecamp you the helicopter will set down and you will have about half an hour to explore and take pictures. After our brief stop we will head back to Pokhara for the conclusion of our tour.
Learn More: Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour
| Annapurna Helicopter (ex-Kathmandu) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. of Person | Cost Per Person | |
| 1 | USD 4750 | |
| 2 | USD 2400 | |
| 3 | USD 1650 | |
| 4 | USD 1250 | |
| 5 | USD 1000 | |
| Annapurna Helicopter (ex-Pokhara) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No.Of Person | Cost Per Person | |
| 1 | USD 2500 | |
| 2 | USD 1250 | |
| 3 | USD 850 | |
| 4 | USD 625 | |
| 5 | USD 500 | |
6) Muktinath Helicopter Tour
The Muktinath Temple complex lies high in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal and at 3,800, is one of the world’s highest elevation temples. Often visited via a long drive or trek it can be easily reached by helicopter from Pokhara. Taking a helicopter ride to Muktinath is an incredible experience as you will fly at a lower elevation and feel like you are almost touching the Himalayas.
This tour gets an early start from Pokhara and you will head north with dramatic views of Fishtail before heading slightly to the west and the Kali Gandaki Gorge. Flying through the gorge is a unique experience as it’s one of the world’s deepest gorges separating Dhaulagiri (8,167 m or 26,795 ft) on the west and Annapurna (8,091 m or 26,545 ft) on the east. Exiting the gorge the landscape opens up near Jomsom and your flight will head towards Muktinath. After landing at Ranipauwa you will have a short time to visit the temple and take in the scenery before heading back to Pokhara for the conclusion of our tour.
Learn More: Muktinath Helicopter Tour
Note on Helicopter Flights: When booking a helicopter flight keep in mind that flying is very dependent on the weather and flight times are often delayed and should be considered rough estimates. Costs vary depending on the number of passengers and unless you have booked a private trip you may make stops enroute to pick up or drop passengers. Emergency and rescue flights take precedence and even if the weather is good your flight might be diverted or delayed. We have been running helicopter flights for a number of years and will do our best to ensure you have the best experience.
| Muktinath Helicopter (ex-Kathmandu) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. of Person | Cost Per Person | |
| 1 | USD 4750 | |
| 2 | USD 2400 | |
| 3 | USD 1650 | |
| 4 | USD 1250 | |
| 5 | USD 1000 | |
| Muktinath Helicopter (ex-Pokhara) | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. of Person | Cost Per Person | |
| 1 | USD 2500 | |
| 2 | USD 1250 | |
| 3 | USD 835 | |
| 4 | USD 625 | |
| 5 | USD 500 | |
Extra: Everest Scenic Flights
Helicopter flights are no doubt expensive and out of the budget of many travelers. The good news is that if you are limited on time and still want to see Everest you can take a less expensive scenic flight. Everest Scenic Flights depart every morning from Kathmandu when the weather is good. Every passenger on the flight will get a window seat and you will get fantastic views of not just Everest but a number of 8000m peaks. If you can’t make the trek this might just be the best alternative.
Read About: Everest Scenic Flights
