I fulfilled a bucket list item of seeing Mt. Everest up close via helicopter while in Kathmandu, Nepal. What a majestic sight!
Must Do: Mt. Everest Helicopter Tour
One of my primary reasons for visiting Nepal was to take a helicopter ride up to Everest Base Camp. We chose Kailash Helicopter Services for the tour, based upon the recommendation of a pilot who flew with us on the Nepal Airlines Bangkok – Kathmandu flight. I wrote about this earlier, but have added more details and video.
You can share a helicopter for about $1,200/seat if you book in advance. You’ll share the cabin with 2-3 others, but it’s a more economical way. We chartered a helicopter for $5,000 less than 24 hours before the journey. I suspect we could have saved a little bit had we arranged this weeks in advance.
On a rather smoky morning, we departed early from Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). We showed up to the domestic terminal, walked past the check-in desks for commercial carriers, then checked in for our Kailash “flight,” even paying an extra 500 NPR (~4 USD) departure tax.
The domestic terminal even had a nice coffee shop.
We were next driven out to an area of the airport in which helicopters were parked and sat there for about 20 minute waiting for takeoff clearance.
We took off and the first leg of our journey, to Tenzing-Hillary Airport (LUA) in Lukla, was about 40 minutes away. It was very smoky as we traveled through the Kathmandu Valley, but Mount Everest finally came into view and was breathtaking.
First, we stopped at Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla to refuel. This airport is commonly labeled “the most dangerous airport in the world” because of the short runway and steep slope.
There, we had to pay a couple of taxes 3000 NPR (about 22 USD) and 2000 NPR (about 15 USD) and also had some tea and were provided instructions on how to use the oxygen onboard, if necessary.
Here, we changed helicopters and continued our journey upwards.
The highlight of the entire journey was Kala Patthar (18,192 feet/5,545 meters), with clear views of Mt. Everest and other peaks.
A further note on oxygen. No, we did not need it. I can only surmise that Sam Chui used it for dramatic effect, not actual need, when he did a similar trip…
Our journey continued with more beauty that even the videos below cannot fully capture.
We stopped at Gokyo Lake (15,583 feet / 4,750 meters), which is like a mirage amongst the rocks and snow.
Next, we flew to Hotel Everest View (12,730 feet / 3,880 meters) for brunch.
It was nippy, but we sat outdoors and enjoyed a cup of coffee and omelet.
Our Swiss pilots were named Philipp and Laurenz and absolutely phenomenal…professional and impeccably skilled in operating the helicopter.
We then returned to Lukla and switched helicopters again before returning to Kathmandu.
I cannot help but smile in looking at these pictures and videos. This is truly an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It was not cheap, but it was worthwhile: there is a certain indescribable majesty in seeing this mountain range and the peak of Mt. Everest up close. Having a helicopter to yourself makes it even more special.
I saw many things in Kathmandu, but nothing like this…what a joy.
Did not enjoy this piece. You know how crappy it is to hike out into the wild and then have an incredibly loud helicopter come and rattle you? Makes you really dislike the rich folks who take those. I live in Capitol Hill, DC, and there is a big movement among residents to reduce all the traffic we get. New studies show how it really is stressful to have that kind of jarring noise. Won’t fly helicopters and I urge others to do the same. Also as someone trained in backcountry medicine I know that at least in teh mountains and in the 90s helicopter crash rates are ridiculously high and usually fatal. But just don’t mess up others’ experiences in the wild by taking copter rides there.
As an avid whitewater kayaker that has spent 25 years running rivers in some of the remote places on the planet I can both agree and disagree with your statement. The idea that seeing some of the world’s most beautiful and distant places should be for those who have the time and ability to access them with a more adventurous and lighter footprint is simply not fair. Just because you can’t, or won’t, should not preclude you from this joy. Nonetheless, there should be limitations to the numbers, and specific rules as such. Further, to make it not just something for the rich to enjoy but accessible to many in a limited permitted manner.
I have experienced helicopters on some very remote rivers in Nepal, Bhutan, and even Patagonia. Did I enjoy being on a deep multi-day river trip and having them land near us and disturbing our peace? Of course not. But how could I be upset? A friend’s life was saved by one after a serious head injury on a river in the Trinity Alps of Northern California. Further, in New Zealand, we use them every day practically to access upper stretches of river that are otherwise inaccessible they are (often referred to as the National Bird of New Zealand). Lastly, I will not pretend to be righteous about these things when, in fact, I flew, drove and used multiple modes of transportation just to get to my “lesser footprint” adventure.
Balance in everything. And if Matthew can be inspired by this, fantastic. Not everyone is going to hike for days to see beauty. But some might be inspired to do just that in the future.
Well said!
@Jeff … +1 . Another problem with travel by helicopter to a remote place is the Wimpiness of it all .
It is so Wimpy to ride a helicopter when one is afraid to walk and carry a pack . Those passengers would never qualify for Special Forces .
Matthew is in good shape , and he might have hiked to the summit , as did the 1953 Everest expedition .
@Jeff … Another problem is the disturbance of the natural animals , in addition to disturbing the hikers who have guts and class . Evil hunters also take the easiest way .
Color me envious. I love helicopters and we often do excursions to out of the way places when traveling. Our last was a doors-off tour outside of Sedona.
So wasteful
WOW! A bucket list trip I would love to enjoy. Thanks for sharing. FWIW I live just outside DC and enjoy the choppers coming over every day. I always know when the President is headed up to Camp David.
That sounds quite incredible. You also couldn’t pay me enough to fly in a helicopter anywhere, especially in such a remote area. So I shall enjoy living vicariously through you on this one.
Absolutely amazing but news like this one is what prevents me to be more adventurous. I think about my kids and family and avoid the risk. Again, everyone has a different risk profile.
https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/5-mexican-citizens-die-helicopter-crash-everest/
@Santastico … I’m with you , especially considering the Osprey fiasco . During Army service I was a passenger in many open door helicopters , and a medical one , and I wasn’t comfortable riding in any of them . Especially when they turned sharply , and I saw the ground directly below .
That looks pretty dope. I’m in.
What is the name of the tour company?
It’s in the story.
Brilliant. Much better than on the ground with the crowds
I would bet that helicopters have saved many more people than they’ve killed. If you’re that afraid of them I can’t imagine how you could get on an airplane (or for that matter drive a car or do anything that is even remotely dangerous (for example even crossing the street).
My cousin and my two best friends are chopper pilots. At least on a helicopter there is autorotation. You can’t do that in an airplane.
In my (short) service in the Army I flew on them on them many times without an issue. There is a statement about those who fear rather than dare but unfortunately do not recall it.
Jeezus.
It may have been expensive….. But I say do it. Exchange the money for memories. Memories have so much more value. Can’t wait to read more!
I did the helicopter to Everest several years ago….and it was truly amazing. Did you take the jet as well to see the rest of the Himalaya’s? That was a bucket list flight as well, except you are inside a plane. But the plane takes you all the way up to see down on the mountains.
I’m curious to read your trip review to see if Kathmandu has changed much. I thoroughly enjoyed it (following a 6 trip through India) but it is not for everyone. Neither is India….
I didn’t know this existed, but it looks like it would be one heck of a trip. In regards with the oxygen, it probably depends on how healthy you are. Clearly you are, Sam I would say probably not as much. That could be why, or just for the views.
I used to visit Kathmandu regularly and I’ve done the Everest mountain flight, in a plane, twice – once on Buddha Air Beechcraft 1900 and second time on a Yeti Airways Jetstream 41. Both a wonderful experience – literally, full of wonder, flying along the Himalayas and seeing six of the world’s ten highest peaks, the pilots and cabin crew pointing them out on the handout guide that they had given us. Fantastic experience – I can imagine that being able to stop, get off and look around and get that much closer must be even more so.
If we had an extra day, I would have done the Yeti flight as well. Will do so next time when I bring the whole family along (and we will charter a helicopter again…an amazing experience to be sure).
Yes , I’ve done the Yeti flight too. Flying low over the peak of Everest and thinking of what it takes to get there is quite a thrill too.
The Nepal CAA has banned non essential helicopter flights untill September, when the rainy season ends, after the heli accident on July 11th.
Which explains why my pilots are back in CH.
While Sam Chui may have partly used the Oxygem for dramatic effect, he doesn’t look the fittest.
At under 15K feet most are perfectly fine for short durations of an hour or two with little exertion. I’ve kayaked rivers with full steam at 12K feet and was fine…and I am far from being Lance Armstrong. It’s only after hours, and trying to sleep, that high altitudes begin to set in, especially in the morning with horrid headaches.
Bottom line, Sam was milking it for effect. It’s hardly needed for a quick in and out with little effort.
This looks beyond amazing. Thank you for sharing this, Matthew. Legitimately wow’ed.
Approximate cost? Website doesn’t specify
Did you read the post?
What an amazing pictures of Mount Everest Heli tour. Great contents!
Many people, of all levels of fitness, frequently SKI at altitudes up to 13,000’ without (much) difficulty. Good that you didn’t have any (breathing OR flying) problems on the helicopters (or between flights), at those altitudes they’re near their service ceiling above which flight is ill-advised, that’s why few helicopters have oxygen.
But you have no pictures posted of Mt. Everest…
Planning on a trip to the Himalayas October 2024 and wanted to know the cost of a chartered chopper vs a person group rate with other travelers.
Please send info/reply to the email I provided.
Thank you!
I did the yeti flight last year and it was well worth it.
My friend is hiking the trail right now to the base camp.
Good for your friend , who is not a Wimp .
Amazing! I might try to visit nepal next year.
In June I flew from Delhi to Frankfurt and got the most incredible views from the windows that I’ve ever seen on a plane over the Himalayas. Absolutely breathtaking.
Love the piece but why do you have this odd fascination with weight? You’ve written countless articles about it and always seem to call it out if the slightest insinuation could be you gained weight.
Yes, eat well and live well. But it seems a vice.
Sam probably needed oxygen cause he’s fat.
Amazing trip! Also what is your full time job? Love all the splurging.
Nice job documenting your adventure! This must have been breathtaking to experience.
Did you actually land at base camp? Is this even possible?
Thank you writing this and sharing your pics
We did not land at the base camp – apparently, our helicopter had clearance, but we just flew over it.
My understanding is no more helicopters to base camp.