9 Days Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return

Everest Base Camp Trek is almost 80 miles far from Lukla airport. A one-way trip alone is 65 km from the airstrip. However, the outward trek distance is much more with all short hikes taken for altitude acclimatization.

There’s no strict law for travel insurance while hiking Everest Base Camp or any other trek. But it’s highly advisable that trekkers get insured as it secures them from unfortunate casualties like robbery, repatriation, emergency evacuation, and many others. There are ample insurance companies ready to serve travelers visiting Nepal.

The ability of an aircraft to reach the maximum altitude depends on the engine’s capacity to work in thin air. A turbine-powered helicopter gives high performance and can hover up to 25,000 ft in the himalayas.

The flights to Everest Base Camp are extremely safe and manoeuvre taking all the preventive measures. The pilots we’ve hired are professional with years of experience in flying over extreme geography and climatic conditions. They are trained to handle every emergency situation and can be fully trusted.

Of course, trekkers can fly solo in a helicopter but it’ll cost them big bucks. Most trekkers usually fly in a group to slash the price and get the charter cheaply. If you’re a sole traveler and having a hard time finding the group then the company can get you some help.

The cost for Everest Base Camp Trek with a helicopter takes anywhere from US$4,000 to $4,5000 per person depending on an itinerary and length of travel. There is a hike in the price if the service you preferred on the trek is luxurious.

Trekkers who are highly confident with the trek route or proficient in reading maps can do the trek without a guide but only during spring or autumn season. In winters, mist and fog obstruct visibility and makes it difficult to navigate the way.

A porter on Everest Base Camp can help trekkers with a maximum 65 pounds weight. They generally assist two people at a time which downsizes the weight. It means a porter dispatches the weight of 32.5 pounds of each hiker. Extra luggage will require an additional carrier and extra buck. Lukla flight too has weight restriction of 15 kg out of which 10kg for checked-luggage and rest for carry-on.

Lodges and hotels at lower elevations do come with advanced communication devices so that the guests stay connected with their family. However, at higher altitude including Base Camp, the signal is extremely poor but you can always make emergency calls. The facilities of communication are scant at the top and don’t come free. Thus, you have to spend some extra amount to get access to the facility.

The trail running from Lukla to Everest Base Camp is non-technical with few ups and downs. Walking the rising steep hills and cliffs is a bit exhausting but doable without much effort. The trek is ideal for beginners as it doesn’t have too many precipitous climbs. Home stays in and around the villages are kind enough to help with food and dwelling to get some rest.

It goes without saying that the children are allowed to take a flight on the helicopter. But, you should make sure that they are comfortable on the flight and keep checking on them. Make sure they’re having no issues or going through common altitude sickness as we’re ready to help you in every possible way.

We always carry supplemental oxygen for medical emergencies and provide it to passengers whenever needed. If they still don’t feel okay, we’ll make an emergency landing or in the worst case fly back to Tribhuvan airport.

Base Camp Trek looks like a piece of cake before Mt. Everest. There’s no crevasse to come across neither trekkers have to ascend the glaciers unlike Everest. The trails are rugged but easily achieved with little or no effort.

Food on Everest Base Camp Trek is rudimentary but delicious. You can get anything from a traditional Nepali dish to Tibetan noodle soup and dumplings. Unfortunately, the options rationalize as you climb higher sticking with local staple foods.

The essential mountaineering equipment and clothes required for Everest Base Camp Trek depends on which season you’re traveling. Basic items like trekking poles, stiff mountaineering boots, sleeping pads, and tents are needed all round the year.

Trekkers at Everest Base Camp Trek often suffer from altitude sickness after Namche Bazaar. It starts with minor symptoms like headache and nausea which trekkers often neglect. This results in extreme sickness including High altitude pulmonary edema and cerebral edema. Therefore, don’t take the symptoms too lightly and get medication as early as possible.

There are plenty of things to do before you commence Everest Base Camp Trek. Start with the intense training at least a month ahead of trekking to improve physical stamina. Do short hikes and if possible a couple of long to prevent fatigue and exhaustion. Cardio workouts are great in burning calories and helping control your appetite so try it out.

The weather of Everest Base Camp is ever-changing. So, it counts on which season you’re trekking the camp. In the case of spring and autumn, you’ll have very lovely weather with chilly nights and warm days. The temperature fluctuates but never drops below 0 degrees Celsius except for the campsite.

The Immigration office at the entry point provides a visa to foreigners upon presenting a valid passport, 2 passport size photographs, and a $30 fee for a single entry visa. If you’re seeking a multiple entry visa, then make a payment of $80. You can even extend the visa by paying up to minimum 15 days for US$45 and then extra $3 for every additional day.

You might not want to carry too much money on the trek as it can be looted and robbed. So just get enough cash to buy souvenirs, pay hotel bills during stay in Kathmandu, medical emergencies and tip porters and guides.