Discovery World TrekkingEverest is the prime destination for trekkers, nature lovers, mountaineers, and adventurers. Classical treks to Everest Base Camp are quite challenging and require several days or even weeks. Everyone may not have that determination or time to complete classic Everest treks, but they too want to see Everest. Hence, we have prepared an easy five-day Everest Base Camp trek where you will be reaching Everest Base Camp on a helicopter. From the helicopter, you will get stunning views of Khumbu Glacier and many mountains - including Mt. Everest (8,848m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), and Mt. Makalu (8,463m).
You can experience the ultimate fusion of trekking and helicopter adventure on our 5-Day Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour. In just five days, you'll stand at the legendary Everest Base Camp (5,364 m), experiencing the breathtaking majesty of the Himalayas without the demands of a long trek. The helicopter flight not only maximizes efficiency but also reduces physical strain, making it perfect for travelers with time constraints who still seek an immersive high-altitude adventure.
Your journey begins with a scenic flight from Kathmandu/Manthali to Lukla, followed by a moderate trek from Lukla to Phakding and on to Namche Bazaar—a vibrant hub in the lower Khumbu Valley rich in cultural highlights. You will spend a day acclimatizing and exploring Namche, soaking in the local charm and stunning vistas of traditional villages, monasteries, and terraced farmlands.
Then, board a helicopter that transports you directly from Namche to Everest Base Camp/Kala Patthar. This thrilling aerial leg not only saves you days on the trail but also offers breathtaking views of key geographical marvels—the majestic Khumbu Icefall, the vast expanse of the Western Cwm, and an unparalleled perspective of the formidable Himalayas.
After savoring the awe-inspiring mountain panoramas, you will enjoy a helicopter return to Lukla, completing an accelerated yet immersive Himalayan journey. From Lukla, you will return to Kathmandu/Manthali on a plane. This five-day adventure perfectly blends moderate trekking with the luxury of high-altitude flight, ensuring you capture the essence of the Khumbu region in record time.
We recommend you arrive at Kathmandu by three pm at least one day before the trek departure date for last-minute preparations.
The online briefing will clear all your doubts about the trek, including things to bring (equipment checklist) for the hike, the itinerary details, and what you can expect on the trails. As soon as you complete the booking, we will email you the available dates and times for the trek briefing, and once we receive your essential documents, we will conduct the online trek briefing.
During peak trekking months (March, April, May, October, and November), flights to Lukla often depart from Ramechhap (Manthali) instead of Kathmandu because of airport traffic. In this case, you'll need to leave Kathmandu around 12:30 a.m. for a five-hour drive to catch your flight from Ramechhap on the trek departure date. Outside of peak seasons, flights usually operate directly from Kathmandu.
Flights between Kathmandu and Lukla can be delayed due to weather, so adding at least two extra days to your trip is a good idea to avoid missing your international flight home.
Flight from Kathmandu/Manthali to Lukla. Flight time: Approx 40 min from KTM/20 min from Manthali. Trek to Phakding (2,650 m). Trek time: Approx. 3 hrs.
Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m). Trek time: Approx. 6 hours.
Rest day and acclimatization at Namche Bazaar.
Heli flight from Namche Bazaar to Everest Base Camp / Kala Patthar and fly back to Lukla.
Fly back to Kathmandu/ Manthali from Lukla. Flight time: Approx. 40 min for KTM/20 min for Manthali. Drive time: Approx. 5 hrs from Manthali to KTM.
If the published schedule does not suit you, we can build the trek around your dates, your pace and what you want to see.
The calendar below displays the available trek schedules. Please select the exact trek start date. Ensure your arrival day is before the trek start date and your departure day is after the trek end date.
Your journey starts early. During busy trek seasons (March, April, May, September, October, and November), flights from Kathmandu to Lukla may be rerouted to Manthali Airport. To catch an early morning Lukla flight, we will come to pick you up at your hotel around 12:30 am and take you on a 5-hour drive to Manthali Airport. The subsequent flight from Manthali to Lukla takes around 20 minutes.
You can avoid the Kathmandu-Manthali-Lukla route by booking a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla directly. However, it will cost around 550 USD per person, provided five people share the helicopter costs.
In December, January, February, June, July, or August, you will fly directly from Kathmandu to Lukla. After breakfast, we'll transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) for a 40-minute flight to Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla.
After landing in Lukla, you will take a short hike to Phakding while passing Chaurikharka Village. Phakding is the starting point for Everest treks, and at the Phakding market, you can find everything required for the trek. It also has modern restaurants and cafes that are Wi-Fi-linked. Phakding also houses many monasteries—including Rimishung Monastery, which we will not miss visiting.
We start the hike early in the morning along the northern banks of the Dudh Koshi River and take it slow to reach our destination, Namche Bazaar. As you trek ahead, you will be crossing several prayer flags ornamented suspension bridges - including Hillary Bridge - that will make your trek exciting. Eventually, you will reach Monjo village and then Sagarmatha National Park.
We will be registering our permit at the Sagarmatha National Park and then climb up the forest from where you will get to enjoy the first glimpses of mt. Everest. Through the woods and stone-paved way, we finally reach Namche Bazar. Namche Bazaar is one of the most happening places in the Everest region. The lively atmosphere and the heartwarming hospitality of the Sherpas will make your stay very pleasant.
We stay at Namche Bazar for another day to acclimatize to the altitude. However, we will not be staying idle. We will explore Namche Bazaar as we immerse ourselves in its beauty. If you want, you can hike to Sagarmatha National Park or Khumjung (3,790m) or Khunde. We will also be visiting Hillary School and old monasteries on the way to Khumjung.
Namche, without a doubt, offers a lot of hidden wonders. A must-not-miss place is the Syangboche airport (3,780m), one of the highest airports in the world. If you want to get excellent views of Everest, you have the option to hike to the Everest View Hotel. We conclude our day enjoying the exquisiteness of Namche Bazaar and eating the delicious, authentic Sherpa cuisine.
We start the day as early as possible to savor the beauty of sun-rays kissing Mount Everest. We board a helicopter and fly from Namche Bazaar over Everest Base Camp and Khumbu Glacier to Kala Patthar (5,555m) - the highest altitude point of our trip. We will fly very near to the Everest Base Camp, providing you enough time to appreciate Everest Base Camp.
Mount Everest (8,848m) hides behind Mount Lhotse (8,516m), so we reach Kalapatthar to witness the mighty Everest and other alluring Himalayan peaks.
We spend quality time at Kala Patthar amidst the serenity of the world's highest mountains while enjoying the incredible scenery. After savoring the views to the heart's content, we fly back to Lukla and spend the night at Lukla.
After the end of your trip, you will either fly to Manthali or Kathmandu, depending on the prevailing trekking season. Probably, you'll take a flight to Manthali, followed by a drive to Kathmandu if your trek falls in March, April, May, September, October, or November. Conversely, during other months (December, January, February, June, July, and August), you will fly from Lukla to Kathmandu directly.
Should you decide against taking the Lukla-Manthali-Kathmandu route, you can team up with four other persons and book a helicopter. You will be incurring an extra charge of around 550 USD each.
We hope your journey back will be relaxing as you relive the memories you formed during the trek. Your trek ends in Kathmandu. After arriving in Kathmandu, you can spend your time as you like.
You have seen all 5 days.Next, choose the date you want to start.
See trip datesIf the published schedule does not suit you, we can build the trek around your dates, your pace and what you want to see.
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We strongly believe in environmental protection for long-term sustainable tourism. So, Discovery World Trekking works together with the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) to organize eco-friendly tours that benefit both the trekkers and the locals.
Throughout your trek, our experienced guides/Sherpas will accompany you. They will provide you with information about the places you will be visiting. We also assign a porter for every two trekkers to carry luggage. However, each porter will not carry more than 18kg of luggage. If you want, we can arrange one porter for each trekker.
Our crew members are born and raised in the high Himalayas, so they can easily adapt to high-altitude environments. All our staff members are precious to us. Besides paying them well, we also provide their insurance, clothing, food, and lodging. They also receive medical care when sick or injured. We put every effort to ensure that our staff members are happy because we believe that only a happy person can keep others happy.
All our guides/trek leads:
Nepali culture accepts tipping, but it is at the trekker's discretion and should reflect the quality of service provided. We advise you to tip as a group at the end of the trek.
Discovery world trekking is a Nepal government-authorized, and bonded trek and touring operator providing service for over a decade. We are members of the Trekking Agency Association of Nepal (TAAN) and the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Therefore, you can book Discovery World Trekking with confidence.
We require a 10% trip cost in advance to confirm the booking. You can pay this advance using bank transfer, Western Union, or online from our website. Similarly, you can pay the remaining trip cost in cash, bank transfer, or using your credit card after arriving in Nepal. We will also email you payments details along with your modes of payment.
Discovery World Trekking offers a special provision of last-minute booking for those unable to book the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour in advance. To take advantage of this facility, you need to clear your tour payment at least 24 hours before the targeted departure date. Please note that we try to organize this trek at all times but cannot guarantee the departure date because of circumstances beyond our control - such as bad weather, unavailability of lodges/hotels, etc.
After completing this trek, you may want to stay a couple of days extra in Nepal. If so, we can arrange fun activities for you like exploring in and around Kathmandu, Chitwan jungle safari, paragliding, rafting, canoeing, and much more.
We will arrange a farewell dinner in Kathmandu after successful trek completion. After the dinner, we will present you with a Discovery World Trekking trek completion certificate. This is also a perfect time for you to provide us with trek feedback.
We recommend you carry the basic clothing and accessories for the trek. Although we understand you have your preferences, here is a list to help you pack. Porters will carry your luggage, but your limit is 9 kg. We assign one porter to carry the luggage of two persons in a duffle bag. Hence, please find a fellow trek partner and pack your things together in a duffle bag of over sixty liters.
**We can provide you with a (used, nonwaterproof) duffle bag, (used) down jacket, and (used) sleeping bag if you do not have your own.
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12 steps · Everything you need to know before you book: permits, meals, costs and what each day looks like. No rush, take your time.
You will arrive in Kathmandu at Tribhuvan International Airport - the only international airport. You require at least one overnight stay in Kathmandu, but this package does not include it. On the trek departure day, you will take a domestic flight from Tribhuvan International Airport to Lukla. The flight will last about 40-minutes.
We provide free airport to hotel transfer during arrival and vice-a-versa during your departure. Upon arrival, you will find our company representative holding a pamphlet with your name on it. They will present you with a Khada or a marigold garland and take you to your hotel in a private vehicle. Please email us your arrival and departure dates beforehand to take advantage of this service.
This Everest Heli trek includes four nights luxury lodge stay at Yeti Mountain Home in Lukla, Phakding, and Namche. You will require at least two night stays in Kathmandu, but this package does not include this. Kathmandu has a wide range of hotels for all budgets and your interest. We prefer your choice.
During this luxury helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp, you will get nutritious and delicious meals. Mostly the breakfasts, lunches, and dinners will be buffets. You will have plenty of options, and you will most probably find your favorite foods.
The weather is the most important factor you need to consider while deciding for a helicopter tour to the Everest Base Camp. You can find weather information in our Everest Base Camp travel guide, but there is no certainty because weather changes quickly in high altitudes.
People trek to EBC throughout the year, but trekking in certain seasons is much more favorable. Autumn and spring skies are crystal clear from dusk to dawn, and there is no rain, and the temperatures are just right, letting you enjoy the stunning views of high mountains and other landscapes.
The temperatures are low in winter and there is heavy snowfall in trek regions making these treks challenging. Similarly, the summer season in Nepal coincides with the monsoon, and the trails can be wet and slippery. Here is a summary of monthly weather conditions at the high trek altitudes.
This is the coldest time, especially from early January to early February. There is heavy snowfall in the mountains resulting in extremely cold temperatures. Though the daytime may be warm and admirable with clear skies, the nighttime would be extremely cold. Trek is challenging but not impossible. We organize treks during these months as well. However, if you are allergic to colds, we do not recommend you this trek during these months.
Temperature: 15°C to -15°C.
It is one of the best times to hike to the Everest Base Camp. The weather is very favorable, letting you enjoy stunning views of the Himalayas ranges and glaciers. March being the beginning of the spring season, the weather starts to warm up. All flora and fauna dormant throughout the winter come back to life- feeding, thriving, and breeding in the sun-kissed temperatures. Temperatures start increasing from the mid of March, and with clear skies, snow mountains look their best. Many trekkers complete this trek during these months.
Temperature: 18 °C to -12 °C.
These months are also favorable for trekking - just before the monsoon becomes active. Rainfall starts from the end of June and lasts till mid-August. The mix of spring and summer seasons makes Everest Base Camp treks very attractive at this time.
Temperature:25°C to -5°C.
The rainfall hits its peak at elevations below 3500 meters. Due to heavy rain, flights to Lukla may get canceled at the beginning or end of the trek, but trekkers trek to Everest Base Camp during these months. Due to the monsoon, you will be getting spectacular views of waterfalls. Discovery World Trekking conducts safe treks during these months as well.
Temperature:27°C to 5°C
This is also one of the perfect seasons for the EBC trek, attracting thousands of tourists to EBC. As the monsoon slowly ends, a perfect trekking climate sets in. The temperatures are also very favorable - it reaches 20 degrees during the day and fall to 5 degrees at night. With clear skies, great trail conditions, and perfect views of mountains, this season is a boon for the trekkers. The main festivals of Nepal - Dashain, and Tihar - fall during these months, adding a festive mood to your trek.
Temperature:20°C to 5°C
As winter begins, snowfalls begin in the Himalayas region, and it eventually gets tough to trek. The sparkling days let you enjoy stunning mountain views during November. From December, the temperature dips, and snowfalls make nights frigid.
Temperature:10°C to -17°C.
This helicopter tour involves a limited on-foot trek. You will only hike from Lukla to Phakding for 3 hours and from Phakding to Namche for 5 to six hours. In addition, during the rest and acclimatization day, we will trek to nearby areas. Since there is no heavy trek involved, almost all people can complete this trek. If you have sensitive medical conditions such as lung or heart diseases, please consult us before booking.
This is a private tour because of its nature - a helicopter tour. The helicopter is comfortable for three persons and can accommodate four persons at the maximum.
Travel insurance is compulsory. The policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation - including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses at the highest trek altitudes (up to 6000m).
If you require, we can recommend insurance companies for you- based on our previous clients' experience. However, we do not sell insurance. We request all our valuable clients to send their insurance details within a week of booking the trip. In emergencies, we will use your documents for rescue.
All foreigners, except Indians, require a visa to enter Nepal . Most nationals get an on-arrival visa at the Tribhuvan International Airport. You can get a visa at immigration checkpoints along Nepal borders as well.
A visa application will require a passport with at least six-month validity, a passport-size photo, and visa application fees. The current visa application fee is USD 50 for a thirty-day stay, which you can pay in cash (dollars). Chinese and SAARC (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) citizens get free visas.
Citizens from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan may not receive on-arrival visas. So if you are from any of these countries, you will have to contact your local Nepalese embassy.
Visa information may change without notice, so for recent visa information, visit - https://www.immigration.gov.np/ .
Nepali Rupees (NPR) is the local currency.
(1 USD = ~ Rs.120 NPR)
You can exchange major foreign currencies through local banks and legitimate money exchanges in Kathmandu and throughout Thamel. Legal money exchanges display their ongoing rates visibly. If you have Indian Rupees, please note that only Indian Notes of 100 and 2,000 are legal in Nepal.
Despite the security advantage of traveler’s cheques, we recommend you cash exchanges to avoid lengthy processes and high bank commission rates. You can also withdraw cash (in Nepalese Rupees only) from one of the many ATMs in Kathmandu and Thamel. Several of these ATMs are open round the clock for convenience.
The maximum withdrawal amount is Rs. 35,000 per transaction, with a Rs. 500 processing fee when using a foreign card. If you use the money exchange facility at banks and financial institutions, the service charge imposed is about 4% or more.
Please note that there are no banks or money exchanges in the trek regions, so you should exchange your money in Kathmandu based on your estimated expenses. Trek regions accept Nepalese currency only.
The luggage weight limit per trekker is 9 kg. We provide one porter for every two trekkers, and we do not allow our porters to carry more than 18 kg of combined weight. However, we expect you to bring a regular backpack for your valuables and essential documents. We advise you to bring only the basics to the trek. You can store your excess luggage at your hotel or Discovery World Trekking store for free.
We guarantee the safety and security of all our clients. To ensure safety, we carry all the necessary gear, equipment, and first aid kits. Our leaders and guides have completed extensive first aid training. If a trekker falls sick due to the altitude, your trek guide has the authority to decide whether to descend immediately or continue the trek. Further, we will be trekking together.
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Discovery World Trekking allocates a certain percentage of business profit to rural development and relief programs.
Discover Nepal’s breathtaking trails at your own pace with our exclusive private treks. No strangers, no rushed schedules—just you, your adventure, and complete flexibility.
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Explorations that last a lifetime.
When trekking in the Himalayas, the most important thing is to have someone who can ensure your safety and provide assistance in case of any mishaps. Paul fulfilled that role for us perfectly! He skillfully handled everything, ...
I have never had a better trekking experience than this one. Discovery World Trekking's meticulousness was outstanding, extending to even the tiniest details. They impressed us by picking us up at the airport with a flower, a s...
Taking off on the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour with Discovery World Trekking was one of the best decisions I made in my life. The excitement bubbled within me as we lifted off, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of antic...
We went on the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour with Discovery World Trekking. Honestly speaking, it was an absolute marvel from start to finish. The journey was nothing short of spectacular, with every moment filled with awe ...
The Everest base camp journey with Discovery World Trekking was absolutely incredible. It was my first time embarking on a Himalayan tour, and it proved to be a thrilling and enjoyable experience. They handled everything with g...
I cannot emphasize enough how highly my husband and I recommend Discovery World Trekking! Right from the start, Paul's communication was exceptional. Whenever we had questions, he would reply almost instantly. We were pleasantl...