Trekking up to the Everest base camp and then flying to Kathmandu with a helicopter is a flight back to the Everest base camp trek. Going towards the base camp and coming back is the same route from Lukla to Lukla. Watching the same scenery that has been passed already on the way up could be bored for some trekkers. So, the Everest base camp trek with a helicopter flight back is the best option for those types of trekkers.
Trekkers need to have at least two weeks or a few days long holidays for a regular Lukla to Everest base camp trek. The Common Everest base camp trek starts with a short flight to Lukla and ends with flying back on a plane from Lukla. But, the Everest base camp trek flies back and ends with flying out to Kathmandu on a helicopter from Gorakshep after visiting the base camp and Kala Patthar.
Mainly, if you don’t want to recap the same views on the way back, you can choose a helicopter to fly back Everest base camp trek. Frolic Adventure is here to manage your trip to Everest base camp and fly back to Kathmandu on a helicopter. For this, you can g through the provided itinerary or send us your time frame.
A Regular Everest base camp trek is a long one compared to a flying back trip. There are some differences, but both trekkings provide the same views. Lukla to Everest base camp journey is 12-days and flying back with the helicopter is a 9-days Everest base camp tour.
Sceneries that you can see on the trek, walking trail until the base camp and trekking starting is the same for both trekking packages. But, you don’t need to walk back to Lukla after visiting the base camp and Kala Patthar and end the trek with a helicopter flight.
A helicopter flight is more expensive than a Lukla flight. So, flying back to the Everest base camp trek is more costly than the regular base camp trek in Nepal. Trekking equipment, things to explore, and more other beauties are the same for both of these trekking packages.
The goodness of helicopter fly back Everest base camp trek is: you might get tired by visiting the world’s highest mountain base camp and stunning viewpoint Kala Patthar. High altitude makes very much tired to the people because of the very thin oxygen in the air. Lots of trekkers think that we have seen all the beauties of the Everest region trek, so there is no point in walking the same way back with the same views and like to fly out from Gorakshep direct to Kathmandu. Flight back to Everest base camp trek is the best for this kind of situation.
Helicopter fly back to Everest base camp trek begins with a short scenic flight to Lukla as Lukla to Everest base camp trek. After landing at Lukla airport, the trails go to Phakding on the first day. You will have a rural municipality entry permit in Lukla before crossing this town.
It is an 8-days trek including 2-rest days in Namche and Dingboche to reach the base camp. You will pass beautiful Sherpa towns like Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Pangboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche while you will be walking towards the base camp. The last available lodge on the Everest base camp trek is in Gorakshep. You will spend the night after visiting the Everest base camp.
You will hike up to Kala Patthar on the 9th day of the flight back to the Everest base camp trek in the early morning. After enjoying the 360⁰ mountain view of Everest Himalaya and the closest view of Mt. Everest, you will fly on a helicopter to end the trek.
Best Time for Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return
As the regular trek to the Everest base camp and all around Nepa, a 9-days Everest base camp trek is also can make in autumn and spring. These are the main trekking seasons in Nepal.
September to November and March to May are the best times for helicopter flights back Everest base camp trek. Although, until mid-September in autumn and late May in spring might have some rainy days. So, from the mid of September to the end of November and from March until the second week of May have lots of trekkers, and it has been recommended for a 9-days Everest base camp trek.
December offers the best view and clear weather, but it is the starter month of the winter season. You need to have nice and warm trekking equipment if you are planning a flight back to Everest base camp trek in winter. But, don’t try to trek during the months of the summer season. The summer season has many rainy days. June to August or even until mid-September rainy season remains. We can clearly say that from mid-September to December and March to Mid-May are the best times for Everest base camp trek to fly back on a helicopter.
Packing List for Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return
You are jumping into the cold region, so you need to have warm trekking gear for this 9-days Everest base camp trek. You can never think to make the Everest base camp trek with a helicopter flight back without a good trekking kit so, check the essential packing list for the Everest base camp trek with helicopter return.
You are going to visit the same places and the same height as a 12-days Everest base camp trek as a flyback journey. It needs to have proper trekking equipment as regular 12-days Everest base camp trek. What source of trekking gears is essential then? Check the packing list of the Everest base camp trek here.
Helicopter Return EBC Trek Cost
Everest basecamp trek helicopter return is an expensive trip compared to the regular Everest base camp package because of the cost of helicopter return. The helicopter charges 3500 USD from Gorakshep to Kathmandu, and only 5-people can fly if it is morning time. If it becomes late, there will be wind and will be difficult for the helicopter full of passengers. The listed cost is 2800 USD per person for the group of 2-people. But, the cost will be a lot cheaper if you are in a group. for the customized price of the Everest base camp trek with helicopter return, please contact us and mentioned the number of visitors.
Four trekkers and a guide can fly from Gorakshep and porters will walk back to Lukla. We only take a booking from 2-5 trekkers in one group so, the price is different on the size of the group. Please be sure of the cost of the Everest base camp trek with helicopter return before you book the trip. Check the trip cost according to the group size here:
Please check well what includes and excludes the listed cost for the trip.
Everest base camp trek return by helicopter is a beautiful mountain journey and a lifetime experience of a trek and helicopter flight. It is, of course, a delightful mountain trip, but there are some difficulties that trekkers will face. What are those difficulties of Everest base camp trek helicopter return? Check them now:
Altitude Sickness
The dominant difficulty of the Everest base camp trek return by a helicopter is altitude sickness. It has caused by low oxygen in the air and high atmospheric pressure in high Himalayan lands. Trekkers are coming from sea level and going to high mountain lands directly, which can bring the problem of mountain sickness because it takes time to adjust the body of the trekkers with rapidly changing altitude.
Flying to Lukla (2,840m) is already high enough from Kathmandu (1,350m) to the people coming from zero levels. There should not be problems up to 4000m usually, but some trekkers may feel the altitude effects after Namche Bazaar (3,440m). Altitude sickness symptoms like extreme headache, dizziness, nausea, tingling fingers, loss of apatite, the hardness of breathing while resting, feeling like a drunk, chest pain and some others are common for acute mountain illness.
You can prevent altitude sickness by drinking plenty of fluid, sleeping well, eating well, keeping warm, walking slow and having enough acclimatization rest days. You also can take the advice of your guide and locally available health assistant from the region. Altitude medication like Diamox can prevent AMS but, drink more water than usual after having Diamox because it can make dehydrate.
Note: Don’t take any sleeping medication up in the mountain if you can’t sleep.
Changing Weather Can Affect the Trip Itinerary
The weather in the Everest region can change very quickly. It is like four seasons in a day. A light shower or snowfall should not affect much for the helicopter flight if the visibility is clear enough. Sometimes, there might be cloudy suddenly and big wind even on a sunny day.
The helicopter can’t take off with full of passengers from Gorakshep even with a small wind sometimes. If this happens, a helicopter might do two different shuttles to the lower area and fly together later to Kathmandu.
Flying towards Lukla should cancel the flights sometimes due to bad weather. If it happens, you need to wait the next day to fly. Also, it can affect return flights by helicopter after the base camp. So, it is good to have some extra days for the Everest base camp trek with a helicopter return itinerary.
Helicopter Return Trek Accommodation, Food & Drink
There are plenty of hotels, guest houses and lodges along the Everest base camp trekking trail. Some luxurious lodges are also available during the trek, but they are costly. Other regular accommodations are comfortable enough to stay in. You can get private accommodation at every stop. You can also expect attached bathroom accommodation in some places. Places like Tengboche, Lobuche and Gorakshep, have limited lodges. You need to book your space in advance in those places if you are visiting during the high trekking season.
You don’t need to stay with local food during the helicopter return to the Everest base camp trek. You will have a food menu in every lodge. But you cannot expect food like in the city. The cooks are normally trained, and the food taste could be slide different in different places, even for the same food items.
They sell mineral water bottles in guesthouses and grocery shops. Bottled water is expensive in higher places because of the cost of transportation. If you would like to minimize your budget by not buying bottled water and drinking tap water, you can. But, don’t forget to use purification tablets or sterilizers before drinking the tap water.
Frolic Adventure offers this Everest base camp trek with helicopter return for our valuable clients at a reasonable cost and professional service. We try our best to make your Flight back to Everest base camp trek your life experience of Everest.
Don't you have enough time to trek to the Everest base camp? Can't walk on high Himalayan land but, are still interested in visiting the base camp? Don't worry Frolic Adventure is here to take you to the Everest base camp. You can try the Everest base camp helicopter tour for the fasted base camp visit.
