Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return

Your journey begins with an early 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, witnessing stunning views of the Himalayan range. But If you depart from Manthali, the flight will only take about 20 minutes. Upon arrival in Lukla, you will begin trekking to Phakding, which covers a distance of 9 km and takes approximately 3 hours.

You will wind along the Dhud Koshi River while passing through Sherpa Villages and beautiful landscapes. Phakding, at an altitude of 2,640 meters, is a peaceful stop on your first day. You will settle in a cozy lodge with a private attached bathroom, enjoying delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

On the second day, you will begin trekking from Phakding to Namche Bazar, covering a 11 km distance, which can take up to 7 hours. On this route, you will cross several suspension bridges along the Dudh Koshi River. As you rise in altitude, the view becomes more and more picturesque, with occasional sightings of Everest.

Namche Bazaar is a town of 3,480 square meters and is considered the capital of the Khumbu region as it is a hub for Sherpa culture and commerce. During the fantastic hike, you will be served breakfast, lunch, and dinner as you spend the night in a laid-back lodge with a private bathroom.

On the third day, you will acclimatize at Namche Bazaar before you trek to other high altitudes. The day starts with a scenic 5.4 km (3 miles) hike to Syangboche, a small Sherpa village at the foot of Khumbila Peak famous for the small airstrip where only military helicopters are allowed.

The trek goes to Everest View Hotel at 3190m (12800ft). Here, one can drink coffee while enjoying the view of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nupse, Thamserku, Taboche, and Cholatse. Following this, you will be taken back to Namche Bazaar to enjoy the vibrant local market and spend another night in your lodge, eating and relaxing.

On this day, you will trek to Tengboche from Namche, which covers a distance of 11 km and will take approximately 6-7 hours. You will hike along the Dudh Koshi River and cross a long suspension bridge to Imja Khola Valley. You will cross another river again and reach Phungithanga for lunch. From there, You move upward through the pine and spruce forests and finally reach Tengboche at 3,880 meters (12,900 feet).

Here, you will explore the famous Tengboche Monastery. It has an excellent view of Mt.Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Kwangde, Tawachee, Ama Dablam, Kantega, and Thamserku. You will spend the night in a comfortable lodge where you will have dinner and sleep at 3880m above sea level.

For Day 5, you will trek from Tengboche to Dingboche at  4,400 meters (14,300 feet). The trek will be 12 km long (7. 7 miles) and take about 6 hours. Today, you will proceed with our hike, which, in terms of altitude, will be much easier than the hike on the previous day. The trail gives beautiful vistas of Lhotse, Mt.Ama Dablam, and other similar mountains.

Your trip begins by crossing an attractive woodland with a suspension of the Imja Khola River. You will also see the village of Pangboche, which has an old monastery. You will first tour these historical sites, followed by a short hike. As you ascend, the densely wooded area turns into the grasslands of Dingboche. Then, you will stay at a comfortable lodge in Dingboche, which offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 6 is for acclimatization, a significant factor after ascending to the higher altitude. After breakfast, you will hike to Nangkartshang Hill, locally known as Nagarjun Hill. This hike measures 3 Km (1. 9 miles) and lasts 3-4 hours. This trail leads up the Chukung Valley steep up to this point and provides a spectacular view at 5,100m/16,732ft on the top.

From there, you will have a breathtaking view of several big mountains, including Taboche (6501 m), Lobuche East (6190 m), Lobuche West (6116 m), and Ama Dablam (6812 m). You will then trek down the lovely village of Dingboche. And you’ll spend the night at a cozy lodge in Dingboche, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided. This day of acclimatization helps ensure a smoother ascent in the coming days.

Today is considered a crucial trek stage because you will gain significant altitude while covering a distance of 8.6 km (5.3 miles) in approximately 5 hours. From Dingboche, steep terrains will take you to the Dughla valley. When climbing higher, en route through the Thukla Pass (4,865m), one would come across a moving stop for many climbers who had lost their lives in this part of Khumbu. With prayer flags all around, you shall join everyone, pray for your cause, and immerse in the history of prayer flags.

Then, you will arrive at the village of Lobuche at 4,960m (16,203 ft). This is a comparatively lighter day in terms of trekking and will give you ample time to rest and acclimatize at this high altitude in preparation for getting to the Everest Base Camp tomorrow. You will spend the night in a comfortable lodge, and all meals are included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Today’s trek is 15Kms (9. 3 miles), with an estimated time of 7 to 8 hours. You will start the day by moving from Lobuche to Gorakshep, crossing through icy glacier terrains. Gorakshep, at an altitude of 5,190 meters (17,100 feet), provides the final opportunity to ascend before arriving at Everest Base Camp.

After reaching Gorakshep, you will take a meal and then proceed to a 2-hour walk through the Changri Glacier to get to the Everest Base Camp. Once you are done exploring the base camp and enjoying the remarkable landscape views, you will head back to Gorakshep, where you will be served hot dinner and spend the night in a welcoming lodge.

On this great day, you’ll start very early in the morning around 4AM trek to Kala Pathar, which stands 5,555 meters or 18,208 feet above sea level. It measures about a 1.5km trek and will take approximately 2 to 3 hours to reach the summit. From Kala Patthar, you will get a splendid view of Everest sunrise and some mountains like Nuptse, Lhotse, Pumari, tobhuche peak, labuche peak including Amadblam etc.

After admiring the beauty of the mountain, you will descend back to Gorakshep. you should eat breakfast at Gorakshep after that trek back to lobuche it takes all most 2 hours and take a helicopter fly back to Lukla. You will have your meal at a lodge in Lukla, where you will also spend the night.

Finally, on the 10th day, you will fly back to Kathmandu from Lukla, which will take approximately 1 hour. This is your final trip over the Himalayas. When you arrive in Kathmandu, where the altitude is 1,320 meters (4,330 feet) above sea level, you will be free to walk, eat, or rest in this adventurous city.