A Short and Comfortable Everest Base Camp Trek Package for Beginner Trekkers

About Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return

The Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return is an adventurous multiple-day trek via beautiful Sherpa villages of the Khumbu region. On this trek, you will explore the lush valleys and glacier moraines. The trekking route starts from Lukla and gradually ascends to the lap of Mount Everest (5,364 m/17,598 ft).

The trail goes through dense rhododendron and magnolia forests in the first couple of days. You will cross many hanging suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River, including the long Hillary Suspension Bridge. From Monjo village onwards, the Sagarmatha National Park begins. The trail winds via the national park.

In Namche Bazaar, the trade hub in Khumbu Valley, you will spend an acclimatization day and hike to the famous Hotel Everest View. Then further on the way, you will spend nights in picturesque Tengboche, Dingboche, Dughla, and Lobuche villages. The trail gradually ascends, so there is a very low risk of altitude sickness.

As the trail gets close to the base camp of Mt. Everest, you will notice the mountains getting closer. The landscape changes as you trek. From vibrant valleys, rivers, and waterfalls, you will see barren hills, rocky gorges, glaciers, and frozen streams. Mountains like Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Pumori, Baruntse, Makalu, and many others are seen during the trek.

Kala Patthar is the highest point on this 11-day EBC trek. Here, you will witness a gorgeous sunrise along with a sensational view of Everest. After your hike to Kala Patthar, you will return to Gorak Shep and take a lovely helicopter flight back to Kathmandu. Enjoy your last day in Kathmandu, and join us for the farewell dinner.

The next day, our team will drop you at the Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight back home.

The Everest Base Camp Trek With Helicopter Return Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,400 m/4,600 ft), transfer to the hotel, and later join us for welcome dinner and trek preparation

Day 02: Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla airport (2,846 m/9,337 ft) and trek to Phakding (2,610 m/8,563 ft) to spend the night; 35 minutes flight & 3-4 hours trek | 6.2 km/3.8 miles | Lodge: B, L, D

Day 03: Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m/11,290 ft); 6 hours | 7.4 km/4.6 miles | Lodge: B, L, D

Day 04: Acclimatization in Namche Bazaar: hike to Syangboche Airstrip (3,748 m/12,297 ft) and Everest View Hotel (3,962 m/13,000 ft); 4-5 hours | Lodge: B, L, D

Day 05: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche village (3,860 m/12,660 ft); 5 hours | 9.2 km/5.7 miles | Lodge: B, L, D

Day 06: Trek from Tengboche to Dingboche (4,410 m/14,470 ft); 5 hours | 12 km/7.45 miles | Lodge: B, L, D

Day 07: Acclimatization in Dingboche; hike to Nagarjuna Hill (5,100 m/16,732 ft) | 4-5 hours | Lodge: B, L, D

Day 08: Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche (4,940 m/16,210 ft); 3 hours | 2.8 km/1.7 miles | Lodge: B, L, D

Day 09: Trek from Lobuche to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m/17,598 ft) via Gorak Shep (5,164 m/16,942 ft) and back to Gorak Shep for a night's stay; 8 hours | 15 km/9.32 miles | Lodge: B, L, D

Day 10: Hike to Kala Patthar (5,545 m/18,192 ft) early in the morning and fly to Kathmandu; 3-hour hike & 1-hour flight | 2.4 km/1.4 miles | Hotel: B, D. Trip Over. 

Day 11: Departure From Kathmandu. 

Services Included in This Package Cost

Accommodation:

Our Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return includes basic lodge accommodation along the trail. You can also upgrade the accommodation to a luxury lodge by paying extra money. The rooms are small, with clean bedding and a few pieces of furniture.

We book twin shared rooms, so if you need a single room during trekking, inform us ahead. The washrooms are usually shared. In Kathmandu, you will spend two nights in a tourist standard hotel.

Meals:

In Kathmandu, you will get two breakfasts and two complimentary dinners. The breakfast will be served by the hotel where you will spend the night. Likewise, for complimentary dinners, we will take you to a Nepali-style restaurant.

During trekking, you will get three meals a day- breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You are free to buy additional snacks and beverages on your own. All the meals during the trek are provided as per the menu of the lodges, which consists of a wide variety of food.

Transportation:

Our Everest Base Camp trek 11 days includes free airport pick up and drop off as per the itinerary. Likewise, the package also covers a commercial Lukla flight from Kathmandu and a helicopter flight from Gorak Shep to Kathmandu.

All the transportation will be provided as per our fixed itinerary, and a request for additional transportation assistance will cost you money accordingly.

Guide and porter:

The Everest Base Camp trek 11 days package cost covers the expenses of guides and porters. We provide guides and porters as per the group size. If the group is more than 8 trekkers, there will be an assistant guide as well.

We work with native guides in different trekking regions, so you will travel with a local wherever you trek with us in Nepal. They will ensure your safety during the trek and make sure the journey is hassle-free for you.

Likewise, the porters will carry the duffel bags, which allow you to move freely and enjoy the trek. One porter carries duffel bags of two trekkers, and the weight limit is 10 kg for each trekker.

Permits:

To do the Everest Base Camp trek by helicopter, you will need two permits- a Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance permit and a Sagarmatha National Park entry permit. The cost of both permits is covered in our package cost, so you will not spend additional money.

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance permit: Rs. 2,000 per trekker

Sagarmatha National Park entry permit: Rs. 3,000 per trekker

Government taxes:

Our Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return package includes all the government taxes. The package cost is set, covering all the airport taxes and other taxes included in this trip. You will not be levied with any taxes.

Additional expenses you may come across during the Everest Base Camp trek by helicopter

International flight fares:

Our Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return cost does not cover international flight fares. Once the trip is confirmed from our side, you have to get the international flight tickets to/from Kathmandu. To get a better flight deal, we recommend you get your flight tickets early. You have to be in Kathmandu at least one day before the trek starts.

Travel insurance:

Travel insurance with emergency helicopter evacuation coverage and medical bills are important for any Everest Base Camp trek. You cannot do this trek without travel insurance. You can purchase travel insurance online. Look out for insurance that covers high-altitude activity in the Himalayas, and compare a few insurance providers before purchasing one.

We use travel insurance to arrange emergency rescue if needed. Travel insurance helps us to provide you with immediate assistance in emergencies as the insurance company covers all the expenses. As the Khumbu region is quite remote, there are no hospitals or decent roadways, helicopter evacuation is the only way to get out of the region immediately.

Meals in Kathmandu:

Our Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return package covers only two dinners and breakfasts in Kathmandu as per the itinerary. You are responsible for all other meals. Likewise, you may also want to taste Nepali dishes and street food, so budget accordingly.

Extra food and beverages during the trip:

You can buy extra snacks and drinks for breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the trek. These expenses are not covered in the package cost, so budget accordingly. You can also buy bars and snacks in Kathmandu and carry them during the trek.

Tips:

Tipping guides, porters, drivers, and watchmen are custom in Nepal. At the end of their service, they may approach you for a tip, so do not get uncomfortable. You can tip them as much as you wish and according to your satisfaction level.

Usually, trekkers tip 10-15% of the package cost to the guide and porter. Likewise, each member of the group can also contribute USD 100 and tip collectively. You can tip USD 2 to drivers and watchmen.

Nepali travel visa:

Most travelers to Nepal can obtain a visa upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and at certain land border crossings. The visa on arrival is available for citizens of many countries, and the duration and fees vary. Do check the travel visa eligibility for your country before leaving.

The standard tourist visa is valid for 15, 30, or 90 days, and the fees vary accordingly. You can also extend your tourist visa while in Nepal if needed. Likewise, your passport should be valid for at least six months from the day you enter Nepal.

• The fee for a 15-day tourist visa is approximately USD 30.
• The fee for a 30-day tourist visa is around USD 50.
• The fee for a 90-day tourist visa is approximately USD 125.

*Note:

i) Visa regulations can change, so it's crucial to check the latest requirements and fees before you travel.

ii) If you plan to stay in Nepal longer than the initially granted period, you can extend your visa at the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or its regional offices.

iii) Visa fees depend on the duration of your stay. Payments are usually accepted in cash (USD or local currency).

Personal expenses like charging, WiFi, hot showers, etc during the trek:

These are some other additional expenses that you may have to bear during the Everest Base Camp trek by helicopter. Please budget accordingly if you are going to use these services frequently during the trek. For instance, WiFi may cost you USD 2 to USD 4 for a few hours. Likewise, a hot shower can cost USD 5 every time, and charging may cost you USD 2.

Things you should know before booking the Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return

Trek difficulty:

Like any Everest Base Camp trek program, this 11-day program is also a bit challenging because of the progression of elevation and rugged terrain every day. As per the fitness of the trekkers, the overall Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return can be quite manageable.

This Everest Base Camp trek skips the return 3-4 days walk to Lukla, which makes it much more doable. If you are a beginner trekker, you can manage to complete this trek with proper training. The trekking route sees a change in terrain with the elevation change.

Trek distance and duration:

The Everest Base Camp trek by helicopter covers 65 kilometers (40 miles). It is an 11-day trekking program, and each day, you will trek 9 to 11 kilometers (5.5 to 7 miles). Out of 11 days, you will spend 9 days trekking and hiking. After hiking to Kala Patthar, you will return to Gorak Shep and take a helicopter flight from here to Kathmandu.

Altitude sickness:

Altitude sickness happens because of a huge change in elevation in a short time and a low oxygen level. During the Everest Base Camp trek, you will begin trekking from Lukla, located at (2,846 m/9,337 ft). From Kathmandu at 1,400 meters (4,593 ft) to Lukla, the gain in elevation is huge in a short time, so there is a risk of altitude sickness.

To avoid it, you will spend the night in Phakding village, situated at 2,610 meters (8,563 ft). Likewise, during this 11 days EBC trek, you will also spend an acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar (3,440 m/11,284 ft) and spend a night in Dughla (4,620 m/15,154 ft) between Dingboche (4,410 m/14,464 ft) and Lobuche (4,940 m/16,207 ft) villages. This will help you get used to the altitude and avoid altitude sickness.

Because of the nature of the Everest Base Camp trek, there is always the risk of altitude sickness on this trip, however, it is also easily avoidable and treatable. If you get symptoms like difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, headache, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, etc, take the necessary medicines with the guidance of your trek guide.

Similarly, you can do the following things to avoid altitude sickness during trekking:

• do not drink alcohol or smoke during trekking
• keep yourself hydrated and consume lots of fluid
• eat good nutritious food, and get lots of sleep
• maintain your pace and do not rush

Best time to do the EBC trek:

The best time to do the Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return is from March to May (spring) and September to November (autumn). These months are perfect for trekking in the Everest region because of the stable weather. Likewise, the moderate climate and clear sky allow for a fantastic trek experience. The mountain views and the vegetation are wonderful in these months.

EBC trek in off-seasons:

June to August (summer/monsoon) and December to February (winter) are considered off-seasons for Everest Base Camp trekking with helicopter return. The weather during these months is very unpredictable and hugely affects the Lukla flights. Likewise, because of poor weather, the trail conditions get bad, and the views are blocked as well.

If you wish to do the Everest Base Camp trek by helicopter in these months, then you have to prepare well and study the weather chart. Likewise, you will need contingency days in your itinerary in case you can't catch your Lukla flight or helicopter flight because of bad weather.

Lukla flight:

Lukla flight is the starting of any trek in the Khumbu region (Everest region). The flight usually takes off from the Kathmandu domestic airport, however during the peak trekking seasons- spring and autumn, the Lukla flights get shifted to the Ramechhap airport. This airport is located 4 to 5 hours away from Kathmandu.

So, you may have to catch the Lukla airport from Ramechhap airport. To reach here, you leave your hotel in Kathmandu between 1:00 AM to 2:00 AM and drive to the airport to catch an early morning flight. From Ramechhap Airport, it takes 30 minutes to Lukla, and from Kathmandu Airport, it takes 35 minutes to reach Lukla.

Trip extension:

As this is a short Everest Base Camp trek package and does not include return trekking, you can extend the trek to Gokyo Lakes, Three High Passes, or Ama Dablam Base Camp. All these options make the trek offbeat and more adventurous.

Likewise, you can also extend your trip to Nepal with us after completing the Everest Base Camp trek with a helicopter return. We have many trek and tour options in Nepal. Our team will help you customize the itinerary as per your requirements and budget.

Why join the Everest Base Camp trek helicopter return with Green Society Adventure?

We, Green Society Adventure, are an experienced local trekking company based in Kathmandu, Nepal. We organize treks, tours, peak climbing, yoga retreats, and many other adventure activities. Our team is composed of mountain experts who are trained and qualified to lead groups and individuals in the Himalayas.

We assure safe and hassle-free trek in Nepal, including the Everest Base Camp trek with helicopter return. Our experienced native guide will accompany you during the trek and make sure you travel safely. All of our trips are affordable and have transparent pricing. You will not pay a single additional penny without pre-information.

Similarly, we give our guests the flexibility to customize their trips to Nepal easily. You will travel freely with our reliable and friendly team. We are known for our top-notch service and attention to small details. Likewise, our commitment to supporting local communities along the trekking routes and preserving the environment makes all of our trips much more meaningful and eco-friendly.