Everest base camp trek helicopter return

Welcome to Nepal, the land of the rugged Himalayas. On this day, you will arrive at Kathmandu, the city where your Everest adventure begins. Upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, the official representative of Tour Fun Nepal will greet you and escort you to your respective hotel. After assisting you through the check-in process, the representative will also provide you all the information regarding the Everest Base Camp Heli Trek. 
Overnight at the hotel. 

A leisure day to make the necessary preparation for the trek and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site around the city. Our full-day heritage tour will begin after breakfast, where we will explore four essential tourist destinations enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. 
Pashupatinath Temple  
Pashupatinath Temple is one of the largest Hindu shrines in entire South Asia. With idols of some of the most iconic Hindu God, Goddesses, and hundreds of Shiva Linga, this destination is one of the holiest temples around the world. Also, the two-tiered golden temple of Pashupatinath reflects the century-old art and architecture of Nepal. It is important to remember that foreigners are not allowed to go inside the premises of the temple. However, we can take a tour around the temple and witness the open cremation in the riverbank of Bagmati.  
Boudhanath Stupa  
Boudhanath Stupa is one of the most historic and significant Buddhist monuments in the world. Considered as the tomb of Kassapa Buddha, this site is one of the most notable destinations in Buddhism. The dome-shaped stupa comprises three different levels in a pattern of a Mandala and is often decorated with colorful prayer flags.  
Kathmandu Durbar Square 
Kathmandu Durbar Square has held on to the ancient royalties of Nepal. This Royal square is surrounded by varieties of temples, specially dedicated to Hindu deities and goddesses. 
Swayambhunath Stupa
Swayambhunath Stupa is an ancient marvel that lines on top of the western hillock of Kathmandu valley. Often regarded as one of the best attractions around Kathmandu, Swayambhunath offers a panoramic view of the entire valley. With ancient symbolism and architecture, Swayambhunath is a significant shrine in both Buddhism as well as Hinduism. 
Once we finish exploring the heritage sites, we will head back to the hotel and start preparing for the trek. If required, we may also visit the gear stores in Thamel for equipment shopping and rental in the evening. 
Overnight at the hotel. 

Altitude: 2610 m, Phakding

Distance:6.2 km

Flight Distance: 138 km

From Kathmandu, you will board a 45-minute flight to Lukla early in the morning. You can enjoy the views of magnificent mountain ranges during the flight.

Since October 2019, the government of Nepal has canceled the direct flights from Kathmandu to Lukla; instead, it has been redirected from/to Manthali Airport at Ramechhap. So, we begin our journey to Everest with an early morning drive from Kathmandu to Ramechhap. The four-and-a-half drive is relatively pleasant, offering breathtaking views of terraced farms, rivers, hills, and occasional mountains. 
Upon reaching Manthali village, we get on the plane and fly to Lukla Airport. This 20-minute flight to one of the most extreme airports in the world is a significant highlight of this adventure. 
Once we reach Lukla, we trek on a gradual path to the village of Cheplung. After relishing the first sight of Mt. Khumbila at this village, we continue walking downhill alongside the (Dudh Koshi) Milk River to arrive at Phakding. 
Overnight at a local teahouse.

Altitude: 3445 m, Namche Bazaar

Distance: 7.4 km

Time Taken: 4-6 hours

Early morning after breakfast, we walk through a forested trail surrounded by rhododendron and pine trees on the bank of Dudh Koshi River. Along the way, we pass through several tiny villages, including Benkar, Chumoa, and Monjo, before reaching the entrance gate of Sagarmatha National Park. 
Crossing the famous Hillary bridge over the raging Dudh Koshi River, we continue the walk further uphill until we reach Namche Bazaar. This small town at the elevation of 3,441 meters is a significant trading hub of the Khumbu region. The village of Namche Bazaar is surrounded by colorful markets, internet cafes, restaurants, and local shops. Right from the hotel, we can enjoy the breathtaking spectacle of Thamserku and Kongde Ri at the backdrop. 
Overnight at a local teahouse.

Today is an acclimatization day. Yet, it is not rest or idle day. For your body to acclimatize better, you should take a short hike to higher altitudes.

A significant rest day at the Sherpa capital of Namche to acclimatize with the increasing elevation. On this day, we go for a short hike to the famous Tenzing Norgay Memorial and visit the Sherpa Cultural Museum. From this spot, we get to witness the marvelous panorama of the surrounding mountains, including Mt. Everest 8,848 m (29,029 ft),Lhotse at 8,516 meters (27,940 ft), Nuptse at 7,861 m (25,791 ft), Ama Dablam 6,812 meters (22,349 ft), and Thamserku. 
Besides that, we can also hike to the Everest View Hotel — the world’s highest luxury hotel. If you’d like to explore furthermore, we can also explore the quaint village of Khumjung and visit the ancient monastery. 
Overnight at a local teahouse.

Altitude: 3820 m, Debuche

Distance Covered:9.2 km

Time Taken: 4-5 hours

On this day, we walk through some of the most beautiful trails of the entire trek. We begin the trek with a gradual towards Phunki Tenga. Once we arrive at Phunki Tenga, the regular path abruptly turns into a strenuous uphill until we reach Tengboche village.  
In the village, we spend some time at the monastery — the Khumbu’s largest monastery and observe the monks chant prayers. Right outside the monastery, you get to enjoy the panoramic view of the mountain, including Ama Dablam and Mt. Everest. 
Furthermore, we continue walking on a pleasant trail under the shades of rhododendron forests to the monastic settlement of Deboche. 
Overnight at a local teahouse.

Altitude: 4360 m, Dingboche

Distance Covered: 10.8km

Time Taken: 3.5 hours -4 hours

After catching the stunning sunrise, we depart from the village of Debuche along the pleasant trail surrounded by rhododendron, birch, and conifer trees. En route to Dingboche, we make a stop at Pangboche village and visit one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries of the Khumbu valley. 
After visiting the monastery, we will continue trekking towards Imja Valley. Although a steep uphill, the trail is decorated with enormous pinnacles of the mountains until we reach Dingboche. 
Overnight at a local teahouse.

Acclimatization in Dingboche (4360m)

This is another day for acclimatization. To acclimatize better, short hikes nearby are great.

Some popular ones are:

At the elevation of 4,350 meters, we might feel the difference in the thin air. Therefore, having an acclimatization day at Dingboche is crucial to adjust to the higher altitude. Instead of taking a rest at the hotel, we go on a non-technical hike to Nagarjun Hill, located at an elevation of 5,100 meters. 
From the summit of the hill, we get to witness a sensational view of Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Lobuche East, Lobuche West, Kangtega, and Taboche Peak. On a clear day, we might get a distant sight of Mt. Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world. Then, we descend back to Dingboche and get some rest to conclude the day. 
Overnight at a local teahouse.

Altitude: 4930m, Lobuche

Distance: 8.4 km

Duration: 4.5 hours to 6 hours

On this day, we depart from Dingboche and walk towards the broad valley of Thukla. After reaching the summit of Thulka Pass, we come across a memorial adorned with stone shrines and prayer flags dedicated to the mountaineers who lost their lives in the mountains. 
After paying our tribute to the fallen heroes, we head downwards to the moraine and continue walking towards Lobuche. 
Overnight at a local teahouse.

Altitude: 5160m, Gorak Shep. 5400m, Everest Base Camp

Distance: 15 km

Time Taken: 7-9 hours

This day marks as one of the most important days of the Everest Base Camp Heli Trek. On this day, we head on the adventure to the foothills of the world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest. We begin the day with a gentle walk over a glacial path with occasional uphills and downhills. 
After meandering for about 3 to 4 hours on rocky terrain, we reach Gorak Shep. We walk past the teahouses resting under the Himalayas and walk towards the Everest Base Camp. From the base camp, we get to enjoy the breathtaking spectacle of Khumbu Icefall, Nuptse, Pumori, and Khumbutse. After a while, we retrace the rocky trail back to the sandy lakebed of Gorak Shep. 
Overnight at a local teahouse.

Altitude: 5545m, Kala Patthar

Distance: 3.5km

Time Taken: 2-4 hours

Helicopter ride Distance: approx.  km 

Flight Duration:20 minutes Gorekshep Lukla and Lukla Kathmandu 1hour 30 minutes.

Early at dawn, we hike to the vantage point of Kala Patthar to catch a sight of the most epic sunrise over the Himalayas. Hiking to Kala Patthar is a lifetime opportunity to 

stand next to some of the highest mountains in the world, including Pumori, Nuptse, Changtse, and Mount Everest. 
After relishing the 360-degree panorama and capturing the mountains in frames, we return to Gorak Shep, where our helicopter ride will be waiting for us. With the rumble of the helicopter engine, we fly over the mountains and head back to Kathmandu via Lukla. 
Upon arriving at Kathmandu, we drive back to our hotel and relax for the rest of the day. We can also take a stroll around Thamel and buy some souvenirs at local stores to take back home. In the evening, the representative of Tour Fun Nepal will pick you up from the hotel for the farewell dinner. 
Overnight at the hotel.

Farewell day! On the final day of your Everest Base Camp Heli Trek, the representative of Tour Fun Nepal will pick you up according to your flight schedule and escort you to the airport for the final departure.