EBC with Gokyo Heli Tour

This tour combines an aerial pass over Everest Base Camp (5,364m) in the Khumbu Valley with a helicopter landing beside Dudh Pokhari lake in Gokyo village (4,790m). It covers two of Nepal's most spectacular Himalayan valleys in a single morning, with views of Cho Oyu (8,188m), the Ngozumpa Glacier (Nepal's longest at 29km), Everest (8,849m), Lhotse (8,516m), and Makalu (8,485m). Hotel Everest View breakfast (3,780m) is included on the return leg.

Yes. No deposit or advance payment is required to hold your date. We confirm your booking once you provide passenger details and preferred dates. Full payment is made on the morning of departure before boarding.

Group seat pricing is USD 1,400 to 1,800 per person. Private charter (full aircraft, up to 5 passengers) is USD 6,000 to 7,500. Price includes all permits, Hotel Everest View breakfast, hotel transfers, aviation taxes, helipad fees, and flight insurance.

The helicopter lands beside Dudh Pokhari lake in Gokyo village at 4,790m. At this altitude approximately 55% of sea-level oxygen is available. Mild breathlessness and light headache are normal. Supplemental oxygen is available at the landing site.

The Gokyo Lakes are six high-altitude glacial lakes in the Gokyo Valley. The turquoise color is produced by glacial flour — microscopic rock particles ground by the Ngozumpa Glacier and suspended in meltwater. Color is most intense in the two to three hours after sunrise. The lakes are designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.

The Ngozumpa Glacier is Nepal's longest glacier at approximately 29km, flowing south from beneath Cho Oyu (8,188m). The six Gokyo lakes form in depressions beside the glacier's moraine. From the helicopter and from the Gokyo landing, the glacier's full length is visible as a river of ice.

In the Khumbu Valley: Everest (8,849m), Lhotse (8,516m), Nuptse (7,861m), Ama Dablam (6,812m), Makalu (8,485m). In the Gokyo Valley: Cho Oyu (8,188m, sixth highest mountain in the world), Gyachung Kang (7,952m). The combined tour shows more 8,000m peaks than any other helicopter tour from Kathmandu.

Weather confirmation is issued at 6:00 pm the evening before. If the Gokyo Valley is cloud-covered but the Khumbu is clear, the tour may be rerouted to the standard EBC route at an adjusted price. If both valleys are cloud-covered, the full tour is rescheduled at no cost.

Sagarmatha National Park entry permit (NPR 3,000 per person) and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality fee (NPR 3,000 per person). All helipad fees, aviation taxes, fuel surcharges, and passenger flight insurance are included.

Yes. Full breakfast at Hotel Everest View in Syangboche (3,780m) is included on the return leg from Gokyo. The hotel holds the Guinness World Record as the highest hotel with a direct view of Everest.

Total duration is 5 to 6 hours from hotel pickup to hotel drop-off. The combined route includes two ground stops — Gokyo lake (4,790m) and Hotel Everest View (3,780m) — plus the aerial EBC pass. The tour returns to Kathmandu by 11:00 am to noon.

October is the most popular month due to consistent post-monsoon clarity in both valleys. April is excellent for active climbing season atmosphere. March and November are good alternatives. Avoid June through September (monsoon).

Cho Oyu (8,188m) is the sixth highest mountain in the world, located on the Nepal-Tibet border at the head of the Gokyo Valley. It is clearly visible from Gokyo village and during the helicopter approach into the valley.

Yes. The helicopter lands beside the lake on relatively flat ground. The walk from the landing area to the lake shore is 1 to 3 minutes with no stairs or steep terrain. People with mobility limitations can reach the lake shore without difficulty.

Yes. The three-destination private charter (Kala Patthar 5,545m + Gokyo 4,790m + Hotel Everest View 3,780m) is the most comprehensive Khumbu aerial tour available. Contact us to discuss the combined itinerary and pricing.

The standard EBC tour covers one valley (Khumbu) with one ground stop. The EBC Gokyo tour adds the Gokyo Valley with a second ground stop at the lake (4,790m) and views of Cho Oyu and the Ngozumpa Glacier. It costs approximately 50 to 80% more and runs 1 to 2 hours longer.

Hotel pickup in Kathmandu at approximately 5:00 to 5:30 am — earlier than the standard EBC tour due to the longer combined itinerary. Helicopter departure between 6:00 am and 6:30 am to ensure both valleys are clear before cloud builds.

Yes. Solo travelers book a single seat on a group charter, sharing the helicopter with up to 4 other individually booked passengers. The combined EBC Gokyo tour is available in both group seat and private charter formats.

Yes. Gokyo is a permanent Sherpa settlement within Sagarmatha National Park. During trekking season, the village operates lodges and teahouses. The helicopter landing area is on flat ground near the lake, close to the village.

The tour returns to Kathmandu by 11:00 am to noon, leaving the full afternoon for Kathmandu sightseeing (Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Thamel), rest, or onward travel. The morning helicopter tour fits perfectly into a Kathmandu day.

The Gokyo landing (4,790m) emphasizes the glacial lake landscape — turquoise water, Ngozumpa Glacier, and Cho Oyu (8,188m). The Kala Patthar landing (5,545m) emphasizes the direct Everest face — ridge height with the southwest face directly behind you. Gokyo is broader; Kala Patthar is more focused and 755m higher.

The guideline is approximately 80 to 90 kg per passenger. For the Gokyo landing (4,790m), the weight restriction is moderately less strict than for the Kala Patthar landing (5,545m). Provide accurate weights at booking for the safety load calculation.

Yes. On a private charter, the pilot can allow a longer Gokyo lake stop if weather and fuel margins permit. The standard ground stop is 15 to 20 minutes; extensions of 25 to 35 minutes are feasible with advance arrangement.

Yes. The Gokyo Lakes are designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and lie within Sagarmatha National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site). No waste or disturbance of the lake ecosystem is permitted. The helicopter lands on designated areas away from the lake.

Up to four 8,000m peaks are visible on a clear day: Everest (8,849m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,485m), and Cho Oyu (8,188m). These are four of the world's six highest mountains. No other single-day helicopter tour from Kathmandu shows more of them.

No acclimatization is required. Healthy adults can tolerate the brief stops at 4,790m (Gokyo) and 3,780m (Hotel Everest View) without prior altitude adjustment. The tour is designed around brief, safe altitude exposures followed by immediate descent to Kathmandu.

Gokyo Ri (5,357m) is the prominent ridge directly above Gokyo village and one of the most famous trekking viewpoints in Nepal. From the helicopter landing at the lake shore, Gokyo Ri is clearly visible towering above. On a private charter, the pilot can make a low pass over Gokyo Ri on request.

Yes. Gokyo village has teahouse facilities including toilets near the helicopter landing area. Facilities are basic by international standards but functional. The 15 to 20 minute ground stop is typically sufficient for a brief stop.

Dawn golden hour (6:30 to 8:00 am): ISO 200 to 400, f/8, 1/250 sec. The turquoise lake color is most vivid in the first two hours of sunlight. Wide angle (16 to 35mm) captures the lake with the glacier and Cho Oyu above; telephoto (70 to 200mm) compresses the glacier texture. Polarizing filters enhance the lake's turquoise color by reducing surface glare.

Contact us with your preferred dates and number of passengers. No advance payment is required to confirm your seat. We collect passenger details (names, nationalities, passport numbers, weights), issue a booking confirmation, and send weather confirmation the evening before departure. Hotel pickup is at 5:00 to 5:30 am on tour day.