Safety First: costs for rescue services are covered.
Everest Base Camp Trek with Helicopter Return
Duration: 9 days
Trails: T2 trails
Distance: 10 - 15 km / 6 - 9 mi per day
Ascent per day: 500 - 1000 m / 1640 - 3281 ft ascent per day
> Reach the Everest Base Camp
> Helicopter ride among the highest peaks in the world
> Spend your nights in warm, welcoming guest houses
This Everest Base Camp trek with Helicopter return is an incredible alternative to the classic EBC Trek. It is perfect for those who are short of time yet want to trek to the base camp of Mount Everest.
In this 9-day tour, you will trek to the Everest Base Camp and will then return on a helicopter from Gorak Shep to Kathmandu. Taking the helicopter from Gorekshep to Kathmandu that saves 3 days of trekking. It is the ideal package for those trekkers with limited time, who want to experience the EBC and Kalapathar but have a short holiday in Nepal.
The trek offers a fabulous Himalayan trekking experience, the helicopter ride offers a close, stunning and panoramic view of many of the highest mountain peaks in the world.
*The price of this trek is based on a minimum of 2 people sharing. If you are trekking alone, contact our trekking experts to see if there is a group you can join.
Itinerary
Day
1
Fly to Lukla , trek to Phakding
Duration: 02:30 h
Distance: 7.3 km / 4.5 mi
Ascent: 160 m / 525 ft
Descent: 370 m / 1214 ft
We’ll board a flight to Lukla (2810m). You will be able to enjoy the beauty of splendid hills, rivers and mountains during the 30 minute flight. On reaching Lukla airport, you’ll be introduced to your porter, and served a wholesome breakfast. After that, we will head north to Phakding (2620m). It is an easy 3 hour hike through the Dudhkoshi valley. We will head north from the airstrip to Chheplung (2700m) and cross the crystal clear Thadokoshi on a locally built suspension bridge. Past the bridge, you can witness KusamKanggru (6367m), which is one of the toughest mountains to conquer. Away from the ThadoKoshi, the trail continues towards the Ghat (2590m) and we will cross a ridge marked with painted Mani stones. We will reach the beautiful tribal village of Phakding where you will stay overnight.
Phakding
Day
2
Trek to Namche Bazaar
Duration: 04:30 h
Distance: 10.5 km / 6.5 mi
Ascent: 910 m / 2986 ft
Descent: 150 m / 492 ft
Heading for the Namche Bazaar, we cross through the hamlet of Zamphute and Tok Tok to see dazzling Thamserku glistening in the sun that stays all the way with us in most of our trek. Passing through the scenic Sherpa villages of Benkar, Chumoa and Monjo, we reach Utche Choling Gompa on a bluff abutting the Dudhkoshi river and further we make our way between the bluff to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO declared world heritage site. Completing halfway to Namche Bazaar, we head for the second half of the march that would likely to take more time due to steep climb at the end. Crossing through the last village of Jorsale, a steep stepped path leads us to an amazing high bridge over the Dudhkoshi River gorge and just before this bridge, the Dudhkoshi is met by its tributary, the BhoteKoshi.
Namche Bazaar
Day
3
Acclimatize at Namche Bazaar
We have an acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar. To help our body better adapt to the high altitude, we can take short walks or climb few hundred feet during the day to have a look in the villages, houses, terraced fields and snowy mountains of Kwangde, Khumbu peak, Thamserku, Kusum Kanguru and the village’s big weekly event, the Saturday market to have fun mingling with the crowds and watching men and women in traditional attire.
Namche Bazaar
Day
4
Trek to Tengboche
Duration: 05:30 h
Distance: 9.5 km / 5.9 mi
Ascent: 780 m / 2559 ft
Descent: 350 m / 1148 ft
Our route for today to Tengboche weaves in and out of side valleys, making small ups and downs, to the picturesque tea shops of Kenjoma, and joins the trail from Khumjung just before a collection of Mani stones. The views of Everest and Ama Dablam are excellent from this part of the trek. We pass the small settlement of Sanasa from where the trail drops towards Phunkithanga (3250m). From here the trail climbs steeply through pine forests and around Mani stones as it follows the side of a hill to the saddle on which the monastery of Tengboche sits at 3870m. The view from here is rightly deemed to be one of the world’s most magnificent sceneries. Kwangde (6187m), Tawachee (6542m), Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse (8501m), Amadablam, Kantega and Thamserku provide an inspiring panorama as the Himalayan giants. We will spend the night in Tengboche.
Tengboche
Day
5
Trek to Dingboche
Duration: 05:30 h
Distance: 10.8 km / 6.7 mi
Ascent: 630 m / 2067 ft
Descent: 170 m / 558 ft
We descend through a beautiful forest then cross the Imja Khola and trek through the village of Pangboche. The route continues through summer pastures to Dingboche. We will spend the night at Dingboche. It is a very relaxing village with lots of mountain views. This is a very easy hike which will take about 3 to 4 hours.
Dingboche
Day
6
Acclimatization in Dingboche
Today in Dingboche we have another acclimatisation day and there are some breathtaking views of the north face of Ama Dablam and the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge as we explore this beautiful valley that leads us up to Island Peak. The hike is short with a good chance to relax in the afternoon and we can do some side day trips to help our acclimatization process.
Dingboche
Day
7
Trek to Lobuche
Duration: 04:20 h
Distance: 7.8 km / 4.8 mi
Ascent: 620 m / 2034 ft
Descent: 20 m / 66 ft
We start the day with a climb to the chorten trail. This is a gentle climb that will last about 1.5 hours. Then we get to Thugla at 4600m with a tea house where we will have lunch before climbing the steep part of today’s trek for another 1.5 hours. We start to get close to high mountains like Mt. Pumori and Mt. Nuptse after a while as we proceed towards Lobuche where only basic accommodation and food is provided. Then we trek along a broad valley floor to Thugla, leaving behind the Trekkers Aid Post at Pheriche at 4240 m. A western volunteer doctor, supported by The Himalayan Rescue Association is stationed here and offers treatment and consultation to trekkers. When we come out of the valley, we descend to the yak pastures at Lobuche. We overnight at a Lodge.
Lobuche
Day
8
Trek to Gorak Shep (5180m) – Everest Base Camp (5364m) – Ghorak Shep
Duration: 06:40 h
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 mi
Ascent: 390 m / 1280 ft
Descent: 150 m / 492 ft
This challenging trek day will take around 6-8 hours. From this point onwards you will probably feel the altitude more than before. We therefore will have have to be extra careful. The trekking distance will be around 15km. After a filling breakfast, we will head to Everest Base Camp, trekking through the rocky terrain alongside the Khumbu Glacier. Upon reaching EBC, you will have some time to enjoy the heavenly environment and take photographs. If you are trekking somewhere between March and May, you might get the chance to see all the commercial expeditions trying to reach the summit. After lunch, we will trek downhill to Gorak Shep, and spend the night at a local guest house there.
Gorak Shep
Day
9
Trek from Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar and helicopter flight to Kathmandu
Quite early in the morning, we climb to Kala Patthar (5645m.) peak to enjoy the view of sunrise, and from Kala Patthar, we can have a panoramic view of Mt. Everest and many other mountain peaks like Mt. Pumori, Mt. Lingtren, Mt. Khumbetse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Thamserku and many more. We then return to Gorak Shep and flight to Kathmandu.
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Jan Bakker
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