Everest Base Camp trek and fly back by helicopter, as the name suggests, is a wonderful trek up to the base camp of the world’s highest mountain where trekkers need to walk one way up. After reaching the base camp, hikers need not walk back down rather will fly back on a thrilling helicopter ride, either to Lukla or Kathmandu, based on their demands. Normally Everest Base Camp trek is a moderate or demanding trek which does not require any technical expertise of mountaineering. It is basically a long hike up to an altitude of 5,364m (17,599ft.) and it seems difficult only because you need to walk for 7 to 9 days all the way up to the base camp on varied terrains.

Everest Base Camp Trek and fly back by Helicopter is best done in pre-monsoon season i.e. from March to May and post-monsoon season i.e. from late September to December. It is also possible to do this trek in February and early September but the trek is best preferred during the above months.

You will enjoy three (3) hearty meals each day. Generally, you will have your breakfast and dinner at the same lodge you will be staying. Lunch will be provided at tea houses or small restaurants along the trail. The meals contain fresh fruits and organic ingredients sourced from Kathmandu or local villages throughout the trek. The meals include a balanced diet of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats designed by the nutritionist. The chefs are trained in hygienic food preparation. If needed, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and kosher diets can be arranged with prior notice.

Simple food menu on the trek

✔ Breakfast
Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate
Toast with jam or honey, toast omelet, pancake, Tibetan bread, porridge/ muesli
Eggs on your choices
American breakfast or Continental breakfast

✔ Lunch
Rice item: veg fried rice, egg fried rice, mixed fried rice, dal-bhaat
Noodle item: vegetable fried noodle, mixed fried noodle
Potato item: chips, fried potato, hash brown potato, veg fried potato, boiled potato
Burger: veg burger, chicken burger, veg sandwich, chicken sandwich
Pasta: spaghetti tomato sauce, macaroni cheese sauce
Pizza: veg pizza, tomato cheese pizza, chicken pizza, mushroom pizza
Momo (Nepali style dumplings): veg momo, chicken momo
Meat item: chicken sizzler, chicken steak, yak steak
Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate

✔ Dinner
Soups: vegetable soup, mushroom soup, chicken soup, chicken noodle soup, Rara noodle soup, French onion soup, pumpkin soup, potato soup

✔ Main Meals
Rice item: veg fried rice, egg fried rice, mixed fried rice, dal-bhaat
Noodle item: vegetable fried noodle, mixed fried noodle
Potato item: chips, fried potato, hash brown potato, veg fried potato, boiled potato
Burger: veg burger, chicken burger, veg sandwich, chicken sandwich
Pasta: spaghetti tomato sauce, macaroni cheese sauce
Pizza: veg pizza, tomato cheese pizza, chicken pizza, mushroom pizza
Momo (Nepali Dumplings): veg momo, chicken momo
Meat item: chicken sizzler, chicken stake, yak stake
Dessert: apple pie, chocolate cake, carrot cake, apple fritter, canned fruit
Beverage: black tea, milk tea, ginger lemon honey tea, lemon tea, hot lemon with honey, black coffee, milk coffee, hot chocolate

During the trek to Everest Base Camp, you will have access to electricity to recharge electronic devices such as phones, laptops and iPads. This is made possible by micro-hydropower and solar panels, which are available for a fee. However, it is important to note that WiFi hotspots are rare on the trekking trail after Namche. The only two places that offer free WiFi are Starbucks Coffee in Lukla and Everest Bakery in Namche. At higher altitudes, you will have to pay for internet services, and the cost increases as you climb higher.

For a more in-depth understanding of the internet situation during the Everest Base Camp Trek, we recommend reading the “Internet on the Everest Base Camp Trek” article.

It is clear that using a helicopter to return is more expensive than the regular trek price. The cost also depends on the number of people using the helicopter on the return. Generally, only 3 people are allowed to be carried in a helicopter from Gorakshep due to the thin air in the atmosphere. The cost also depends on whether you want to return to Kathmandu or just fly to Lukla and then continue with the regular flight.

The price you pay for a helicopter depends on various factors, as mentioned earlier. You should be prepared to spend between 700 and 4500 USD per person for a helicopter trip. The cost will vary depending on how many people will actually be using the helicopter. It also depends on whether you are returning to Kathmandu to continue on a regular flight or flying only to Lukla.

Yes: We advise all our clients to get travel insurance that covers up emergency evacuation that may be needed in case of the occurrence of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) or any other reasons in high altitudes where there are no other means of transportation available. It is advisable to review carefully the insurance and its coverages before making the final decision. Carry proof of your insurance with you on the holiday and you must ensure that your insurance provides an adequate level of protection and covers you for the activities involved. More information: Travel Insurance

AlpineTrav Treks has a competent team of trekking leaders and mountain crew who are highly skillful in combating the difficulties or any kind of emergencies that might come up during the trip. If you feel sick with the altitude, in the first place you must let your guide know about it so that he knows just what to do. With all the years of experience, he can sense the intensity of the seriousness and respond accordingly, either by bringing you down to a lower elevation or rescue you using a helicopter. If the helicopter is unable to fly due to any reasons, we will use our local staffs and contacts to coordinate an alternative rescue and treatment procedures, which could mean using horses or stretchers to carry the sick person off the mountain to the nearest health post or safe helicopter landing spot.

Everest Base camp Trek and Fly Back by Helicopter is a lodge-to-lodge trek. It is also known as a tea house trek. This means that you do not have to sleep in a camping tent and most of the facilities like laundry, food, etc. are readily available throughout the trek. However, you will need to carry some essential items that you personally need during the trek. Since the Everest Base camp Trek and Fly Back by Helicopter is moderate, we recommend packing only the essential gear and essential equipment. Make sure that you do not overpack and underpack at the same time.

To enjoy the trek instead of worrying about the load of your, you should pack only the essentials. Read the complete Everest Region trip packing list and pack smart and light for a more comfortable and satisfying journey to the Everest Base camp Trek and Fly Back by Helicopter