There is no need to hike for two weeks to see Mount Everest anymore.
Recognising that not everyone can hike through the rugged Nepalese countryside for days or weeks, Nepalese travel entrepreneurs have come up with a solution: short helicopter flights which take the enthusiastic to the top of the world. Or near enough.
Mount Everest, at 8,484m (29,035 ft) is the highest mountain in the world and had long attracted climbers even before it was successfully submitted in 1953. The most well-known of those who attempted to summit are perhaps George Leigh Mallory and Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine of the 1924 Everest Expedition. As we know, neither of these men made it back down the mountain but the mystery still remains; did they reach the summit?
Finally, officially summited in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, conquering Everest became increasingly popular as equipment and gear improved over the decades. Today hundreds of professional, and would-be-climbers with deep pockets, make their way to base camp in preparation for their attempt to summit the world’s highest mountain.
Popular Trekking Route to Everest Base camp
With access easier than ever, partly thanks to Sir Edmund who brought air transport to the area with the establishment of what is today called the Tenzing-Hillary Airport situated at the high altitude town of Lukla in the Everest Region, trekking to and around Everest Base Camp became a well-established attraction.
With a basic trek taking 14 days, even with today’s more comfortable trekking lodges and experienced mountain guides to lead treks, not everyone can hike for that length of time and at the high altitudes that are a feature of the area.
Helicopter Tours to Everest Base Camp
Now there are alternatives for those who wish to see this iconic mountain in more comfort. There are two ways to utilize the comfort and thrill of the helicopter: either a one day trip purely by helicopter or by flying in and out of the region by helicopter but still undertaking several days’ treks in between.
The second option allows hikers to enjoy the main features of the trek without having to double back to follow the same route to the airport where fixed wing planes collect the majority of hikers at the end of their trek. This cuts around four days from the trek, allows visitors to visit the main settlements, such as Namche Bazaar, visit Everest Base Camp, and gives them the convenience and thrill of the helicopter ride.
Breakfast on Everest VIew Hotel
Not quite Breakfast at Tiffany’s but breakfast on Everest is the new big thing! To clarify, the day tour to Everest base camp by helicopter is often referred to as breakfast on Everest due to the fact one of the stops on the tour is to enjoy breakfast while in the midst of the Himalaya’s and staring at Everest while enjoying a cup of something hot or even a glass of champagne.
This unique, five hour tour takes visitors from the bustling capital city of Kathmandu directly into the Everest Region of the Nepal Himalayas. It takes 45 minutes to fly over the foothills and into the snow-capped mountains. Here the first stop is at the Tenzing-Hillary Airport to refuel before heading off – flying over Sagarmatha National Park with its high peaks, glaciers, glacier rivers, and monasteries. This trip has many highlights, including flying over Everest Base Camp. Unfortunately due to the nature of the rugged landscape it is not possible to land directly at base camp, nor do the helicopters want to disturb the expeditions camped there in their preparations to set off up the mountain.
Where the helicopter does land is on Kalapattar where the ground is suitable. This is a high rocky ridge directly in front of Everest and which provides a panoramic view of the Himalayas. It is said this ridge provides the best views of Everest.
More fantastic views can be had, as mentioned, from the breakfast table at an especially chosen hotel which also overlooks the mountains. Sitting on the outside terrace, gazing at Everest and the neighbouring mountains with the steam rising from the coffee cup has to be something not even Sir Edmund dreamed about.
How To Get There
Flights to Nepal leave from Edinburgh and London via Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airlines. There is a well-established trekking fraternity in Nepal and dozens of agencies to chose from. Best read the reviews before booking. In Kathmandu there are many hotels from the 4 star Marriott to locally run £10 a night deals. Should you decide to hike, trekking lodges are pretty much standard with only one or two more luxurious ones in the Everest Region. Helicopters are pretty much all the same and small giving a very intimate feeling to the helicopter tour.
