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10 Days Everest Base Camp Trek – Both ways Helicopter

  • 10 Days
  • Moderate
max-altitude

Max. Altitude

5,364m
best-season

Best Season

Mar-May & Sep- Dec
activity-icon

Activity

Trekking
start-end

Start / End Point

Kathmandu / Kathmandu

Overview of 10 Days Everest Base Camp Trek – Both ways Helicopter

Are you one of those who, for a long time, have a profound longing to see the majestic sight of Everest with your own eyes? But kept postponing the trip because of the scarcity of time? Well, we are here to offer you the 10-day Everest Base Camp Trek with Heli Return to help you realize your dream goal.

Designed for adventure enthusiasts, nature lovers, and those who are short of time, our Everest Base Camp trek 10-day tour will lead you to the legendary landmark of the world – Everest Base Camp within 8 days. Perched at an altitude of 5364 m above sea level in the Sagarmatha National Park of the Khumbu region in eastern Nepal, it is the site where the footprints of the greatest climbers of all time are imprinted- such as Hilary, Tenzing, and Bear Grylls.

Additionally, this tour will take you on a hiking journey along the traditional route to the Everest Base Camp from where you can admire the tallest Himalaya on the planet up close, including Khumbu Icefall, Nuptse, Pumori, and Khumbutse. Then you will hop on a helicopter from Gorakshep back to Lukla, shortening the walking days on your way back. On a luxurious private flight, you will be able to enjoy the aerial view of the mighty Kala Patthar (Black Stone) peak at 5555m and the beautiful scenery of the region.

Also enjoy the peripheral mountain surroundings of Lhotse, Nuptse, Amadablam, Lobuche, Pumori, Lingtren, and many more literally from the clouds. The flight will then take you back to the starting point of the journey- Lukla. So the total time to and back to the starting point requires 10 days.

In addition, our 10-day Everest Base Camp trek offers you the advantage of walking through the UNESCO-protected site of Sagarmatha National Park. You will pass several Sherpa villages, including Ghat, Phakding, Monjo,  Khumjung, Tengboche, Pangboche, Dingboche, and Lobuche. All these villages are well-known for their famous monasteries and gompas located precariously at an altitude of over 3,000m.

You will also have the opportunity to have cultural exchanges with the indigenous Sherpa people, there cultural who are known all over the world for their extraordinary bravery, endurance, skill, and of course cordiality.

Suitable for children and adults suffering from any mild health issues, this trip is best undertaken in spring and autumn. Life Himalaya Trekking has already organized the 10-day EBC trek with heli return back both ways for the youngest 8 years to the oldest 74 years successfully.

How does the 10-day EBC helicopter return journey begins?

Our Everest base camp trek 10-day tour will begin with your arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal. After trek preparation, we will go on an exciting mountain Helicopter flight to Hilary Airport in Lukla. The route will continue in the Sagarmatha National Park, where we will have the opportunity to admire its rich flora – pine forests, rhododendron flowers, Tibetan paper (Tiumor), and the diversity of living nature.

Next, we reach the colorful and vibrant  Namche Bazaar will be waiting for us. We will spend a day resting to get used to the change in the air of the highlands. In the following days, we will reach the village of Tengboche, where the highest Buddhist monastery in the world is located.

Then the days ahead will lead us through Dingboche, Lobuche to Gorakshep and Everest Base Camp. The following day, we will hop on the helicopter taking an aerial tour above Kalapatthar, and Everest to Lukla to Kathmandu. On the same day, we will take a scenic Helicopter flight back to Kathmandu ending our extraordinary lifetime nepal EBC expedition.

What Would Be the Highlights of 10 Days EBC Heli Return Trek?

  • Enjoy the exciting short scening helicopter  flight to Lukla from kathmandu
  • Opportunity to spend two nights in the town of Namche Bazaar and explore Syangboche airstrip with breakfast in Everest View Hotel
  • Visit the oldest Buddhist monastery in  Everest Nepal in Tengboche
  • Explore the 400 years old monastery in Pangboche
  • Reach the finish line at the colorful Everest Base Camp
  • Admire some of the highest eternal snow-capped mountains on Earth- Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Cholatse, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Taboche, Kusum Kangaru and many more
  • Enjoy the aerial flight over Gorakshep, Kalapatthar, and Lukla
  • Walk through the pristine nature of Sagarmatha National Park with the possibility of encountering Musk Deer, Himalayan Thar, Snow Leopard, Grey Langurs, etc.
  • Participate in the daily living of Sherpa tribes, learn their culture, tradition, language, and festival

10 Days Everest Base Camp Trek – Both ways Helicopter Itinerary

day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu, pickup from airport and transfer to the hotel check-in

We are delighted to receive you at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Our team leader will gladly receive you and take you to the hotel by car or van. You can rest after your long flight in your hotel room.

In the evening, our tour guide will meet you at the hotel, introduce you to other group members, and organize a pre-trip meeting to brief you about our program.

At night, you can freely visit Kathmandu, and enjoy your dinner. We suggest you retire early as we have to fly in early morning tomorrow.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

1,350 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast
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Trek Duration

20 mins Drive
accommodation

Accomodations

3-star hotel

day 02 Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla and trek to Phakding

Early in the morning, our tour guide will meet you at the hotel to take you to the TIA airport for a Helicopter to Lukla. The 45-minute scenic flight will take you over Everest and Kanchenjunga. Landing at the Tenzing-Hilary Airport, Mount Kongde Ri (6187 m) along with our local crew members will welcome you.

After enjoying the sight for a while, we will now begin our walking. Today’s hike will not be too long so we will have enough time to acclimatize. Our trekking route will be gentle and romantic along the bank of the Dudh Koshi River.

Walking past the villages of Chhepling, Chaurikharka, and Thadokoshi, we will shortly arrive in Phakding where we can enjoy the direct view of Mount Kusum Kangaru (6367m).

Lukla-Airport

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

2,840 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

6 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge
transportation

Transportation

45 min Flight

day 03 Trek from Phakding to Namche bazaar

Enjoy your hearty breakfast with Kusum Kangaru. Then, we will start hiking through beautiful pine forests along the Dudh Koshi River. The beautiful Benkar village will lead us to Monjo from where we have now entered the protected site of Sagarmatha National Park. A short uphill hike from here will take us to Jorsalle. It is time to cross the renowned Hilary suspension bridge to see the wonderful iridescent peak of Thamserku (6609 m).

The trail from here leads us to the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and
Bhote Koshi rivers. After the last steep ascent, we will see the peak of Everest peeking over the Lhotse-Nuptse mountain range for the first time at Namche. This market is the gateway to Mount Everest and the main trading center of the region. Prepare to spend two nights under the lap of Everest, Kwangde Peak, Kusum Kangru, Nutse, and Lhotse.

Phakding-To-n-Namche-bazaar
Trek To Namche Bazar Everest Region
max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

3,440 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

7 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

lodge

day 04 Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar and excursion to Syangboche

Namche-Bazar-Everest-REgion
Namche Bazar Everest Region

This will be the first of two days on our route dedicated to acclimatization. We will spend this day hiking to Syangboche lying at the lap of Khumbila Peak. The small village has a tiny airstrip where military helicopters operate carrying needed supplies.

It also hosts the world’s highest hotel Everest View Hotel located at an altitude of 3,880 m in the Sagarmatha National Park. Here, you can enjoy your coffee with a billion-dollar view of Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Thamserku, Taboche, Cholatse, and the entire Namche market.

After enjoying the scenery, we will descend to Namche market, explore its surroundings, and return to our lodge for dinner and rest.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

3,880 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

3 hours Hike
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 05 Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche/Debuche

After breakfast, we will resume our walking along the Dudh Koshi River for a while. We will cross the River over a long suspension bridge. Moving forward, we will now set foot at Imja Khola Valley.

Crossing the river once again over a hanging bridge, we will then climb through woods and dense pine and rhododendron forest to Phungithanga. Here we will take a lunch break and continue our climb for two more hours through pine and spruce forest to reach the small hill of Tengboche.

Here we will explore the famous Tengboche Gumba. The world’s most spectacular views captured in photographs can be found here. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse (8,501 m), Kwangde (6,187 m), Tawachee (6,542 m), Ama Dablan, Kantega and Thamserku offer inspiring landscapes of Himalayan giants.

If we are not too tired, we can also hike further to Debuche which is just an hour further from Tengboche.

We will spend the night in simple, but clean and comfortable conditions.

Namche-to-Tengboche-Everest
Namche To Tengboche Everest Region Trek
max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

3,867 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

6 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 06 Trek from Tengboche/Debuche to Dingboche

Early morning after breakfast, we will begin our wonderful hiking as the landmark is outstanding and we won’t get altitude sickness like other days. In addition, we will be able to enjoy the scenery of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and other surrounding mountains along the way.

First, we will descend into a beautiful forest, then cross Imja Khola and trek through Pangboche village (3,900m). This village has the oldest monastery in the Khumbu region where it is said the Yak scalp has been stored.

Dinboche-to-Digboche-Trek-E
Diboche To Dingboche Trek Everest Region

After a short visit to the monastery, we will now hike uphill over the steep slopes till we see the potato fields of the Dingbiche village. Observe how the deep forest has turned into grasslands from here.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

4,350 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

6 hours trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 07 Rest day at Dingboche for acclimatization and excursion to Nangkartshang Hill

Today is our second day where we spend a day acclimatizing to the altitude. According to the rule of acclimatization, we will climb high and sleep low. So after breakfast, we will set out to reach the top of Nangkartshang Hill laso known as Nagarjun Hill.

This is an excellent viewpoint located on the slopes of the Chukung Valley, above Dingboche. The climb to the top will be quite steep but the reward will be priceless. From the top, we can enjoy the remarkable scenery of Lobuche East (6,119m), Lobuche West (6,145m), Taboche Peak (6495m), Thamserku (6,608m), Kangtega (6,782m) and Ama Dablam (6,812m).

After resting and getting used to the altitude of 5,100m, we will start descending back to Dingboche, which takes about 2 hours.

Dingboche
Excellent Viewpoint Nangkartshang Hil Dingboche Everest Region
max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

5,100 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

4 hours Hike
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 08 Trek from Dingboche to Lobuche trek time

Today is relatively a light day of trekking but we will gain significant altitude. We will follow the steep slopes to reach the wide valley of Dughla. Moving further, we will come across the memorial over the Thukla Pass at 4865 m. The memorial is dedicated to climbers who have stayed with the Khumbu region forever.

There are numerous prayer flags offered on the site. We will offer our prayers here with a message of love. Then we will resume our hike along the rocky terrain till we arrive at Lobuche. Here, we will rest and get used to the altitude.

Trek-Dingboche-to-Lobuche
View From Dingboche To Lobuche Trek Everest Region
max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

4,930 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

6 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 09 Trek from Lobuche to Gorak Shep and hike to Everest Base Camp and back to Gorak Shep trek time

The most significant highlight of our 10-day Everest Base Camp Trek with Heli return has arrived. Leaving Lobuche, we will trek for about 4 hours along the glacier terrain to reach Gorakshep. It is the last town known as the gateway to Everest Base Camp with some guesthouses and feels like a desert. Here, we can see ice ponds, and icebergs floating down below the Khumby glacier.

Here, we will have a hot meal, leave our backpacks, and begin our trek for about two hours along the Changri Glacier to reach Everest Base Camp. From here, we can see Khumbu icefall, Nuptse, Pumori, and Khumbutse sparkling in the sun.

After sharing the joyful moment, we will move to Gorakshep to have a warm dinner and rest.

From-GorakShep-Everest-Base-Camp-Helicopter-Trek

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

5,364 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

8 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

Lodge

day 10 Early morning hike to Kalapathar trek time and Helicopter fly back to Kathmandu

Early morning before sunrise, we can hike up to kalapathar to see the amazing sunrise on the face of Mt.Everest. It offers amazing panoramic views of the surrounding area and a sight to cherish. Today marks the culmination of our expedition. Early in the morning, our local crew members will arrange a helicopter flight to pick us up from Gorakshep. We will then fly to Lukla, enjoy the impressive beauty of the eternal mountains for one last time, and fly to Kathmandu over Everest. After arriving at Kathmandu airport, we will drive you to your hotel in Kathmandu where you can rest, look back at your journey, and enjoy the moment.

7-days-everest-base-camp-trek41-helicopter
Helicopter Flight Back From Gorakchep To Lukla/Kathmandu

You can shop around in Thamel for some souvenirs of Everest. In the evening, our team will organize a farewell program with a delicious dinner.

max-altitude

Maximum Altitude

5,545 m.
meals

Meals

Breakfast, Dinner
activity-icon

Trek Duration

3 hours Trek
accommodation

Accomodations

3 star hotel
transportation

Transportation

1 hour flight
10-Days-Everest-Base-Camp-Trek-Route-Map
equipments

Required Equipments for Trekking in Nepal

  • Breathable Underwear
  • Sports Bra
  • Base Layers
  • Trekking Shirts
  • Trekking Trousers and Shorts
  • Fleece Jacket
  • Down jacket (insulated jacket)
  • Windcheater (water proof)
  • Sun protection Hat
  • Headband or Beanie
  • Scarf or neckband
  • Gloves (inner and outer )
  • Hiking Boots
  • Trekking Shoes
  • Hiking Socks
  • Thermal Socks
  • Gaiters
  • Duffel Bag
  • Day pack
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Trekking poles
  • Sunglasses
  • Hydration bladder or Water bottle
  • Head Lamps
  • Batteries
  • Personal towel
  • Swiss army knife
  • Sun lotion
  • Medical & first-aid kit
  • Woolen socks
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Lip Guard
  • Insulated pants
  • Baby wipers

Required Equipments for Climbing in Nepal

  • Water bottle
  • Batteries and bulbs
  • Flashlight
  • Personal towel
  • Swiss army knife
  • Rucksack
  • Sun lotion
  • Medical & first-aid kit
  • Sewing kit
  • Polypropylene/wool socks
  • Other required equipment
  • Sleeping bag
  • Down Jacket
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Trekking shoes/boots
  • Camp shoes
  • Jumperorpile jacket
  • Hiking pants
  • Hiking shirts
  • Full–sleeves shirt
  • T-shirts
  • Sun hat
  • Gloves
  • Woolen hat
  • Long underwear
  • Goggles or sun glasses
  • Gaiters
  • Sun block for lips
  • Light cotton socks
  • Mountain trekking boots
  • Woolen socks to wear with boots
  • Nylon wind breaker
  • Insulated pants
  • Nylon wind pants
  • Long sleeved cotton/woolen shirts
  • Sun hat
  • Long cotton hiking shorts
  • Fleece/wool for climbing
  • Lightweight fleece
  • Sleeping pad (karri mat) or thermarest
  • Down high altitude sleeping bag
  • Down jacket/trousers/vest
  • Light cotton athletic socks and wool socks
  • Water proof climbing jacket
  • Head torch/batteries/bulbs
  • Climbing sunglasses
  • Lightweight thermal/insulated ski gloves
  • Sun screen
  • Warm climbing trousers
  • Wool long underwear
  • Other required equipment
  • Climbing boots
  • Gaiters
  • Ice axe
  • Harness
  • Crampons
  • Karabiners
  • Tapes/slings
  • Snow bars
  • Ice screws
  • Rock pegs
  • Deadmen
  • Crash hat
  • Day bag
  • Rucksack
  • Lip salve
  • T-shirts
  • Ascenders
  • Ascenders
  • Kit bag

What's Included

  • Private transportation pick up and drops.
  • Complete trip related information, about the trek, flight ticket, guide, and overall visit to Nepal.
  • 02 nights 03-star hotel in Kathmandu with Breakfast (BB plan- 01 night before the trek and 01 night after the trek)
  • Helicopter Flight from Everest base camp(Gorakshep) to Lukla.
  • Helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla and Lukla to Kathmandu.
  • Luggage allowed. (10kg Big bag & 5kg handbag).
  • Best Lodge accommodation & full board meals throughout the trek.
  • Breakfast,  lunch, and dinner included chosen from the lodge menu.
  • Twin-share best available lodge accommodation during the trek.
  • Experienced, government license holder trek guide, helpful and friendly strong, porters (1 porter for 2 people) and their food, accommodation, salary, equipment, transportation, accidental insurance for all staff.
  • Warm Down jacket and four seasonal sleeping bags (-20 degree) will be provided( down jacket and sleeping bag are to be returned after the trip )
  • Sagarmatha national park (Mt. Everest) trek permit fee.
  • Pasang Lhamu Rural Muncipality Permit Fee
  • Life Himalaya trekking bag/duffel bag, t-shirt
  • Everest base camp trail map.
  • First Aid kits for the staff and the groups. including oxi-meter
  • Services coordination for emergency and rescue operations
  • Government taxes & office service charge
  • Farewell Dinner in a reputed traditional Nepali cultural restaurant.
  •  Achievement Certificate

What's Excluded

  • Travel insurance which covers  5500m emergency Rescue and Evacuation.
  • International airfare.
  • Nepal entry visa charge.
  • All beverages and others personal expenses.
  • Snacks and other personal expenses.
  • Battery charge, hot showers, internet & international phone calls.
  • Tips for Guide, Porter and Drivers.
  • Service not mentioned above.

10 Days Everest Base Camp Trek – Both ways Helicopter - Essential Information

10 Days Everest Base Camp Trekking Route

The trail in Everest and Khumbu trekking  region offers breathtaking landscapes, spectacular snow-capped mountains, charming mountain villages, geographical diversity, a variety of environments, flora and fauna, glaciers, old Buddhist monasteries, Sherpa unique culture, Local sherpa foods and their way of living traditional life and so on.

Basically, Everest trekking is round-year trekking however the best season for a 10 days trek to EBC is spring (March-May-June) and autumn (September-October-November-December).

10 days Everest Base Camp Trek doesn’t require previous experience in trekking. However, trekkers must have an excellent level of physical fitness as well as be physically and mentally prepared in order to be able to walk 5 to 6 hours up and down.

We are top team working  to manage your  trek will and make your life time dream comes true. If you are looking for classic Everest base camp 12 – 15-16 days trek with out helicopter return tour please  find the best updated information for Everest base camp trek 15 days cost, details itinerary.

Can a Beginner Trek to Everest Base Camp in 10 Days?

Everest-Base-camp-Trek-14-days

Yes, our 10-day Everest base camp trek is suitable for beginners who are enthusiastic walkers and can manage 5-7 hours of walking per day with relatively light dirt. Trekking in the highlands requires more physical endurance, but if you have excellent health and moderate physical stamina, as well as a positive attitude, self-confidence, and determination, the trek will be successful for you.

In addition, this is a complete lodge trekking adventure with no need to camp in cold settings Tents. Our experienced, government license holder trek guide, and helpful and friendly strong, porters will accompany you throughout the tour. Our guide will assist you when walking over a difficult terrain while our porters will carry your luggage allowing you to walk only with your light backpack.

So this trip in Nepal is perfectly suitable for a short family vacation with children and elderly citizens.

Because of kathmandu to Lukla and Gorakshep to Kathmandu by helicopter no need to worry about dangerous airport and weather at Lukla airport.

However, participants with pre-existing medical conditions such as heart, lung, or circulatory diseases must inform us before applying for the trek.

What Is the Best Time to Do Everest Base Camp 10 Days Both Ways Helicopter Back Trek?

The perfect time to participate in our 10-day Everest base camp trek is Fall (September – December). This is the period when the weather is extremely clear and warm, which is very convenient to experience trekking and taking the most beautiful photos. During this season, you can also observe many major festivals such as the Dasain festival (October), the Tihar festival (November), Mani Rimdu mountain festival at Tengboche monastery in the Everest region (November).

Spring (March- June) is the second best time for our trek. This is also a great time for you to see azalea flowers blooming at an altitude of over 2,400 meters. You will have a warm natural space and blooming rhododendron bushes all over the trekking route, and this is also a bustling time on the route. In addition, in spring in Nepal, there is also a quite famous Holi festival.

Enjoying our trip in winter (December – February) is also possible if you love the cold of winter and want to experience the bone-chilling cold below minus 20 to -35 degrees, as well as want to admire the white snow everywhere. Although this is not the peak tourist season, even the harshest season of the year, there are still many tourists visiting Everest Base Camp as the day after morning is often cloudless and sunny.

You should avoid making trips in June-July-August because this is the rainy (monsoon) season in Nepal. The hot weather and slippery roads make it difficult for trekking as well as exploring the Everest region’s unique terrain.

What Is the Total Elevation and Trekking Distance for 10 Days EBC Trek by Heli?

Reaching Everest Base Camp is the zenith of our Everest base camp trek 10-day tour. It is also the highest point we will reach at an altitude of 5364 m above sea level in the Khumbu region but if you climb Kalaptthar in the morning before the talking helicopter back to Kathmandu hight of Kalaptthar is 5555m. The Base camp is located 200 to 300 km away from the charming capital of Nepal.

The starting point of our tour is as usual Lukla located approximately 367 km away from Kathmandu. The aerial distance however to Lukla is only 135 km concluded in 40 to 45 minutes. Lukla is only 65 km away from Everest Base Camp taking us about a week’s journey on foot.

However, our return journey is shortened by four days and we will return to Kathmandu in a single day. We will therefore be completing our entire within 10 days covering 10 km every day walking only 5 to 6 hours approximately per day.

How Many Hours Do We Walk Per Day During To 10 Days Everest Base Camp Trek?

Our incredible short journey to Everest Base Camp spans only ten days consisting of eight hiking days. Each day, we will cross varied terrain, walk through diverse landscapes, and stay in different Sherpa settlements. Therefore, the walking duration each day alters someday demanding us to walk for about 8 hours and someday allowing us to walk only for 4 hours.

One such easy walking day is on the first day of the trek on day 2 when we march to Phakding for about 3 to 4 hours. It is regarded as the easiest walk mostly including downhill walk.

Our toughest challenge will be on day 9 when we journey from Lobuche to Gorakshep to Everest Base Camp and back to Gorakshep. This day need us to walk for around 6 to 8 hours which is the longest walking duration of our entire tour.nbsp;

What are the Challenges with Everest Base Camp Trek Acclimatization?

Although helicopter return is incorporated into our program, the 10-day Everest Base Camp trek is still regarded as a medium-difficult trip in Nepal. Because you will have to walk for about five to eight hours every day for eight days. The path is uneven and rocky and some parts are quite steep. The higher you go, the more difficult it becomes as the air has less oxygen.

Perhaps what makes this trip difficult is the altitude factor. You will often feel a bit shaky at high altitudes. Therefore a good adaptation to the high-altitude atmosphere is compulsory.

Our knowledgeable team has structured our program with full awareness of altitude sickness following the principle of climbing high and sleeping low. We also have devoted enough time to acclimatization. We will spend one rest day at Namche and one rest day at Dingboche.

At Namche, we will hike to Everest View Hotel at 3880 m height and descend to 3440 m for a night stay. At Dingboche, we will climb the Nagarjun Hill at 5100 m and climb down to 4350 m altitude to spend the night at Dingboche.

Proudly proven that our 10 days EBC itinerary with heli return is the best high altitude friendly itineary.

Best Alternative Routes for the 10-Day Everest Base Camp Trek

Besides the Everest Base Camp trek with Heli return, there are several other routes you can choose from that will take you deep into the Himalayas, giving you an even more amazing view of Mount Everest.

YouTube video

1. Traditional Everest Base Camp Route

This route is often chosen by several trekkers, starting from Lukla village to Everest base camp. Traversing past the various Sherpa villages of Phakding, Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, Lobuche, and Gorakshep, you will reach Everest Base Camp and Gorakshep to Pheruche, Lukla kathmandu return by helicopter to Kathmandu

2. Gokyo Valley Lake Chola pass and Everest base camp

It is one of the alternative  Gokyo valley chola pass and trek to Everest Base Camp trekking routes that is the second most chosen by traveling enthusiasts after the traditional EBC route. This route will take you to Gokyo ri and then take a detour to Gokyo Lake and  Dragnag.

This alternative route will allow you to cross Cho Pass, conquer Gokyo Peak, and enjoy the magnificent beauty of Ngozumpa eternal glacier.

3. Everest Base Camp Via Three Passes

The trip to Three Passes will take you on a grand loop through the Himalayas, allowing you to stop at EBC along the way. The three passes that you need to overcome when participating are Kongma La (5,535m), Cho La (5,420m), and Renjo La (5,360m).

In this adventure, you will have to conquer the high-altitude passes of the Everest region one by one, making this journey the most beautiful challenging trekking route to EBC.

4. Everest Base Camp via Jiri

Oldest route taken by sir Edmond Hillary If you want to avoid the flight to Lukla, you can choose this longer route to reach Lukla. You will start your journey with a drive to Jiri from the capital and walk through some of the rustic villages Bandar, King the famous Lamjura pass ( 3530 m) Junbesi, Nunthala, Kharikhola, Surkhe, Charikharkha village near Lukla finally joining Chheplung and join EBC Lukla route to Phakding.

10-Day Everest Base Camp Trek vs. 14-Day EBC Trek

Gokyo-Lake-and-Everest-BaseBoth the 10-day Everest Base Camp trek and the 14-day Everest Base Camp trek take us on an incredible expedition in the Khumbu region of Nepal. Engaging in both of these treks, we will get the opportunity to walk along the peaceful environment of Sagarmatha National Park with a high probability of spotting the rare flora and fauna of the area.

Both these tours will allow us to admire the tallest mountain on the globe up close. And the starting point of both the treks begins from Lukla.

However, the 10-day Everest Base camp trek start with kathmandu to Lukla heli flight tour integrated with a Helicopter return from Gorakhsep to Lukla to Kathmandu. Thus allowing us to cut the hiking days on the way back. A luxurious aerial flight gives us the chance to admire the mighty Kala Patthar and surrounding eternal peaks literally from above the clouds.

Therefore this tour is perfect for those who are short of time but still want to experience the extraordinary Himalayan atmosphere and view Everest within a stone’s throw.

The 14-day Everest BC Trek on the other hand will allow us to climb Kala Patthar and admire the massive Himalayas personally. We will also return through the same trekking path we have overcome during the initial phase of the trek. As a plus point, we will be able to admire once again the serene beauty of the Everest region and enjoy the Sherpa hospitality.

This trek is perfect for those who enjoy perfect health, have plenty of time to spend in Nepal, and wish to travel in a more budget-friendly way.

How to Prepare and Train for a 10-Day Heli Return Everest Base Camp Trek?

For the Everest base camp trek 10 days, endurance is more important than strength. You will need to know how to distribute your strength, flexibility, and endurance to conquer long distances, with many stages that are more difficult than usual and have steep slopes, for many consecutive days. It’s a good idea to do some regular exercise a few weeks before your trip.

Practice cardio exercises such as running, walking, swimming, or cycling. Carry a backpack when doing these cardio exercises. Strengthen your muscles with exercises such as squats, push-ups, and lifts. However, avoid over-exercising. Remember the purpose of this pre-trip exercise is to increase body endurance and increase lung capacity.

What If I Get Altitude Sickness ?

Altitude sickness is one of the risks that are high in our 10-day Everest base camp trek. From day 3, you will be at an altitude of more than 3000 m. The days ahead will take us to further elevations ultimately concluding at 5436 m at Everest Base Camp. However, we will send night at the highest elevation of Gorakshep at 5170 m.

So there is a high possibility that you may feel some signs of altitude sickness. Such as headache, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and sleeping.

If you feel any of the above symptoms, do not ascend to greater heights, climb down to a lower altitude, let your body rest until you feel really good, and drink lots of water. If needed, administer oxygen if necessary and take medicines to help relieve symptoms.

Please keep in mind, that there is no way to train the body to completely adapt to high altitudes. However, with a reasonable distribution of breaks and lots of rest, slowing climbs in higher elevations, and avoiding smoking and alcohol help prevent altitude sickness.

What Is Included During the 10-Day Everest Base Camp Trek? Accommodation, Food, and Drink?

We offer two types of accommodation on the 10-day Everest base camp trek. You will spend two nights in a three-star hotel in Kathmandu. During the trek, we will stay in the best guesthouses available. In local lodges, western toilets,  till Phakding to Dingboche  room with western toilets inside. Accommodation during the trek is intended to be shared in pairs.

If you are traveling alone, you will need to share with someone else  or pay single supplementary that you get your won room. an additional fee must be paid. In this case, you will be provided with a single room in Kathmandu, but the service may not be available in local lodges.

Regarding meals, we offer breakfast in Kathmandu and three meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the trek. You will be able to enjoy local Nepali food, and internationally known meals (Tibetan, Continental, Italian, and Indian cuisine), from pizza and French fries to apple pie but we recommend to stay vegetarian meal.

Breakfast will be served in the tea house or in the guest house where you will spend the night. You will eat lunch on the way to the evening destination. Farewell dinner will also be served in Kathmandu.

All beverages including tea, coffee, soft drinks, hard drinks, and snacks are excluded from our service.

EBC Transportation

We offer private pick-up and drop-off service from and to the Tribhuvan International Airport. A private car, van, or bus will be used to take you to your hotel in Kathmandu from the airport. At the end of the trip, we will provide the same service to see you off in the TIA.

Your heli flights to Lukla from Kathmandu and Lukla to Kathmandu  by helicopter shearing basis

We will arrange a helicopter flight from Gorakshep to Lukla to Kathmandu . However, our service excludes the emergency rescue and evacuation service cost by helicopter. So please make sure to take out insurance that will cover your urgent helicopter evacuation cost in Nepal.

How to Stay in Touch via Gadget Charging, Internet, and Wi-Fi?

You will have access to WIFI in the Everest region without a problem. At Lukla, Phakding, and Namche, you have to pay USD 5 to use the unlimited WIFI service. Alternatively, you can purchase a 10GB / 30-day Everest Link WiFi card at Namche Bazaar and use it for the entire EBC trip. At Everest View Hotel, you can use free WIFI service.

Another option would be to use the Ncell or NTC data package for communication and the internet. Both mobile networks provide 4G service all over Nepal. You can buy the SIMs, recharge with some balance, and activate the service.

Regarding charging your devices, you can charge your devices in all tea shops on the way to Everest Base Camp. They will cost you from USD 2 to USD 10 for a full charge of your devices (mobile, laptop, camera, etc.).

How Many Permits Do You Need for the Everest Base Camp Helicopter Return Trek?

For Everest base camp trek we need 2 kind of permits

A) Khumbu Rural Municipality Permit

B) Sagarmatha National Park Entry

Permit are needed for the Everest base camp trek 10-day trekking tour. We will process the permits in Kathmandu or  Lukla or Monjo and the permits cost is included in our trek costs.

10 Days Everest Base Camp Trek – Both ways Helicopter - FAQs

Starting from

$2,290

per person (in USD)
stars

top rated - Based on 214 TripAdvisor & 107 Google Reviews

  • 1 - people
    US$ 2990
  • 2 - 4 people
    US$ 2599
  • 5 - 8 people
    US$ 2399
  • 9 - 14 people
    US$ 2350
  • 15 + people 9999
    US$ 2290
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Tripadvisor Reviews

EXCELLENT
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Based on 218 reviews
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Experience78263 profile picture
Experience78263
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Excellent Experience with Life Himalaya Trekking Excellent Experience with Life Himalaya Trekking – Highly Recommended! A big thank you to the entire team at Life Himalaya Trekking Pvt Ltd for organising such a wonderful experience for us. We arrived in Kathmandu on 12 October 2026 and completed our 12-day trek to Everest Base Camp. Everything was organised very well from start to finish, and the team looked after us throughout the journey. A special thank you to our guide, Birsha Rai, who communicated with us so well. His English was excellent and easy to understand. He was friendly, professional and very flexible, making sure we were comfortable along the way. Our two Sherpa porters were also incredibly kind and helpful. We also appreciated the warm welcome and the lovely farewell ceremony with lunch. It was a beautiful way to finish our adventure. Thank you to Shiba, the Managing Director, and the whole Life Himalaya team for making our Everest Base Camp trek such a memorable experience. We are from Australia and would happily recommend Life Himalaya Trekking to anyone planning an adventure in Nepal. You can book with confidence! Thank you again for everything! 🇦🇺🏔️
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Lea M profile picture
Lea M
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Stunning mountain views and adventurous trails This is our second time booking with Life Himalaya Trekking and we were nothing but happy with the entire experience. Our two week trip started with the meetup in Kathmandu and travelling to Lukla for the meeting of our guide Pramod and our Porter Lilaraj - everything was organized perfectly. From then on we were in great hands throughout our tour, always well taken care of and always looked after. Pramod was full of knowledge and insight of the area and the surrounding mountains. Lilaraj helped us with our bags and made the trip feel a little lighter for us. We are so thankful to both of them for supporting us on our trip - it would not have been as much fun and as comfortable without both of them! We really enjoyed the EBC trail as well - the weather was fantastic and the views of the mountains on this trail are phenomenal. But be prepared for quite a busy trail and definitely some exhausting parts along the way. But with the support of Pramod and Lilaraj, we made it to our goal to reach the EBC and we are very proud of the achievement. It would not have been possible without all the help from Life Himalaya Trekking - we cannot wait to come back for our next tour!
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Lea M profile picture
Lea M
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Big thanks to Life Himalaya Trekking for a wonderful EBC trek! We went recently on the EBC trek for 14 days with Life Himalaya Trekking - and everything was organized perfectly. From the communication ahead of the trip to the hike itself - we were well taken care of. Shiba, the head of the company, made sure our trip started and ended smoothly. Our guide Pramod was so kind and very well informed, we got the best possible information while trekking. Our porter Lilaraj supported us along the whole trek. We have nothing to complain about and we look forward to visiting beautiful Nepal again. And we look forward to our next tour with Life Himalaya Trekking!
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peter m profile picture
peter m
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Amazing Amazing experience. Guide was knowledgeable and I always felt safe and well looked after.
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Jessica M profile picture
Jessica M
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An Incredible Trek with the Best Team! I completed the Manaslu Circuit with Saugat and Aunil, and it was an absolutely incredible experience! The trek was breathtaking, the organization was perfect, and the views were simply stunning. Saugat’s knowledge, professionalism, and expertise as a guide, together with Aunil’s help, kindness, and support as a porter, made the whole experience even more special. I couldn’t have asked for a better team! I will definitely come back to Nepal, and I will choose this agency, Saugat, and Aunil again without hesitation. 10 stars for my new friends! Thank you both for making this adventure unforgettable!
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Louis L profile picture
Louis L
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Outstanding experience with Life Himalaya Trekking We have just returned from a 12-day trek to Everest Base Camp with Life Himalaya Trekking (plus 3 days in Katmandu). From start to finish, Shiba—the owner of this prestigious agency—delivered service that far exceeded our expectations. Our guide, Birsha Rai, provided exceptional support throughout what is a very demanding trek. We were consistently impressed by the quality of his guidance, his attitude, and his services; we truly appreciated how fortunate we were to have his support every step of the way. The trek turned into an exceptional human experience. Louis L.
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Scott F profile picture
Scott F
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Outstanding Everest base camp experience Outstanding trekking company. Shiba was great to work with. He handled all our questions and changes in our itinerary with no problem. We had the best guide and porter anyone could ask for. We enjoyed all the places we stayed. I would highly highly recommend this trekking company. If you wanna trek to Everest Base camp.
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Andrew T profile picture
Andrew T
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Mardi Himal Trek A life changing experience! Milan and Bhim were the best guide and porter for our very first trek in the Himalayas. Although the weather wasn’t always on our side, we got to see the most spectacular views, stayed in the best hotels/ camps and definitely got to tick off an item on the bucket list. Thank you Milan, for your wealth of knowledge and for guiding us safely through some rather wet and rainy conditions. We will definitely be back!
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Stefano G profile picture
Stefano G
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Beautiful travel experience Excellent, serious, and reliable agency. We did a private Upper Mustang trek combined with a visit to Kathmandu. Everything perfect. Fantastic guide Badri with experience and great professionalism. Porter Dan was very good. Furthermore, they always showed great empathy. Very good
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Sharon D profile picture
Sharon D
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Dream EBC + exceptional visit to Kathmandu. Thanks to Life Himalaya Trekking, my husband and I were able to realize a dream. From the moment of organizing from Italy, Shiba proved to be extremely available and quick in communications. And, once here, we were able to immediately verify how efficient the entire team that makes up the company is. Shiba is infinitely sweet and friendly; he pampered us, guiding us through all the organizational aspects of our trip, from the trek to Everest Base Camp to cultural visits in Kathmandu and surroundings, covering all types of transportation we needed. Thanks to him, we had the pleasure of spending our time in Nepal with unique people, who allowed us to get to know this wonderful country and its inhabitants up close. Tika was our guide during the hike to EBC, and thanks to him and our porter Podam, we experienced a wonderful and authentic adventure! Both very knowledgeable, they were excellent at taking care of us, thanks to their attention to even the small things, the advice and information they provided us, but especially due to their friendliness, which allowed us to approach even the most difficult situations with ease. Tika is an exceptional entertainer and a great photographer; he was our family for more than a week, and we are very grateful to him. The entire experience of reaching Everest Base Camp was all-encompassing; it captivated us in every aspect, both scenic and human. It was exciting to reach the destination after a journey that lasted about a week. But it was equally incredible and moving to fly by helicopter from Gorak Shep to Lukla, retracing from above every step taken and every place experienced during the previous days. We would like to thank Promot, Raj, Rajan, and especially our exceptional tour guide Ajya, who accompanied us through the most iconic places in Kathmandu, sharing their history and every cultural aspect. The passion and love for one's work allowed us to immerse ourselves in a world that, otherwise, we would have understood and experienced only halfway. Thanks also to all the other members who contributed to the success of our trip. This is a goodbye; we look forward to returning to Nepal!
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Per Person $2,290

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