Everest Luxury Trip & Mt. Everest Helicopter Flight Tour

This is a luxury travel prepared for your comfort trekking in lower valley in Everest Region to explore the world highest mountain areas, Sherpa peoples, their culture and traditions. 

Trekking from Lukla to Namche and exploring the Khumbu valleys are just incredible with landscaes, nature and cultural visits. However, highlight of this trip will be flying by Helicopter from Namche to base of Kalapathar or Everest Base Camp is great experience as it lands at base of world greatest Himalayas and provide you excellent oppertunity to photography of Mt. Everest (8848m) & World Highest Himalayan panorama. You will be landing in Kalapathar or Everest Base Camp (Depends on the weather, we will choose to land at one place, and helicopter will be there for max. of 15 minutes), then fly back down to Lukla. From Lukla, we will have regular plane flight back to Kathmandu.

Once you arrive to Kathmandu, you have next day as your guided tour of Kathmandu cultural and historical highlights and after the Everest trip, you will have two full days guided trip to Bhaktapur/ Patan and Nagarkot for the best exploration of culture, history and Heritage in Kathmandu that gives you a closed oppertunity to oberve/ witness Hindu and Buddhist lifes.

Customize Your Own Trek
This trip itienrary is a guideline to you to this trip suggested, but you could always customize it to your requirement. Please kindly advise us your interest, timeline and budget, and we will be very happy to customize this trip to your requirement suggested. 

For additional questions or queries you have, feel very free to contact us at sales@advadventures.com

Note: On this trip, our flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and return flight from Lukla to Kathmandu will be by regular Plane, and Helicopter Flight will only be from Namche to Everest Base Camp/ Kalapathar and return back to Lukla.

Day 01 Arrival Day in Kathmandu

Altitude1350m/4428ft

Meals: Welcome Dinner

Welcome to the Land of Himalayas! On arrival at Kathmandu International Airport, Advanced Adventures officer will pick up you, then trasnfer to your hotel. Time for refreshment and relax. In evening, we meet again for trip briefing/ discussion, group introduction and introduce your guide team to your trip. In Evening, we host welcome dinner at one of the finest local restaurant with music and ethnic dance. Overnight Kathmandu.

Day 02 Day Guided Tour of Kathmandu Valley
Altitude1350m/4428ft
Activities: Sightseeing tour
Meals: Breakfast

Today, you will have guided tour of great cultural and historical highlight of Kathmandu Valley. Visit includes to Swayambhunath Stupa (Also known as money temple- Buddhist shrine), Pashupathnath Temple (Biggest Hindu Temple with dead body cremation in riverside) & Boudhanath Stupa (Biggest Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu). Free evening for relax or last minute shopping etc. O/N at Kathmandu. 

Day 03 Kathmandu- Lukla Flight (Trans Himalayan Flight) & Trek to Phakding

Altitude: Lukla (2800m/9154ft) & Phakding (2650m/8692ft)
Activities: 3 to 4 Hours Walk 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We drive to airport early in the morning to take our flight to Lukla (35 min flight) and meet our other assistance trekking crew there and start our trek. (Flight to Lukla itself is amazing, very interesting and full of excitement while landing to this little mountain airstrip.) After a short break of tea and coffee (Guide would load the baggage to the porter at the same time)-{Enjoy taking a great picture of flight landing and taking off.}, then, you will take an easy walk passing through local Sherpa villages, crossing through the several suspension bridges, the trail mostly follow the river bank of Dudhkoshi River till reaching to Phakding where we will have our first overnight stay in mountain. Today is a wonderful walking at full of natural surroundings, passing through many local Sherpa villages, crossing through the Buddhist monasteries, several up hills and down hills and involves of crossing a several suspension bridges. As this day hike is mostly about 3 to 4 hours only, which is relatively short then others days of walking thus you would also have time to relax and little acclimatize at Phakding itself. Simply relax or visit to the local Sherpa village surroundings of Phakding. O/N at Mt. Lodge at Phakding

Day 04 Phakding - Namche Bazaar
Altitude: 3440m/11283 ft 
Activities: 5 to 6  Hours Walk 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning breakfast at Lodge at Phakding then start walking for a slightly longer day to Namche. At first, the trail crosses Dudhkoshi River over a long suspension bridge, then walking through beautiful pine forest. After about 2 hours of leisurely walk, we will reach to Monjo and soon thereafter, we will be at the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, where we will check our permit (make permit), then short descent to the Dudh Kosi River again passing lots of Mani stones and in scripts and shortly reach to Jorsale, the last stop before heading up hill to Namche. Since no teahouse is available from Jorsale to Namche portion, we will have to have our lunch here.

From Jorsale, across the river again with long suspension bridge, then short walking through the riverbank brings you to another deep suspension bridge, which is known as a HILLARY SUNSPENSION BRIDGE. Crossing this bridge connects you to the big hill, which required a tough walk (almost 2 to 3 hours) all the way up to Namche Bazaar. Little more than half walking to this hill, there is a rest point which gives you a first glimpse of Mt. Everest (8848m/29021ft), it is just amazing. Namche Bazaar; the gate way to Mt. Everest and is the main trading centre of this region. O/N at Namche at Mt. Lodge

Day 05 Namche Bazaar- Day Rest & Exploration 

Altitude 3440m/11283 ft 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Today, we will spend a day in Namche Bazaar, resting and allowing our bodies to become acclimatized to the altitude of (3,440m/11,283ft). The best acclimatization hike we could recommend for this day is to Everest View point Hotel (3880m/12,726ft), which is approx. of 2 hours uphill, the great view of Mt. Everest and Khumbu Himalayan panorama.

Afternoon, you may just explore Namche, visit its Sherpa museum- a great place to learn Sherpa culture and history of mountaineering and if this happens to be Saturday, you would have a wonderful local market Hatt market at Namche it is interesting and a wonderful experience about how the locals do exchange their goods or buying their requires stuff for the market itself. Namche itself is a prosperous town, tourist-shopping hub with all the required trekking and mountaineering clothing and equipment. O/N at Namche at Mt. lodge.

Day 06 Namche- Everest Base Camp
 (Helicopter Flight & return flight to Lukla)
Altitude: 5364m/17593ft EBC and Kalapathar 5545m/18188 ft 
Activities: Helicopter flight to Kalapatther/Everest Base Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning, after breakfast, you will be picked up from Helicopter from helipad from Namche, then fly over to Everest Base Camp/ Kalapathar Base side. This flight is incredible as it will gives you closed up views of great Himalayas, landscapes, and Himalayan Valleys. You will have great oppertunity for Videos and Photography.  Depending on the weather condition, Helicopter will either land at Everest Base Camp or at Kalapathar for minimum of 15 minute. Here, you will have oppertunity to see the great Mt. Everest ( 8848m/290021ft) in front of you, and world highest Himalayan Panorama. After short visit, you will then fly back to Lukla by Helicopter. Free afternoon in Lukla to explore Lukla Valley, and Local Markets. O/N at Lukla.

Day 07 Lukla- Kathmandu Flight (30 minute flight) 
Altitude1350m/4428ft
Activities: Fly back Kathmandu

Meals: Breakfast

This morning after breakfast at Lodge you will have plane flight back to Kathmandu. As Lukla flight is weather depended flight, delays on the flight is expected even if our flight will be booked for morning. Today, you will almost have full day in Kathmandu. Your personal time for leisure or shopping etc. O/N at Kathmandu.

Day 08 Departure from Kathmandu 

Meals: Breakfast

Today, your trip ends with us. You will have morning breakfast at hotel, then free onward. If you departing this day back home, we will transfer you to airport (You should reach airport 2 hours and 30 min before the flight departs), and our services ends. 
End of our Trip!

Cost Includes:

• Airport picks up/ Departure transfer in Kathmandu by private vehicle
• 04 Nights Twin sharing accommodation in Kathmandu at Fairfield Marriott on BB plan- 4 Star Hotel
• 01 Night twin sharing accommodation in Nagarkot at Hotel Mystic Mountain or Similar on MAP plan- 5 star standard hotel
• Welcome dinner at one of the typical Nepalese restaurant- Traditional Dance & Music & Farewell Dinner at one of the finest restaurant in main down town.
• 3 Full days guided tour of Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur & Nagarkot & Patan with English speaking tour guide, all the cost of sightseeing entrance fees and monuments
• Everest Trekking Permit (Sagarmatha National Park permits),  Khumbu Rural Municipality Permit
• Kathmandu- Lukla- Kathmandu flight by plane, airport tax and transfer
• Namche- Everest Base Camp Or Kalapathar & return to Lukla by Helicopter flight- Helicopter will land in one of this place for 10-15 min for photography
• Trekking in Everest Region (Lukla to Namche Trek) on full board of meals plan (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea Coffee, Seasonal fruits)
• Best available Mt. Lodge accommodation while on trekking (Mt. Lodges with attached bathrooms, Hot shower running, comfort beds and nice places)
• One Advanced Adventures Trekking Leader (Experienced, Fluent English Speaking, Gov. Licensed, first aid and eco trained), required assistance Leader/s as per the group size, their entire expenses, equipment and insurance
• Cost of Sherpa Porters- One porter for each two member in a group-AA provide clothing and travel insurance to its porters
• AA Duffle Bag and T- shirt, Trekking Map, Adventure Certificate
• Down Jacket and Sleeping Bags while on trekking (on Request) - Rated to -15 Degree Celsius.
• Group Medicine Kit Box (First Aid Medicine)
• All the Gov. and Local taxes as per applicable

Cost not Includes:

• Nepal Visa, in/out flight to Kathmandu from your Home country
• Lunch in Kathamndu & Nagarkot
• Personal nature expenses while on trek, such as cost of beverages, mineral water, beer etc. while on trek
• Personal trekking equipment
• Travel insurance (Must include helicopter evacuation and trip cancellation)
• Personal nature expenses
• Tips to driver, guide, assistance guide/s and sherpa porters
• Any extending trips

PASSPORT & VISA INFORMATION
Nepal Visa is the easiest visa to obtain; you may buy your Nepal Visa at your nearest Nepalese Embassy/ Consulate or Mission offices abroad or buy this upon on arrival to Kathmandu international airport as per your convenient. 

You should have to have 2 passport size photographs, Visa fees should be paid in USD cash & passport must be valid at least for 6 months at the starting of the trip. 

Tourist Visa Fees:
Multiple entry                       15 Days                   - US$ 30 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry                       30 Days                   - US$ 50 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry                       90 Days                   - US$ 150 or equivalent convertible currency

(For further information, please, contact Department of Immigration, Maitighar, Impact Building, Kathmandu, and Tel: 00977-1-4221996 / 4223590 / 4222453- Download visa form-: www.immi.gov.np 

OUR GUIDES, TRIP AND SAFETY
Because these hikes take you on the remote Himalayan region, it is very essential that you be accompanied with the very experienced and qualified leader for the safe and successful trip. We Advanced Adventure employee the local trek guide and stuff who are trained and qualified on the trip we worked on. Our guides are trained and licensed from Nepal Gov., certify from Nepal Tourism Board.

At every trip, there would be our one Trek leader and one assistance leader on each additional 2 peoples on the trek- this arrangement would ensure that even if any of our guide/ assistance guides get sick or if any travelers gets sick and need to be back or delay the days of walking, it would still works smoothly and there would not be any impact on our original trek plan. Also each two trekker would have one Sherpa helper for carrying your trekking bags. 

MEALS & ACCOMMODATION 
While staying in Kathmandu, you will have deluxe accommodation at Apsara Boutique Hotel, which is Nepalese Style of Boutique Hotel with all the modern facilities, which comfort your stay in Kathmandu. 

While on trek, your accommodation will be staying in nice and comfort Mt. Lodge (Attached Bathroom, Hot shower, comfortable beds and clean room). 
In Kathmandu, Breakfast and Dinner will be provided but while on trek, full board of meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) is provided from Mt. Lodges. You will have choice of choosing meals and have great variety of meals on this trip.  You could easily get excellent choice of foods on trek.

TREKKING SEASONS
It is always important that you plan this trip at one of the best month possible to have great trip experience, thus you should be planning this at best weather condition days. Here we have recommendation seasons/ months for this trip. 

SPRING- (March, April, May)
March to May has best weather conditions, excellent visibility so this is the best time to trek in Everest region. In addition, spring is flowering season in forest in Nepal so the trek would even get more colorful. You will be walking in Rhododendron forested hill, which has incredible blossom to cheer your trekking. In addition, Everest Expedition season is at this time so you will also see climbers in trail, and in base camp preparing for their final summit to Mt. Everest. 

AUTUMN- (September, October, November) 
Sep to Nov is another best season to plan this trip. Like spring, it has best weather conditions, excellent visibility, and blue skies. You will have great time trekking in Everest at this month. Temperature will be pleasant till to early Nov, but late Nov will be slightly cold as it gets into winter season then. 

WINTER MONTHS- (December, January and February)
Early Dec is still a perfect time to trek in Everest as weather and visibility will stay best, but it will be colder days due to starting of winter months in Nepal so if you wish to trek in Dec, you should prepare with ward clothing. 

January & February are winter month in Nepal and it gets cold, and often snow in mountain over 3000m from sea level so we do not have much peoples trekking at these months. But if you could tolerate cold, you could still come to plan lower valley trek with us.

SUMMER/ MONSOON (End of June, July & August)
These months often have rain, so weather is always changing and visibility will always an issue so it is not a typical time to plan trekking in Everest region. In addition, flight to Lukla gets cancelled for several days at these months due to bad weather conditions so we do not recommend you to plan this trek at these months. However, we could have some great weeks that have perfect weather even in these months so if you could only trek in Everest at these months, and then you could still come to try your luck on weather to trek in Everest region.

MOUNTAIN WEATHER
The weather conditions in the mountains are notoriously difficult to predict. During the day it can be nice and warm and the nights are generally always cooler.  The weather you will experience on this Everest Base Camp Trek is extreme and rather unpredictable so it is best to be prepared for all eventualities. Temperature during the trek to Everest Base Camp, trekking up to 3500m, the expected temperature during a day is from 5 to 15 Degrees Celsius during Spring Months and 4 to 10 Degrees Celsius during the Autumn Months. The nights can fall into 0 to -2. 

Temperature above 4500m, the expected temperature during the day is from 0 to 5 Degrees Celsius at Spring Months and 0 to 4 Degrees Celsius at Autumn Months. The night temperature can fall into 0 to minus 6 to 8 Degrees Celsius at Spring Months, and temperature can fall into 0 to minus 8 to 10 Degrees Celsius at Autumn Months.

However, above given chats of temperature are the expected but temperature can be different as per the everyday weather conditions of the mountain so it is unpredictable. Expect the unexpected!

ACCLIMATIZATION

There is no way to prepare for altitude other than to spend time at altitude. Being in very good physical condition will help ameliorate some of the exhaustion that people often feel, but it will not prevent altitude caused medical problems such as Acute Mountain Sickness. 

This itinerary was designed with a high degree of awareness of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness) in mind and to ensure a comfortable and safe adventure trek in the Himalayas. Staying well hydrated and getting plenty of rest may help.  The maximum elevation of this trek will be reached at Kala Patthar at an altitude of 5,545m/ 18,192ft and the Everest Base Camp at 5,357m/ 17,575ft above sea level. However, since it takes at least 10 days to reach this altitude, it is not considered a high-risk zone for AMS. 

We have specially designed our trek itinerary with keeping maximum acclimatization days into the itinerary to make you acclimatize but ultimately your response at altitude is due to genetic factors. 

Trekking above from 4000m, walking will be more difficult because of the drop in oxygen levels and the humidity. At these heights there is around 30%- 40% less oxygen than at sea level, so your body needs time to adapt these conditions and it is absolutely essential to have sufficient time for acclimatization. That's why; in this given itinerary all of these factors have been taken into consideration while design this itinerary to minimize the risk of AMS.


TRAIN YOURSELF
This trip requires walking on altitude above 3000m-3500m from sea level for the duration of 4 to 5 days. So it is very essential that you should be preparing for this trek before reaching to join us at our trek date at Kathmandu.
The best preparation you can do is to hike, even if it is under gym conditions. Running will help your stamina but does not fully prepare your muscles for a strenuous hike. 
Go for walks. It is advisable to go for frequent walks, which should include some uphill and downhill sections if possible in your surroundings. Take your daypack with you with at least a weight of three kilograms or more. This will simulate the conditions you will encounter while on your trekking with us. 
Join a gymnasium. Ask your gym instructor to work out a fitness program that consists of progressive resistance exercises. An experienced instructor will be able to tailor a safe exercise regime based on your age, condition and strength. Work with a schedule that progress to higher resistance or weights as you develop your fitness.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
You must obtain personal travel insurance to join us for our Himalayan trips. You must be having a travel insurance, which must cover helicopter evacuation, trip cancellation and medical expenses.  And it is suggested that you buy your insurance policy from you homeland country before travelling, as it is difficult buying local travel insurance policy at Nepal.

VACCINATION
Vaccination is required to plan to your trip to Nepal but it is not a must to have thing to come, but highly suggested. Your doctor will have the information of vaccination you would require to the country you will be travelling. 

Hepatitis A, Japanese Encephalitis, Polio, Rabies, Tetanus, Typhoid and Malaria etc. are the recommended vaccination for travel Nepal. 

RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL:
Advanced Adventures is committed to Responsible Travel and true sustainability. It was a commitment formed when the company was established, and today, in the face of a multitude of threats to the environment, our commitment is stronger than ever. 

We aim to ensure that our destinations retain their natural character and cultural diversity for future generations as it is. This vision can only be achieved with the support of all of our travelers and our team effort. We encourage our customers to be sensitive when it comes to photography and dress code, urging travelers to respect difference, privacy, and modesty.  

We also consider the effects of tourism on our destinations and promote responsible travel on our trips. We care for the proper wages and proper working conditions for our porters and mountain guides who work with us for our entire trips.

In addition, Advanced Adventures do run social project collaborating with Non Profitable Organization, Pioneer Foundation Nepal- www.pfnepal.org

TO BOOK
Once you would choose which trip you would like to book with us, write us with the information or phone us on our phone number for the trip booking confirmation. We have online trip booking option, you may go on that link, choose your trip and date and follow the instruction with information required and summit us. 

Once your trip-booking request would be received, we would suggest you the final trip booking procedure with advance payment of the trip. Deposit payment of 20% (per person) is required to confirm a place on your selected adventure.