Highlights

  • 35 minutes of Kathmandu-Lukla flight full of scenic views of the landscapes
  • Explore the unique and vibrant Sherpa tradition, culture and lifestyle
  • Trek inside the Sagarmatha National Park habitat of exotic animals like Musk deer, Himalayan giant Thar and Snow Leopard
  • Stand at the foot of the world's highest mountain, Mt. Everest
  • Catch an outstanding view of sunrise over Mt. Everest from Kalapatthar
  • Enjoy the panoramic view of mountains like Ama Dablam, Cho  Oyu, Lhotse, Nuptse, Lobuche, etc. along the way
  • A helicopter ride from Gorak Shep to Lukla instead of trekking
  • Sightseeing in Kathmandu, the city of temples showcasing a blend of different cultures and traditions and home to various world heritage sites

About Everest Base Camp Short Trek and Fly Back By Helicopter

Everest Base Camp Trek is highly sought after by trekkers all over the world. Not everyone can afford to spend all these days to complete the trek and weeks of extensive trekking may sound a bit harsh to some. This Short Everest Base Camp Trek with helicopter flyback is the perfect way for people to complete this trek quickly to reduce the trekking time, while also enjoying an unforgettable helicopter ride. This is one of the shortest and fastest Everest Base Camp treks since you will trek up to Kalapatthar and after returning to Gorak Shep, fly back by helicopter to Lukla. This saves you a lot of time and energy while also experiencing the exciting helicopter fly-out. This trekking package ends with a sightseeing tour in the city of Kathmandu.

This trail is filled with mesmerizing views of various mountain ranges, peaks, icefalls, glaciers, forests, rivers, villages. Arriving to spots like Tengboche Monastery, Gorakshep and Kalapatthar each provide their own unique beauty. All these amazing stops are given closure with a stunning aerial view of the whole Everest region. Hiking the trail not only lets you explore the beauty of the landscapes but also the culture, tradition, and lifestyle of the people who live in this region. In case you want a full helicopter ride instead of a trek, we also have Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour for you. Short Everest Base Camp Trek offers you the best of both worlds. You get to feel the thrill and closeness with nature, culture, and beauty by trekking up to the Base Camp and you also get to enjoy the luxury of returning without physical strain, resting and enjoying the amazing views.

 

Route to Everest Base Camp

Short Everest Base Camp Trek starts as you fly to Lukla from Kathmandu. You will trek to Phakding and to the Namche the next day. You will take acclimatization rest in Namche for a day and resume the trek the next day. You will ascend to Tengboche and Dingboche, stopping in Dingboche for a second acclimatization rest. Continue trekking to Lobuche and then Gorakshep which will be your last stop.

You will trek to Everest Base Camp and get back to Gorak Shep. The next day, you will trek to Kalapatthar early in the morning, head back to Gorak Shep and fly to Kathmandu via helicopter.
 

Difficulty

Short Everest Base Camp Trek falls in moderate grade. It is similar to the Everest Base Camp trek except for you don't trek back. Instead, you take the fight from Gorak Shep to Kathmandu. The trek demands a moderate level of physical fitness as you have to walk for 5/6 hours a day in high altitude region. The trail varies from flat train to high steep ridges. So how difficult it depends upon the trail of the day. You need to be careful about altitude sickness while trekking. 

You are recommended to do cardio exercises, hiking, kayaking, swimming, jogging, etc one month prior to the trip.
 

Weather and Temperature

The weather and temperature of the Khumbu region vary with the seasons. There are mainly four seasons in this region, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. During autumn and autumn, the weather conditions are most appropriate for the trekkings. The days are calm and sunny and clear most of the time. Nights might become a bit chilly but the temperature is bearable. During the day, you can complete the trek easily with just shorts and t-shirts on. You may need a down jacket while trekking at high altitudes and/or fleece during the evenings and early mornings. 

The winter days are cold and windy, nights being even colder. The temperature level drops below the freezing point. The weather becomes even colder than that because of the fierce wind. There might occur a series of snowfalls and blizzards in high altitude regions. So it is harder to trek in winter.

Weather is unpredictable in summer days. It might change drastically from hot sunny days to heavy rainfall. Views often get obstructed due to rainfall.

 

Accommodation

During your trek in the Everest region, you will stay in the tea houses run by local Sherpas. These teahouses may not be luxurious but provide you with the minimalist but proper accommodation and food services. In peak seasons, you often have to share the room but in other seasons you can get a single room as well. You will stay in 3-star hotels while in Kathmandu.
 

Food 

Your hotel in Kathmandu provides you with the breakfast service. For other meals, you can explore different cafes and restaurants in the city. During the trek, teahouses provide you with the basic modern foods and local foods rich in carbohydrates and protein. You will be given 3 meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can get foods like noodles, pasta, rice, vegetables, Dal Bhat, eggs, etc. At Lukla and Namche, you can find additional food like bakery items, pizzas, and beverages. For your convenience, you can carry energy bars and chocolates along with you.

Itinerary

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After you land on the Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be greeted by our representative with our signboard (which includes your name). You will then be taken to a 3-star hotel. This is where you will stay during your days in Kathmandu. You can take a shower, eat or rest. If you have enough time, you can go out and stroll around. There are many religious sites, bars, spas, shops, restaurants where you can enjoy your free time. You will be given a short briefing of your tour after which you can prepare things you may need for your trek and sleep.

Today’s destination is Phakding. You will reach there after a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, which takes 35 minutes and a few hours of trekking. Lukla, also known as a gateway to Everest, is also a gateway to trade. You will land in Tenzing-Hillary Airport, where tourists land in hopes to see Everest from close or to climb it. After 3-4 hours of trekking towards the Dudh Koshi river, you will reach Phakding where you will have your dinner and spend the night.

Namche is a trading hub for people living in the Khumbu region and trekkers. It offers you anything from Yak cheese to Tibetan artifacts to trekking/ mountaineering gears. From Phakding, you will ascend towards the suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi river. You will need permits to go any further than Monjo because you will be entering Sagarmatha National Park. At Monjo, you will have your lunch and continue your trek. Along the way, you may get beautiful sights of various mountains, depending on the weather. You may see Kusum-Kanguru, Thamserku, Lhotse, Nuptse, etc. From the top of Namche, you will see the first glimpse of Everest. You will rest at a teahouse after your dinner.

Altitude sickness can be an issue when you are climbing to an altitude higher than 3000 m. Your body needs time to adapt to this change in altitude. So, you will spend this day at Namche to stay on the safe side. You don't have to stay idle and stay inside your room, you can walk to a distance from where you can return to your tea house in Namche for the night’s stay. You can go to Khumjung, to see the Tenzing Hillary School. You can head towards the headquarters of Sagarmatha National Park or Everest View hotel to get a beautiful sunrise/sunset. You can also roam around the village and talk to locals, explore their culture. You will return to your teahouse in Namche to stay.

After waking up at Namche, you will have your breakfast and head towards Tengboche, a village with one of the oldest monasteries. This monastery holds Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies and festivals. Along the way, you can see beautiful Rhododendron and Pine forests. You will also get to see Dudh Koshi river, above which you will cross a suspension bridge. You may get to see mountains like Amadablam, Thamserku and Everest. You will explore the village, the monastery and spend the night at a teahouse in Tengboche.

As you move forward, it may seem as if the mountains get bigger and taller. Today you will walk forward to get to Dingboche. You will see that the area is covered with pine trees and Sherpa settlements. Even though you may not get to see Everest from this place, you will get a spectacular view of mountains like Lhotse, Nuptse, etc

Another acclimatization day at Dingboche means that you need to spend this day going to only places from where you can return to Dingboche for night’s stay. You can go for a hike to the top of Nangkartshang peak from where you can get an amazing view of mountains like Tawache, Ama Dablam, Island Peak, Lhotse, Everest, and Pumori. You may also go to Ama Dablam Base Camp or just stroll around, visit Dingboche monastery and have some rest. You will return to Dingboche and stay there for the second night.

Today you will head towards Lobuche. After 2-3 hours of hike, you will reach Thukla. After that, you will have to ascend a pretty steep hill for almost an hour. Then you will reach a memorial for brave climbers who couldn’t survive the Everest. Now you will hike for two hours of the rocky path with little gain in elevation to reach Lobuche. Along the way, you will also get to witness the Khumbu Glacier. You will see the dazzling view of mountains like Pumori, Lingtren, Khumbuste, etc. You will stay overnight at a teahouse in Lobuche.

Today is this trek’s main highlight, we will be heading towards the Everest Base Camp. First, we will reach to Gorak Shep, it will be quite a steady terrain. You will have gained a lot of altitude till this day since your first day of the trek so it may seem like a work to cover even a short distance. With a bit of strength and following the instructions of your guide, you will reach Gorak Shep in 3 hours.

You will walk above dry frozen lakebed to reach Everest Base Camp. The path is slightly uphill and after a distance, you will be descending to reach the camp. After reaching, you will see giant mountains standing still in front of your eyes, Lhotse and Khumbutsu. You will only see the peak of Everest behind those two giants. To get an outstanding view of Everest, you will need to reach Kalapatthar.

After waking up your second morning in Gorak Shep, you will have some uphill trekking to do. It is almost 3 hours of uphill climbing until you reach Kala Patthar. This is a viewpoint from which you will get the best view of Mount Everest. You can wake up early and chase sunrise. You will also get an amazing view of Khumbu glacier. This is the highest you can go with just the trekking gears you’ve come with. You will view other amazing mountains like Nuptse, Pumori, Chagatse, Lhotse, etc. Today you have completed your Everest Base Camp trek and you will return to Lukla in a helicopter. After reaching Lukla you can go around the town or rest until your flight to Kathmandu. You will spend your night at the hotel you stayed in earlier in Kathmandu.

Today, you won’t have to do any strenuous activities, you will be taken to sightsee different cultural and religious sites like temples monasteries durbar squares, etc. You can go shopping and buy souvenirs like different handicrafts and art pieces. We will organize a small part-like farewell dinner for you where you can also see cultural dances performed by local artists.

Today will be the last day you will spend in Nepal and return to your homeland. You will return stronger, happier and will have experienced unbelievable adventures. We will have taken any measures to make your trip worth your visit and we will be more than happy to continue providing you with our service. If you want to extend your visit, we will be more than happy to guide you or provide any service you need.

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What's included

Included  Not Included
  • Meals: 
    11 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 8 Dinners
  • Accommodation: 
    3-Star accommodation in Kathmandu for 3 days 
    Tea house accommodation along the way for 8 days
  • Transportation:   
    All land transportation with pickups and drops
    Domestic Flight to Lukla and back
    Helicopter ride from Gorak Shep to Lukla
  • Guides and Porters:
    One guide and assistant guide between 6 people 
    1 porter for two people (A porter can carry up to 30 kg)
  • Entry Fees and Permits:
    Sagarmatha National Park Entrance Fee
    TIMS Card
    Monument Entrance Fee
  • Miscellaneous: 
    Down jacket, a Sleeping bag which should be refunded to the company after the trip
    Necessary paperwork with the government of Nepal and Tax department
    All the necessary insurance for the guides and porters
    First Aid service in case of minor injuries
    Salary, food, and accommodation for guides and porters
  • One Day Sightseeing Tour in Kathmandu
  • Any meals other than breakfast in Kathmandu
  • Rescue & travel insurance, trip cancellation costs, accident or health emergency, evacuation, loss, theft or damage to baggage and personal effects (We strongly advise you to take out personal travel insurance.)
  • Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu due to any reason
  • Personal expenses (phone calls, internet, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, cold drinks, bottled or boiled water, hot shower, etc.)
  • All the alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks including mineral water
  • Nepal entry visa fee
  • Tipping for the Sublime crew

Good to know

What happens if I get sick in the middle of the trek?

The major health issue is altitude sickness and food poisoning which you can prevent if you take care of your routines and diets properly. However, you might get sick despite all the efforts. If the sickness or injuries are minor then it can be handled by our guides as they are trained and experienced to handle such things. In case of emergencies, helicopter evacuations are also available. You need to get your insurance prior to the trek which covers your losses in case of such incidents.
 

Can I change the plan to return back to Kathmandu via helicopter and trek back instead during the trek?

Helicopter return might get delayed or canceled in case of bad weather conditions. In such cases, you can choose to trek back instead of waiting for the helicopter. If there is enough time to improvise the schedule, you can choose to return back via trek. However, the price of the package will be changed accordingly. 
 

Are toilets available along the trail?

Teahouses along the way have proper toilets and bathrooms. However, we can not guarantee that you will find one along the trail. Our team can arrange temporary toilets along the way. 
 

Can I take shower during the Everest Base Camp trek?

Yes, you can take a shower during the Everest Base Camp Trek. The tea houses you will be staying in will provide you with the facility. You can take a hot shower and you have to pay an extra price for that. The price gets expensive as the altitude increases.

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FAQs

The major health issue is altitude sickness and food poisoning which you can prevent if you take care of your routines and diets properly. However, you might get sick despite all the efforts. If the sickness or injuries are minor then it can be handled by our guides as they are trained and experienced to handle such things. In case of emergencies, helicopter evacuations are also available. You need to get your insurance prior to the trek which covers your losses in case of such incidents.

Helicopter return might get delayed or canceled in case of bad weather conditions. In such cases, you can choose to trek back instead of waiting for the helicopter. If there is enough time to improvise the schedule, you can choose to return back via trek. However, the price of the package will be changed accordingly. 

Teahouses along the way have proper toilets and bathrooms. However, we can not guarantee that you will find one along the trail. Our team can arrange temporary toilets along the way. 
 

Yes, you can take a shower during the Everest Base Camp Trek. The tea houses you will be staying in will provide you with the facility. You can take a hot shower and you have to pay an extra price for that. The price gets expensive as the altitude increases.

Customer Reviews

  • EBC Trek, No Need to return Same Way !!!

    - Priciallia, United States

    This short Everest Trek that Sublime Trails organized for us was the best trip of my life. I completed my dream trek to Everest Base  Camp. The acclimatization days at Namche Bazaar and Dingboche helped me immensely. I was also quite tired when I reached the Everest Base Camp. So the helicopter back to Lukla relieved me of any further effort. I wish I could get enough of the beauty of the mountains here. But I don’t. I think the mountains here will make me come here for another exciting time to the Everest region.

  • 12 Days EBC Heli Trek

    - Veronica, Australia

    A group of my college friends decided to come to trek to Everest Base Camp. But we didn’t have a lot of time as our holidays were only 2 weeks long. So we decided to come to this short trek to Everest Base Camp. We didn’t have a lot of trekking experience either so we thought that a short trek would be a safe trip. Sublime Trails told us that we needed to prepare for around 2 months before coming here. And thank goodness they did. Our preparation helped us a lot as the exercise helped us prepare for the altitude as well. My lifetime dream of seeing Mt. Everest in all its glory as possible. All in all, this is an awesome trip.

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