Nepal Helicopter Service | Kathmandu, Nepal
For travellers in India, Everest is closer than most people realise. Delhi to Kathmandu is under two hours by air, and a helicopter tour from Kathmandu to the foot of Everest takes one morning. With a spare day for weather, it fits into a long weekend.
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Getting to Kathmandu
Non-stop flights from Delhi take about 1 hour 45 minutes, with IndiGo, Air India and Nepal Airlines all flying the route. There are also flights from several other Indian cities. Some travellers from northern India cross overland at border points such as Sunauli or Raxaul and fly to Kathmandu from inside Nepal, but for a short trip, flying straight to Kathmandu saves a lot of time.
Documents for Indian citizens
Indian citizens don’t need a visa for Nepal. For air travel, carry a valid Indian passport or your Election Commission voter ID card. Keep it with you on the day of the tour, as we need your details for the flight manifest.
Carrying Indian rupees
Nepal now allows Indian ₹200 and ₹500 notes again, up to ₹25,000 per person, after a ban lasting about a decade. In practice, some small shops are still hesitant to accept larger notes, so it’s worth changing some money into Nepali rupees in Kathmandu.
What the tour costs
Our Everest tours are priced in US dollars. At the time of writing:
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Shared seat with breakfast at Hotel Everest View | USD 1,399 per person |
| Shared seat with Kala Patthar landing | USD 2,200 per person |
| Private helicopter with Kala Patthar landing | USD 4,900 |
We accept card payments and bank transfers. For families travelling together, a private helicopter is often the easiest option, because you choose the departure time and fly only with your group.
A simple three-day plan
- Day 1: Fly to Kathmandu. Rest, and perhaps visit Pashupatinath Temple in the evening.
- Day 2: Early hotel pickup and Everest helicopter tour. Back in Kathmandu by late morning.
- Day 3: Spare day in case the flight is moved for weather, then fly home.
Don’t book your return flight for the same afternoon as your tour. Mountain weather decides the timing, not the calendar.
Best time to go
October and November usually have the clearest skies, followed by March to May. December to February is clear but cold. The June to August monsoon brings the most delays.
Travelling with parents?
Many families bring older parents on this tour, and it works well. Kala Patthar is very high, though, so anyone with heart or breathing problems should talk to their doctor, and may be more comfortable on the breakfast tour with a lower stop. Our guide to altitude sickness on a helicopter tour explains more. If you are also planning a pilgrimage, see our Muktinath helicopter yatra guide.
Quick answers
Do Indians need a visa for an Everest helicopter tour?
No. Indian citizens need a valid passport or voter ID card to fly into Nepal. No visa is required.
How much is an Everest helicopter tour from India?
At the time of writing, USD 1,399 per person on a shared tour from Kathmandu, plus your flights from India to Kathmandu.
Can I carry ₹500 notes to Nepal?
Yes. Nepal now allows Indian ₹200 and ₹500 notes, up to ₹25,000 per person.
Planning Everest from India? Send us your dates and group size and we’ll suggest the best option. See the Everest Base Camp helicopter tour, or WhatsApp +977 9818392976.
Entry rules, currency limits and prices can change. Please confirm the latest details before you travel.
