Gorakshep to Gokyo Lake Helicopter Tour with Kathmandu Return

Turn your return from Everest Base Camp into one of the most scenic helicopter journeys in the Everest region.

Nepal Helicopter Service offers a premium helicopter package from Gorakshep to Gokyo Lakes with a landing at Gokyo before continuing to Kathmandu via Lukla.

Instead of flying directly from Gorakshep to Lukla, this package takes you across the high Himalayas to the Gokyo Valley. You get aerial views of glaciers, high mountain passes, Himalayan valleys and turquoise Gokyo Lakes before landing near Gokyo village.

You will spend approximately 10 to 20 minutes on the ground at Gokyo, subject to weather, operational conditions and pilot approval. After the Gokyo visit, the helicopter flies toward Lukla and then continues to Kathmandu.

Gokyo lies at approximately 4,790 metres inside Sagarmatha National Park. Nepal Tourism Board describes Gokyo as a high Himalayan valley known for its turquoise glacial lakes and views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu.

This trip is available as a private helicopter charter or sharing flight, depending on passenger numbers, helicopter positioning and flight availability.

Premium Gorakshep to Gokyo Lake Helicopter Tour

Finished your Everest Base Camp trek? Skip the long walk back down and end your journey with a helicopter flight. Nepal Helicopter Service picks you up at Gorakshep (5,164 m), flies you over the Khumbu and Ngozumpa glaciers to the turquoise Gokyo Lakes, lands for up to 20 minutes, and brings you back to Kathmandu via Lukla the same day.

In a few hours you see two of the best-known parts of the Everest region, Everest Base Camp and the Gokyo Valley. Walking between them would take several days.

Choose your option:

• Private charter: The whole helicopter is yours, with a direct Lukla to Kathmandu connection on your own schedule.
• Sharing option: Split the helicopter with other trekkers for a lower cost, with the Lukla to Kathmandu leg on the next scheduled return flight.

Tour at a Glance

Why Fly from Gorakshep to Gokyo Lake by Helicopter?

See Everest Base Camp and Gokyo in One Day

Trekking from Gorakshep to Gokyo on foot usually means crossing the Cho La Pass (5,420 m), or walking a long detour. That takes three to four days of hard high-altitude walking. The helicopter covers it in about 15 minutes.

Save Days on Your Return Journey

Trekking back from Gorakshep to Lukla normally takes three days, and you still need a flight to Kathmandu after that. With this tour you can be in Kathmandu the same afternoon.

Land at the Gokyo Lakes

Gokyo is a chain of glacial lakes near the Ngozumpa Glacier, among the largest glaciers in the Himalaya. From the lakeside you can see Cho Oyu (8,188 m), Everest (8,849 m), Lhotse, and Makalu on a clear day.

Mountain Sightseeing from the Air

The flight passes over the Khumbu Valley, the Ngozumpa Glacier, and past peaks including Ama Dablam, Cholatse, Taboche, and Thamserku.

Rest Your Body After the Trek

Tired legs, cold nights, and early altitude symptoms are common by the time trekkers reach Gorakshep. A helicopter exit gets you down to lower altitude quickly and comfortably.

Private Charter vs Sharing Helicopter: Which Should You Choose?

Tip: In peak season, book sharing seats early so we can group you with other trekkers on the same date.

Detailed Itinerary: Gorakshep to Gokyo Lake to Kathmandu

Step 1: Early Morning Pickup at Gorakshep

Our team confirms your pickup time the evening before. Flights usually start early in the morning, when the mountain weather is clearest and calmest. Be ready at the Gorakshep helipad with your bags packed.

Step 2: Scenic Flight from Gorakshep to Gokyo Lake (About 15 Minutes)

You fly west across the ridges above the Khumbu, with glacier and peak views on the way into the Gokyo Valley.

Step 3: Landing at Gokyo Lake (10 to 20 Minutes)

The helicopter lands near the Gokyo Lakes. Step out, take photos of the lake and Cho Oyu, and enjoy the mountains. Because the altitude is high and the weather changes quickly, the pilot decides the exact ground time, up to 20 minutes.

Step 4: Flight from Gokyo to Lukla (About 30 Minutes)

You fly down the Dudh Koshi valley, over Sherpa villages, terraced fields, and forest, and land at Lukla (Tenzing-Hillary Airport, 2,860 m).

Step 5: Transfer at Lukla

• Private charter: Your helicopter can refuel and continue to Kathmandu as planned, with little waiting.
• Sharing option: You join the next available helicopter to Kathmandu. Waiting time at Lukla depends on the helicopter return schedule and weather.

Step 6: Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu (About 50 Minutes)

The final leg flies over the middle hills of Nepal and lands at the domestic terminal of Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.