Helicopter Rescue from Dolpo

Dolpo is one of the most remote regions of Nepal. Most visitors fly from Nepalgunj to the small Juphal airstrip (2,475 m) and then walk for days: Ringmo and Shey Phoksundo Lake are about three days away, and the high passes and monasteries of Upper Dolpo much further. Overland, a sick or injured person can take days to reach a hospital.

A helicopter turns that journey into a flight of around an hour. Nepal Helicopter Service arranges rescue flights from Lower Dolpo (Juphal, Dunai, Ringmo and the Tarap valley) and the restricted area of Upper Dolpo, for trekkers, expedition teams and local families.

Helicopters for western Nepal usually start from Nepalgunj or Kathmandu, so the weather at both ends matters. We plan each rescue for the earliest safe window and keep your guide informed until the patient is in hospital.

Dolpo Helicopter Rescue at a Glance

• Rescue from Juphal, Dunai, Ringmo and Shey Phoksundo Lake, the Tarap valley and Upper Dolpo
• Patients flown to hospitals in Nepalgunj or Kathmandu
• Rescue flights planned for the first safe morning window
• Direct coordination with your insurer, guide and hospital
• Help for trekkers, expedition teams and local residents
• No flight without a clear medical reason

Where We Rescue From in Dolpo

Juphal and Dunai

Juphal airstrip (2,475 m) is the gateway to Dolpo, and Dunai is the district headquarters a few hours' walk away. Both have space for a helicopter to land close to the trail.

Ringmo and Shey Phoksundo Lake

Ringmo village sits beside Shey Phoksundo Lake at about 3,600 m, inside Shey Phoksundo National Park. It is the most visited place in Dolpo and a common pickup point for trekkers who fall ill on the way up from Juphal.

Tarap valley and Upper Dolpo

Dho Tarap and the passes of the Lower Dolpo circuit, and the restricted area of Upper Dolpo around Shey Gompa and Saldang, are many days from the nearest airstrip. Here a helicopter is often the only practical way to reach hospital care in time.

Common Reasons for a Rescue

• Altitude sickness on the high passes of Upper and Lower Dolpo
• Falls and injuries on steep, exposed trails
• Severe illness, dehydration or infection far from a health post
• Frostbite and cold injuries late in the season

How a Dolpo Helicopter Rescue Works

1. Call us

Your guide, agency, insurer or you contact our 24-hour phone or WhatsApp line with the patient's name, symptoms, exact location (GPS if possible) and insurance details.

2. Medical check and approval

We confirm the condition and ask your insurer for a guarantee of payment. Without insurance, payment is agreed before take-off.

3. Clearance and take-off

The flight is cleared with the aviation authorities and a helicopter leaves Nepalgunj or Kathmandu at the first safe window, refuelling on the way if needed.

4. Pickup

The pilot lands at the nearest safe spot. Your guide keeps the landing area clear and has the patient and their documents ready.

5. Hospital

The patient is flown to a hospital in Nepalgunj or Kathmandu, with an ambulance waiting where it is needed.