There are thousands of interesting places to see in the Everest Region. The region in itself is a natural wonderland. It is home to the highest mountain in the world, Mt Everest (8848m), and Mt Lotse (8516m), the fourth-highest mountain in the world. At close proximity are two other eight-thousand-meter mountains, Mt Cho Oyu (8188m) and Mt. Makalu (8485m).Glaciers and lakes are another very good reason to visit this place, notably the Khumbu Glacier (4900m), the world’s highest glacier, and countess glacial lakes. The Khumbu icefall is the mass of ice and snow gently flowing down the walls of Mt Everest before turning into the Khumbu Glacier.

Now, seeing these places doesn’t come easy, and might take a couple of weeks to get there. But our trekking agency Discover Altitude has devised a way to see this in a short period of time and in a luxury too. The traditional way to visit and see Mt Everest up close is the nearly two-week trekking from Lukla(2860m) and then to the Everest Base Camp (5364m) and back. While many do take this traditional trek to see Everest, some don’t have time. So they end up getting to the Everest Base Camp (EBC) by helicopter which takes roughly an hour from Lukla. This is an option that is getting popular every day because many have realized that seeing Everest doesn’t have to come with pain. Our trekking agency Discover Altitude will go through all the procedures to arrange a short and luxurious way to see Everest.

Everest Mountain Flight

Before you land in the EBC by helicopter, why don’t you see the mountains by airplane first? You can’t beat the feeling of seeing Mt Everest and its adjoining peaks from the air really. You hop into a plane and see five of the highest peaks and six if you are lucky. This is called Everest Mountain Flight, very popular among tourists and a best and luxurious way to tour Everest taking roughly an hour. This, of course, is the side trip to the main adventure which is to fly to Everest Base Camp (5364m) by helicopter.

First up is Langtang Lirung (7227m)which also happens to be the nearest tall peak from Kathmandu as your flight slowly climbs to the sky from the international airport in Kathmandu. As you climb higher you will see Gosaisthan (8013m,) also called Shisha Pangma, on the far left. The peak actually is in Tibet. Then as you start to head towards the east from the airport other peaks will gradually be in front of you. The first tall peak after heading east is Dorje Lakpa (6966m) along with Phurbi Chyachu (6631m). These two mountain peaks are part of Jugal Himal range, easily seen from most parts of Kathmandu. Further down, you will see another famous peak also seen from Kathmandu, Mt. Gaurishankhar (7134m).

As the flight slowly heads towardsthe Everest region you will see Melungtse (7,023m) and Mount Chugimago (6,297m), which is still a virgin peak that has not been climbed yet. Then as your plane reaches Everest, the first two peaks that will be visible are Gyan Chunking (7,952m) and Pumori (7,161m). The ultimate prize is still awaiting you as Mt Everest (8848m) and Lotse (8516m) will be your next visible peak. Finally, after viewing Everest you will be heading back to Kathmandu and as your plane makes a final turn you will see Makalu (8485m) a little further down east. If the sky is clear you might even see Kanchunjunga (8586m), the third highest mountain in the world to the Far East.

Trek to Everest View Hotel

After seeing Everest from the air, your next adventure will be to be in the Everest Region and stay in the Everest View Hotel (3880m) for an out-of-this-world luxury lodges trek. To reach the hotel you will first take a 30-minute flight by airplane again from Kathmandu to Lukla Airport, which is one of the most difficult airports in the world to land. But don’t worry, Nepalese pilots are some of the best in the world and are experts on mountain flights. After you touch down at the airport, you can either trek for two days to reach Namche Bazaar or you can board a helicopter to take you there.

It takes around 20 minutes by helicopter to reach Namche Bazaar from Lukla. People who decide to walk are usually the ones looking to trek all the way to EBC but if you are going to Everest View Hotel, you have the option to charter a helicopter flight to Namche Bazaar. From Namche it is 3 km to Everest View Hotel. It will take a little more than an hour's trek to reach there. This hotel is considered the highest hotel in the world. This is also a boutique hotel and one of the most luxurious in Nepal. The view of Everest, Nuptse (7861m), and AmaDablam (6812m) from the rooms of this hotel is beyond words.

Now let’s do a little research on how this highest hotel in the world came to be. Back in 1968, a Japanese tourist named Takashi Miyahara was in Nepal and when he saw the view of Everest from one of the spots in Syangboche where the current hotel lies, he dreamt of building a hotel right away because the view was just so mesmerizing. He worked on it and finally in 1971, his dream became a reality as the hotel officially opened that year. The work wasn’t easy by any means because there were no motorable roads to reach Lukla  let alone to Syangboche,the gateway to Everest at that time. One had to carry most things by porters and that cost a lot. The nearest motorable road was in Lamosanghu which was 80 km from Kathmandu and trek for a week to get to Lukla. Nowadays, you can reach up to Lukla on a vehicle

The hotel boasts 12 immaculate rooms having a view of Everest and other peaks nearby. The rooms are simple and minimalist in design but oozes luxury having all modern facilities. You will be staying in one of the rooms and catch a glimpse of Everest and its nearby peaks. You can relax in one of their beautiful pubs and dine in one of the best eating places with the best scenery and gourmet food. The morning will welcome you with the golden sunrise in the mountains as you slowly sip tea in the open garden.

The Helicopter Tour

The flight to EBC by helicopter is a short and easy way to get to Everest Base Camp and back. It usually takes an hour to complete with some extension if you are taking short visits nearby like Kalapathar (5550m). The reason why this flight is getting ever more popular is that some tourists have short holiday periods and want to see this great landmark quickly while visiting the Everest Region. Our trekking agency Discover Altitude has been arranging these mountain flights to EBC for a long time and we are an expert in getting you there in a short and luxurious way.

The helicopter can be boarded from Lukla or Namche Bazaar (3440m) depending on your choice. But since our itinerary will be to stay in Hotel Everest View we will board the heli directly from there,the hotel itself. This part is the most interesting one and is also the climax of your holiday. Touring the EBC by helicopter is aonce-in-a-lifetime experience. As the helicopter flies through the mountain you will see villages, rivers, gorges, and glacial lakes along the way. The whole topography of the region will be in front of you and also see nature in the mountainsas you fly to EBC.

The ride traverses through gorges and sometimes small river valleys with villages and settlements with adjoining farms. These settlements are the lifeline for many trekkers in the Everest Region because they are the ones to provide tourists with food and shelter at night. Once you reach higher elevation green pastures will give way to rocks and arid landscapes. Finally, Khumbu Glacier will be visible, and in no time you will reach EBC and land there for further excursion.

Everest Base Camp (EBC) sits in an open space below the Khumbu Icefall. When your pilot finally lands your helicopter you will have time to explore the place and your guide will be explaining about the place too. The view of Everest from EBC is what you have come here for, so you can film and take photos. Your next stop will be Kalapathar. The view from here is even more stunning because you will see Everest, Nuptse, and other peaks in a 180-degree panorama, which is unparalleled to any other place in the region. After seeing the place you will prepare for the return flight.

The Best Time to do This Trip

Well, spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit the Himalayas because there are fewer clouds and days are usually sunny. The spring begins from March till May and this is when tourists start to pour into Nepal and decide to go see the mountains. Spring also is a good time because the weather starts to get warmer after the harsh winter. Winter in the Himalayas can be pretty cold, so that is why trekkers and adventure seekers try to avoid the mountains at this time. Another good season if not better is autumn season. The season is popular because, after heavy rains during the monsoon, the sky is once again clear and without any clouds. The season also marks the beginning of many festivals in Nepal during this time of the year. Many farmers harvest rice during the Autumn season and people are merrier. Then Nepal’s biggest festival Dashain and Tihar start during this time making this season one of the best times for visit.

Talking about winter, people have been to EBC in winter too and some mountaineers climb Everest in winter, so it is not impossible to reach there in winter. It is just that the temperature could be well below freezing point and this could be challenging for some. Actually, winters are known in Nepal as having clear skies, so visiting EBC might even be more rewarding with clear skies with little obstacles. The mountain views could be clearer in this season.

Finally, the monsoon season when the days are rainy, is yet another time some might consider visiting Everest Region. Though it is not practical for outdoor activities in the rainy season, if you do want to go for it, no one will stop you from doing that.

Who can join the trip?

If age is what you are thinking about, then anybody with able body can attempt to get to visit Everest Region. If you are aged between 16 and 65, you are all fit and fine to join in the adventure. There are cases when young people aged 10 and above have trekked to the EBC and seniors beyond 70 years of age have also made it to this place. The main criteria for joining the tour would be to have a fit body and a positive attitude. Since most of the trip is made by a plane or a helicopter, there shouldn’t be much difficulty. If you are young but physically not strong then going there might prove to be challenging; whereas, if you are old but are confident, the trek might not be that hard. Also, people with health issues might have to take advice from their doctors, and with enough precautions and extra care the journey wouldn’t be a big issue.

Lastly, just like the proverb, ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’ if you really want to visit this area, there shouldn’t be any age issues as long as you take extra precautions. You can also prepare yourself before embarking on this journey by jogging in the evenings and mornings or visiting your local gym to strengthen your body. Preparing yourself mentally and physically will go a long way in making the journey successful. We as a trekking agency will leave no stone unturned to make your trip a grand success by providing advice and necessary arrangements during or before the trip.

Trek with Discover Altitude Treks

Discover Altitude Treks is a trusted and experienced trekking company offering:

• Expert local guides with deep knowledge of the Everest region
• Customizable trekking packages to suit different needs and budgets
• High safety standards and top-notch logistics
• Luxury trekking options with helicopter returns and high-end lodges

If you’re planning your next adventure in the Everest region, let Discover Altitude Treks make your journey an unforgettable experience.

Contact Details

Company address: Discover Altitude Pvt. Ltd.

Budhanilkantha-4, Kathmandu, Nepal

Mobile & whatsapp :+977-9841161593  , +977 985-1149890

Email: info@discoveraltitude.com 

URL:-https://www.discoveraltitude.com/