Four Most Popular Helicopter Tours in Nepal

Helicopter Tours have become the fastest, easiest and safest way of travelling to a place in Nepal. You can take a helicopter tour to almost any place throughout the country. However, there are certain helicopter tours that are famous among the lovers of a helicopter tour.

Four Most Popular Helicopter Tours in Nepal

Here, I will discuss in detail about those heli tours, their costs, why they are famous, when you can take them and what preparation you need to make to take those tours. The list runs from popular to the most popular. So, without any further delay, let's go through them.

Muktinath Helicopter Tour

Muktinath Helicopter Tour

Muktinath Helicopter Tour is for both nature lovers as well as religion enthusiasts. Muktinath is a sacred shrine for Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. The temple is located at a height of 3000 meters from sea level. It has a statue of Vishnu--one of the three major gods in Hinduism, the other two being Shiva and Brahma. The temple also has statues of Goddess Lakshmi (Vishnu's wife) and Garuda (Vishnu's avian carrier). Buddhists consider that the temple has tantric importance.

How does the tour go?

You begin the tour from Kathmandu early in the morning so that the sky is clear, marking a safe flight. You will fly above the hills of the Gandaki region of Nepal before reaching the temple of Muktinath. We usually land at 5 minutes' walking distance from Muktinath.

But, sometimes when the traffic is high, we may need to land 2 kilometers away from the temple. In such a case, you can take a horse ride to the temple and back to the landing spot. You will spend about 1.5 hours in the temple area before flying back to Kathmandu. The duration of the tour is 3.5 to 4 hours.

Why is it popular?

The temple is of importance for followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The intersection of these three religions is evident in the cultural practices of the temple. 

Also, the temple has a sacred pond and 108 'Mukti Dharas' (Liberation taps) that are believed to purify the body and soul of anyone who takes a bath there. Owing to the sacredness of the temple, Buddhist monks and Hindu followers meditate in the temple area.

The periphery of Muktinath provides a breathtaking view of the Manaslu Himalayan range, Nilgiri Mountain, Dhaulagiri Himalayan range, and Annapurna Himalayan range.

While on your way to the temple, the visitors will also fly over the Annapurna Conservation Area and also enjoy the spectacular view of gorges such as the Kali Gandaki Gorge.

Muktinath is known for its religious importance as well as the spectacular flavor of nature it provides.

One can walk via a trail to Muktinath, but it is time-consuming. Taking a jeep ride could also be a way for many. The helicopter tour is getting popular largely because it provides the easiest way of reaching the sacred temple in a very short time. 

How much does the tour cost?

You can take a PRIVATE as well as a SHARED helicopter tour to Muktinath.

A PRIVATE helicopter tour can cost as much as USD 2200. The maximum number of people that can be accommodated in a single PRIVATE tour is five, with the total weight not exceeding 430 kilograms. You can choose to book a PRIVATE tour for fewer than five people since you will be paying for the complete tour.

PRIVATE helicopter tours can provide you with a more personal experience than a SHARED one and are fit for you if you want to have a secluded journey with your friends, family or loved ones. 

Other helicopter tours in this list also have options of PRIVATE and SHARED tours. While you read further, you might want to keep in mind that these categories of tours, namely PRIVATE and SHARED, are similar in quality and experience for helicopter tours to other places as well, but they will differ in terms of cost.

Gosainkunda Lake Helicopter Tour

Gosainkunda is a sacred lake for Hindus as well as Buddhists. Situated north of Kathmandu, the frozen lake is known for having a large rock in the center of the lake which is believed to resemble a Shiva Linga (a stone structure representing Lord Shiva--one of the three major gods in Hinduism.

It is surrounded by nine other frozen lakes. Bhairab Kunda, Saraswati Kunda, and Ganesh Kunda are significant among the nine lakes.

How does the tour go?

The tour starts from Kathmandu early in the morning. You will fly over the Langtang Trekking route to the lake. You will spend 20 to 30 minutes at the lake and its periphery. You will return back to Kathmandu within about 1.5 hours of leaving the capital. However, you can spend more time at the temple depending on your preference. Moreover, the helicopter tour can be customized in many different ways. For instance, you can choose to board from a place in Nepal other than Kathmandu. You can contact us about that.

Why is it popular?

While Hindus believe that Lord Shiva once meditated here, Buddhists consider this place to be a place of purity. Both Hindus and Buddhists take a bath on this lake for the purification of their soul and body.

Apart from the religious significance, the lake is known for providing a spectacular view of Manaslu Himalayan Range, Ganesh Himal, and Shisapangma.

A major attraction of this lake is the great fair held during the festival of Janai Purnima (the Full moon day of August when Hindus change their sacred thread). The festival is a reason why the lake draws a large number of visitors.

Since lake Gosainkunda and the surrounding lakes are frozen, one can take a walk through them and cherish the environment.

Gosainkunda lake is very near to Kathmandu, has religious significance and provides a beautiful landscape view. The helicopter tour takes people from Kathmandu to Gosainkunda within no time. The tour is favorite among visitors who are in Kathmandu for a very short time. Because of its nearness to Kathmandu, the Gosainkunda helicopter tour is considered even by those who are in Kathmandu for purposes other than visiting.

Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour

Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour

Annapurna Base Camp is the foot of the first scaled mountain of Nepal-- Annapurna I (8091 meters). The tenth highest mountain in the world was scaled in 1950. People usually trek to the base camp, but the helicopter tour has made it easier for more people to realize their dream of reaching there.

How does the tour go?

You can begin the tour from Kathmandu or Pokhara. If you are in Kathmandu, we will manage to fly you to Pokhara and then head towards Annapurna Base Camp. Chomrong, the place where the base camp is situated will be the landing place for the helicopter. After spending about 15 to 20 minutes at the base camp and having breakfast at a hotel nearby you will be flown back to Pokhara. If you begin the tour from Kathmandu, you will be flown back to the capital. The tour usually begins early in the morning and takes 4-5 hours to complete.

Why is it popular?

The popularity of the tour is directly linked with the popularity of Annapurna Base Camp. The base camp provides a spectacular view of mountains such as Annapurna I, Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, and Himchuli. These mountains along with other smaller mountains in the periphery constitute the grand Annapurna Massif. A refreshing breakfast at a place from where the Massif is visible has been a dream for many.

The tour is also known for providing a breathtaking view of Kali Gandaki Gorge while on the way to the base camp. Kali Gandaki gorge is the deepest gorge in the world and separates Mt Dhaulagiri and Mt Annapurna. You can also see the lush green Annapurna Conservation Area on your way.

Apart from the refreshing episode the 4-hour-long tour provides, it is popular for being an effortless, time-saving and safe way of being at the lap of Annapurna Massif.

How much does it cost?

Beginning from Pokhara: A PRIVATE Helicopter Tour from Pokhara to Annapurna Base Camp costs $300 to $450 per person.

Everest Helicopter Tour

Everest Helicopter Tour

This is the most popular helicopter tour in Nepal. Mt Everest (8848 meters), being the highest mountain in the world, is a natural wonder of the world. 807 people reached the summit of Mt Everest in 2018, according to BBC. Not all people have physical fitness, training, time and resources to scale the giant mountain. Being at the base camp of Everest is a unique experience for those who cannot or do not want to scale the mountain..

How does the tour go?

The tour begins in Kathmandu at about 6 am in the morning. If you take the tour, you will fly over the green hills and snow-covered mountains to reach Lukla. The helicopter stops for refueling at Lukla. After refueling, you will be directly flown to Kala Pathar (5545 meters) which is the place where the base camp is located. 

On your way from Lukla to Kala Pathar, you will see Sherpa settlements of Tengboche, Dingboche, and Gorakshep. You will have 10-15 minutes of stay at the base camp. After that, you will be taken to Hotel Everest View--the highest-altitude hotel in the world--for a breakfast. You will finally be flown back to Kathmandu within 4 hours of your departure from the capital. 

Why is it popular?

One can trek to the base camp but it takes weeks. Everest Helicopter Tour is loved because it saves visitors the trouble of undertaking a tiring trek for a long time to reach the base camp.

Everest Base Camp provides a mesmerizing view of Mt Everest along with the Khumbu Glacier and Gokyo Lakes. The glittering peak of Everest on a sunny morning is a sight one cannot stop having. So, the helicopter tour is largely popular because of the unique experience of the Everest region it provides.

During the helicopter journey, visitors can have a glimpse of Mera Peak, Kursum, Kangaru, Kantega, Mutspe, and the Island Peak.

The tour provides people with an opportunity to see the world's highest peak. What else would it require to be popular?

How much does it cost?

A PRIVATE helicopter tour to Everest base camp costs $4500 per tour. The cost for a SHARED helicopter tour to Everest is $1000 per person

Quick tips

After having informed you about the four most popular helicopter tours, it is naturally my responsibility to tell you about what these tours take. So, I present you a few tips before you decide taking one of these tours:

Take the tour whenever you like: Most people consider Spring (May) and Autumn (early September to late November) for these helicopter tours. But, you can take the tour any time of the year provided that the weather is clear on the tour day. If weather complications arise, the tour will be postponed for the next day.

Prepare for the high altitude: All the four tours are operated at a high altitude. The temperatures are usually low at these places. So, you need to equip yourself with a Down Jacket. It is not easy to find water at high altitudes. So, you may also want to carry a bottle or two of drinking water.

Carry a camera: These tours take you to places that will provide you a lifetime memory. So, you will want to capture those beautiful moments.

The helicopter tours I mentioned in this article do not require any other special preparation or training. Anyone, from children to old people, can enjoy these tours.