Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Helicopter Trek - 8 Days

Best Time To Travel & Weather Condition

Spring (March to May) and autumn (mid-September to November) are considered as the best seasons for Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Helicopter Trek. The weather stays dry and clear during these times which makes it ideal for trekking and enjoying unobstructed views of mountains. The days are warm and the nights chilly. On the downside however, these are peak seasons and the trails get crowded and busy.

During spring, the hillsides are verdant and covered with wildflowers, including rhododendron blooms. It is also the climbing season and the Everest Base Camp is transformed into a tented city filled with climbers and Sherpa guides.

Autumn is the most popular season for Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Helicopter Trek. With the end of wet monsoon season which clears the skies of dust and impurities, you can enjoy crystal clear views during this season. Timing your trek around October will allow you to experience the most important festival in the Everest region, Mani Rimdu. This festival is held in the monasteries of Tengboche, Chiwong and Thame. 

Lukla and Helicopter Flights

You will be flying to and from Lukla via a fixed wing carrier. After the completion of your trek, on Day 6 you board a helicopter from Namche and take a helicopter tour. From Namche, you fly to Everest Base Camp and enjoy a brief stopover of about 5 to 10 minutes at Kala Patthar (5,550m) for panoramic views of Mount Everest and other peaks. Later, you fly towards Gokyo Valley and enjoy the beauty of the pristine Gokyo Lakes with another brief stopover. Afterwards you fly back to Lukla.

The helicopter flight above tall mountains, glaciers, emerald lakes and Sherpa settlements is an awesome aerial experience, one you will remember forever. The heli flight also lets you skip the tedious return trek via the same route to Lukla.

Flying to the Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla has its own challenges. The chief among them is weather.  The airport is built on a narrow plateau, over a steep cliff. Navigating the plane along the short and narrow runway is difficult when strong winds whip across the mountains. Surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the world, the weather here is unpredictable and changes frequently. It would be clear and sunny one minute, and the next moment the clouds will appear and everything will turn hazy. Flights operate only when the weather is stable and visibility clear.

The chances of your Lukla flight getting cancelled cannot be ruled out. If this happens your trek may get extended by a day or two. So come prepared and keep buffer days so that you may not miss your international flight.

If there is a long delay due to bad weather, we will try to secure a space for you on a helicopter flight. The cost for the heli flight is not included in the trip price and should be borne by you.

Due to congestion at the Kathmandu airport during high season (spring and autumn), flights to and from Lukla now operates from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap. The airport lies 132km (4hrs 30mins drive) from Kathmandu.

However, airline companies operate their first and last flights directly from Kathmandu and Lukla (KTM-LUKLA-KTM). If you book your trip early, we can try to secure a place for you on the direct flight to or from Lukla. It will be easier and more comfortable to fly directly from Kathmandu to Lukla and vice versa, instead of making that additional journey to Ramechhap.

Helicopter Flights to Everest Region will operate from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.

Entry Permits & Requirements

The permits needed for the Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Helicopter Trek are – 1) Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit, and 2) Khumbu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit. Unlike other treks in the Nepal Himalaya, you won’t be needing a TIMS (Tourist Information Management System) card.

Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit can be obtained from the Nepal tourism Board’s Office in Kathmandu or at the park’s entrance gate in Monjo by paying NRS 3000. For citizens of SAARC countries the fee is NRS 1500. You need to fill out the permit form and show your passport or a copy of your passport.

To get the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance Permit, you need to be in Lukla. You have to pay NRS 2000 for the permit at the rural municipality counter which lies at the edge of the village.

You won’t have to worry about queuing up to get the permits as the company or our guides will arrange all the permits for you.

Altitude Sickness & Acclimatization

Remember you will be trekking to the world’s highest trekking destination, Everest Region. The highest elevation you will reach is 5,550m above sea level. In this environment there is less oxygen which will make breathing a bit difficult.

To let your body get used to the thin air, you need to walk slowly, steadily and keep your body hydrated. If you try to hasten and walk fast to reach your destination in less time, chances are you may suffer from AMS or Acute Mountain Sickness.

AMS symptoms like dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath, fatigue etc., are seen at elevations above 2000 metres. Usually these symptoms occur once you reach Namche or beyond Namche.

Taking diamox and a good night’s rest may work for mild cases. Drinking plenty of fluids (water, tea, soup etc.) and keeping your body hydrated will also help to keep the sickness at bay. One should take necessary precautions to ensure that the condition does not worsen. But if the symptoms worsen, one may have to return to a lower elevation and get medical help.

There are clinics at Lukla, Namche and Pheriche which offer basic care for minor ailments. In the worst case scenario, an air evacuation will be arranged, where the patient will be flown to Kathmandu to receive medical aid. AMS, if untreated or ignored can take your life.

Our experts have included an extra day in Namche (3,440m) for acclimatization, to let your body get used to thin air.

The chart given below will give you a rough idea about the level of oxygen in the atmosphere on the trail.

Drinking Water

It is important to keep your body hydrated on the trail as dehydration also causes AMS. One should drink at least 3-4 litres of fluids daily.

We dissuade you from buying bottled water as it adds up to the thrash problem in the mountains.  Moreover like everything else, bottled water is also expensive on the mountains.

We highly recommend you to carry a reusable water bottle with you, one that can hold hot water.

You can use one with a steri pen or an inbuilt filtration system like LifeStraw.

You can also use water purification tablets to treat the water. While the water in the mountains tend to be pure and without impurities, it’s better not to take chances and filter or treat the water before drinking.

Using chlorine or iodine tablets to treat the water may alter its taste. You can add flavored electrolyte powder (which are readily available at pharmacies in Kathmandu) to mask the bitter chemical taste. Adding electrolyte to your drinking water may also be beneficial as the minerals (sodium, potassium, magnesium etc.) you lose while walking gets replenished.

Teahouses offer boiled drinking water at additional cost. You may have to pay around 1 USD per litre or pot (every teahouse use a different sized pot).

Internet Connectivity

Despite being the world’s highest trekking trail, internet connection (though erratic and irregular at some places) is available in the Everest Region.

You can connect with your loved ones while trekking, post updates and upload pictures on social media. You may have to pay extra for using the Wi-Fi hotspot at lodges en route.

It will be cheaper and easier to get a sim card (preferably Ncell) in Kathmandu and purchase internet data that could last you for your entire trip. Ncell offers 3G connectivity up to Everest Base Camp (5364m).

Everest Link, another local internet provider also offers paid internet access on the trail. You can purchase the username and password at any of the teahouses or shops along the trail.

Packing Checklist for Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Helicopter Trek

As opposed to popular belief, you don’t need a lot of complicated gear and equipment for an Everest adventure. Here’s a basic checklist of the most essential items that you should not forget to bring with you during your Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Helicopter Trek:

• A sturdy pair of trekking boots with good ankle support
• Rucksack or daypack (30 litres) with waterproof cover
• Trekking pants and waterproof trousers
• T-shirts or shirts
• Down Jacket
• Wind/ waterproof light jacket
• Fleece jumper or jacket
• Inner Thermal (top and trouser)
• Socks and underwear
• Sunglasses, sun hat, woolen cap or balaclava
• Inner and outer gloves
• Headlamp, power bank  and extra batteries
• Sun protection cream, wet wipes and hand sanitizer
• Towel, flip-flop or rubber sandal, toiletries
• Water bottle and water purification tablets
• 4 season Sleeping bag
• Sleeping bag liner

These are only some of the essential items. Find a more detailed list by clicking here.

Most of the trekking equipment are available on hire in Kathmandu. You can keep your baggage light by only packing the most essential items and renting or buying the rest in Kathmandu. Shops in Thamel offer branded as well locally made gear and equipment.

You can leave your spare luggage at your hotel’s storage room. It is completely safe and free. But do make sure to lock your luggage before leaving it at the storage unit.    

Guide(s) & Staff Arrangements

Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Helicopter Trek takes you to the highest trekking trail in the world. Having an experienced local guide accompanying you will enrich your trip in so many ways. Trekking with a person who has in-depth knowledge of the mountain will also keep you safe and secure.

When you book a trek with us, we pair you up with one of our local guides. All our guides have an experience of more than 10 years and have a vast knowledge of the area you are visiting. They have completed the trekking guide course and have the required government license to work as a mountain guide. They can communicate in English and have received training on wilderness first aid and crisis management.

The trek will be led by a chief guide or trek leader. For every 4 trekkers, there will be an assistant guide assisting them personally. One porter will carry the luggage of 2 clients. Make sure that your luggage does not exceed 15 kg, as the porter can only carry a weight of 30 kg.

We believe in ethical treatment of our staff. All our Guides and Porters are provided with weather appropriate gear and clothing to battle the harsh weather in the mountains. Before the start of a trek, we ensure that our mountain guides are fully insured. They are given fair wages and treated with respect.

We seriously follow the guidelines set by IPPG (International Porter protection Group) and offer assistance to porters to develop other skills. A portion from the booking fee goes to fund the education of our field staffs’ kids.

Travel Insurance

For Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Helicopter Trek, you need a good travel insurance policy that offers you coverage for all activities and altitudes included in your itinerary. The highest altitude you reach is 5,550 metres and your travel insurance should offer you suitable coverage up to this elevation.

Though we take your safety as our number one priority, we cannot rule out mishaps and emergencies that may occur at this altitude. There is less oxygen in the environment and trekkers usually suffer from Acute Mountain Sickness, which could prove to be fatal if not treated on time.

Walking on a treacherous mountain environment also exposes you to physical injuries. Therefore make sure that your insurance covers the cost of all injuries and emergencies that you can possibly face during this trekking adventure.

Your insurance policy should especially cover the cost of helicopter evacuation and hospitalization in case of an accident or medical emergency as these happen to be quite expensive. Check for vaccination requirements as some travel insurance policies makes it mandatory to immunize yourself before you leave your country. 

Before you decide on a policy, be mindful and don’t forget to read the fine print. It would be advantageous for you also to choose a company that offers insurance cover on both domestic as well as international flight cancellations and lost or stolen baggage.

Trip Safety

We ensure the safety of our clients by following all safety protocols during the trip. This itinerary has been designed by travel experts and veteran guides who have trekked on this route innumerable times.

To prevent AMS, an extra day in Namche has been added in the itinerary. Our guides always carry a first-aid kit and pulse oximeter (to measure the oxygen level in your blood) with them. The guides assigned to you have more than 10 years’ experience and know what steps to take during an emergency. They are well-trained in wilderness first aid and crisis management.

If a client shows symptoms of AMS and needs to descend to a lower elevation, an assistant guide will escort him/her and will follow the safety protocol. He will closely monitor the client’s condition and will take the required steps needed for the well-being of the client.

If he/she feels alright after a night’s rest, the guide will escort the client back to join the group. But if the condition worsens, the client will be escorted down to Lukla or get air lifted to Kathmandu for expert medical aid.

A typical day on the Everest Base Camp Gokyo Lakes Helicopter Trek

A typical day on the trail begins with a wakeup call at around 6 AM by your guide. Freshen up and get ready. Pack your belongings and head to the dining area for breakfast by 7 AM. Check your luggage for the final time and fill your water bottle, before you hit the trail by 8 AM along with your guide.

To avoid walking in the heat and to enjoy clear views of the mountains, you make an early start. En route there will be short breaks to enjoy the views and take photographs. You stop for lunch at a local teahouse around noon or mid-day. After a quick rest of about an hour or 40 minutes, you get back on the trail and continue till you reach your overnight stop.

Upon reaching the stop for the night, you head to your teahouse, check in and have some rest. Tea with some light refreshments (cookies or biscuits) will be served at 5 PM.

Exchange stories or play cards with other trekkers and sherpas till dinner is served (around 7PM). After dinner, your guide will brief you about the next day’s trek – the route you will take, difficulty, where you will stop for lunch etc. Afterwards, retire for the night and have a well-deserved rest.

From Lukla to Phakding, you trek for about 3-4 hours. The trek from Phakding to Namche involves a hike of 6 to 7 hours. On Day 6 you enjoy a helicopter tour to Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar and Gokyo Lakes and return to Lukla on the same day. 

Responsible Travel

Travel responsibly and try to limit any negative impact on the environment. Limit the use of plastic and be mindful about throwing waste in the mountains. When you trek with us, you will be supporting local communities (from the guides and porters to teahouse owners). We as a company support sustainable tourism and patronize local businesses. We partner with service providers who work towards saving the environment.  As an active member of KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project) we make sure that our trips are environment friendly.