Helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla

A forty-minute scenic and comfortable Kathmandu to Lukla Helicopter Flight is now popular among Everest region trekkers. Highly affordable flight with regular private and group joining departure has made more trekkers take a helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla instead of driving to Ramechhap and flying to Lukla airport.

With a notorious reputation, even though it isn’t as scary as people say, landing at Lukla airport is frightening for most. Also called the Gateway of Everest, Lukla is also the place from where the Everest region trek starts. If you want to avoid flying here and wish to trek, it takes two to three more days, which may not be feasible for many.

Also, with the recent change in Kathmandu to Lukla Flight, past April 1, 2022, every flight to Lukla now departs from Manthali airport. The flight time from Ramechhap airport to Lukla airport is 20 minutes, unlike 40-50 minutes from Kathmandu. However, before flying, trekkers must take a bus drive to Ramechhap via BP Highway. And many drive at midnight and catch the flight the following morning.

Doing all these to fly to Lukla airport with nearly USD 200 flight tickets, driving at midnight, and waiting for flights with possible delays is a headache. There’s one obvious option, why not fly comfortably on a helicopter to Lukla for just USD 500-600? And just in 40 minutes, including the scenic mountain glimpse and fearless landing at Lukla airport. Kathmandu to Lukla Helicopter Flight is that easy.

Why fly on a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla?

• Comfortable, luxurious, 100% safe, and scenic 40 minutes flight
• Highly affordable fares with the regular private and group joining flights
• Get rid of waking up at midnight to take a bus drive to Ramechhap for six hours
• Can take off and land at Lukla airport even during poor weather conditions
• Best and utmost relaxed way of landing at Lukla airport instead of flying on regular domestic airlines
• Always on time and highly flexible
• Allows you to customize the flight further, like Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour from Lukla

Landing in Lukla airport on a helicopter – Always on Time!!

If there’s one thing on time in Lukla, it’s undoubtedly the helicopter from Kathmandu. Unlike hours of flight delays with domestic airlines, a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla departs on time. And flying on it lands you safely at Lukla airport, where you’ll start your Everest region trekkings.

Weather at Lukla can change without notice, even on the clear Spring and Autumn weather day. Past noon, Lukla becomes windy, and flights even struggle with a smooth landing. And if the weather changes too bad, delaying your flight to Lukla, you may miss your trek itinerary.

But a helicopter can make a safe landing during slight changes in weather conditions where flights usually don’t.

Snowfall at Lukla airport

During snowfall at Lukla airport, it becomes almost impossible for regular airline flights to land. The thick snow blankets the entire runway and taxiway for days. It usually happens during February and March.

And if you buy tickets to Lukla during snowy months, you can’t do anything. Sip a coffee in your hotel room in Kathmandu, pray for a clear weather day at Lukla, wait for the snow to melt, and hope for the Ramechhap Lukla flight to happen.

But, if you make an intelligent move by flying on a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla, you don’t need to wait for the weather to be pitch-perfect.

The new helipad at Lukla Airport accommodates nearly 8-10 helicopters at a time. And even if it gets covered in snow, a two to three feet high helicopter’s landing skid never gets buried in snow. As the helicopter performs vertical landing, no matter how thick snow deposits at the helipad, the chopper touches the pad. And you’ll land at Lukla, walk on snow, and enjoy the snowy landscapes.

Plus, if you plan to hike through snowy trails to Everest Base Camp during December, February, and March, you should fly to Lukla on a helicopter from Kathmandu.

Avoid taking drive to Manthali airport

There are no direct airlines flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. These days, from April 1, 2022, every Everest region trekker first takes a 6-hour midnight drive from Kathmandu to Ramechhap. And take a flight to Lukla from Manthali Airport.

Manthali airport is roughly 127 km from Kathmandu. A six-hour drive along BP Highway is the only option to reach here. What most trekkers do is take a midnight ride to Manthali airport. Those who need a night’s sleep even drive to Manthali during the daytime, a day before the flight to Lukla.

The most common issue is nausea and motion sickness. Those who take a midnight drive struggle to cope with this sickness. With no sleep all night and motion sickness, you’ll get drowsy while trekking to Phakding from Lukla.

All this sounds uncomfortable right?

If you consider flying on a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla, it takes 40 minutes. If you want to depart to Lukla at noon, you can fly on a helicopter after lunch in Kathmandu. You’ll be fresh and alert throughout the trek from Lukla on day 1 of your EBC Trek.

With just USD 300 more for a helicopter fare than a regular airline ticket, you’d reach and land at Lukla airport with utmost comfort and luxury. The Kathmandu Lukla helicopter flight is convenient and affordable.

Think of it, why get bothered by waking up at midnight, taking a 6-hour drive, waiting for a getaway with possible delays, tired eyes, and a lot of hectic 24 hours?

Kathmandu to Lukla on a helicopter- Private/Group Joining Flights

Whether you’re single and looking for groups to join the helicopter flight or a family searching for a private helicopter flight to Lukla from Kathmandu, NepTrek manages the flights.

Finding the groups you could join on a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla has been more accessible. Most Everest region trekkers like you wish to pay a couple of hundred dollars and seek the comfort of flying to Lukla on a helicopter.

A group joining a helicopter to Lukla accommodates five pax at most. And if you find a flight with five pax, you’ll pay a lesser fare than it’d cost for two or three pax.

Unlike group joining, private helicopter flights from Kathmandu to Lukla are often expensive compared to group joining. But private flight comes with a significant advantage; you can have your personal space and privacy while flying. It’s just you and your loved ones together flying.

Here’s a tentative figure of Kathmandu to Lukla Helicopter Flight cost in 2023. However, this cost varies with the number of pax on the given day.

Say goodbye to scary takeoffs and landings at Lukla Airport

One day Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour from Lukla

Most people who fly Lukla on a helicopter or flight are for Everest region trekking. Almost every trekker starts hiking to the Everest Base Camp, Gokyo Lakes, and other places. And only some struggle to hike by the time they reach Namche. For them, to keep their Everest dream alive, Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour can be the last resort.

Some trekker often twists their legs and hurt their knees before reaching Namche. Still, they can fly on a helicopter from Phakding/Lukla to EBC to keep the hopes of seeing Everest alive. And even without getting injured, some prefer not to hike and fly on a helicopter to see Everest from Lukla.

If you want to go to Kala Patthar and Everest Base Camp from Lukla by helicopter, NepTrek manages that for you. You’d complete the tour in just three hours and return to Kathmandu. One day Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour from Namche and Lukla is now a hit. As people look for luxury trips to see Everest, flying close to the world’s highest mountain on a helicopter is a luxurious adventure.

Moreover, you’d also get a private/group joining Everest Helicopter Tour from Lukla.

Want to reserve a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla?

If you have any plans for Everest region treks and want to fly on a helicopter to Lukla, we’ll manage the flight for you. Reach out to our tour manager Mr Saroj Dahal at +977-9818553880 (WhatsApp) or send an email to mailtoneptrek@gmail.com. We’ll arrange the Kathmandu to Lukla helicopter on your preferred date.

You can also contact us on our social media profiles, Instagram and Twitter.