Private Helicopter Charter in Nepal
Sometimes none of our set tours is quite right. That's when you charter the whole helicopter: your route, your landings, your timing. Here's how a charter works and what we need from you to quote it.
Chartering simply means the helicopter is yours for the flight. You decide where it lands, how long it waits and who comes along. Strictly speaking, every tour on this site is a charter with the price worked out in advance; this page is for everything else.
What people charter helicopters for
- Combined sightseeing: Langtang and Gosaikunda in one morning, say, or Annapurna Base Camp followed by Muktinath from Pokhara.
- Trek pickups and drop-offs: fly in to start your trek higher up, or fly out at the end rather than walking all the way back. Popular spots include Gorak Shep, Gokyo, Kyanjin Gompa, Annapurna Base Camp, Samagaon (Manaslu) and Dolpo.
- Pilgrimages: Muktinath, Gosaikunda, Halesi Mahadev, Pathibhara Devi and the Kailash route as far as the Hilsa border.
- Photography and filming: doors-off flights can be arranged with the right permits, so do tell us early.
- Remote travel and business: places that are days from the nearest road, such as Humla, Dolpo, Mugu and Rara.
- Weddings, proposals and celebrations: breakfast at Hotel Everest View, perhaps, or sunrise over the Annapurnas. We can't promise a yes, but the view certainly helps.
How a charter is priced
Helicopters in Nepal are charged by flying time, from the moment the engine starts to the moment it stops, plus any time spent waiting on the ground. Fuel has to be carried or bought along the way at places such as Lukla, Jomsom, Nepalgunj or Simikot, and some landing sites charge their own fees.
So the price comes down to:
- Distance and route, including any detour to refuel.
- Waiting time at your landings.
- How high the highest landing is: above about 4,500 m a helicopter can lift fewer people, so a group of five may need two short hops.
- Permits for national parks, conservation areas and restricted areas such as Upper Mustang, Manaslu and Dolpo.
- One way or return: a one-way charter still has to pay for the empty flight home, unless we can pair it with another booking.
The total is then shared between the passengers, which is why five people filling a helicopter pay far less each than a couple flying alone. Our cost guide walks you through it with real examples.
The helicopters
Most tourist flights in Nepal use single-engine Airbus H125 (AS350 B3) helicopters, which are built for high-altitude work and flown by pilots who have spent years in the Himalaya. In normal conditions they seat up to five passengers. For bigger groups or cargo there are Mi-17 helicopters, which carry around twenty people at lower altitudes.
We book flights with licensed Nepali helicopter operators, choosing the aircraft and company for each job by availability, altitude and price.
What to send us for a quote
- Where you'd like to start and finish, and every place you'd like to land.
- Your date, and whether it could move a day either way.
- How many passengers, and roughly their total weight.
- How long you'd like on the ground at each stop.
- Anything special: luggage, oxygen, a stretcher, cameras or a doors-off flight.
Drop us a line through the contact form or on WhatsApp, and we'll usually come back to you with a price the same day.
Questions
Can I book a single seat instead of a whole helicopter?
Yes. On the popular routes, such as Everest, Annapurna Base Camp and Langtang, we can often add you to a group flying the same day. You simply pay the per-seat price of a full helicopter.
How far ahead should I book?
In October, November, March and April, aim for a week or more ahead, especially for Everest. The rest of the year, a day or two is often enough.
Can a charter wait for us overnight?
Helicopters don't usually stay in the mountains overnight. Instead, we fly you in, the helicopter returns to base, and it comes back for you on the day you choose. Both flights are charged.
Tours to consider
5,644 mKala Patthar
About 4 to 5 hours, Kathmandu start
Everest Base Camp Helicopter Tour
A private morning helicopter flight from Kathmandu up the Khumbu Valley to land on Kala Patthar, face to face with Everest, then breakfast on the terrace of Hotel Everest View. You'll be back in Kathmandu before lunch.
from US$1,112 per person
3,840 mLo Manthang
About 6 hours, Kathmandu start
Upper Mustang Helicopter Tour to Lo Manthang
A full day out to the walled city of Lo Manthang, in the former Kingdom of Lo, flying over the red cliffs and cave dwellings of Upper Mustang. The restricted-area permit is included.
from US$1,846 per person
2,990 mRara Lake
About 7 hours, Kathmandu start
Rara Lake Helicopter Tour
Fly to Nepal's largest lake in the remote far west: deep blue water at 2,990 m, ringed by the pine and juniper forest of Rara National Park. It's a full day out, with an hour on the shore.
from US$1,478 per person
