Pokhara – Annapurna Sanctuary

Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour from Pokhara

Just twenty minutes from Pokhara's lakeside to a landing inside the Annapurna Sanctuary at 4,130 m, ringed by Annapurna I, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre. It's the shortest, best-value high mountain flight in Nepal.

4,130 mlanding, Annapurna Base Camp

Duration: About 2 hours
Departs: Pokhara, around 6:30
Landing: Annapurna Base Camp, 4,130 m
Time on the ground: 15–20 minutes
Group size: 1 to 5 per helicopter
Best months: October–December and March–May

The Annapurna Sanctuary is a bowl of ice walled in by some of the highest peaks in Nepal. Most trekkers take a week to walk in. From Pokhara, the helicopter needs about twenty minutes.

You take off from Pokhara airport and fly up the Modi Khola gorge, past the terraced villages of Ghandruk and Chhomrong, and through the narrow gateway below Machhapuchhre. Then the valley opens up, and the helicopter lands at Annapurna Base Camp, right in the middle of the amphitheatre: Annapurna I (8,091 m) above the glacier, Annapurna South and Hiunchuli on one side, and Machhapuchhre's fishtail summit on the other.

You'll have around 15 to 20 minutes on the ground for photographs and a hot drink at the lodges, then it's back down the gorge. You'll be at your hotel by the lake before most of Pokhara has had its breakfast.

Starting in Kathmandu? We can fly you from there instead (about an hour each way). Just ask us for a price.

Highlights

Land at Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m)
Annapurna I, Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre all around
Fly up the Modi Khola gorge past Ghandruk and Chhomrong
The shortest high-mountain flight in Nepal

Price per person by group size

You hire the whole helicopter, and its cost is shared between everyone on board. Travelling solo or as a couple? Ask about a shared seat, which costs the lowest price.

Passengers	Price per person
1 person	US$1,898each
2 people	US$949each
3 people	US$632each
4 people	US$474each
5 people	US$380each

Flight plan

1
Into the Sanctuary
- 6:00 Pickup from your hotel in Pokhara.
- 6:30 Take off and fly up the Modi Khola valley.
- 6:50 Land at Annapurna Base Camp: photographs, tea or coffee at the lodges.
- 7:10 Fly back to Pokhara, with Machhapuchhre on the left side of the helicopter.
- 7:45 Back at your hotel.

What's included

Hotel pickup and drop-off by private car
Your seat on the helicopter, with all landing and route charges
Airport and government taxes
Passenger insurance held by the helicopter operator
Annapurna Conservation Area entry permit

Not included

Travel insurance
Meals unless listed
Tips and personal spending

Good to know

Where we meet you: Your hotel in Pokhara (Lakeside or anywhere in the city)
Cancellation: If the weather grounds your flight, you can move it to the next clear day or have a full refund. If you cancel more than 10 days before the flight, we refund half of what you've paid; within 10 days, the deposit isn't refundable. Booking terms
Notes: From December to March the landing is covered in snow, so boots with good grip are well worth wearing.

Questions

Is 4,130 m a problem for altitude sickness?

Twenty minutes at this height rarely causes more than a light head or a slight headache. Walk slowly, drink some water, and remember the helicopter takes you straight back down.

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