Best way to see Everest while in Nepal

You don’t need to plan a strenuous multi-day trek to see Mount Everest. There are also scheduled fixed-wing flights and helicopter flights that guarantee the Everest view. A short and easy luxury lodge-based trek in Everest National Park or a road trip to Everest North Base Camp in Tibet are other options.

See Everest without strenuous trek

Mt Everest is on the bucket list of many. But being the highest peak in the world, it is located in the most remote part of the Himalayas, surrounded by many other daunting peaks. The most popular way of seeing Mt Everest until now is a two-week's strenuous trek. But there are several other ways of experiencing Mount Everest for those limited in time, or if trekking is not their style of travelling.

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Everest Experience Flight

The Everest experience flight, known as the mountain flight, is a one-hour fixed-wing flight to see the mesmerizing Himalayas with Mt Everest in the morning. The flight operates with passengers only in window seats and guarantees a view of Mt Everest. The 100 nautical miles of this flight hovers along the Himalayas, jagged with almost half of the world's highest peaks, making it the most remote, pristine, and magical landmass on earth. One can get as close as 5 nautical miles from Mt Everest and have the dramatic view of Everest National Park with Khumbu Icefall.

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Everest Helicopter Tour

A private helicopter charter is another popular way of seeing Mt Everest. The four-hour trip not only provides an exotic aerial view but also allows you to feel it from the ground. Highlights of the trip are landing at Kalapattar (5,450 m) near Everest base camp and breakfast at Everest View Hotel - Shyangboche (3,800 m). The flight also encircles the base camp, providing a close-up view of Khumbu icefall and Everest.

USD 7,600 7,800 for charter.

As soon as the helicopter takes off from the Kathmandu airport, a breathtaking view of snow peaks appears in our sight. After about 45 minutes of scenic flight, it briefly lands at Hillary airport, Lukla, for refueling. Lukla is renowned as one of the most challenging airports, and it is thrilling to watch the Jetstream landing and taking off. The helicopter then fly up the Dudh Kosi valley, wedged between Kongde and Kusum Kanguru peaks. Other spectacular peaks like Thamsherku, Amadablam, and Tauche peak unfold ahead. Finally, the valley ends at the Himalayas' biggest rock face, forming the buttresses of Mt Lhotse and Mt Everest. Feel the ground stepped on by famous climbers and admire the peaks that make up the top of the world. Fly to the Everest View Hotel, perched on the ridge overlooking the Everest panorama, for breakfast before flying back to Kathmandu.

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Short Everest treks

A short trek based on comfortable lodges is a pleasant way of experiencing the cultural and natural traits of Everest National Park, which enlists the national park as a UNESCO Heritage site.

Everest Experience Trek 5 day

The 5-day Everest experience trek goes up to Namche Bazaar, allowing you to visit Sherpa villages with panoramic views of Mt Everest and other spectacular peaks. The charming Sherpa villages offer ample accommodations, ranging from simple homestays to luxury lodges with hot showers, warm dining, and scrumptious food. Availability of boutique luxury lodges makes your experience even better.

Short Everest Trek

Everest view from Pikey Peak

For those not comfortable to fly in and out of Lukla, a trek to Pikey Peak is the popular short alternative trek. Mt Everest from Pikey Peak (4,067 m) is only about 40 miles away as the crow flies. Mesmerized by the view, Sir Edmund Hilary once said, “Pikey Peak is the most astounding place to gaze at Mt Everest.”
The trek dwells into the lower Everest region with fewer tourists and gives great insight into the Sherpa culture and the Himalayan view of the Everest region from its foothills. Comfortable weather throughout the winter with no worries of flight cancellation (no flight required) and relatively lower budget make the trek one of the best ways to see Mt Everest.

Pikey Peak Trek

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Everest North Base Camp from Tibet

Because of travel restrictions and permit/visa regulations, it is most popular to organize Tibet tours with the Everest north base camp tour from Kathmandu. You either join the 8-day fixed departure tour that leaves every Saturday from Kathmandu or organize a private tour. The driving tour enters Tibet from the Kerung border in the north of Kathmandu and then cruises through the plateau overlooking the Himalayas. Spend a night at Rongbuk monastery at 4,980 m and admire the spectacular view of Mt Everest. The tour then visits the cultural sights of Shigatse, Gyantse, and Lhasa, and then flies back to Kathmandu.

Flying to Lhasa and then driving to the Everest north base camp gives you more time to acclimatize.