The Everest Flight Experience

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Nepal from above

One of the most magnificent must-see landmarks of Nepal is obviously Mount Everest – the highest peak in the world, which is 8848 m.

DSC01647 The Everest Flight Experience
View of Mount Everest and few other peaks in Nepal seen from the aircraft.

Apart from it there are also 8 peaks in Nepal which stand above 8000 m high among the 14 all over the world. If you are planning to travel to Nepal, but for some reasons you are not able to go trekking or climbing any mountains, but you still would like to see Mount Everest along with other peaks, the Everest Flight Experience could be a great idea.

DSC01700 The Everest Flight Experience
We’ve tried it and we highly recommend it to everyone. It is not a budget experience, but still worth spending some extra money. My certificate!

What is the Everest Flight Experience?

The Everest Flight Experience is one of must take tours of the majestic Himalayas. It is an hour of breathtaking scenic beauty of the Mighty Mountains and a sparkling clear journey across such world’s highest peaks as Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhoste, Makalu, Cho Oyu.

Mountain flight5 The Everest Flight Experience

During the flight you will enjoy a chain of snow capped peaks as you fly above the clouds, over glaciers and lakes, rivers and gorges from your private individual window. You can also see the aerial view of the Kathmandu valley and the landscapes of Nepal.

DSC01658 The Everest Flight Experience
On board of Simrik Air’s aircraft.

What airlines should you fly with?

There are 3 airlines that are operating Everest Experience trip: Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines and Simrik Air. After visiting each office at Kathmandu airport and negotiating prices with all of them, we decided to go with Simrik Air that offered us by far the best deal.

Mountain flight3 The Everest Flight Experience
Simrik Air aircraft.

Note: Buddha Air refused to negotiate prices and we were quoted $240 per person. Yeti Airlines agreed on a discount and let us fly for $224 per person. Simrik Air offered a package deal of $280 for two people (one person having a private window and one sitting a bit further in the back, which was not a big deal for us. In the end we could both sit together at the back having a clear view of mountains for the duration of the flight).

See also  Complete Travel Guide to the Manaslu Circuit Trek

Where/when does it start and finish?

One hour Everest flight takes off from Kathmandu airport every day. You can easily get there by hired motorbike or taxi from Thamel (prices available here) and it takes around 20 minutes to get to the airport.

Mountain flight
Waiting in line to get my boarding pass.

Note: If you are going there by motorbike during winter/autumn season, please make sure you wear warm clothes and gloves as it’s freezing in the morning.

You should be at Kathmandu airport at around 6:00 am as boarding takes place at 6:45 am. Unfortunately we were very unlucky with the weather (it was extremely foggy that day) and our flight was over 3 hour delayed. We spent a lot of time at the airport waiting for new updates while sipping on coffee, chatting and listening to music.

Important: If you can’t go to see the Everest, or if you go and can’t see it, because of the weather then you will get a refund or get your flight rebooked for another date. It’s a Mountain view flight, so if you can’t see it, you don’t pay. We were waiting with one girl who had come few days earlier and couldn’t see the Everest due to foggy weather and she had her flight rebooked and was flying with us. It was her last day in Nepal, so she was lucky to see the highest mountain, but she was not worried that she would lose money, because that’s the policy for all airlines running this show.

Mountain flight1
The flight was delayed so we ordered some coffee to keep us alive.

Note: there is a small cafeteria after you go through security check where you can buy sweets, snacks and hot/cold drinks. The prices are extremely high, up to 10 times higher than local prices in the city, but you will be served a proper coffee, really fresh and delicious.

Mountain flight2
Getting on the bus that took us to the aircraft.

After a while you will be given your boarding passes and a bus will take you to the aircraft, which can accommodate approximately 16 persons.

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What does the flight look like?

Just after leaving Kathmandu airport within 5 minutes the ranges start.

Mountain flight4
Ready to take off.

There will be a clear sky with some sunshine so you can see the breath-taking view properly. You will be given a map highlighting some of the other peaks you’re likely to see on the trip, including Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, as well as other 7,000+ and 8,000+ peaks. The air hostess will give you detailed descriptions of each peak that you will be crossing. Our hostess attended each person separately and invited us to in the cockpit. The pilot and the co-pilot allowed us to take pictures from the cockpit.

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View of Kathmandu.

How much does the flight cost?

The flight costs between $175 and $260 per person. You can negotiate prices (as we did) directly with the airlines or book it through the agency (more expensive). We found one place where the price was even $175 per person.

DSC01645 The Everest Flight Experience
View of mountains.

Note: most of package deals offer drop-off and pick up at Kathmandu’s domestic airport (within Kathmandu city only), private car and driver and 1-hour Everest mountain flight. Things to be excluded are domestic airport tax (NPR 200 per person), insurance (not needed), personal expenses such as food and souvenirs and tips. You can pay by credit card at the airport in one of selected airlines offices.

What should you keep in mind when taking pictures?

The weather in Nepal is very unpredictable. It could rain and be foggy, although in the morning it’s usually good. Don’t be too concerned by low clouds as you’ll be far above them, as well pretty much all of the peaks.

See also  Top 3 Best Kathmandu Eating Places

Camera speed: try to shoot with the very short lens opening time to reduce the blur.

DSC01684 The Everest Flight Experience
Kathmandu landscape.

Airplane windows: there will be some dirt, as well as some reflections. Dirt, however, is nothing so bad that Photoshop won’t fix quickly. For reflections, a circular polariser is highly recommended.

Bluish cast: all of your photos will have a blue cast to them, due to the type of window coating that is used on the planes. Try to use photoshop again to fix it.

Is it worth it?

If in Nepal and unable to trek into the Himalayas then the easiest way to see the Mighty Himalayas including Mount Everest is by taking the one hour flight. It is unforgettable experience in your life and this 1 hour journey through the Himalayas is amazing and awesome.

Mountain flight6 The Everest Flight Experience
Handshake with the captain.

Is the Everest Flight Experience something you would like to do in Nepal? Is it worth the money in your opinion?

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Picture of Agness Walewinder
Agness Walewinder
Travel freak, vagabond, photography passionate, blogger, life enthusiast, backpacker, adventure hunter and endless energy couchsurfer living by the rule "Pack lite, travel far and live long!"
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28 thoughts on “The Everest Flight Experience”

  1. Avatar of Katarina

    I’ve wanted to see Mount Everest for some time, but everyone always mentions climbing it. Definitely not for me! I didn’t know they had planes that could see it so it’s good to read up on these things. I’ve re-added it to my list of things to see now! :)

  2. Avatar of Pooja

    I’ve never done the mountain flight, nor seen Mount Everest, despite being a Nepalese. But I have seen other magnificent mountains from up close (while trekking) :)
    Looks like you guys had fun. Jan-Feb-March are not bad times to see mountains in Nepal, but I think you just got unlucky that day. October-November are the absolute best times, however.
    The last time I went to Nepal, my heart was beating so fast, looking at the mountainous terrain we were flying above.

  3. Avatar of Vanessa @ The Travelling Colognian

    Your photos are amazing, Agness and Cez, and make me want to return to Nepal right away. I spent five and a half days in Kathmandu and the Kathmandu valley at the end of my Yunnan and Tibet trip in August 2010 and I have to confess that I didn’t take an Everest flight. Needless to say that I highly regret it especially after watching your photos. But I intend to go back to Nepal anyway to explore more of the country and an Everest flight is something which is on my bucket list already. :)

  4. Avatar of Królowa Karo

    To musiało być coś! Zobaczyć Mont Everest – nawet jeśli z powietrza. Kocham góry i tych przeżyć szczerze Wam zazdroszczę. Wejść, nie wejdę, ale może kiedyś i mnie się uda polecieć i go zobaczyć…

  5. Avatar of Victoria@ The British Berliner

    ‘Love the post Agness!
    The Everest Flight Experience is absolutely worth the price and experience, but not for me as I don’t like tiny charter planes lol!
    I’ll be fine just trekking for a day or two as far as I can go, knowing that I set foot on the magnificent Mount Everest. And what a view! Lucky girl. :)

  6. Avatar of Karolina

    Oh my God it’s awesome! I had no idea that something like this even exists. I’d love to see Mount Everest from the plane. Your photos are awesome, it must have been an amazing experience :).

  7. Avatar of Yixiong

    I can imagine what an amazing experience it was! I recently had the opportunity to fly in a small seaplane from Vancouver Island to Seattle and the captain was nice enough to let me sit up front in the cockpit with him! Very different from being in cattle class on the usual aviation flights.

  8. Avatar of Jesse Richheimer @ Green Global Travel
    Jesse Richheimer @ Green Global Travel

    Awesome read! I didn’t know that these flights even existed! I would be much more inclined to do this rather than the hike in itself! It’s crazy that a relatively small country has 8 of the 15 highest mountain peaks throughout the world! I hope Kathmandu is holding up from its recent earthquake…it seems like a city that praises its natural landscapes!

  9. Avatar of Dil Gurung

    Everest experience mountain flight looks the best way to observe the mountain Everest and other mountains of Nepal. Your article inspires others to take an Everest view mountain flight.

  10. Avatar of Abhishek Sapkota

    I think the best way to look at the mountains is Flying above them. And Helicopter tour to explore the areal and panorama view of the mountains is all you have ever dreamed of. And the view of the Mt. Everest is the best adventure that you will surely enjoy and I am sure it will make your trip worth remembering. Your article is motivating many of the travelers to feel the natural view of the Everest via a flight of Helicopter. Keep inspiring.

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