Sunrise & Everest Base Camp Flight: 5 Days Luxury Sunrise & Helicopter Adventure

Meals: Dinner at leisure · Transport: Private luxury car · Sightseeing: about 3 hours

Your day follows your flight time, and the plan below suits a midday arrival. Because Day 2 involves a drive up to Nagarkot, we keep today's sightseeing efficient.

On arrival: Your guide meets you outside Tribhuvan International Airport with a flower garland and a warm welcome, and your driver looks after your luggage. The drive into Kathmandu takes about 15 to 30 minutes in your private, air-conditioned luxury car.

2:00 PM: Check in at Dwarika's with a welcome drink in the brick courtyard. Take time to unpack and freshen up before the sightseeing begins.

4:00 PM: Drive about 10 minutes to Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal's holiest Hindu site, on the banks of the Bagmati River. Your guide explains the rituals along the ghats. Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple but get a clear view from the opposite bank.

5:30 PM: Continue to Boudhanath Stupa and walk clockwise around its base as the sun goes down, among butter lamps, prayer wheels and monks in maroon robes.

7:00 PM: Return to Dwarika's for a relaxed first evening. Dinner is at leisure and at your own cost.

Meals: Luxury Breakfast · Transport: Private luxury car · Drive: about 1.5 to 2 hours

A relaxed morning in Kathmandu, then a scenic drive up onto the ridge where the mountains take over.

8:30 AM: Enjoy a Luxury Breakfast at Dwarika's, then check out at an easy pace.

9:30 AM: Drive out of the Kathmandu Valley and up to Nagarkot, about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic, climbing steadily through terraced fields and pine forest.

11:30 AM: Check in at Mystic Mountain Resort with a welcome drink on the terrace. Lunch at leisure at the resort (own cost).

2:00 PM: Free afternoon to walk along the ridge, visit the small Nagarkot viewing tower, or simply relax with the view from your balcony.

5:45 PM: Watch your first sunset from the hotel terrace, as the light turns gold over the Himalayan range in the distance (visibility depends on the weather). Dinner at the resort follows, with the same view by candlelight. Your guide confirms your very early pick-up for tomorrow's helicopter flight.

Meals: Sunrise views, champagne breakfast at the Everest View Hotel · Transport: Private helicopter · Flight: about 4 to 5 hours in total

The heart of the tour: a Himalayan sunrise from your hotel terrace, followed by a private helicopter flight deep into Everest country.

5:15 AM: Wake early and step onto the terrace for the Himalayan sunrise over the distant peaks, with tea or coffee brought to you (visibility depends on the weather).

6:00 AM: Return to your room for a short rest, then meet your driver, who takes you back down to Kathmandu, about 1.5 to 2 hours, for your helicopter departure.

8:00 AM: A short safety briefing and a meeting with your pilot at the helicopter base near Tribhuvan Airport.

8:30 AM: Take off and fly east over green hills and river valleys, with the first snow peaks appearing on the horizon. The first leg takes about 40 to 50 minutes, followed by a short stop at Lukla to refuel.

9:45 AM: Fly north up the Dudh Kosi valley, past Namche Bazaar and the monastery at Tengboche. Ama Dablam rises beside you, then Lhotse, Nuptse and Mount Everest come into view. At a staging stop such as Pheriche the pilot may carry guests on in smaller groups because the air is thin.

10:30 AM — Landing near Everest Base Camp, if allowed. If the weather, wind and regulations allow, the helicopter makes a short landing near Everest Base Camp or at a high viewpoint nearby (about 5,364 m). You step out for a few minutes with Everest, Lhotse and the Khumbu Icefall in front of you. Move slowly and breathe calmly, and emergency oxygen is on board. If a landing is not possible, the pilot flies close to the same views instead.

11:15 AM: Fly down to the Everest View Hotel at Syangboche (about 3,880 m), one of the highest hotels in the world. A champagne breakfast is served on the terrace, with Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam in front of you. Non-alcoholic sparkling drinks, tea and coffee are also available.

12:15 PM: Fly back down the valley, stopping briefly at Lukla, and land in Kathmandu around 1:00 PM.

1:30 PM: Return to Dwarika's for a rest. Lunch is at leisure (own cost). Our team presents you with your framed aerial photo and personal flight certificate from today's flight.

Weather back-up: mountain flying depends on clear skies. If the helicopter cannot fly on Day 3, we try again early on the morning of Day 4 and adjust the rest of your Kathmandu plan. Please keep this in mind when planning onward flights.

Meals: Luxury Breakfast · Transport: Private luxury car · Sightseeing: about 3 hours

A gentle day to unwind after yesterday's big flight, with time in the old city and free time at your hotel.

9:00 AM: Enjoy a Luxury Breakfast at Dwarika's, then a slow morning at the hotel, with the pool, spa (own cost) and courtyard gardens all yours to enjoy.

1:00 PM: Lunch at leisure (own cost).

3:00 PM: With your guide, take a relaxed walk through Kathmandu Durbar Square or the artisan lanes of Thamel, depending on your interest, for some last sightseeing and shopping.

6:00 PM: Return to Dwarika's for a relaxed cultural evening. Enjoy dinner at the hotel, and, if available, a traditional Newari cultural performance (own cost, subject to schedule).

Meals: Luxury Breakfast · Transport: Private luxury car · Drive: about 25 to 40 minutes

A gentle final morning before your onward journey.

8:00 AM: Enjoy a last Luxury Breakfast and check out at an easy pace.

At your flight time: Your driver takes you to Tribhuvan International Airport, about 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic and your hotel. We recommend arriving at the airport about 3 hours before an international flight.

Have an evening flight, or want more time in Kathmandu? Ask us to add a half-day of shopping or extra sightseeing on Day 5.