Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour
Into the Annapurna Sanctuary for breakfast
- Half a day
- No trekking
- From $2,100
- Duration
- Half a day
- Style
- No trekking
- Highest point
- 4,130 m
- Best months
- Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov
- Starts and ends
- Pokhara
For travellers in Pokhara with a free morning and a wish to stand below Annapurna I.
- Fly up the Modi Khola gorge into the Sanctuary
- Time on the ground below Annapurna I
- Machapuchare from the cockpit
- Back in Pokhara for a late breakfast
The Annapurna Sanctuary takes most trekkers a week to reach on foot. By helicopter from Pokhara it takes about twenty minutes.
You fly at first light up the Modi Khola gorge, past the villages of Ghandruk and Chhomrong and between Hiunchuli and the fishtail summit of Machapuchare, into the high basin below Annapurna I. You land at Annapurna Base Camp, at 4,130 metres, and spend a short time on the ground with the mountains on every side.
The helicopter is private, and the whole morning takes about an hour and a half, so you are back by the lake for a late breakfast. It suits travellers who are already in Pokhara, those who would like to see the Sanctuary without the walk, and anyone ending an Annapurna trek who wants one more view.
If cloud stops the flight, we fly the next clear morning. It can be added to any journey that passes through Pokhara, or booked on its own.
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour: the route
2 places · starts and ends in Pokhara
Way upWay backPositions are approximate; peaks are shown for orientation.
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour, day by day
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Day 1 Annapurna Base Camp by air Private helicopter, about 1½ h 820 m
Your host collects you from your hotel in Pokhara at first light. The helicopter is yours alone, and the flight up the Modi Khola gorge takes about twenty minutes, past Ghandruk and Chhomrong and between Hiunchuli and Machapuchare into the Annapurna Sanctuary. You land at Annapurna Base Camp, at 4,130 metres, and have time on the ground with Annapurna I and Annapurna South above you. Then you fly back down the gorge and are at the lake in Pokhara for a late breakfast. If cloud stops the flight, we fly the next clear morning.
- Getting there
- Private helicopter, about 1½ h
- Sleeping altitude
- 820 m
- Meals
- Breakfast
Walking times are typical at an unhurried pace and include rests; your guide adjusts each day to the group and the weather.
Is this journey for you?
- Walking
- No walking beyond a short stroll on the snow or rock at Base Camp.
- Who it suits
- Anyone in good health, aged ten or over. Time at high altitude is kept short; if you have a heart or lung condition, check with your doctor first.
The practical details
Best time for the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour
- JanJanuary: Good. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- FebFebruary: Good. Cold and clear; snow can close high passes.
- MarMarch: Best. Spring begins: clear mornings, rhododendrons in bloom lower down.
- AprApril: Best. Peak spring season: warm days, flowers, busier trails.
- MayMay: Good. Warmer and hazier, with afternoon cloud as the monsoon nears.
- JunJune: Not recommended. Monsoon: rain most afternoons, leeches low down, mountains often hidden.
- JulJuly: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- AugAugust: Not recommended. Monsoon: heavy rain and frequent flight cancellations.
- SepSeptember: Good. Monsoon clears late in the month; lush valleys, some cloud.
- OctOctober: Best. Peak autumn season: clear views, festivals, busier trails.
- NovNovember: Best. Clear, stable and cooler; quieter after mid-month.
- DecDecember: Good. Cold, clear and quiet; short days at altitude.
Seasons for this journey: Spring, Autumn, Winter. Choose a month for what to expect.
Included
- Himkora Host and a private guide on the day
- The private helicopter, its pilot and landing fees
- Private transfers to and from the airport
- Breakfast on your return
- Permits: Annapurna Conservation Area permit
- Bottled oxygen and a pulse oximeter on board
- Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu as described
- The Himkora Care Standard, in full
Not included
5 items
- Hotel nights (we can book them for you)
- International flights
- Nepal visa (US$50 on arrival for 30 days)
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities and drinks
Before you go
Permits we arrange for you
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card
We need a scan of your passport photo page and one passport photo about six weeks before travel. Permit fees are included in your price.
Visa and insurance
- Most nationalities get a Nepal tourist visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport, or online in advance. Check the Department of Immigration before you travel.
- Travel insurance is required. It must cover trekking to the altitudes on your route and helicopter evacuation; we check your policy before departure.
Mountain flights
- Your itinerary ends with a night in Kathmandu. If delays run on, we can arrange a helicopter (at cost).
- Domestic baggage is usually limited to about 15 kg including your cabin bag; extra can stay at your Kathmandu hotel.
Weather
- Days are usually bright and mild in season; nights are cool in the hills.
- Afternoon cloud is normal; mornings bring the clearest views.
We provide
- A Himkora duffel for your porter to carry (up to 12 kg per guest)
- Water purification, first-aid and the Care Standard kit
You bring
- Comfortable walking shoes and light layers
- Modest clothing for temples (shoulders and knees covered)
- Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen; insect repellent for Chitwan
A full packing list comes with your proposal.
Money
- Your journey is paid in advance, so you only need cash for drinks, souvenirs and tips.
- Nepali rupees are best on the trail; there are ATMs in Kathmandu, Pokhara.
Connectivity and tipping
- Most lodges have Wi-Fi, often slow and sometimes paid; mobile data works in many villages. Your guide carries a satellite messenger.
- Gratuities are not included and are always your choice. We send guidance for guides, porters and drivers with your pre-departure notes.
Combine it with
All journeys
Everest Helicopter Tour
A private helicopter from Kathmandu up the Khumbu at dawn, a landing where the rules allow, and breakfast facing Everest. Back by noon.
Kathmandu Valley in Three Days
Patan, Bhaktapur, Boudhanath and Pashupatinath with a local historian, two nights in a heritage hotel and dinner at a family table.
Chitwan Safari in Three Days
A short flight to Chitwan, two nights at a safari lodge, jeep and canoe safaris for rhino, deer and birds, and a Tharu village evening.
Questions guests ask
More answers on our questions page, or write to hello@himkora.com.
How much does the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour cost?
From $2,100 per person, for two travelling privately, $1,150 per person for four and $4,100 if you travel alone. The price includes guiding, porters, accommodation, meals and permits as listed. Your proposal gives one clear price for your dates.
How long is the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour?
Half a day, door to door from your hotel. Because it is private, you choose the day, and we can add nights before or after.
How high does the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour go?
The highest point is 4,130 m; you are back the same day.
When is the best time for the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour?
The best months are March, April, October and November. See the month-by-month guide above for the rest of the year.
Which permits do I need for the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour?
You will need: Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card. We arrange all of them for you and include the fees in your price.
Is every journey private?
Yes. You travel only with the people you choose, on your dates. Your guide, porters and vehicles are yours alone, and the route can be adjusted before or during the journey.
What is included in the price?
Your Himkora Host and senior guide, porters, every hotel and lodge named in the itinerary, meals as listed, domestic flights, permits, park fees and private transfers. International flights, your Nepal visa, travel insurance, drinks and gratuities are not included.
How do deposits and payment work?
A 30% deposit confirms your journey, and the balance is due 90 days before travel. Your proposal sets out the full price and the cancellation terms before you pay anything. Our full booking terms are on the Booking terms page.
How fit do I need to be?
Each journey has a walking grade, explained on its page. Before you book, we send a short health questionnaire and talk through your walking history. If a route isn't right, we will say so and suggest one that is.
How do you manage altitude?
Above 3,000 metres our itineraries raise sleeping altitude by about 500 metres a night, never more than 700 metres and then only next to a rest day, with acclimatisation days built in. Guides check blood oxygen and pulse twice a day, carry bottled oxygen on high routes, and always have the authority to turn back.
Do I need special travel insurance?
Yes. Your policy must cover trekking to the highest altitude on your route (up to 6,000 metres on our high journeys), emergency medical treatment, helicopter rescue and repatriation. We check it before you travel.
What if flights to Lukla are delayed?
Mountain flights depend on the weather, and in busy months they may leave from Ramechhap rather than Kathmandu. Every Everest itinerary keeps a spare day in Kathmandu after the Lukla flight, so a weather delay doesn't cost you any of the trek. If delays run on longer, a helicopter can be arranged at cost.
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour