Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour
The Annapurna Base Camp helicopter tour flies from Pokhara to Annapurna Base Camp at 4,130 m in about 20 minutes, lands for 30 minutes inside the sanctuary, and is back in Pokhara within 1 hour 20 minutes. A shared seat costs USD 550 per person and a private charter USD 2,400 for up to five passengers. Flights leave Pokhara in the morning, year round, when the sky is clear.
- Starts
- Pokhara Domestic Airport
- Ends
- Pokhara Domestic Airport
- Grade
- Easy
- Pokhara
- Annapurna Base Camp
- Pokhara
- Annapurna Base Camp
Places on this trip
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour – Group Joining (1 Hour Round Trip)
Group Joining Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour from Pokhara is the best and fastest way to reach ABC and return within an hour. This ABC heli ride is designed for those who want to reach the heart of the Himalayas quickly and comfortably.
The flight departs from Pokhara Airport and reaches Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m) in about 20 minutes. You’ll land at the base camp for around 30 minutes, where you can enjoy panoramic mountain views and take stunning photos surrounded by Annapurna I, Machhapuchhre (Fishtail), and Hiunchuli.
After this unforgettable stop, the helicopter returns to Pokhara in another 20 minutes—a complete Himalayan experience within an hour.
Trip Name: Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour
Cost: USD 550 per person
Flight Duration: 20 minutes to go, 30 minutes landing, 20 minutes return
Landing Spot: Annapurna Base Camp (ABC)
Includes:
- Hotel pickup and airport transfer in Pokhara
- Helicopter flight with ABC landing
- Insurance
Additional Costs:
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Permit: NPR 3,000 per person
- Airport Tax: NPR 400 per person
- Card Payment: 4% processing fee
A short, scenic, and luxurious way to witness Nepal’s most beautiful mountain sanctuary.
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour Highlights
- Land inside the Annapurna Sanctuary at 4,130 m and stand there for half an hour, surrounded on every side by 7,000 m and 8,000 m peaks.
- Annapurna I (8,091 m), the tenth highest mountain on earth, plus Machhapuchhre, Hiunchuli, Dhaulagiri and Nilgiri.
- A trek that takes seven to ten days on foot, done between breakfast and mid-morning.
- Takes off over Phewa Lake and the Pokhara valley before following the Modi Khola gorge into the sanctuary.
- USD 550 per person on a shared seat, USD 2,400 for the whole helicopter.
- Hotel pick-up in Pokhara, emergency oxygen on board, and a window seat for everyone.
- No trekking, no acclimatisation and no permits to arrange yourself – we handle the paperwork.
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour Cost (2026)
There are two ways to fly it from Pokhara. A shared seat is sold per person, and the per-head price drops as the flight fills; a charter buys the whole helicopter whatever the group size.
| Option | Price | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Group joining, 1–2 passengers | USD 550 per person | Solo travellers and couples |
| Group joining, 3 passengers | USD 530 per person | Small groups sharing the cost |
| Group joining, 4 passengers | USD 520 per person | Families |
| Group joining, 5 passengers | USD 500 per person | A full flight, the cheapest per head |
| Private charter from Pokhara | USD 2,400 per helicopter | Your own schedule, up to 5 passengers |
| Private charter from Kathmandu | USD 4,000 per helicopter | Round trip from Kathmandu, about 3 hours |
What Is Charged on Top
- Annapurna Conservation Area permit: NPR 3,000 per person, or NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals.
- Airport tax: NPR 400 per person.
- Card payment fee: 4% if you pay by card.
Everything else – the flight, the 30 minute landing, hotel transfers in Pokhara, government tax and fuel surcharge, and passenger insurance – is in the price above.
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Price in Nepali Rupees
Paying in Nepali rupees. The fare is the same for everyone – Nepali, SAARC or foreign. Nepali customers pay the same price settled in rupees rather than dollars, not a different rate, converted at the day’s rate when you book. What does change with nationality is the government charges: national park, conservation and municipality fees are set lower for Nepali and SAARC nationals, and we pass those through exactly as the authorities charge them.
A shared seat is USD 550 whoever is flying, payable in rupees at the day’s rate. The real difference for a Nepali or SAARC passport is the Annapurna Conservation Area permit, NPR 1,000 instead of NPR 3,000 – a government rate, charged as the authority sets it. Send your citizenship or passport details on WhatsApp with your date and group size and we will confirm the exact rupee total and the seats left that morning.
Group Joining or Private Charter
Group joining flights run on fixed morning departures from Pokhara airport. Five passengers share one helicopter and the cost, which is what makes a USD 550 seat possible. You fly when the flight fills, so call ahead and we will tell you which mornings already have seats.
A private charter is the whole aircraft for you, from Pokhara or Kathmandu, at a time you choose inside the day’s weather window. It costs more but nothing about it waits on other passengers, and the ground time at base camp can be extended if conditions allow.
Flying from Kathmandu Instead of Pokhara
The tour can start in Kathmandu as a private charter for USD 4,000. Expect about three hours door to door: Kathmandu to Pokhara, up the Modi Khola to base camp, the 30 minute landing, and back. There is no group-joining option on the Kathmandu departure, because the shared flights are based at Pokhara airport.
If you are already in Pokhara, fly from Pokhara. It is cheaper, shorter and has far more departures.
Best Time for the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | February to May | The best months of the year: clear mornings, warm air, rhododendron on the lower hills. |
| Monsoon | June to August | Not recommended. Cloud and fog close the sanctuary and flights are often impossible. |
| Autumn | September to November | Sharp visibility and settled weather. The busiest season, so book ahead. |
| Winter | December to February | Excellent visibility and quiet flights. Base camp is deep in snow, which many people prefer for photographs. |
Unlike the Everest flights, this one is not limited to dawn: the Annapurna Sanctuary can be flown at any time of day as long as visibility is good. Mornings are still the safest bet, because cloud builds up the Modi Khola valley through the afternoon.
Safety on the Ground at Base Camp
The pilot will brief you before boarding. The things that matter when you step out at 4,130 m:
- Approach and leave from the front, where the pilot can see you, and wait for the pilot’s signal.
- Stay low and clear of the rotor, and keep well away from the tail.
- No loose headgear. Caps and hats go in your bag; rotor wash takes them instantly, and nobody should chase one.
- Seat belt and headset on for the whole flight – the headset is how you hear the pilot.
- Walk slowly. At 4,130 m, from Pokhara’s 820 m, even a short climb feels steep. That is normal.
Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour Itinerary
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 06:30 AM | Pick-up from your hotel around Lakeside, Pokhara, and transfer to Pokhara International Airport. |
| 07:00 AM | Safety briefing, weight check and departure over Phewa Lake and the Pokhara valley. |
| 07:20 AM | Land at Annapurna Base Camp (4,130 m). Thirty minutes on the ground inside the sanctuary. |
| 07:50 AM | Lift off and fly back down the Modi Khola gorge. |
| 08:10 AM | Land at Pokhara airport and transfer back to your hotel. |
Later departures run through the day when the weather is settled. A Kathmandu charter follows the same sequence with an extra leg at each end, about three hours in total.
Cost Includes
- Hotel to airport pickup and drop
- Helicopter flight for 4/5 people maximum in one Helicopter
- Emergency Oxygen supply for quick evacuation if required
- 30 Minutes landing time at Annapurna base camp for photos and Videos.
- Government Tax & Fuel Surcharges.
Cost Excludes
- Personal equipment and expenses
- Airport tax Rs 400
- Annapurna conservation fee Rs.3000 for foreigner
- Annapurna conservation fee Rs. 1000 for (SAARC)
- Tips
- Extra costs not mentioned on cost include sections
Good to know before you fly
Weight, Payload and Group Size
One helicopter carries five passengers and about 450 kg in total, including hand luggage, and the pilot is the sixth person on board. Payload matters more than headcount here: five heavier passengers may need to fly as two groups, which we arrange in advance rather than discovering on the apron. Tell us every passenger’s weight when you book.
Bring a daypack, not a suitcase. There is no baggage hold and anything loose has to be stowed at your feet.
Altitude: What 4,130 m Feels Like
You go from Pokhara at about 820 m to 4,130 m in twenty minutes. Because you are only on the ground for half an hour, altitude sickness is rare, but most people notice the thin air as soon as they walk. Expect to be short of breath after a few steps, and take photographs slowly rather than jogging between viewpoints.
Emergency oxygen is carried on every flight. Tell us at booking if you have a heart or lung condition or you are pregnant, so the pilot can keep the ground stop short. If you feel dizzy or sick at base camp, say so immediately: descending takes twenty minutes.
What to Wear and Bring
- Layers. It is mild in Pokhara and near freezing at base camp in winter. A fleece and a windproof jacket are enough in spring and autumn.
- Closed shoes with grip. The landing area is rock, gravel and often snow.
- Sunglasses and sunscreen. Glare off snow at 4,130 m is strong even on a cool morning.
- Camera with spare batteries – cold drains them fast. Every seat is a window seat.
- Your passport or citizenship document, needed for the permit and at the airport.
If the Weather Stops the Flight
The Annapurna Sanctuary needs clear air to fly into safely, and that call belongs to the pilot on the day. If your flight cannot operate you move to the next available departure, or take a full refund if you would rather not fly. Keeping a spare day in Pokhara is sensible between June and August.
Who Can Take This Flight
Anyone who can climb in and out of a helicopter unaided. There is no trekking, no fitness requirement and no acclimatisation. Children fly with a parent and pay a seat fare. Passengers in their seventies and eighties fly this route regularly – it is the reason most of them see the Annapurna Sanctuary at all.
How to Book
- Choose group joining or a private charter in the booking panel and pick your date.
- Send us passenger names, passport or citizenship numbers and weights.
- Pay in full or in part to confirm the seats. Card payments carry a 4% fee.
- We confirm the pick-up time at your Pokhara hotel and reconfirm the weather the evening before.
Phone or WhatsApp +977 9818392976 to check what is available on your date.
Compared with the Alternatives
| Option | Time | Price from | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABC helicopter tour from Pokhara | 1 hr 20 min | USD 550 per person | Standing inside the sanctuary at 4,130 m |
| Annapurna Base Camp trek | 7 to 10 days | Varies | The whole walk in and out |
| ABC trek with helicopter return | About 14 days | Varies | Trek in, fly out from base camp |
| Mardi Himal helicopter tour | About 1 hour | Lower | A shorter viewpoint flight from Pokhara |
| Muktinath helicopter tour | About 3 hours | USD 3,000 charter | The pilgrimage flight over the Annapurna range |
Other flights from Pokhara: Pokhara sightseeing by helicopter, Tilicho Lake, Kapuche Lake, and the Everest Base Camp helicopter tour if you are heading east.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can fly in a Annapurna Base Camp helicopter flight at a time?
Maximum 5 passengers can fly at a time. But the weight limitation is 450kg. There will be 6 persons including a pilot.
How long does the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour take?
Annapurna Base Camp helicopter flight from Pokhara takes about one hour and twenty minutes. It takes 20 minutes to reach the base camp and the same time for return. You will have 30 to 40 minutes of ground time.
It takes about 3 hours from Kathmandu to Kathmandu.
Is it safe to fly to Annapurna base Camp by helicopter?
Yes. Flights only take off after the weather and wind have been checked.
Our fleets go through regular maintenance and are flown by experienced pilots. We fly only after all the conditions are good enough to fly. So, the Annapurna base Camp helicopter tour is safe to fly.
How can I book the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour?
You can book by joining in our fixed departure flights schedule or can charter for your own group. Call at +9779818392976 or send a message by filling the contact form. We will make your flight booking.
How high will the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter tour land?
We land at Annapurna Base Camp, 4,130 m. The helicopter flight altitude is not certain. It might be about 6000 meters sometime.
What is the time of the airport? What happens if I become late?
You are required to reach the airport before 30 minutes of flight time. In case of being late, you should inform the airport representative. Helicopters can wait for a short time for you.
Our office staff will communicate with you before the flight. Try to be in contact. If you are out of contact and not available on time for flight, the flight will be canceled automatically.
Is the ABC helicopter tour better than the ABC trekking?
It depends on the person. Some love trekking to experience nature and culture. Some love luxury with fast access. Trekking gives different feelings and helicopter flight gives different feelings.
For time-bound people who are not comfortable trekking all the way in the mountains, a helicopter tour is the best one.
What if I want to cancel my helicopter flight?
Yes, you can cancel the flight and get a refund. We understand the situation that everything doesn't go well all the time. However, please be aware that the refunding will occur according to our Booking Terms & Conditions.
Is there any possibility of altitude sickness during the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter tour?
Yes, possible but very less. We will provide first aid treatment if it happens. Also in case of worse conditions, we will bring you to a lower altitude or hospitals in Pokhara or Kathmandu.
Does the helicopter carry oxygen for an emergency?
Yes, all helicopters carry an oxygen tank for an emergency. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) can be unpredictable. Pilots also need to use oxygen at high altitude. So a first aid box and oxygen will be available in helicopter flight.
What is the best time for the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour?
Autumn and spring seasons are the best time for the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter tour. The clear sky and weather at this time makes it more fun. However, helicopter flight is possible all the time throughout the year in good weather.
Is there a chance of a flight delay for the ABC heli tour?
Mostly not but sometimes it might be delayed. We try to follow the schedule but bad weather and technical issues may delay your flight which is beyond our control.
Clients Reviews (78)
Annapurna Base Camp Tour – Truly Breathtaking
I joined as a solo traveler from the Netherlands, and Rajan’s team welcomed me with warmth and professionalism. The helicopter ride to ABC was smooth and the view beyond imagination. Standing in the middle of the Himalayas was a spiritual experience I’ll cherish forever.
ABC Helicopter Ride – Absolutely Spectacular
We flew early morning from Pokhara and saw the entire Annapurna range glowing in sunlight. The flight was smooth and well-managed. Rajan and Nepal Helicopter Service made sure everything went as planned.
A Perfect End to Our Nepal Journey
We ended our two-week Nepal trip with the Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour, and it was the best finale imaginable. Nepal Helicopter Service under Rajan Neupane runs like clockwork – professional yet personal. Flying into the Annapurna Sanctuary was a moment of awe I’ll never forget.
Read our reviews on
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Annapurna Base Camp Helicopter Tour
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