Nepal
The Khumbu Passage
Everest Base Camp by luxury lodge and private helicopter — twelve days
There are two ways to stand beneath Everest. One asks for three weeks, shared teahouses, and nights above five thousand meters. The other is this one: a journey through the Sherpa heartland at a civilized pace, sleeping every night in the finest lodges in the Khumbu, rising through rhododendron forest and monastery valleys — and then, on a still morning, lifting off by private helicopter to Base Camp and the summit panorama of Kala Patthar, standing where expeditions begin, and returning in time for a celebration breakfast.
You see everything the long route promises. You give up nothing but the hardship. And because you never sleep above the lodge line, the journey carries a gentler altitude profile than a conventional trek to Base Camp — comfort here is also a safety decision.
The Journey
Day 1
Arrive Kathmandu
Private welcome at Tribhuvan and transfer to Dwarika's Hotel — Kathmandu's great work of living heritage, hand-carved over half a century. Evening at leisure in its courtyards.
Day 2
Kathmandu, curated
A slow morning among the temples of Patan with our historian guide; afternoon at the great stupa of Boudhanath as the butter lamps are lit. Private trip briefing and gear review with your expedition leader. Dwarika's.
Day 3
Into the Khumbu
Morning flight to Lukla, gateway of the Everest region, and an easy first walk along the Dudh Koshi river to Phakding. Your home is a Mountain Lodges of Nepal lodge — proper beds, hot showers, Sherpa hospitality.
Day 4
Phakding to Monjo
A gentle day through pine forest and mani walls to Monjo, at the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mountain Lodges of Nepal, Monjo.
Day 5
The climb to Namche
The classic ascent through the gorge to Namche Bazaar, amphitheatre capital of the Sherpa world — with your first sight of Everest itself from the trail. Luxury lodge, Namche.
Day 6
Namche, at altitude and at ease
Acclimatization done beautifully: a high walk to Khumjung village and the Hillary school, lunch at the storied Hotel Everest View at 3,880 meters — Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam across the valley — and the Sherpa Culture Museum before dinner.
Day 7
Tengboche and the valley of the monastery
Through blossoming rhododendron to Tengboche Monastery, the spiritual heart of the Khumbu, for the monks' afternoon prayers beneath Ama Dablam. A short descent to the quiet of Deboche. Lodge, Deboche.
Day 8
Pangboche and the amphitheatre of peaks
A day walk to Pangboche, the oldest village in the valley, and its 17th-century gompa; picnic beneath the north face of Ama Dablam. Afternoon rest — tomorrow starts early. Deboche.
Day 9
Everest Base Camp, by private helicopter
The crescendo. At first light your private helicopter lifts out of Deboche, tracing the Khumbu Glacier to Everest Base Camp and a landing at Kala Patthar (5,545m) — the finest close view of Everest on earth — operated in short rotations under current aviation protocols. Then down the whole valley in twenty minutes, celebration breakfast, and an easy afternoon at Mountain Lodges of Nepal, Lukla.
Day 10
Return to Kathmandu
Morning flight to Kathmandu. Afternoon entirely at leisure: the pool, a massage, the bookshops of Babar Mahal. Dwarika's.
Day 11
The farewell
A free morning for the valley's treasures or its ateliers. In the evening, the six-course Nepali ceremony of Krishnarpan, Dwarika's celebrated restaurant — a farewell in the old style. Dwarika's.
Day 12
Depart
Private transfer to your onward flight, with everything arranged.
Included, always
- Four nights at Dwarika's Hotel, Kathmandu, and seven nights in the Khumbu's finest lodges — Mountain Lodges of Nepal, or similar houses of equal standing
- Private helicopter excursion to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, plus all domestic flights in economy class and transfers
- Expedition leader with wilderness first-aid certification, supported by one porter per guest
- Full board throughout the Khumbu; breakfasts and two signature dinners in Kathmandu, including Krishnarpan
- Daily pulse-oximetry monitoring, supplemental oxygen carried throughout, and evacuation coordination on standby
- All park permits and fees, and gratuities for lodge and trek staff — no envelopes, no arithmetic
Not included
- International airfare — we will book your flights on request; Nepal visa; travel insurance with helicopter-evacuation cover (required; we will guide you to the right policy)
The Details
- Price
- $12,750 per person, double occupancy · Single occupancy $2,650Departures of parties of two or three carry a small-party supplement of $400 per person.
- Duration
- 12 days / 11 nights, Kathmandu to Kathmandu
- Party
- Never more than 8 guests · Private departures for 2 or more on your dates
- Seasons
- Spring 2027 (March–April) and Autumn 2027 (October–November)
- Character
- Gentle-to-moderate walking, 3–5 hours on trekking days · Highest night ~3,820m (Deboche) · Highest point 5,545m, by helicopter
Booking terms, in brief. A journey is reserved with a signed booking confirmation and a 35% deposit, non-refundable upon our written booking confirmation; the balance is due 90 days before departure. Quoted prices are guaranteed for 14 days from proposal.
Prices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars; inclusions are exactly as this page states.
Cancellations, in writing, are subject to our published schedule: the deposit is retained to 91 days before departure; 50% at 90–61 days; 75% at 60–46 days; 100% at 45 days or fewer. One date change is free of our fees when requested more than 90 days out, for a departure within 12 months, subject to availability and cost differences.
If a named lodge or service becomes unavailable, we substitute equivalent category. Helicopter flights are weather-dependent; lost flights are rebooked within the journey at no charge, and if weather defeats every window we refund the helicopter component's published value.
Comprehensive travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover, and our signed Assumption of Risk & Release, are conditions of travel on Nepal journeys. Domestic flight disruption within Nepal is managed and re-booked by our Kathmandu operations at no charge.
Complete terms, including our limitation of liability and Indiana governing law (contracting party: Curated Ascents LLC, d/b/a CuratedAscents, Carmel, Indiana), are at www.curatedascents.com/terms and accompany every proposal.
Helicopter operations are weather-dependent and flown under current Nepal CAA protocols; Kala Patthar landings operate in short rotations.