Mountain Flight in Nepal

One awe-stricken silence can come close to matching the experience of going on a mountain flight to encounter the tallest mountains of this earth. For the traveler who is unable to make a trekking trip to the mountains either because of lack of time or physical fitness, or due to sheer want of the adventure streak, there are mountain flights to simulate the experience.

The one hour flight takes you within camera range of some of the heights peaks in the world, and cursing this close to the awe-inspiring massifs of rock and ice, is an out-of-this earth experience. The aircraft takes off and heads eastward and almost immediately, the peaks come into view. The first peak that appears in your horizon is the Dorje Lakpa (6966m), looking like a massive figure, lying prone and covered in snow. To its right is Phurbi Chyachu, which looms over the Kathmandu Valley.

Travelers take off from Kathmandu in the early morning for an hour’s worth of spectacular mountain scenery. Mountain flights are offered by different Domestic Airlines in Kathmandu Valley operating their small but safest aircrafts. The Everest flight is a sparkling clear journey across the world’s highest peaks, Mt. Everest world’s highest peak (8848 m) and other ranges of Himalayas like Gauri Shankar (7134m), Nuptse (7855m), Lhotse (8516m), Amadablam (6812m), Chamlang (7319m), Makalu (8463m), Cho Oyu (8201m) to name a few including the Roof of the World - Tibetan Plateau. The last and most exciting stretch of the journey takes you close to the 7952m tall Gyachungkang, which is considered an extremely tough climb. To its right is Pumori at 7161m.

Finally, there is Mt. Everest itself (8,848m), called Sagarmatha by the Nepalese and Chomolungma by Tibetans. It is an altogether different feeling as one comes face to face with the worlds tallest and most enigmatic of the mountains.

Service providers

Mountain flights are offered by a host of airlines. Buddha Air offers several flights a day, the other being Gorkha Air, Necon Air, Mountain Air, Cosmic Air and Royal Nepal Airlines. All the flights leave Kathmandu between 7.00 and 9.30 a.m. Please check timing with local operators. Helicopter and air craft are also available for chatter use, especially for group treks and expiations. STOL (short take off and landing) airstrips are located through hour the country.