The best time for an Everest helicopter tour
Helicopters and sightseeing planes fly into the Khumbu only when they can see. The season decides how often that happens.
The short answer
October and November are the best months for an Everest helicopter tour or mountain flight: the Nepal Tourism Board says the clearest skies come after the monsoon in those two months. Spring, from March to May, is the other window that helicopter operators recommend. The monsoon from June to September brings most of the year's rain and cloud, and in December to February bright days alternate with cold and the odd storm that can move a flight. In every season, keep a spare day in Kathmandu.
See which Everest flights still have seats on your dates
The Nepal Tourism Board counts five seasons and recommends spring and autumn for the mountains, while noting that Nepal can be visited all year round. For a flight into the Everest region the question is narrower: how likely is a clear morning on your date?
Before the monsoon
A helicopter operator in Kathmandu names March to May as one of the two best seasons for the Everest tour. The Nepal Tourism Board calls spring the time when the rhododendrons bloom.
Monsoon
Eighty percent of Nepal's rain falls in these months, according to the Nepal Tourism Board. The same operator calls flights in the monsoon often risky because of cloud, rain and poor visibility.
After the monsoon
The Nepal Tourism Board puts the clearest skies of the year in October and November. The operator names late September to November as its other best season.
Winter
The Nepal Tourism Board speaks of bright sun and brilliant views even in December and January, and of sub-zero temperatures in the mountains. The operator warns that cold and occasional storms can disrupt helicopter schedules.
Why the monsoon dates matter for late September
The Everest region lies in the Solukhumbu district of eastern Nepal, according to Sagarmatha National Park. For eastern Nepal, Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology gives 13 June as the normal start of the monsoon and 2 October as its normal end. The dates move from year to year: in 2025 the department recorded the monsoon arriving on 29 May and withdrawing from eastern Nepal on 10 October, eight days late. A flight booked for the last days of September or the first week of October can still fall into monsoon weather. If your dates are flexible, aim for the middle of October or later.
Clear weather is what the flights need
Lukla, the airport on most helicopter itineraries, is open to flights under visual flight rules only, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. Pilots have to see where they fly, so cloud over the valleys can keep a flight on the ground in any month. A season with clear skies simply gives you more mornings on which the flight can go.
No season guarantees your date. Book the flight early in your stay in Kathmandu and keep at least one free day after it. The helicopter flights on this site can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before departure; what happens when the operator moves a flight for the weather is on the booking page. See weather and cancellations.
Winter flights
December to February is not a closed season. The Nepal Tourism Board describes bright sun and brilliant views even in the coldest months. Expect sub-zero temperatures at the landing points, dress for them, and count on the odd storm moving a departure. The altitude and safety page covers what the high landings mean for your body.
FAQ
What is the best month for an Everest helicopter tour?
October and November. The Nepal Tourism Board says the clearest skies of the year come after the monsoon in those months. Spring, from March to May, is the other good window.
Can you fly to Everest during the monsoon?
The monsoon from June to September brings most of Nepal's rain, and a helicopter operator in Kathmandu calls flights in those months often risky because of cloud and poor visibility. If your dates fall in the monsoon, expect delays and keep spare days.
Is winter a good time for an Everest helicopter tour?
It can be. The Nepal Tourism Board describes bright sun and brilliant views in December and January, with sub-zero temperatures in the mountains. Cold and occasional storms can move a flight.
When does the monsoon end in the Everest region?
Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology gives 2 October as the normal end of the monsoon in eastern Nepal, where the Everest region lies. In some years it ends later; in 2025 it withdrew from eastern Nepal on 10 October.