Weather, delays and cancellations on Everest flights
Everest flights go when the pilots can see the route. Here is what the listings say about the days when they cannot.
The short answer
When the weather over the mountains is not good enough, an Everest helicopter tour or mountain flight does not go: it waits for a gap, moves to later in the day or to another date. You can cancel the helicopter flights on this site free of charge up to 24 hours before departure. If the operator cancels for weather, the terms on the booking page decide about a new date or a refund, so read them before you pay; one private listing excludes extra costs caused by weather or delays. Keep at least one spare day in Kathmandu after your planned flight.
See which Everest flights still have seats on your dates
The listings put the weather first and promise a flight only when the weather allows it. Flights into the Khumbu land at Lukla, which the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal opens to flights under visual flight rules only. The pilot has to see the valley, and on some mornings the cloud does not lift.
Who cancels, and what follows
You cancel
- Free of charge up to 24 hours before departure on every helicopter flight here
- Later than that, the terms on the booking page apply
- For the mountain flights by plane, read the cancellation terms on the booking page; we have not recorded them
The operator cancels or moves the flight
- The listings say flights go only in suitable weather; they do not promise a refund or a new date in a set form
- The terms on the booking page decide, so read them before you pay
- One private listing excludes extra costs from weather or delays
Delays on the day
A delay does not mean a cancellation. When the weather is doubtful, departures move by hours or to another day. Plan nothing else on the morning of your flight, keep your phone on for the operator and expect the pickup time to move.
Plan a spare day
A spare day after your flight date gives the operator a second chance and saves you from booking a flight on your last morning in Nepal. With two or more free days you can also wait out a longer spell of cloud. Book the flight for early in your stay, not for the day before your flight home.
The season sets the odds
The Nepal Tourism Board puts the clearest skies of the year in October and November, after the monsoon. From June to September the monsoon brings most of Nepal's rain, and a helicopter operator in Kathmandu calls flights in those months often risky. Outside the best months, plan more spare days. The best time for an Everest flight sets out the seasons.
- What happens if the flight cannot go on my date: a new date, a refund, or both on offer?
- How long do you wait on the day before you move the flight?
- Are the fees on the day, such as national park fees, refunded if the flight is cut short?
- If only the high landing is cancelled, is the flight shortened or moved?
Fees and extra costs
Many listings name fees that you pay in Nepal on the day, on top of the online price. Online cancellation covers the online price; what happens to fees already paid locally is not stated on the listings, so ask. One private listing names extra costs from weather or delays as not included. The price page shows what each listing names.
Delays as travellers describe them
Delays are part of Everest flights, but the operator should tell you why. One traveller waited at the airport without being told the reason; another found everything on schedule.
“… This experience was great but the execution on behalf of the team running it was very poor. … Upon arrival to the airport, we were delayed for our trip by an estimated 55 minutes - we never really were notified or told why. There was zero safety protocol or briefings in regards to our helicopter or our trip prior to our departure. … Stopping at a destination/hotel for 2.5 hours longer than anticipated/directed in the itinerary after it is too late to request a refund is unacceptable.”
“everything is on schedule. The tour is safe. The view is amazing. Recommend to go. Thanks.”
Real traveller reviews from Viator.
FAQ
What happens if my Everest helicopter tour is cancelled because of the weather?
The listings say flights go only in suitable weather but do not set out one rule for refunds or new dates. The terms on the booking page apply, so read them before you pay and ask the operator what they offer.
Can I cancel an Everest helicopter tour for free?
Yes, the helicopter flights on this site can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before departure. For the mountain flights by plane, check the terms on the booking page.
How many spare days should I plan?
At least one after your planned flight date, more outside October and November or in the monsoon months. Do not book the flight for your last day in Nepal.
Are delays common on Everest flights?
Departures wait for the weather, and Lukla takes flights under visual flight rules only. Expect the pickup time to move on cloudy mornings.
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