Banasthali, Kathmandu, Nepal+977 9810351300[email protected]

Mardi Himal Helicopter Day Tour from Pokhara

See Mardi Himal and the Machhapuchhre ridge from the air in one morning, in a helicopter for your group alone

Duration
1 day
Grade
Easy
Highest point
4,500 m / 14,764 ft (Mardi Himal Base Camp area)
Group size
1 to 4
Starts and ends
Pokhara
Best time
Mar to May and Oct to Nov

Govt RegdTAAN #1586300+ ★ reviews

  • Three generations of family guides in the Himalayas, independent since 2016
  • Government-licensed Nepal trekking company (Reg 147653)
  • TAAN Member #1586
  • 300+ reviews
  • Secure payment via Himalayan Bank
  • Four-time TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice winner (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024)

Overview

From US$1,820Updated Oct 9, 2026

See the Mardi Himal ridge from the air, without the five to seven days on foot. We collect you from your Pokhara hotel, you fly by helicopter up to Mardi Himal, with Machhapuchhre beside you, and you are back in Pokhara afterwards.

The helicopter is chartered for your group alone, up to four guests, on every option, so we never merge your booking with anyone else's. The price per person falls with each extra guest, up to four. The tour includes a landing, with up to about 30 minutes on the ground, depending on the weather. The pilot makes the final call on the day, and if the weather stops a landing we tell you before you fly.

On the trail, High Camp is at 3,580 m and Mardi Himal Base Camp at 4,500 m. This is a day tour, not a trek, but you go from Pokhara at about 820 m to that height in one flight with no time to acclimatise. Tell us about any heart, lung or blood-pressure condition before you book.

The tour starts and ends in Pokhara. Your Pokhara hotel, and getting to Pokhara, are not included, but we can arrange both.

Every booking supports the Nagarjun Learning Center, our school in Saldum. The Everest Holiday is a family company founded in 2016, from three generations of guiding in the Himalayas.

Why book with The Everest Holiday

  • Three generations of family guidesFamily-run since 2016 with three generations of guiding heritage. Not an agency — the family that runs the company leads your trek personally.
  • Private group, no strangersEvery trek we run is private. Your group only. We never combine bookings or add strangers to your party. If you book solo, you walk with a guide; if you book as four friends, your group stays four.
  • Nagarjun Learning Center givebackA fixed share of every booking funds the Nagarjun Learning Center — 70 children, 7 community centres, 3 full-time teachers, 600+ medical interventions, 275+ women supported. You can visit the centre before or after your trip; we arrange the visit separately.
  • Government registered, TAAN memberGovt Regd. No. 147653/072/073. Trekking Agency Licence 2090/072, Travel Agency Licence 2838/072. TAAN Member #1586. Over 300 reviews on TripAdvisor, Google and Trustpilot. We are a real, audited Nepal company — not a booking-platform middleman.

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Prices

The Mardi Himal Helicopter Day Tour from Pokhara with The Everest Holiday costs $1,820 (Budget), $1,850 (Standard), or $1,900 (Luxury) per person for the 1-day trip. Book with a 10% deposit; the balance is payable in Kathmandu.

Budget price by group size
Travellers in your groupPrice per person
1US$3,565
2US$1,820
3US$1,695
4US$1,695

Discounts are determined exclusively by the size of your group. We do not add additional members to your group.

Book Budget

Himalayan Bank logoSecure payment by Himalayan Bank.

What is included

On the Budget level.

Included

Transport

  • Pokhara hotel to the airport (helicopter base) and back: pick-up and drop-off by vehicle, sized to your group

Helicopter flight

  • Private helicopter for your group, up to four guests, from Pokhara to Mardi Himal and back
  • A landing, with up to about 30 minutes on the ground, depending on the weather

Permits and taxes

  • Annapurna Conservation Area permit and TIMS card
  • Airport tax
  • Government taxes and our service charge

Not included

Not included

  • Hotel in Pokhara and transport to Pokhara
  • Meals and drinks
  • Travel insurance (buy at home and check it covers helicopter flights and altitude)
  • Nepal visa
  • Tips for the pilot, guide and driver
  • Personal expenses
  • Extra landing time or any change to the flight plan on the day

Add-ons and trip extensions

Pokhara hotel night (3-star)US$100 per room-night

Per room per night, twin-sharing, breakfast usually included, for example the night before the flight. Two guests sharing one room choose 1 per night. A solo traveller pays for a whole room. Hotel names are confirmed after booking.

Additional vehicle transferUS$15 per vehicle transfer

One extra vehicle transfer in Kathmandu or Pokhara, for example a late arrival or a change of hotel. Choose the number of transfers.

Dates

Your trek, your choice, your price. Choose the style that suits you. Book a private departure on any date with just your party, or join a fixed group departure and trek with fellow adventurers from around the world. Same routes, same guides, same quality — 3 comfort tiers on both options. Per-person price follows our group-discount tiers based on YOUR party size (a couple pays less per pax than a solo trekker, 5+ pays less again) — the same tiers apply on both booking types.

Private departure

  • Any date you choose
  • Just your party + dedicated guide
  • 3 comfort tiers (Budget, Standard, Luxury)
  • Per-pax price tier set by YOUR party size

Fixed group departure

  • Scheduled dates (see below)
  • Join other trekkers from around the world
  • 3 comfort tiers (Budget, Standard, Luxury)
  • Per-pax price tier set by YOUR party size (same tier as Private)
Book private departureView group departures
Prefer email? Send a question and we will reply within a few hours.

Peak season (Sep–Nov) — our guides book up fast. Get in touch 6–8 weeks ahead to secure your preferred dates.

Other dates

Need a different date? Other dates are available on request. Contact us or message Shreejan on WhatsApp.

Fixed departures are dates we have already committed to run. Your party still treks as its own private group with its own guide; we never merge bookings or add strangers, and solo trekkers are welcome on any date. Private departures on any other date you choose are also available. On both, the per-person price is set by the size of your own party.

Shreejan Simkhada, Director of The Everest HolidayShamjhana Basukala, Co-founder of The Everest Holiday

Shreejan and Shamjhana plan every trek personally

Your hosts since 2016. Ask us anything; we reply within hours.

Ask Shreejan on WhatsApp

Essential information

Before you fly

  • Starts in Pokhara: be in Pokhara the evening before. Pokhara hotel nights and the journey from Kathmandu are not included, and we can book them.
  • What to wear: warm layers, a windproof jacket, sunglasses and sun cream. It is cold at 4,000 m even on a clear morning.
  • Altitude: Mardi Himal Base Camp is at 4,500 m and Pokhara is about 820 m. There is no time to acclimatise on a day flight. Tell us about any heart, lung or blood-pressure condition. Time on the ground is up to about 30 minutes, depending on the weather.
  • Weather: helicopters fly in clear conditions, so we plan for the morning. The pilot makes the final call on the day, and we move you to another day at no charge if the flight cannot go.
  • Season: our best-time window for Mardi Himal is March to May and October to November.
  • Documents: bring your passport. Permits are arranged by us.

Read before you go: Mardi Himal Helicopter Day Tour from Pokhara: How It Works and What It Costs · Mardi Himal Trek

Questions people ask

What happens if the weather stops the flight?
If the weather stops the helicopter on your day, we move you to the next day it can fly, or to any other date, at no charge to you. If we cannot run your tour at all, we refund what you have paid, less taxes, bank or card charges and any money already spent on your behalf. If your plans change, you can reschedule free to any date within one year with at least 72 hours' notice. The deposit itself is not refunded if you cancel.
What is the difference between the three options?
The helicopter is private to your group on all three. Budget gives you the flight, permits and Pokhara hotel transfers by vehicle sized to your group. Standard adds a private vehicle and an escort guide who looks after you on the ground. Luxury adds SUV-class transfers and lunch.
When is the best time to fly?
Our best-time window for Mardi Himal is March to May and October to November. Ask us before you book outside it.
Does the tour start in Pokhara?
Yes. It starts and ends in Pokhara. Your Pokhara hotel and the journey from Kathmandu are not included, and we can arrange both for you. Tell us your dates and we will quote them.
How is this different from the Mardi Himal trek?
The trek takes five to seven days on foot and you sleep at High Camp. The helicopter tour is one morning, with no walking and no overnight, so you see the ridge, but you do not gain the height slowly as a trekker does.
Do children pay less?
No. A child pays the same as an adult, because the helicopter seat, permits and taxes cost us the same for a child. Tell us the age of each child when you book.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Buy travel insurance at home, before you travel, and check that it covers helicopter flights and altitude up to 4,500 m. We do not recommend insurance bought in Nepal.
How do I pay?
You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance before the trip. We take US dollars or euros, in cash or by card. We cover the card fee on the deposit. If you pay the balance by card it carries a 3.5% bank charge. Cash in Kathmandu has no fee.
Will the helicopter land at Mardi Himal?
Yes. A landing is part of the tour, with up to about 30 minutes on the ground, depending on the weather. The pilot makes the final call on the day, and if the weather stops a landing we tell you before you fly.
Is the helicopter shared with other travellers?
No. The helicopter is chartered for your group alone, up to four guests. We never merge separate private bookings. The price per person falls with each extra guest, up to four.
How many people can fly together?
Up to four guests in one helicopter. A bigger group flies in two or more helicopters, four guests in each. Send us your numbers and we will quote it.
How high do we go, and is it safe?
Mardi Himal Base Camp is at 4,500 m. You go from about 820 m in Pokhara in one flight with no time to acclimatise, so time on the ground is limited to about 30 minutes. Tell us about any heart, lung or blood-pressure condition before you book.
Do you carry oxygen?
There is emergency oxygen on board. If you have a medical condition that may need oxygen, please speak to your doctor before you fly.
From, per personUS$1,820