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

Muktinath and Damodar Kund Helicopter Tour from Pokhara

Fly from Pokhara to Muktinath and on to the sacred lake of Damodar Kund in one day, in a helicopter for your group alone

Duration
1 day
Grade
Easy
Highest point
About 4,890 m / 16,040 ft (Damodar Kund)
Group size
1 to 3
Starts and ends
Pokhara
Best time
Mar 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$5,920Updated Oct 16, 2026

Damodar Kund is a high, remote lake in Upper Mustang, sacred to Hindus, and very few people ever reach it on foot: the walk takes the best part of two weeks. This tour takes you there and to the Muktinath temple in one day by helicopter from Pokhara.

We collect you from your Pokhara hotel and you fly north between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges. You land at Muktinath, at about 3,800 m, with up to about 1 hour on the ground for the temple, its 108 water spouts and the Jwala Mai flame. Then you fly on to Damodar Kund, at about 4,890 m, with about 15 to 20 minutes on the ground, before flying back to Pokhara. The pilot makes the final call on the day, and if the weather stops a landing we tell you before you fly.

The helicopter is chartered for your group alone. Damodar Kund is in a restricted area, so a licensed guide must fly with you and takes one of the four seats: that means 1 to 3 guests. The price per person falls with each extra guest, so it is lowest when three of you fly together. A helicopter takes four people and the guide uses one seat, which is why three guests is the most we can put in one. For a bigger group, message us on WhatsApp and we will quote with a second helicopter. The special Damodar Kund permit, the Annapurna Conservation Area permit, TIMS and airport tax are all in the price.

Please be honest with yourself about the height. You go from about 820 m in Pokhara to nearly 4,900 m with no time to acclimatise, which is why time on the ground at the lake is short. Tell us about any heart, lung or blood-pressure condition before you book. We need clear passport copies at least 7 days before the flight to arrange the permit.

If you only want Muktinath, our Muktinath helicopter day tour is the shorter and cheaper option. 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 with 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.

Day by day

Couldn’t find what you’re after? Reach out to our travel experts.

Customise trip

Prices

The Muktinath and Damodar Kund Helicopter Tour from Pokhara with The Everest Holiday costs $5,920 (Budget), $6,435 (Standard), or $6,480 (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$11,700
2US$5,920
3US$3,985

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, 1 to 3 guests plus the guide, Pokhara to Muktinath and Damodar Kund and back
  • Landing at Muktinath (up to about 1 hour) and Damodar Kund (about 15 to 20 minutes), depending on the weather

Guide

  • Licensed guide who flies with you (required for Damodar Kund) and looks after permits, transfers and your briefing

Permits and taxes

  • Damodar Kund special permit
  • 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 rescue up to 5,000 m)
  • Nepal visa
  • Tips for the pilot, guide and driver
  • Personal expenses
  • Extra landing time or any change to the flight plan on the day
  • Wifi, hot showers, charging, heated blankets and anything else outside the room price, paid by you directly to the teahouse or hotel.

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.
  • Documents: send clear passport copies at least 7 days before the flight so we can arrange the Damodar Kund permit, and bring your passport on the day.
  • What to wear: warm layers, a windproof jacket, hat, gloves, sunglasses and sun cream. Damodar Kund is close to 4,900 m and very cold even on a clear morning.
  • Altitude: Pokhara is about 820 m, Muktinath about 3,800 m and Damodar Kund about 4,890 m. There is no time to acclimatise on a day flight. Move slowly on the ground and tell us about any medical condition before you book.
  • Weather: helicopters fly in clear conditions, so we plan for the morning. The pilot decides on the day, and we move you to another day at no charge if the flight cannot go.
  • Season: our best-time window is March to November.
  • Read before you go: Muktinath helicopter day tour and how the Muktinath helicopter tour works.

Questions people ask

How long do we get at Muktinath and Damodar Kund?
Up to about 1 hour at Muktinath and about 15 to 20 minutes at Damodar Kund, depending on the weather. The time at the lake is short on purpose: it is close to 4,900 m and you fly there with no time to acclimatise.
Why can only three guests go?
Damodar Kund is in a restricted area, so a licensed guide must fly with you, and the helicopter has four seats. That leaves room for 1 to 3 guests. We never merge separate private bookings.
Is the Damodar Kund permit included?
Yes. The special Damodar Kund permit, the Annapurna Conservation Area permit, the TIMS card and airport tax are all in the price. We need clear passport copies at least 7 days before the flight to arrange the permit.
How high is Damodar Kund, and is it safe?
Damodar Kund is at about 4,890 m and Muktinath about 3,800 m. You go from about 820 m in Pokhara in one day with no time to acclimatise, so time on the ground is limited. Tell us about any heart, lung or blood-pressure condition before you book. There is emergency oxygen on board.
How much does the Muktinath and Damodar Kund helicopter tour cost?
The price is per person and falls with each extra guest, because the helicopter is chartered for your group: for 2 guests it is USD 5,920 per person on Budget, 6,435 on Standard and 6,480 on Luxury. For 3 guests it is USD 3,985, 4,330 and 4,385. The live prices for 1, 2 and 3 guests are in the price table above.
What is the difference between the three options?
The helicopter, the licensed guide and all permits are the same on every option. Budget has Pokhara hotel transfers by a vehicle sized to your group, Standard by private vehicle, and Luxury by SUV-class vehicle with lunch.
Can I visit Muktinath only?
Yes. Our Muktinath helicopter day tour from Pokhara is shorter and costs less, and you can add Damodar Kund to it as an extra if you change your mind.
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 within one year, at no charge. 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, such as permits. If you cancel yourself, the deposit is not refundable and there is no refund, but you can move your date free with at least 7 days' notice.
When is the best time to fly?
Our best-time window is March to November. Mustang is drier than the rest of Nepal in the monsoon, but the helicopter still needs clear weather, and Damodar Kund can be snowbound in winter. Ask us before you book outside that window.
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. Tell us your dates and we will quote them.
Do children pay less?
No. A child pays the same as an adult, because the seat, permits and taxes cost us the same. Tell us each child's age when you book; the altitude matters even more for children.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Buy travel insurance at home, before you travel, and check that it covers helicopter flights and helicopter rescue up to 5,000 m, the height of Damodar Kund (about 4,890 m) rounded up. We do not recommend insurance bought in Nepal.
How do I pay?
You pay a 10% deposit to book and the balance before the flight. 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, and cash in Kathmandu has no fee.
Who is the guide?
A licensed Nepali guide from our team flies with you, arranges your permits and looks after you on the ground at Muktinath and Damodar Kund.
From, per personUS$5,920