Safety
Experienced Mountain & High-Altitude Pilots
Mountain Helicopters Nepal
The short scenic helicopter hop from Samagaun to the foot of the eighth-highest mountain on Earth
Experienced Mountain & High-Altitude Pilots
Full tour of approximately 1.5 hours, including 15-30 minutes at the base camp (15-20 minutes of air time each way)
4,800 metres / 15,750 feet (Manaslu Base Camp)
Spring (March - May), Autumn (September - November)
4 or 5 passengers
400 kg (passenger weight + baggage weight per helicopter)
About This Flight
The Manaslu Base Camp helicopter tour from Samagaun is the fastest way to stand at the foot of the world's eighth-highest mountain. The helicopter takes off from Samagaun, gains over a thousand metres in a few short minutes, and sets down among the tents, prayer flags, and glacial moraine of Manaslu Base Camp at 4,800 metres - a journey that takes trekkers four to six hours of steep, breathless climbing. You have 15 to 30 minutes to absorb the close-up view of the icy walls towering above you before the return flight to Samagaun, with the entire experience finishing in about an hour and a half.
The Samagaun to Manaslu Base Camp helicopter flight is treasured because the base camp is the whole reward of the Manaslu region. For trekkers resting and acclimatising in Samagaun, the round trip to the base camp normally costs more than a thousand metres of altitude gain on a demanding trail. For expedition teams, the same short hop carries climbers, gear, and support staff between the village and the mountain in minutes. Whoever you are, the flight compresses the hardest part of the journey - the climb itself - into a smooth, scenic ride.
We operate the Manaslu Base Camp helicopter tour from Samagaun with the same care and safety standards as every Mountain Helicopters Nepal flight, from the pre-flight briefing to the final landing. The ride itself is brief but unforgettable: the turquoise of Birendra Tal by the village, the blue-white sprawl of the Manaslu Glacier, and then the mountain filling the window. It is especially popular with acclimatising trekkers, expedition members taking a rest day, photographers, senior visitors, and anyone who wants to see the mountain without the steepest climb of the whole circuit.

Tour Feels Like
Passengers enjoy a comfortable and scenic helicopter flight aboard a modern helicopter operated by experienced professional pilots with years of flying in Nepal's high mountains. The journey is short, smooth, and utterly focused on one thing: putting you face to face with an eight-thousander. Throughout the flight, the pilot ensures a safe and enjoyable experience, allowing travellers to relax and take in the thin mountain air before landing at the base camp.
Within minutes of leaving Samagaun, the village shrinks below, Birendra Tal flashes its blue, and the raw landscape of moraine and glacier races by beneath the skids. The mountain itself grows until it fills the windscreen. While occasional light turbulence may be felt when flying through mountain terrain, this is a normal part of helicopter operations, and flights are conducted only when weather conditions are considered safe.
Upon landing at Manaslu Base Camp, you step out onto the high glacial plateau. After safely disembarking under the guidance of the flight crew, you can walk among the expedition tents, photograph the icefall and the summit ridge, and listen to the groan of the glacier before re-boarding for the quick descent back to Samagaun.
Who should choose
Know Your Destination
Share your preferred date, the number of passengers, exact passenger weights, and your Samagaun lodge details with Mountain Helicopters Nepal. Our operations team will verify helicopter availability, weather conditions, the base camp landing status, and total payload to ensure the flight can be operated safely. Once everything is confirmed, you will receive your final itinerary, meeting point and time, and baggage allowance.
Fares & Cost
Shared by the seat, or the cabin to yourselves. Both fly to the same standard.
Starting fares only, subject to change. Final price confirmed at booking.
Best Season
Months
March-May
Completion
92%
Visibility
Excellent
Health, Safety & Altitude Guidelines
At Manaslu Base Camp, the atmospheric pressure is roughly 55% of sea level, and with every breath your body receives noticeably less oxygen than it does in Samagaun. For the typical 15 to 30 minutes spent at the camp on this flight, most healthy people tolerate the exposure without serious issues, provided they move slowly and do not exert themselves.
Consult the doctor for any of these if you:
Why Mountain Helicopters Nepal?
Questions
Still have questions? Our team is available 7 days a week.
ASK US DIRECTLY→Yes, the flight can be arranged daily, subject to morning weather, base camp landing conditions, helicopter availability, and flight permissions. Flights peak sharply during the spring and autumn climbing seasons when the camp is active.
The helicopter departs from the Samagaun landing area, with the exact meeting point and time confirmed before the flight. A connecting helicopter tour from Kathmandu can also be arranged to reach Samagaun the same morning.
The flight from Samagaun to Manaslu Base Camp takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes each way, and the full round trip with landing time at the base camp usually finishes in about an hour and a half.
Yes. Many trekkers use the flight as an acclimatisation-day alternative while resting in Samagaun, either as a round trip or as a one-way hop with the trek continuing from the base camp area, subject to the restricted-area rules and licensing requirements.
Flights operate only when conditions are considered suitable for safe operation. If weather, visibility, wind, or other operational conditions are unsuitable - or the local community and authorities do not permit the landing - the flight may be delayed or rescheduled.
Let our experienced team create your unforgettable Himalayan journey.
At the reported meeting point in Samagaun, please have your passport and any required permits ready. Any items not required for the short flight can be left at your lodge; only a small daypack should be carried on board. Our ground team confirms your boarding details before you walk to the helicopter.
Boarding procedures include how to board the helicopter, where to stand, how to fasten and unfasten the restraint belt, how to communicate with the crew, and what to do when you hear the crew's instructions.
The helicopter climbs steeply from Samagaun, passing Birendra Tal and the glacier tongue before arriving over the base camp plateau. Airborne time is normally about 15 to 20 minutes. The actual track and duration may change depending on cloud cover, wind, and landing-site conditions at the camp.
The helicopter sets down at Manaslu Base Camp, 4,800 metres above sea level. After landing, passengers remain seated until the crew confirms that it is safe to leave. You spend approximately 15 to 30 minutes exploring the camp, photographing the icefall and the summit wall, and absorbing the atmosphere before re-boarding and returning to Samagaun.
For the standard round-trip flight, no trek departure is involved - passengers re-board the helicopter after the base camp stop and fly back to Samagaun. For expedition members, the base camp stop is the meeting point with the climb team: logistics, gear, and accommodation plans are coordinated by the expedition operator before the climb continues. For trekkers on the circuit, the return to Samagaun normally means resuming the trail to Samdo, either the same day or after the landing. Travellers are advised to allow a reasonable time buffer in their itinerary in case the helicopter arrives later than scheduled due to weather or operational conditions.
Entry to the Manaslu Conservation Area is required for the landing at Manaslu Base Camp, and the Manaslu helicopter tour price never includes permit fees. The Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) entry permit is payable before takeoff, and the crew will confirm exactly which documents are needed for your flight. Continuing the trek beyond Samagaun places additional Restricted Area Permit requirements and a government-licensed guide on the itinerary, which our team can arrange on request.
| Countries | Entry Permit | TIMS | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAARC | 1000 | 1000 | 2000 |
| Other Foreign Countries | 3000 | 1000 | 4000 |
| Nepal | 100 | 100 | 200 |
Months
September-November
Completion
95%
Visibility
Excellent
Months
December-February
Completion
68%
Visibility
Medium
Months
June-August
Completion
34%
Visibility
Low