When it comes to trekking the Everest Base Camp trek in Nepal, you're heading to one of the most remote and stunning places on Earth. It's an epic adventure paradise filled with high mountain passes, windy trails through dense forest and spectacular glaciated valleys with some of the best views out there.

However there are a few things we need to take seriously when trekking to Everest Base Camp and the Himalayas, like travel insurance and also in some emergency situations, the use of helicopters.

Why are helicopters so important? Well, on the Everest Base Camp trek, there are no roads! And as the great Doc Brown said, “Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads!” Let’s just hope we don’t need a helicopter either, but it’s better to be safe than sorry and when needed a helicopter there are a few things to consider.

The Role of Helicopters.

In the Everest region, helicopters are as common as yaks! They’re used every day for rescues and delivering goods to the local mountain communities who live high in the Himalayas. But unlike yaks, helicopters are a bit more expensive to arrange.

There are a few situations where you might find yourself needing or wanting to use a helicopter.

Medical Evacuations

While most trekkers will never need a helicopter, it’s always a good idea to be prepared. Sometimes, altitude sickness or injury can prevent people from continuing their trek. If that happens, don’t worry—your guide will arrange everything by contacting our team in Kathmandu. We don’t recommend arranging a helicopter without your guide’s help, as they are there to ensure your safety and make sure the cost is as reasonable as possible. After all, your guide knows the ropes, or should we say, the flight paths.

Weather Delays

Almost all treks to the Everest region begin with a flight to Lukla, the gateway to Everest Base camp. Lukla also happens to be one of the highest airports in the world, sitting at 2,700 meters. You may have heard that Lukla has the reputation of being the world’s most dangerous airport, but rest assured, with all the regulations in place, it’s as safe as trekking in the hands of an experienced Sherpa. However, these safety measures mean that flights will be cancelled if the weather turns bad.

When that happens, helicopters suddenly become the most popular mode of transport.

Everyone wants to hitch a ride back to Kathmandu, and it can get a bit hectic. If your flight is cancelled, EverTrek will rebook you on the next available flight and if needed, we’ll do our best to arrange a helicopter to keep you on track. it’s important to understand that there’s no guarantee a helicopter will be available during severe weather delays. Even helicopters have their limits, and sometimes Mother Nature calls the shots.

Insurance

While it might seem like an extra cost, it’s one thing you’ll definitely want in your backpack because when you’re at high altitudes and heading on treks like Everest Base Camp, it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

The first thing to keep in mind is that many standard travel insurance policies don’t cover you at high altitudes due to the increased risk of things like altitude sickness but some specialist providers have specific products for treks to a certain height or destination, like Everest Base Camp.

You can check out one of useful articles about insurance needed for Everest Base Camp right here.

Make sure to tell your insurer you’ll be trekking or climbing in Nepal, as this often requires additional coverage due to the high cost of helicopter evacuations. And trust me, getting that sorted in advance will make you feel like you’re on top of the world.

We recommend choosing a high-altitude specialist insurance provider to ensure all the potential risks are covered, such as:

• Medical emergencies and injuries: This includes conditions like Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). You know, all the fun stuff that can happen at 5,000 meters!

• Evacuation and repatriation: Make sure your coverage reaches the maximum altitude you'll be trekking.

• Trekking or climbing in Nepal: Many policies require you to specifically mention that your adventure includes trekking or climbing in Nepal.

• Travel delays due to bad weather: This should include the cost of rearranging your international flights and covering additional hotel expenses. Because sometimes, in the mountains, Mother Nature likes to keep you on your toes—or in Lukla.