Relaxing Everest?

My husband and I are traveling to Nepal in early November 2007. We%26#39;re looking to spend 3-4 days. Neither of us are climbers. We%26#39;re wondering what the best way to see Everest would be. We%26#39;ve heard there are mountain flights. Where do they take off from? Pricing? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Relaxing Everest?

once you arrive you%26#39;ll see many offers to do the Everest flights. Around $125 usd. Best way is on foot, but thats a much different timeframe/trip than you are planning.

Relaxing Everest?

The best way to see the Everest is non other than the mountain flight this is the most beautiful time that i have ever feel in my trekking in Nepal within 1 hour interval you will enjoy good view of the range of mountain.

cheers

andrewhaul

It is easy to arrange a flight, and you will see leaflets at the airport in Kathmandu. If you are staying in a hotel, the Guest Relations Officer there will almost certainly arrange it all for you - just ask him/her. As K2Kelly says, the cost is around $125-130, and the dominant company is Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) who use Kathmandu airport (domestic side). We did this last week, and its a well organised operation using modern Beech 1900 pressurised cabin aircraft, with about 20 single seats either side of gangway.

You can take photos fairly well, and get a chance to look at the view from the cockpit also. They fly every day from about 0600 - 1000 when the weather is clear, but the decision on this is taken on the morning (its always too misty later in day). They say if you do not see Everest you get your money back! You get a nice ';certificate'; also.

Two ';warnings'; - they say it is a one-hour trip, but we were back within 45 minutes. Second, you do not really go very close and there are some rather misleading photos of Buddha Air aircraft flying alongside the peak - in practice, you fly along the range of Himalayas (beautiful) and the air stewardess points out the one that is Everest, which is at some distance, and somewhat behind and not obviously much higher than others.

We also saw it when flying from Pokhara to Kathmandu, although less close. The mountain called the Fishtail at Pokhara is in fact rather closer and more beatiful.. but rather ower!

The crucial point is that, as far as I know, there is no other realistic way of seeing the highest place in the the world without going much closer and on foot - which is a very different proposition!

PS. To put the cost in context, it is about what a Kathmandu taxi driver earns in a whole year.....