Mount Everest Scenic Flight from Kathmandu
5:30 AM: Meet your Everest tour guide and drive to the airport, approximately 30-45 minutes away.
6:30 AM: Board the aircraft. The plane takes off and heads toward the east.
See Gosaithan, also called Shisha Pangma, standing at the majestic height of 8,013 m. Immediately to the right of Gosaithan appears Doreje Lakpa (6,966 m), a mountain that looks like the number 8 lying down and covered with snow. To the right of Doreje Lakpa is Phurb-Ghyachu, which looms over the Kathmandu Valley. As the plane moves along, the mountains come closer and closer.
Gaze at Choba-Bhamare, the smallest one of the lot at 5,933 m, but singularly stubborn as it has never been climbed.
See the mountain that is not only prominent in sight but also in spirit, Gauri-Shankar. Lord Shiva and his consort Gauri are said to protect this mountain, at the proud height of 7,134 m, and the summit had a history of unsuccessful attempts until 1979. Gauri-Shankar looks sharp and very conspicuous from the mountain flight.
Relish the views as the plane moves towards the land of the rising sun. The eastern Himalayas unfold, and a succession of glorious mountains follows.
See Melungtse, a plateau-like mountain that stretches up to 7,023 m. Chugimago, at 6,297 m, is still waiting to be climbed. At 6,956 m, Number Mountain resembles a breast, a maternal source in the sky providing pure milk to the shapes of the Solu Khumbu.
View Karyolung, an intensely white mountain that, at 6,511 m, gleams with the rising sun.
See Cho Oyu, the eighth-highest mountain in the world. Reaching a height of 8,021 m, it appears stunningly beautiful from the aircraft. Next on the window is Gyanchungkang, at a majestic height of 7,952 m, considered an extremely difficult climb. To the right of Gyanchungkang is Pumori (7,161 m).
Get closer to Everest and view Nuptse (7,855 m), which means west peak, signifying its direction from Everest.
Witness Everest (8,848 m) itself, known as Sagarmatha by the Nepalese and Chomolungma by the Tibetans. Much has already been written about Everest, but to actually witness it face to face during a mountain flight is something else. Even while it looms there in front of your eyes, it remains an enigma, this highest spot on earth.
7:30 AM: Return to the parking area, where your driver will be waiting for you, and transfer back to your hotel.
