Elite Resorts of Asia Pacific

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Reach those dizzy heights, high above the tallest peak in the world - Mt. Everest, and challenge yourself to experience the thrill of the number one extreme sport with Everest skydiving! Free falling from 29500 feet, above Mt. Everest, and the mighty Himalayan peaks is an experience of a lifetime!!

Begun in 2008, the World's Highest Skydiving event Everest Skydive was first held at the Sherpa hamlet of Shyangboche - the world's highest drop zone at 12,350 feet. The crew included experts in parachuting, mountain safety, oxygen system, high altitude mountain pilots, aircraft from Swiss Boogie (Switzer¬land), doctors of medicine and mountaineers and in-country Sherpas as mountain guides. After three years of operation with more than 73 Solos and 35 successful Tandem Jumps, Everest Skydive has left its mark as one of the most unique Himalayan Adventures. The experience Everest Skydive’s international team of experts has gained since 2008, 2009 and 2010 Expeditions, positions Everest Skydive as an experienced world leader in extreme adventure.

Freefalling from a height of 29,500ft, from above some of the world's tallest peaks, including Mt. Everest (29,028ft), Everest Skydive offers the ultimate thrill. And what's more, the drop zone vehicle, Pilatus PC-6 Aircraft is equipped with a specially designed oxygen system and is flown by highly experienced pilots.

Your adventure begins with a panoramic flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. Landing at the narrow airstrip of Lukla airport can best be described as a 'spine chilling experience'. From Lukla you begin trekking towards, Shyangboche (Everest Skydive’s drop zone). En route you pass by picturesque Sherpa villages and mesmerizing sights of Himalayan peaks. On reaching Shyangboche, your adventure will climax with freefalling in front of snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes and magnificent landscapes before landing at the world's highest drop zone in Syangboche (12,350ft). All through your adventure you will be guided by our experienced team, which includes some of the world's leading skydiving experts.

With CNN, Lonely Planet, Nat Geo Adventure and several online travel portals ranking Everest Base Camp as one of the top ten adventure destinations, Everest Skydive invites you to be a part of this unique aerial adventure - a "once in a life time" experience.

For a more detailed overview of the Everest Skydive adventure, please visit the Everest Skydive website.

About

An elite adventure, this trip takes you to Khumbu Himal, the homeland of Nepal's tough mountain tribe, the Sherpas. Trek to Sherpa villages that lie under the shadows of some of the tallest peaks in the world including Mount Everest and take an exciting heli tour to Kala Patthar (5242m), at the base of Mount Everest…

For those desiring a luxurious vacation in the Himalaya, Explore Himalaya offers an Elite Adventure. This trip takes you to Khumbu Himal, the homeland of Nepal's tough mountain tribe, the Sherpas. Trek to Sherpa villages that lie under the shadows of some of the tallest peaks in the world including Mount Everest and take an exciting heli tour to Kala Patthar (5242m), at the base of Mount Everest.

After arriving in Kathmandu we fly to Lukla, the 'Gateway of Everest'. We trek for two days taking in the wonderful mountain scenery and Sherpa culture, with stopovers at Sherpa villages of Phakding & Namche, finally arriving at Shyangboche - the site of the World's Highest Skydiving Adventure 'Everest Skydive'.

At Shyangboche we board the waiting Fishtail Air's helicopter for our heli tour and fly over the towering Himalayan giants: Ama Dablam [6856m], Thamserku [6608m] Kantega [6685m], Lhotse [8501m], Nuptse [7879m] and enter Mount Everest's Western Cwm - a broad, flat, gently undulating glacial valley basin terminating at the foot of the Lhotse Face. The Western Cwm, also known as the 'Valley of Silence,' is traversed by climbers using the southeast route to the summit of Everest. The view of the mesmerizing Gokyo Lake from aboard the helicopter is just amazing.

We stop briefly at Kala Patthar (5,545m) - one of the finest viewpoints to view Mount Everest up close and the site of the World's Highest Cabinet Meeting (held on December 4, 2009). After exploring and taking pictures, we leave Kala Patthar and fly towards Kongde Ri (4200m) which has the world's highest full service luxury resort – Yeti Mountain Home, Kongde. At the resort, we sit out enjoying the panoramic views of Himalayan mountains and celebrate the completion of our Everest adventure over champagne and a sumptuous breakfast-a fitting finale to a wonderful and memorable trip. After our meal we take the return flight to Kathmandu.

While trekking, we will be accommodated at Yeti Mountain Homes, a chain of high end luxury resorts. At Kathmandu our address is the serene and tranquil Gokarna Forest Resort.

(Note: At high altitude, Oxygen system will always be at hand to help you deal with mountain sickness.)
If you are interested in taking a one-of-a-kind helicopter trip to the top of the world, then visit Everest Heli Tour.

The driving force behind the world's most exhilarating skydive, Suman Pandey has been an innovator of travel and tourism in Nepal, Tibet, India and Bhutan for 26 years. "Everest Skydive is the ultimate experience," he says, "the chance to join an elite group of adventurers who have done something unique and incredible."

When did you launch Everest Skydive?

My company Explore Himalaya is 15 years old and we launched Everest Skydive in 2008.

Where did the idea come from?

Consultations with clients and friends whom I had known for a long time during my career in tourism. I had skydived previously in Nepal and Thailand and absolutely loved it, and I thought: What could be more exciting than skydiving over the highest point on earth?

What's the itinerary?

The Everest Skydive experience starts in Kathmandu followed by a five-day trek from Lukla to our base at Syangboche which helps people to acclimatise. You'll trek past picturesque Sherpa villages and ancient gompas (monasteries) within Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

What's the preparation for the skydive?

Everyone is given a full briefing before their skydive. Other than that, the only preparation is more mental and psychological for the jump and being acclimatised to the altitude.

Tell me about the aircraft and team:

Our aircraft is a Swiss-made Pilatus PC-6, equipped with a specially designed oxygen system, and is flown by highly experienced pilots. We also have a very strong team of skydivers. Our Chief Technical Coordinator is Wendy Smith, a world champion skydiver with almost 20,000 jumps to her name. Our Chief Tandem Master is Tom Noonan, another highly experienced skydiver, who has done almost 5,000 jumps.

Do you need to have previous experience?

We offer two kinds of jumps. The solo jump is for professional skydivers. You need to have a license and have done at least 200 jumps. You'll receive a full briefing from our expert crew and technical director and have a trial jump before your main skydive. The tandem jump is with one of our highly experienced tandem masters. It's one jump only and you don’t need any previous experience for it.

How long does the skydive last?

The flight from the airstrip at Syangboche to the jump height of 29,000 feet takes about 35 to 40 minutes. Once you jump, you have 40 to 60 seconds of free-fall, hurtling past Mount Everest and some of the world's highest peaks, and about five to seven minutes from the moment the parachute opens to reaching the ground, so you have lots to time to take in the incredible views.

Describe the actual jump?

Words cannot describe it, it's an awesome experience. When you jump, you see nothing but sky and mountains and then valleys, glaciers and tiny villages as you get closer to the ground. It's a real adrenaline rush. During the dive you'll be followed by an aerial cameraman who will video the entire experience taking pictures of you with Everest and the Himalayas in the background.

What happens next?

The jump area is about eight to 10 miles west of Mount Everest and you land back at the airstrip at Syangboche.

When is the prime time to do the skydive?

It's very important to have the right weather - clear blue skies and zero wind - and we have a very small window of opportunity of a few days in late October each year when the conditions are perfect.

Can I extend my stay?

Yes, we offer an optional 10-day extension trek after the skydive to Everest Base Camp which is another wonderful experience.

How many people do the jump each year?

Anything between eight and 20 people do Everest Skydive each season, a very small and exclusive group. About 50 people have done the jump since we started in 2008, about half of them professionals and half first-timers.

Are there plans to launch other skydives?

We are looking at starting a new skydive experience at Bokhara in central Nepal. It's a very different landscape full of lakes and one of the most beautiful areas of Nepal.

Does your family skydive?

My wife and I have a daughter, aged 14, and a nine-year-old son. They watched me skydive in Nepal and thought it was amazing.