Popularly known as the ‘Matterhorn of the Himalaya’, the overwhelming, ice-coated granite pyramid of Ama Dablam (6,856m/22,494ft) dominates the sky above the trekker’s trail to the Everest Base Camp. The 30-day Ama Dablam Expedition begins in Kathmandu with sightseeing of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Next, we fly to Lukla and begin trekking. We trek in the beautiful Everest trail before beginning our summit of Ama Dablam.
The standard ascent to Ama Dablam is made via the South-Western Ridge, the same route followed by Ward (UK), Bishop (USA) and Gill (NZ) in the first ascent of the mountain in 1961. The route offers a varied and sustained climb with a reasonable level of difficulty. Three high camps are set up at strategic points. The climb is moderate up to Camp 1, then it gets challenging up along the narrow granite ridge. Negotiating pitches of steep ice and snow slopes, the route gets more technical from Camp 2. From Camp 3, skirt around the hanging glacier or the Dablam, cross snow arete (a sharp ridge) and bergschrund (a gap or crevasse at the edge) between ice cliffs, and scale the summit. After scaling the summit, we return back to base camp.
Upon our arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, we will be greeted by a representative from Himalayan Glacier who will take us to our hotel. In the evening there will be a welcome dinner hosted by Himalayan Glacier. Overnight in Kathmandu.
Today after breakfast, we start a guided tour to several of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu which are also UNESCO World Heritage sites. We visit the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhunath) and Buddhist shrine (Bouddhanath), which is also one of the largest stupas in the world. After the tour, we get our equipment checked by our climbing leader, get introduced to fellow participants, and discuss our trip at Himalayan Glacier’s office. Overnight in Kathmandu.
After breakfast, we drive to the airport for our flight to Lukla. After flying above the breathtaking lush hills and snowcapped mountains, we reach Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. This is one of the most beautiful air routes in the world culminating in a landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains. At Lukla, we meet the rest of our staff members and begin our trek to Phakding. To assist in acclimatization, we only have a short hike today. Overnight in Phakding.
We begin trekking after breakfast. Our trail passes through pine forests and we also walk alongside the Dudh Koshi River. After walking for around an hour, we begin to see Mt. Thamserku (6,608m) on our right. We continue our trek through lush pine, fir and juniper forests, cross a few suspension bridges and reach Namche Bazaar. The small town is the main trading center of the Everest region. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
This is the day set aside for acclimatization. Health experts recommend that we stay active and move around even during the rest day instead of being idle. There are a few options set aside for this day. We can either stroll around Namche’s quaint villages or come in contact with the Sherpa people and their rich culture, or we can hike up to the Everest View Hotel and enjoy an up-close view of the mighty Everest. While in the Namche village or upon returning from the hike to the Everest View Hotel, trekkers may also visit the local museum containing exhibits displaying the area’s native flora and fauna as well as the history of the Mount Everest region.
For trekkers who want to hike for a little longer, a hike to Khumjung village (5-6 hours) may also be an option. While in the village we can visit the Edmund Hillary School and Khumjung Monastery (a monastery famous for housing the head of the Yeti!). Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
We trek further along the Everest route and pass through beautiful villages and cross the Dudh Koshi River while also enjoying magnificent views of the Himalayan peaks like Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam along the way. After ascending on a steep trail, we reach the Tengboche Monastery and spend some time there. Later, we descend to Debuche to spend the night.
We hike to another village called Pangboche on our way to Pheriche. Pangboche is a scenic village surrounded by Everest to its north, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kangtaiga to the east, the Kongde range to the south and the Imja Tse River flowing through the wide fertile valley. From here, we continue further up towards Pheriche, another beautiful village for an overnight stay.
This day is set aside just for acclimatization. This will help minimize the chances of anyone being affected by AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness). Today we climb a terrain above the Pheriche village as it is well suited to give us a good hiking experience in a cold condition. After an uphill climb to the top of the hill, we are rewarded with great views of the Himalayas. Overnight in Pheriche.
We begin today’s trek by walking back to Pangboche and crossing the Dudh Koshi River. Next, we ascend on a trail which will take us to the Ama Dablam Base Camp. The Base Camp is large and open grassland at the foot of Mt. Ama Dablam. Overnight at Ama Dablam Base Camp.
Our guides will provide training on peak climbing techniques and the best ways of using climbing gear such as the ice axe, climbing boots, crampons, harness, ascender, etc. The training will also include using ropes for climbing both up and down. The training will boost our confidence and climbing skills, thus increasing our chance of a successful summit of the mountain. Overnight in Ama Dablam Base Camp.
