Ama Dablam Expedition
Tour Details
Mt. Ama Dablam is considered one of the most beautiful mountains in the world. Whether you agree with such superlatives or not it is certainly a remarkable peak that has a particular attraction to any keen mountaineer. Traveltimes Treks Pvt.Ltd has plenty of experience in organizing this expedition a key to success with full of safety on the mountain. The characteristic pyramid shape leads someone to call Ama Dablam the ‘Matterhorn’ of the Himalayas and, at least as seen from Namche, there is a certain similarity. The hanging glacier on the southwest face of Ama Dablam resembles a ‘Dablam’- the sacred ornament box worn by Sherpa women –giving rise to the name “Ama Dablam” or “Mother’s necklace”.
Mt. Ama Dablam is located in the Khumbu region to the south of Everest and Lhotse. As you would expect, that allows for some stunning views during the climb as well as on the summit. The mountain stands above the famous Tyangboche Monastery, which is traditionally visited by climbers in the region. It should be stressed that, despite all the pleasant parts, this is in general a demanding climb and participation in an Ama Dablam Expedition demands solid skills in rock climbing, ice climbing, sufficient experience of high altitude and general technical competency. There are steep ice sections to be overcome at high altitude and there are sections of serious exposure, which can be particularly challenging.
If you have previous climbing experience and wish to participate fully as a team member of an expertly led expedition to one of the world’s most impressive mountains then this Ama Dablam Expedition is well suited for you. The most popular route for climbing Ama Dablam is the Southwest Ridge. The climb is typically done with two camps along the ridge. Camp II is usually established just on top of famous yellow tower.
Explore, experience, and enjoy the expedition of the most beautiful and the Pyramid shaped mountain on earth the Mt. Ama Dablam with team of Traveltimes Treks.
Short Itenary
Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu
Day 02: Expedition preparation/welcome dinner
Day 03: Fly to Lukla (2840 m) & Trek to Phakding (2600 m)
Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m)
Day 05: Acclimatization Day
Day 06: Trek to Dole (4110 m)
Day 07: Trek to Machhermo village (4 470 m)
Day 08: Trek to Gokyo Lake (4 790 m)
Day 09: Climb Gokyo Ri 5 360 m & Trek to Thanknak (4800 m)
Day 10: Trek to Dzongla via Cho La Pass 5 360 meter
Day 11: Trek to Pangboche (3950 meter)
Day 12: Trek to Ama Dablam BC (4600 m)
Day 13: Acclimatization Day & training or gear checking
Day 14: Acclimation Hike to Advance BC
Day 15: Climb to Camp I (5,700 m)
Day 16: Climb to Camp II (yellow tower 6021 m)
Day 17: Summit 6,856 m & return to Advance base Camp
Day 18: Trek to Ama Dablam BC
Day 19: Trek to Tengboche Monastery (3 860 m)
Day 20: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3400 m)
Day 21: Trek to Lukla (2865 m)
Day 22: Fly Back to Kathmandu (1340 m)
Day 23: Fly Back Home
Itinerary
Pick-up at Tribhuvan International Airport, meeting with your guide and transfer to the hotel. First impressions of Kathmandu (1 350 m) – walk to medieval Kathmandu Durbar Square and explore the beautiful complex of palaces, temples, shrines and courtyards built by the ancient Nepali kings between the 12th and 18th century. We bring you to our office and Thamel – the vibrant tourist area with hotels, restaurants, bakeries and outdoor shops. We get to know each other over a welcome dinner, check formalities and equipment and discuss your itinerary.
Last shopping and join at welcome dinner at authentic Nepali local food restaurant.
We drive to Tribhuvan Domestic Airport to connect our flight to Everest region. After breakfast in Lukla (2 850 m) we start trekking through beautiful settlements to join soon the main trail in Churi Kharka. We follow the east bank of the Dudh Koshi- the River of Milk- where you witness the typical Nepal terrace culture, slate roofed houses and views on Kusum Kangaru (5 579 m). We reach Phakding (2 640 m) after 3 – 4 h gentle walking.
Today we make a challenging hike to Namche Bazaar (3 440 m), situated at 6-7 hours walking from Phakding. We climb up along the west bank of the Dudh Kosi to the tiny village of Toktok. We get our first glimpse of Thamserku peak (6 608 m) and reach Benkar (2 710 m). The cliffs above the village are decorated with huge paintings of Buddhist deities. We cross the colorful suspension bridge and enter the Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo (2 840 m). After Jorsale we follow the riverbank over gravel, climb through a pine forest and cross the Dudh Kosi by a big suspension bridge. Then we face a continuous zigzag ascent of 2 hours through dense pine forests. In the early evening we reach the vibrant center of Namche Bazar, on of the most attractive settlements of Solu-Khumbu district.
Rest day in Namche. Optional walk to the Sherwi Khangba Sherpa Culture Museum or dayhike to Thame (3 800 m) or Thamo (3 440 m).
A 5 hourse of climb leads steeply out of the valley through a rhododendron forest. The route passes through several kharkas (high altitude summer yak grazing primitive settlements) as well several more substantial settlements until reaching a lodge the few houses of Dole (4 110 m). The views of Khumbila and Tawachee (both 6 000 m peaks) are tremendous throughout the day.
From Dole the trail climbs along the side of the valley high above the river. The rhododendrons give way to scrub juniper. There are kharkas wherever there is a flat spot and hint of water. After crossing a sandy spur, our lodge is reached at the few houses of Maccherma (4 470 m).
Beyond Maccherma the trail climbs a ridge for a great view of Cho Oyo. The valley widens as the trail descends to the Dudh Khosi river and climbs onto the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa Glacier. After a steep switchbacked climb the first small Gokyo Lake is reached. A second larger lake is past and the trail becomes almost level as the large third Gokyo Lake (4 750 m) is reached with its several houses and lodges. This will be our highest lodge in the Gokyo region. And another option is an awesome hike up the Gokyo valley past two or three more glacial lakes towards Cho Oyu in the afternoon.
Today you can make a spectacular 2 h long hike to Gokyo Ri, a 5 360 m high hill on the north side of the Dudh Pokhari. From the summit you have a 360 degree panaroma over Cho Oyo, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse and Taboche and the Ngozumpa Glacier. After lunch we head to Thanknak via Ngozumpa glacier walk.
We start very early heading for the upper trail northeast towards Cho La Pass 5360 meter. After walking a steep rocky/icy ridge for about 1,5 hours we gain the top of the Cho La where you have fabulous views on 8000 m high peaks of Makalu. Continuing the pass the trail winds ice walk leads to the northeast valley of Dzongla. We will camp there. It will take 7 hours to reach our camp.
we have outstanding sights at Tawachee (6 495 m) and Cholatse peak (6 440m) in Dzongla. After our breakfast we will be heading down to Pheriche village for lunch & continue down to Pangboche village.
Gear check and training in the afternoon.
Hiking to advance base camp.
Full Day Rest.
After well spending the acclimatization in Gokyo valley, Cho La Pass and at BC you will enjoy the walk of pleasant grassy ridges that curve around south west ridge. Today, you take 6 hours to reach the first camp 5700 m with an amazing view of Cho Oyu 8201 m, Tawuche 6367 m, and Numbur 6859 m.
Yellow Tower or Camp II is situated at the foot of the southwest ridge. After breakfast start to join to climb where fixed ropes is. In the beginning you will find quite easier at rocky traverse and snowy ledges. And then there are some superb compact granite slabs to cross and these lead into equally enjoyable scabby buttresses to ascend. Just before Camp 2 is reached The Yellow Tower must be climbed on jumared and this provides the technical crux of the whole route. The climbing is extremely enjoyable but it is hard work at this altitude.
As soon as you leave Camp 2 you start gaining height. It’s hard work but the climbing is good, and the ascent of The Grey Tower provides the next obstacle. Easy snow and ice then leads to the ‘Mushroom Ridge’, the corniced snow crest that links the mixed southwest ridge below with the summit snow fields above. Your ‘composure with exposure’ will be tested here! As we are now essentially on the West Face the sun does not arrive until around 9.30 am, so this can be a cold place until the sun hits. From here it takes around 3 hours to reach the summit ascending the fixed ropes up the grade I summit snow fields. There is one short steep section over an icy bulge that provides a welcome contrast in climbing style! The summit of Ama Dablam 6,856 m is a truly outstanding viewpoint. It will take 8 hours from camp 2. We would aim to descend as low down the mountain as possible after summiting, ideally camp 1.
After late morning breakfast we climb down to BC slowly. It will take 5 hours to reach BC. Relax evening with crew.
Trek down to Tengboche Buddhist monastery will take 4 hours.
Trek from Tengboche to Namche Bazaar (3 440 m). We descend approximately 4 hours.
We start this 6 hours walk during trek with a strenuous descent from Namche Bazaar to the Dud Kosi (hard work for the knees), after the path climbs up to Monjo and then runs easily to Benkar, Phakding and Lukla.
Short flight to Kathmandu & Join for Farewell dinner at Third Eye Restaurant Thamel.
Transfer to Kathmandu International Airport for final departure.
Trip Format
Nepal is not like home. It is exotic; it is wonderful but also very different. Great elevation changes, differences in customs and language, menu variations, lodge limitations, ant the many other mysteries and wonders of travel in Nepal are all conditions you must be physically and mentally prepared for. The itinerary may change. We may meet unknown hardships as well as unexpected pleasures. Come with an open mind and positive spirit.
For the Ama Dablam Expedition, all climbers need to have good skills in rock and ice climbing and be technically competent. We will fix ropes and make use of the existing infrastructure (if any), however, the climbers should possess the necessary skills of climbing through steep rock and hard compact ice without them. We follow the standard Southwest ridge route (normal route) to the top, as it is considered the safer route with lower objective dangers of avalanches. We begin the approach as usual in the region from Lukla (2880 m) and then slowly trek through the Sherpa villages along the trail. We take our time to properly acclimate before we reach base camp and begin the climbing period. Traveltimes Treks team is proud ourselves for executing this expedition with a focus on quality as well as safety. As always, the package can be flexibly adjusted to your requirements (in case you want some additional acclimatization time beforehand, etc.) you can feel free to contact us any time for suggestions and advice. We’d be happy to take you on this adventure of Mt. Ama Dablam Expedition with our great team.
The approach to the Base camp for Ama Dablam Expedition is short, sweet and beautiful beginning with the amazing flight to Lukla after a few hours’ drive from Kathmandu to Manthali airport of Ramechhap and following the Everest Base camp trail through Namche Bazaar to Gokyo Ri & Cho La Pass & join at Upper Pangboche. The Base camp is located at 4600 m.
The standard climbing route for Ama Dablam Expedition is via the Southwest ridge with a typical arrangement of 2 high camps: Camp 1 (5700 m), Camp 2 (6080 m), with Base Camp at 4600m and High Camp at 5000 m as a store camp. The highest tented camp is at famous yellow tower 6016 m top with ensuring a great vantage point for all camps for stunning views.
This is not a tour where everything can be planned in advance to run like clockwork. You probably won’t experience exactly what is written in the daily itinerary. Often adjustment must be made in the field. We want you to participate in the trip with the clear understanding that things can go wrong. Adventure travel does involve certain risks both emotional and physical. One has to be flexible when traveling in Nepal and have a cheerful attitude.
Cost Include
- All arrival and departure transfers in Kathmandu.
- 3 nights of hotel accommodations in Kathmandu on BB Plan.
- return flights for Everest
- two-way transportation from Kathmandu.
- Mt. Ama Dablam expedition permit
- Government official Liaison Officer for Ama Dablam Expedition.
- Local government tax & Sagarmatha National Park entry permit & TIMS card.
- All camping equipment in Advance Base Camp and other camps.
- Food, accommodation and guide during trekking in teahouse/lodge.
- Food during the expedition period cooked by our experienced cook.
- 1/1 experienced private climbing Sherpa guide for climbing support.
- Baggage allowance carrying by mules/porters up and down to BC: 40 kg.
- Required high-altitude food for climbing members and Sherpa.
- Required fixed and dynamic ropes for climbing by Sherpa Guide.
- Insurance, wages, meal and allowances for climbing Sherpa and BC staffs.
- Solar panels for light and battery charging in base camp.
- Ice-fall and rope fixing charges, tents at high camps C1 & C2
- First Aid medical kits for the Group and the staffs.
- Walkie-talkies & satellite phone for communication
- Office service charges and government taxes levied in Nepal.
- Welcome & Farewell Dinner
Cost Exclude
- International flights
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu except welcome/farewell dinner
- Travel insurance.
- Nepal entry visa fee.
- Tips for trekking staff and driver.
- All kinds of alcoholic drinks
- Personal shopping, laundry and Internet expenses, etc.
- Personal trekking & expedition gear
