Amadablam Base Camp Trek – 13 Days

Your 13-day Ama Dablam Base Camp trek starts in Kathmandu (1,400 meters), the capital of Nepal and the main gateway to the Himalayas. After landing, you are greeted at the airport and transferred to the 4-star hotel, which is about 30 minutes away, depending on traffic. Once checked in, you can take some time to rest. If you feel active, then we can explore streets, shops, temples, and local Newari teahouses.

In the evening, we’ll join a trip briefing with our guide. During this session, we’ll learn about the Ama Dablam trekking route, daily walking hours, and altitude gains. The guide also shares practical tips, safety information, and answers any questions we may have. You’ll also meet the rest of the trekking team and start to coordinate and build teamwork. This preparation helps us feel confident about the adventure. After the briefing, we’ll have dinner and rest well, ready to begin our journey into the Himalayas.

On Day 2, we focus on the final preparation for our trek. In the morning, we check our gear and make sure everything is properly packed. Our guide helps us confirm that we have the right clothing, trekking shoes, and essentials for the journey. If we are missing anything, we can visit nearby shops in Thamel to rent or buy gear. This is also the time when we prepare our duffel bags for the porters and keep a small daypack for ourselves.

During the hiking season, like March, April, May, September, October, and November, the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu is congested, so we have to drive to Manthali (headquarters of Ramechhap) to take a flight to Lukla. Therefore, we’ll begin our drive to Ramechhap, which is about 132km from Kathmandu. The journey takes around 5 hours, depending on road conditions and traffic. We’ll pass through Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Nepalthok, and Khurkot before reaching Ramechhap (Manthali).

Note: You can also take a helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla for around USD 300 per person, which saves a full day of the long and bumpy drive to Ramechhap.

We’ll wake up early for our flight from Ramechhap to Lukla, a 20-minute journey that offers beautiful aerial views of the Himalayas. From the plane, we can see peaks of the Mahalangur Himalayan Range, like Mount Everest (8,848 meters), Lhotse (8,516 meters), Nuptse (7,861 meters), Ama Dablam (6,812 meters), Thamserku (6,623 meters), and Kangtega (6,782 meters). Lukla (2,840 meters) is a small mountain town, the starting point for Everest region treks. After landing at Tenzing-Hillary airport safely, we’ll meet our trekking team and begin our trek to Phakding (2,610 meters).

Along the way, we’ll cross the Dudh Koshi River over the suspension bridge and pass through pine and rhododendron forests. The path is full of blooming rhododendron species like Rhododendron arboreum, Rhododendron campanulatum, Rhododendron falconeri, Rhododendron barbatum, and Rhododendron lepidotum during the spring. By the time we reach Phakding, we can relax at the teahouse, enjoy mountain views, and prepare for the more challenging days ahead.

Today, we continue our journey towards Namche Bazaar, one of the most famous towns in the Everest region. We start early from Phakding and cross the Hillary Suspension Bridge over the Dudh Koshi River. The trail slowly climbs higher, which gives us our first views of Thamserku and Kongde Ri peak.

After a few hours of trek, we’ll reach Monjo. Monjo is the starting point of the Sagarmatha National Park. Here, your permits are registered and checked by the Nepal police or official park rangers before heading towards Namche Bazaar (3,440 meters)- the gateway to Everest. This day sets a strong foundation for the trek to Ama Dablam Base Camp.

This day is all about exploring. We focus on acclimatization to help our bodies adjust to the higher altitude of Namche Bazaar at 3,440 meters. Spending time at this elevation reduces the risk of altitude sickness, which is common above 3,000 meters. We take short walks around the town because the streets are full of shops selling trekking gear, local handicrafts, and traditional Sherpa foods. 

Later, we hike to Everest View hotel, which sits at 3,880 meters. From here, we can enjoy one of the best views of Mount Everest, Nuptse, and Lhotse. The hotel is famous for its vantage point, where photographers and trekkers capture sunrise and sunset shots. The hike takes about 2-3 hours round-trip.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit Khumjung village (3,840 meters). This village is known for its traditional Sherpa houses and the Khumjung Monastery, which houses a “Yeti scalp“. We can also visit the Sagarmatha National Park Visitor Center and the Hillary School (Schoolhouse in the Clouds)-built by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1961, on our way to Khumjung. After exploring these places, we will return to Namche for an overnight stay in the same teahouse where we stayed last night.

This day starts with a short trek to Phortse Village (3,840 meters). We’ll leave Namche Bazaar in the morning and walk for around 5 hours to get there. Along the way, we’ll cross small streams and suspension bridges while admiring clear views of Thamserku and Ama Dablam. As we move ahead, we’ll reach Phortse Tenga. This is the lowest point before the final, steep climb to Phortse Village.

We’ll arrive at Phortse Village in the afternoon. This village is known for its prominent mountaineering legacy and its role as the home of the Khumbu Climbing Center (KCC). A good number of accomplished Sherpa mountaineers, including many Everest summiteers, were born and raised in Phortse. Mountaineers like Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa (climbed Mount Everest in 14 days), Tenzing Dorjee Sherpa (13 successful Everest summits), and Sonam Tashi Sherpa (holds a Guinness World Record with his father and sister as part of the first father-son-daughter trio to reach Everest’s summit) were born in Phortse. 

The way from Phortse to Pangboche is short and scenic. The trail follows the Imja Khola River and passes through pine and rhododendron forests. Ama Dablam and Thamserku remain visible as we walk. This part of the trek doesn’t belong to the standard Everest Base Camp trek route. This is the final section of the trek before reaching Ama Dablam Base Camp. 

Within a few hours, we’ll reach Pangboche. Pangboche is one of the highest permanent settlements in the Khumbu region. The village is split into two sections: the more traditional, ancient Upper Pangboche and the tourist-oriented Lower Pangboche. We’ll stay at Lower Pangboche and prepare for the day hike to Ama Dablam Base Camp the next day.

This is the day for which we trek for seven days continuously. We’ll start early for a day hike towards Ama Dablam Base Camp (4,600 meters). The trail again follows the Imja Khola river, and Mount Ama Dablam dominates the skyline. Also known as “Mother’s Necklace” and the “Matterhorn of the Himalayas,” this mountain is famous for its symmetrical pyramid shape.

After we reach the base camp, we’ll get a close view of the mountain’s glacier and ice formations. The camp is surrounded by moraine ridges and rocky terrain. We can see climbers’ tents scattered across the Ama Dablam Camp. This is a good opportunity to rest, take photos, and enjoy the view of nearby peaks, including Lhotse, Thamserku, and Kangtega.

After spending time at base camp, we’ll return to Pangboche along the same trail. The descent takes less time, and you can also observe the village and terraced fields from a higher viewpoint. Arriving back at 3,930 meters, we rest at our teahouse, prepare for the next day’s trek, and continue following the Ama Dablam Base Camp trekking route in proper order.

The trail to Namche is mostly downhill. It involves a descent along the Imja Khola river. Keep an eye out for local wildlife like langurs and birds, which can sometimes be spotted in this forest part. You’ll also pass the small hamlet of Deboche, which is situated between Pangboche and Tengboche.

Descending forward, you’ll cross the Dudh Koshi (Milky River) at Phunke Tenga before a climb back toward Namche. Arriving in Namche Bazaar (the heart of the Everest region), we rest at a teahouse and explore the town again if interested. We can also interact with local Sherpas, enjoy traditional meals, get final views of Everest, and prepare for the journey back to Lukla the next day.

This will be our last day trek in the Everest region. We’ll begin our descent from Namche Bazaar to Lukla by following the Dudh Koshi River. As we continue downward, we’ll pass Benkar, and a little forward lies Phakding. The trek offers a final opportunity to observe Himalayan landscapes and traditional Sherpa life. 

From Phakding, we’ll continue our trek past Toktok and reach Lukla. We’ll rest at our teahouse and recap our journey to this mysterious place in the Everest region. This day marks the end of the main trekking section.

We’ll wake up early in Lukla, ready for our short but scenic flight to Ramechhap. Since 2019, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has periodically and now regularly shifted Lukla flights to Ramechhap during peak seasons. This is to reduce heavy air traffic and runway congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). The small aircraft takes us once again over green valleys and rivers.

At Ramechhap, we’ll check in at a teahouse. The hard climbs, long trails, and cold mornings now feel like proud memories. This evening is for celebration. We gather with our team, enjoy food, share stories, and look back on the moments when the mountain tested us. The Amadablam base camp trek ends here, but the joy stays.

If our Ramechhap flight was delayed, this day serves as a backup. The weather in the mountains is never guaranteed, so keeping one buffer day is important. We’ll take the flight from Lukla to Ramechhap and then drive back to Kathmandu. 

If we arrived yesterday, today becomes a chance to explore Kathmandu. We’ll visit the ancient Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath, or Boudhanath. You can explore the historical monuments of Kathmandu, built over centuries, in a single day. The evening is relaxed. Some of us may shop for souvenirs, while others enjoy the services of a cafe. Whether it is a cultural day or a spare travel day, we keep it light and meaningful. 

The final day has arrived. We pack our bags, check our flight times, and get ready for the airport transfer. It feels a little heavy to say goodbye after the trek to Ama Dablam Base Camp, but we leave with hearts full of stories to share back home.

As our flights take off, we promise ourselves that this will not be the last adventure in Nepal. The trek may be over, but the memories of Ama Dablam peak will continue to inspire us long after we land back home.