Mt. Amadablam (6,812m) Expedition – 29 Days

Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will need to complete customs formalities. After completing, you’ll exit the airport hall and be greeted by our representative. Our representative will be waiting for you with a placard displaying your name. After greeting, they’ll take you in a private vehicle and drop you at your Hotel in Thamel.

Once you check in at the hotel, you can get refreshed. In the evening, you will receive a briefing on the itinerary and be introduced to crew members and other trekkers who will join you on the trip. Enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening, organized by Dream Himalayas on your arrival, where you can taste an authentic Nepali cuisine. Stay overnight in a 4-star hotel in Kathmandu.

In the morning, you will complete packing and prepare for the trek. If you need to do any last-minute shopping, you will have time, and our guide will help you. After final preparations, we proceed to Ramechhap for a flight to Lukla. As we leave Kathmandu, the road follows the Arniko Highway and then the BP Koirala (BP) Highway. For the first part of the drive, the highway surface is mostly blacktopped and smooth. As the drive gets closer to Ramechhap, the road becomes narrower and more winding, with some rough, gravelly, or bumpy sections.

The middle section of the drive follows the Sun Koshi River, which enhances the drive with riverine scenery. You’ll pass through villages like Dolalghat and Khurkot, where you may see suspension bridges, small roadside markets, and locals working in terraced fields. In Ramechhap, we will stay overnight at Freedom Resort or a similarly comfortable resort near Mithila Airport.

According to the flight schedule, we will drive to Manthali airport early in the morning and catch a flight from Ramechhap to Lukla. The flight offers the most scenic air routes with panoramic views of shining mountains. Within 20 minutes, we’ll land at Lukla, where we feel crisp mountain air and see colorful prayer flags, stone houses, and trekkers preparing for their journeys.

At Phakding, you’ll meet your climbing team, and before heading to Phakding, we’ll have a hearty morning meal. The trek to Phakding passes through Lukla’s main street with shops, lodges, and bakeries, then follows a wide path that many trekkers and porters use.

You walk through small villages like Chheplung and Ghat and cross a few suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River along the way. The path is rocky in places but not steep, winding through fields and forests with occasional glimpses of distant snowy peaks. The day’s overnight stay and dinner are at Phakding.

The day begins with a hot cup of tea or coffee, accompanied by the crisp air of the Everest region. After breakfast, we’ll pack our backpacks and make our way towards the day’s destination, Namche Bazaar. Leaving Phakding, we will walk along the Dudhkoshi River and enter the dense pine forest. We will cross suspension bridges and walk through the scattered villages of Zapute, Benkar, and Chumoa to reach Monjo.

Monjo provides access to Sagarmatha National Park. There, we need to complete the required formalities at the national park before we can enter. After checking in, we will descend to Hillary Bridge, which exists at the base of the hill. After crossing the bridge, we will follow the path up to Namche Bazaar. The path offers views of Thamserku, Everest, Lhotse, and other mountains and peaks. Stay overnight in Namche Bazaar.

The fifth day of the Ama Dablam Expedition is spent acclimatizing in Namche Bazaar. The village serves as the major trade centre for local and neighbouring Tibetan trade. Namche is also popular as the capital of Sherpa land. It is wise to rest in Namche today. To help with acclimatization to the changing altitude, we will arrange a day hike to the small yet culturally rich villages of Khumjung and Khunde.

In the Khumjung village, we can see the school founded with the support of Sir Edmund Hillary and his Himalayan Trust. Just above the village is an old monastery where we can see a famed “yeti scalp,” which adds to the cultural insight of the trek. From Khumjung, the route to Khunde is gentle that passes through fields and stone walls with views of rounded hills behind and big peaks in front.

At Khunde, we will visit a monastery and a small hospital. At any of the lodges, we’ll have breakfast, then we’ll return to Namche. The National Park headquarters, the Museum, and the monasteries are notable places near Namche that we can explore if time permits. Stay overnight in Namche.

After a pleasant day of acclimatization, your body will be more accustomed to the high altitude of Everest. With the same fresh energy, we’ll continue our way towards Tengboche. The trek continues along the glaciated Dudh Koshi River from Namche. We will follow the scenic route with views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and other peaks, and then enter the forested area.

Walking through the colourful rhododendron forest, we can observe a variety of wildlife, including colourful Himalayan birds such as Danphe and Monal. Continuing the trek, we will get to the Sansa village. The trail branches at Sansa. However, we will follow the main route to Everest Base Camp. Following the high path from Sansa, we will reach Tengboche. The gate of Tengboche Monastery is open after 3:00 p.m., so we can visit Tengboche Monastery, which is the largest monastery in the region. Overnight and dinner are at Tengboche.

Early in the morning, we can revisit the Tengboche monastery to seek blessings for our success in reaching the Summit of Ama Dablam. After that, we’ll have breakfast and continue our walk towards the day’s destination. Leaving Tengboche, we will enter the birch and rhododendron forest.

In a couple of hours, we will reach Debuche, from which we will descend to the Chhukung Valley. We’ll continue our walk through rhododendron and conifer forest, hearing the river far below, until the trail reaches the Imja Khola.

As we reach Imja Khola, we’ll cross a suspension bridge, decorated with prayer flags, with big views of Ama Dablam. After the bridge, the route ascends steadily toward Pangboche, the highest permanent Sherpa village in the region. At Pangboche, we can stop to have lunch and explore the monastery.

After having lunch and exploring the village, we’ll continue our walk, passing through Shomare and Orsho. Afterward, we continue walking along the Mani walls and climb to Pheriche. The final walk follows the Lobuche River to the village of Dingboche. Stay overnight in Dingboche.

The eighth day is another acclimatization day on the Mount Ama Dablam Adventure. Resting in Dingboche helps alleviate stress. It also helps in proper acclimatization. On the day, we will take a short walk to Nagarjuna View Point (Nangkartshang), located at Nagarjuna Peak. The route to the viewpoint is steep, right out of Dingboche, zigzagging up a rocky hillside. Even though the distance is not great, the thin air makes the climb feel difficult. However, the reward is worthy.

From the viewpoint of Nagarjuna, the spectacular views of Ama Dablam seem very close. Likewise, we can enjoy Lhotse, Makalu, and Island Peak’s majesty from the viewpoint. We’ll take a moment to appreciate the views from the Nangkartshang, then make our descent to Dingboche. In the village, there are several bakeries and cafes where you can have sweets and coffee if you want to. Overnight at Dingboche.

On the ninth day, we’ll leave Dingboche and take a brief walk to Chhukung. The path is scenic, with panoramic views of Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Kwangde, and other peaks. From Dingboche, we’ll follow a clear path that gently climbs along the side of the valley, with stone walls and a small river below.

The trail never gets very steep, but because you are above 4,400 meters, you still feel the altitude and need to take care of your body. After a gentle final climb, you reach Chhukung, surrounded by high ridges and glaciers. The village is also the gateway to Island Peak (Imja Tse). For the remainder of the time, we will explore this small village and check our climbing gear. Stay overnight at Chhukung.

After Chhukung, Island Peak is our next target on this adventure, preparing you for Ama Dablam. Before heading to Island Peak, proper acclimatization is essential; therefore, we take an extra day in Chhukung and climb Chhukung Ri (5,550m). The climb to Chhukung Ri starts early with a gentle walk. As we continue, the route becomes steep and stony.

After walking for a while, we’ll reach Chhukung Ri. There, we can appeal our eyes with Mount Lhotse, Makalu, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Baruntse, and Island Peak (Imja Tse), along with sweeping sights of the glacial Imja Valley. In the afternoon, after returning from Chhukung Ri, we can take a well-deserved rest in Chhukung. Stay overnight at the Chhukung Teahouse.

Another beautiful walk starts from Chhukung village. It is a short yet demanding day at high altitude. Heading south from Chhukung, we will walk along the moraines of the Lhotse and Imja glaciers. The path is mostly open and wide, crossing rocky ground and sandy patches. We see the Imja River flowing through the valley, and feel the cold wind.

The path grows rockier and more uneven, sometimes strewn with loose gravel or sand, making it a careful walk. As we move farther up the valley, Island Peak comes into clearer view. As we continue, the landscape becomes more rugged, with grey moraine hills. The final walk involves a mix of rocks, sand, and dry glacial deposits. There are no steep technical sections today, but the combination of altitude, uneven ground, and wind can make each step feel heavier. We will stay overnight in the Base Camp of Island Peak.

On this day, we’ll summit to Island Peak, to be prepared for the Ama Dablam climb. Because we will climb from Base Camp to the Summit and return to Base Camp, it will be a long day. We will begin our ascent of Island Peak from Base Camp in the initial phase. The slope continues to narrow, and the trail enters a rock channel with a gradient. We will make our Camp near the rock channel. We need to use crampons on this day. Follow your guide’s instructions carefully for safety. There, the guide will share some quick last-minute climbing techniques.

The trail continues to rise up from the rock gully. We need to climb a series of short rock steps, which will bring us to the right side of the drain. We will follow a ridgeline that leads to the exposed traverse onto the snout of the summit glacier. Moving through crevasses, we will ascend a 40-degree slope using a rope and follow the ridge to the Summit.

Continuing the climb, we’ll get to the Summit of Island Peak. There, we found ourselves surrounded by the south face of Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Baruntse, and Ama Dablam. We will spend some time at the Summit after successfully ascending Island Peak, then descend to Island Base Camp, where we will stay overnight. If time permits, we plan to stay overnight at Chhukung, as it offers better food and accommodation.

After making a successful climb of Island Peak, we are all set to climb Ama Dablam. After breakfast at Base Camp, we make our way towards Pangboche. The first part of the walk crosses loose moraine, sandy flats, and stony paths. The air grows thicker and warmer with each step, and the grey glacial landscape gives way to open valleys. After reaching Chhukung, the path continues along a gentle route, offering views of Ama Dablam and Imja Valley.

The walk from Chhukung to Dingboche is smooth and familiar, passing through small stone walls and yak grazing areas. After a couple of hours, the route settles into a pleasant descent through the Imja or Khumbu valley system. It passes through familiar junctions and small settlements such as Orsho and Shomare. As we get closer to Pangboche, the landscape becomes greener, and you start seeing more shrubs, trees, and signs of village life. We will stay overnight at Pangboche.

From today, we’ll head towards our destination. After breakfast at Pangboche, we’ll pack our belongings and make our way to Ama Dablam Base Camp. As we leave Pangboche, we’ll leave the main Everest route and head uphill through open fields, stone walls, and yak pastures. We first follow a clear pathway that climbs gently above the village, with views back toward Tengboche and the Imja and Khumbu valleys. Later, the path descends steeply toward the Imja Khola, where we cross a suspension bridge.

As we continue, the landscape becomes more rugged and open, with fewer trees and more alpine grasses. The route follows a gentle ridge, and the mountain’s sharp peak stands ahead of us, motivating us to reach it. The final walk climbs across grassy slopes and rocky patches before reaching the base camp. The Base Camp offers views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Pumori, Thamserku, and many other peaks, making the location astonishing. Our day’s overnight is at a tented camp set up by our team.

From the fifteenth day, we’ll begin the climbing period, the moment we’ve been desperately waiting for. During the period, we move from base camp up through the high camps toward the Summit. Likewise, we follow a careful, steady routine that helps us acclimate to the altitude. This period usually lasts several days and requires patience, teamwork, and strong focus.

Base Camp (4,600m) to High Camp I (5,795m)

We will choose the commercial SW ridge route to climb Amadablam. Leaving Base Camp, we will climb over rocks and walk along ridges. We may need to use a fixed rope at some point. We will reach Camp I in a few hours.

High Camp I (5,795m) to High Camp II (5,980m)

The route from Camp 1 to Camp 2 is especially exciting because it includes exposed rock climbing and sharp drops on either side. Our rock climbing skills are going to be tested in this section. The journey continues through a tapered ridge. We will proceed using fixed ropes. The terrain is mostly covered in rocks and boulders. We will finally reach Camp II, which is located at the top of Yellow Tower.

High Camp II (5,980m) to High Camp III (6,440m) to Amadablam Summit and return to Camp II

We need to traverse ice and snow in this section. We will ascend snow- and ice-covered gullies to reach Mushroom Ridge, where we will establish Camp III. The site is exposed but not technically reachable. Camp III is located at a scenic site with panoramic views of the mountains in the background.

We have to face the challenges of heavy wind from Camp III onwards. Leaving Camp III, we will follow the route that continues to the right of the huge ice cliff. The climb continues through the ice section to reach the Summit. Standing at the top of Ama Dablam is the victory of our lifetime. At that moment, we feel both emotional and strong. The surrounding peaks of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Nuptse, Pumori, Cho Oyu, and many others seem to congratulate us. After a summit push, we return to Camp II.

Camp II (5,980m) to Base Camp (4,600m)

After a final night at Camp II, or a short rest after the summit climb, we begin our long journey back down to lower altitude. We slowly rappel down the same rock sections we climbed earlier, including the steep Yellow Tower. Narrow ridges and rocky paths require complete focus as we make our way back toward Camp I.

From Camp I, we continue descending through loose rocks, scree, and boulders. As we lose height, the air feels warmer and easier to breathe, which brings relief. The final stretch crosses moraine slopes and grassy hills, leading us safely back to Ama Dablam Base Camp (4,600 m).

Reaching Base Camp feels like coming home. We are welcomed by the support team with smiles and warm food. We change into comfortable shoes, enjoy a celebratory meal, and look back up at Ama Dablam with pride, knowing we stood on its summit.

On the 24th day, we’ll wake up with a different sense of having achieved something. Sadly, we must return as we’ve made it to the Summit of Ama Dablam. As usual, we start our day after a hearty morning meal. The return is gentle and peaceful, which feels much easier than the climb up. As we walk down the ridge, the air feels good, and breathing becomes easy.

The path is gentle and pleasant, and the familiar sights of yak pastures, stone walls, and scattered shrubs will comfort us. As we get to Pangboche, we’ll rest and take a shower. Our day’s dinner and overnight stay are at Pangboche for one last time.

Early in the morning, we can visit Pangboche Monastery to observe the daily rituals. After, we’ll have our breakfast and continue our return journey. From Pangboche, the route goes downhill through small fields and houses until we reach Debuche. After a short walk, we then reach Tengboche, where we can stop to have lunch and enjoy the mountain view, as well as to explore Tengboche monastery.

After lunch, the trek continues, crossing a suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River. As the trek descends, the environment becomes greener. When you finally reach Namche Bazaar, the colorful town feels welcoming. Overnight and dinner at Namche Bazaar.

The 26th day marks the final day on the Mount Ama Dablam Expedition. After the morning meal, we make our way from Namche Bazaar to Lukla. Leaving Namche, the pathway goes steeply downhill at first. Soon, we cross several suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River. We’ll pass through a mix of gentle ups and downs via small villages, farms, and forests.

Similarly, we’ll pass by familiar places such as Phakding and Monjo. At Monjo, we’ll check out of Sagarmatha National Park, and at Phakding, we’ll stop to have lunch. The final part of the journey is an uphill climb to Lukla. Overnight and dinner at Lukla for one last time.

We will take an early-morning flight from Lukla to Ramechhap. As soon as we get off the plane, we will start our drive to Kathmandu. We might take a midday break for breakfast/Lunch, depending on the time. Once we reach Kathmandu, our representative will drop you off at your hotel, check you in, and prepare you for the evening celebration meal. Stay overnight at a Kathmandu hotel.

Day 28 is reserved as a buffer day in case of Lukla flight delays or cancellations, which are common due to changing mountain weather. This helps make sure your international departure plans are not affected.

But if you are already back in Kathmandu, the day is all yours. Spend the day as you like. You can shop in Thamel for souvenirs for your friends and family. However, we can also arrange a guided sightseeing tour if you wish. On the city tour, we’ll take you to prominent heritage sites of Kathmandu, including Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath Stupa, or Boudhanath Stupa. At night, you can experience the nightlife of Thamel. Overnight stay at Kathmandu’s Hotel.

Today, we must say goodbye to you. You will be transferred to the airport in accordance with your scheduled international flight. Our representative will safely escort you to Tribhuvan International Airport and bid you farewell. We hope you enjoyed the trip with us and remember us during your next visit to Nepal. Safe journey. We hope to see you soon.