Highlights

• Trek to the base of the world's most beautiful mountain also referred as the 'Matterhorn of the Himalayas', Mount Ama Dablam

• Enjoy the 360 degree panoramic views of the majestic mountains including that of Everest

• Experience the best of the Everest region

• Visit the famous Khunde hospital and sir Edmund Hillary's school 'Schoolhouse in the Clouds'

• Get insights into the vibrant Sherpa culture and the community

Ama Dablam, standing at the height of 6,812 meters, is one of the most popular and beautiful mountains of Everest region. Ama Dablam means ‘Mother Necklace, in Nepali language’, where Ama stands for mother and Dablam stands for the traditional jewellery necklace worn by Sherpa women. Ama Dablam base camp stands at the height of 4,600 meters and getting there is our ultimate objective; foot of the most beautiful mountain passing through pretty Sherpa villages. Ama Dablam Base Camp trek shares the pristine view of Mt Everest and Ama Dablam and other soaring mountains like Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kangtega, Tawache and many more peaks. This trek is the golden opportunity to learn about Sherpa lifestyle, culture and religion of Khumbu region while enjoying the panoramic views of gigantic peaks and beautiful scenario of the Himalayas. 

The fascinating journey to the most beautiful mountain begins with the scenic flight to Lukla. These 30 minutes of flight offers you the mesmerizing bird eye view of hilly landscape and Himalayan skyline throughout every minute possible. The real journey to the Ama Dablam base camp starts from the short hiking from Lukla to Phakding. On the way to Namche Bazaar is Monjo which is the entry point of Sagarmatha National Park, one of the UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. It is the home for rare animals like snow leopard, red panda, Himalayan black bear and musk deer. The next stop is Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar is the biggest city of Everest region. Although there is not any road transport but it has got lots of modern facilities that any travelers need. There is a rest day in Namche Bazaar for the acclimatization. On this leisure day, you can hike to the nearest viewpoint and admire the Everest view. Moreover, you can visit Sherpa cultural museum which is built with traditional Sherpa design and architecture protecting ancient Sherpa artifacts. The trail follows the classic trail to Everest Base Camp until Pangboche via Tengboche, to the Ama Dablam base camp and again back to the Pangboche. The trekking route follows the Dudh Koshi River passing through the lush forest, green hills and finally rocky terrain as the elevation increases. The highlight of the Ama Dablam base camp trekking is that you can observe many Buddhist monasteries and stupas on the way. Tengboche monastery is the key attraction of the journey. Tengboche monastery, also known as Dawa Choling Gompa, is the largest monastery of the Khumbu region built in 1916.

Ama Dablam Base Camp is less traveled than Everest Base Camp. Only few who have been to the Everest region treks know about this beautiful trekking route. If you want to make an unforgettable journey in Everest region including Sherpa culture with marvelous views of towering peaks, Ama Dablam Base Camp trek is one of the best options to choose from multiple menu of Everest treks.

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Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek Outline Itinerary

DAY 01: Arrival in Kathmandu

DAY 02: Preparation Day and  sightseeing optional in Kathmandu

DAY 03: Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding

DAY 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar

DAY 05: Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar

DAY 06: Trek to Tengboche village

DAY 07: Trek to Pangboche village

DAY 08: Trek to Ama Dablam Base Camp and return back to Pangboche

DAY 09: Trek to Phortse village

DAY 10: Trek to Monjo

DAY 11: Trek back to Lukla

DAY 12: Scenic flight back to Kathmandu

DAY 13: Final international departure

Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek Itinerary

***B L D denotes Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner ***

DAY 01:Arrival in Kathmandu, Hotel

You can see the Nature lovers’ representative holding your name board as soon as you get out of the arrival section of Tribhuwan International Airport. You will be transferred to the respective hotel. Check into your room and spend some time for relaxation until we meet in the evening for the dinner. In the mean time, Ama Dablam base camp trek briefing will be given by your trekking guide or the trek leader.

DAY 02:Preparation day and optional Sightseeing in Kathmandu, B, Hotel

Today, after the breakfast your guide will take you to some UNESCO World heritage sites inside Kathmandu valley for sightseeing if you need to do so. The rest of the team will be busy on preparing your final required documents. You can buy all the necessary supplies for the trekking. Also, we will provide sleeping bags and other additional items.

DAY 03:Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding 2,610 m, BLD, Teahouse

Early in the morning, your guide will come to pick you up and transfer to the airport for the Lukla flight. It takes almost 30 minutes of scenic flight above the Himalayas to reach Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla. After reaching Lukla, you will meet with you porters outside the airport. Then the trail descends to the Phakding which is just a couple of hours from Lukla. Overnight stay in Phakding.

DAY 04:Trek to Namche Bazaar 3,440 m, BLD, Teahouse

The trail crosses the Dudh Koshi River and then gently climb through the blue pine and rhododendron forest to the valley of Toktak and Benkar. You can see the glimpse of snow-capped peaks Thamserku and Khumbila. After that, we reach to Monjo, entry point of Sagarmatha National Park where you need to show your permit. On the way before reaching Namche Bazaar you can observe Mt Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse for the first time. Crossing the bridge of Dudh Koshi for several times and following the steeply upstairs leads to the Namche Bazaar, also known as Sherpa capital. Overnight stay in Namche Bazaar.

DAY 05:Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar, BLD, Teahouse

As the altitude increases we need extra acclimatization day to prevent from altitude sickness and for better trekking experience. Namche Bazaar is located in Khumbu region at 3440 meters so it is the best place for acclimatization. On this day you can hike to the Everest viewpoint which is two hours away from Namche Bazaar. You can enjoy the view of Mt Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and many others peaks. Hike down to Namche and explore Sherpa Cultural Museum while also enjoying the local atmosphere.

DAY 06:Trek to Tengboche village, 3,860 m BLD, Teahouse

The trail is easy until the Phungi Thanga, route follows the mountain  trail flat and downhill. Then the ascending slowly increases. Walking for two and half hours through the steep hill take you to Tengboche. Once you reach the Tengboche, never forget to visit ancient Tengboche monastery. If the weather favors you, you can see splendid Himalayan views of Mt Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Changtse, Lingterin, Thamserku, Kantega, Kusum Kanguru, Kongde and many more. Overnight stay in Tengboche.

DAY 07:Trek to Pangboche village, 3,930 m, BLD, Teahouse

Today is the short trek to the Pangboche. The initial part of the trail is light and easy which drops all the way to Deboche. Then the trail starts to go uphill after crossing Imja Khola bridge. Climbing up for some hours, watching the luring view of Everest and Ama Dablam we continue to the Pangboche village. Overnight stay in Pangboche.

DAY 08:Trek to Ama Dablam Base Camp 4,600 m and return back to Pangboche, BLD, Teahouse

Today marks the main highlighted day of the trek. We make our way to Ama Dablam Base Camp, enjoy the day and return back to Pangboche. It takes about 6 to 7 hours of trekking to reach the Base Camp and returning back. You can leave your stuffs in the hotel and carry the light backpack with essentials only. Along the way, you can enjoy the incredible views of Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, Lobuche peak, Thamserku, Pumori, Cholatse, Khumbila, Tabuche peak and many more peaks with outstanding vista of Minbo glacier. Also you can see the yaks grazing on the difficult terrains. After spending some quality times on Ama Dablam Base camp, we will follow the same way back to Pangboche. Overnight stay in Pangboche.

DAY 09:Trek to Phortse village 3,860 m, BLD, Teahouse

On the way back we will take a different route. The destination for today is Phortse village. The trail is normally up and down as usual. The way follows the narrow hill sharing the stunning view of Himalayan landscape. On the way you can also see Tengboche monastery. The pleasant walk of few hours takes you to the Phortse village. Phortse village offers you the magnificent view of Mt Cho Oyu, Machhermo peak, Thamserku , Khumbila, Kwangde peak and many more snow capped peaks. Overnight stay in Phortse village.

DAY 10:Trek to Monjo 2,835 m, BLD, Teahouse

From Phortse, we will descend to Monjo via Phortse Thanga and Namche Bazaar. It is the painless day of trekking to Monjo. Monjo is the small remote village which lies in Dudh Koshi River valley. It is also the gateway to Sagarmatha National Park. Overnight stay in Monjo.

DAY 11:Trek back to Lukla, 2,860 m BLD, Teahouse

It is the last day of the trek as well as in the Everest region. Crossing the suspension bridge of Dudh Koshi River though Phakding, the trail gradually ascends to Lukla. Lukla is the city with modern facilities. You can have a good time while in Lukla and we will confirm for the flight to Kathmandu in meantime. Overnight stay in Lukla.

DAY 12:Scenic flight back to Kathmandu, BD, Hotel

After the early morning breakfast we will head to airport for the flight to Kathmandu with lots of unforgettable memories. After landing in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to the hotel. You can take proper rest all day long. Or you can explore Thamel and buy some souvenirs to take back home. In the evening we will meet again to lift the bottles up for accomplishing the wonderful Ama Dablam base camp trekking journey in Nepal. Farewell dinner is served.

DAY 13:Final international departure, B, Flight

After a wonderful trekking to Ama Dablam base camp, it is the time for you to fly back home. Our representative will drop you to the Tribhuwan International Airport. Bon Voyage and see you again.

Cost for 1 PAX: $1660 /-

Cost for 2 or more PAX: $1399 per person

Note: Trip cost varies with the group sizes.

Ama Dablam Base Camp Trekking Cost Breakdown

Cost Includes

• Airport pick up, drop and other transfers

• 3* hotel accommodation in Kathmandu on twin sharing basis including bed and breakfast (BB)

• Complimentary farewell dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant with cultural performances

• Kathmandu – Lukla – Kathmandu both way flight

• 9 night’s teahouse lodge during the trek

• Full board meals i.e. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner during trekking

• Tea / coffee in cups

• 4 nights attached bathroom during trek (3 nights at Namche and 1 night at Lukla) with hot shower

• Fully licensed, qualified English speaking trekking guide (leader) and assistant Sherpa as per the group

• Porter service, 1 for 2 trekkers

• All the staff's expenses including flight, salary, food, accommodation, equipment and insurance

• Sagarmatha National Park fee

• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance fee

• Trekking permit and other paperwork

• Trekking route map

• Company T-shirt

• First Aid Medical Kit

• All the government and local taxes

Cost Excludes

• Nepal visa fee and international flight

• Sightseeing and Meals in Kathmandu

• Extra accommodation and meals behind schedule

• Travel and emergency rescue insurance

• Personal expenses like hot shower, wifi, battery charge, laundry, chocolates and beverages of any kinds during trek

• Gratuities to the staffs (mandatory)

• Optional supply if necessary; sleeping bag, down jacket, duffel bags (to be returned after)

Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek Useful Information

Kathmandu airport pick up and drop services

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours’ staffs will pick you up from the airport as per your flight arrival time and similarly drop you off in the airport for international departure according to your flight schedule. During arrival, please don’t forget to look for your name placard hold by the team, outside the airport arrival gate. Our staff will be impatiently waiting for your arrival to greet you and warmly welcome you in Nepal. ‘NAMASTE’ is the foremost and the most commonly used greeting word in Nepal which you will hear from our staff at the very first moment you meet him.

Customized Trips and Trip departure

Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek departs from Kathmandu as per our fixed departure dates. You can join any available fixed departure groups if you are a solo or small group travelers if you wish to, when the trips cannot be customized.

But if you are in a private group, fixed departure dates are not suitable for you and so you need to choose your own dates and packages, when you can customize the trek as per your travel needs. For further information, please kindly contact your own friendly neighbor, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours.

Accommodations in Kathmandu and during trek

You will be staying in the 3 star hotel in Kathmandu while in the teahouse lodges or guesthouses during the trek.

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours has the best accommodation arrangement for you from the beginning to the end. We believe after the tough walking day, everyone deserves the proper rest and the right ambience to relax and chill. Therefore, our choice of accommodation is the best when it comes to the trekking days. The rooms will be clean and comfy. Our entire accommodations will be on twin-sharing basis as you can see, so you have to let us know if others; let’s say if you want triple or quadruple sharing or if you want a double bed, etc. There will be extra charge for the single supplement.

If you wish to change the accommodation category to a better ones in Kathmandu, please let us know and we can change it for you on added cost.

Route Map and Company T-shirt

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers you a complimentary trekking map and the company t-shirts.

Safe Drinking Water during Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek

Hydrating yourself is the most important thing to do during the trek. You should drink at least 3 liters of water every day or more. The main reason is to avoid the altitude sickness and to avoid other health issues. Nature Lovers Treks and Tours provides you water purification tablets or liquids to purify the water in the mountains. You can even buy mineral water or boiled water on extra cost.

Your trekking guides and porters

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours has the best guides and porters in the whole tourism industry. We can guarantee you on that. Ask yourselves a question. What do you look for in a guide and a porter? Are they fully insured and are they paid well? Well, they are the staffs of Nature Lovers Treks and Tours so they are hundred percent happy with their treatment by the company. They are experienced, licensed and knowledgeable in the field. They are well paid and fully insured for their journey as well as for the medicals.

Now, let’s talk about our backbones. The leader or a guide should have a significant knowledge in the climbing and trekking so that he can wonderfully and safely lead you, clearing any obstacles on the way. We, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours can proudly say that our guides (climbing, assistant, trekking guide) are highly qualified for the role. They are fully trained, experienced and licensed. They have undergone through a whole lot of training to make themselves useful in various situations and to make your journey a smooth and pleasant one.

Our guide knows the local areas, the cultures, the traditions and the lifestyles much more than anyone do. Some of the things he tells you, might even be hard to find in the travel guide books. Depending upon the situations and weather conditions, the daily plans might change slightly which when happens, he will inform you beforehand. You should always be flexibly ready to accommodate to your guides’ instructions. Let him know if you have any health problems as well since he will act accordingly to the situation. Depending upon the group size, we will also provide you assistant guides and extra Sherpas if needed.

Our porters are always fully equipped with the gears they need and as per the company policy, they are always insured and completely looked after. They are our backbone. We allow maximum weight of 25/30 kg to be carried by one porter. They are the strongest in our group with less communication skills. We also closely work with IPPG {International Porter Protection Group} and follow their ethics and guidelines.

Your safety

Nature Lovers Treks and Tours puts your safety as the top priority. We provide you our own comprehensive first aid medical kit bag along with the professional team of guides and porters. We are always in communication with our field team members to keep track of your safety and concerns. Your entire journey will be monitored by us and we make sure you enjoy your journey in full scale. We are available 24/7 for your health and safety checks during Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek.

Urgent point to Note

We always suggest you to keep extra one or two days in your trek since we are taking the domestic flights from/to Lukla. The weather in the mountains is unpredictable and can change anytime drastically which means your flight can be delayed or at worst cancelled and postponed for the next day. Therefore, this goes to all the Ama Dablam Base Camp trekkers, that extra days are needed if you wish to take flights from/to Lukla.

Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek cost?

The cost of the Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek varies from $1000-$2000 depending upon the number of days you choose to trek. The longer the trek, more expensive it will become. Similarly, the price will differ with the accommodation choices also. Normally, Nature Lovers Treks and Tours offers a comprehensive package which is inclusive of all the cost and expenses for the entire journey from the moment you land in Nepal till the moment you fly back home. However, you could also choose to buy only service-based package from us when we will be providing you only the supporting field staffs plus trekking permits and you have to arrange the rest by yourselves.

How is the Accommodation during the Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek?

In Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek, we will provide you the teahouse accommodations. A teahouse is typically a mountain lodge which is a combination of a lodge or a guest house and a restaurant or a café with basic furniture and interiors suitable for the social hangout. Many teahouses even have some attached bathrooms and the central heating furnace. Most of the teahouses provide the European toilets these days while Asian style of toilets are available in every teahouses. Hot showers are available but on extra cost. The same goes with the hot drinking water since they use the gas or solar to boil the water. Sleeping blankets are usually provided but we recommend you to carry your own sleeping bags for the hygienic purpose {can be arranged on request}. At the same time, it’s better to carry your own toiletries including the towels.

What are the permits that I need for Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek?

For Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek, you will need to make two permits: Sagarmatha National Park Entrance fee {can be made in Nepal Tourism Board at Kathmandu or in Monjo} and Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entrance fee {obtained in Lukla}.

How does this tipping system in Nepal works and do I have to tip?

Tipping is not compulsory for Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek however tipping is all about showing your gratitude and appreciation. We care about our staffs in the fields so we expect you to look after them in return for them looking after you throughout your journey. They are your closest friend in the remotest parts and also your protector whenever anything seems to happen to you. So tipping is highly expected and we’ve made it mandatory too. The amount of gratuities can be determined by yourselves. Normally, a guide expects around $5 or more per day per person while a porter expects $4 or more per day per person.

Can I charge my phones, batteries or other electronic devices in Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek?

You can easily charge your electronic devices during Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek {with some exception days} but by paying small amount or fees for charging. Don’t forget to buy a plug adapter or socket fittings before you leave Kathmandu.

Is there WiFi and mobile signal on the Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek?

Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek route has good mobile network coverage these days, thanks to the Nepalese telecommunication companies called Ncell and NTC. You can buy one of these Sim cards from any local phone shops in Kathmandu and use their mobile data on the trek.

WiFi is available on purchase in Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek route. There are some internet cafes along the route as well from where you can use WiFi to communicate with your loved ones which is comparatively cheaper than buying the WiFi packs. However, the signal varies from place to place and please don’t expect to receive the fast data coverage in the trek.

When is the best time to trek to Ama Dablam Base Camp?

Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek can be done throughout the year. However in average, Spring {March, April and May} and Autumn {September, October and November} are the best times or seasons to trek to Ama Dablam Base Camp. Spring and Autumn are known as the Peak season or Busy season in Nepal. It’s because the temperature is moderate during these seasons and the best panoramic mountain views are guaranteed while during other Summer {June, July and August} and Winter {December, January and February} season, the clear weather is not guaranteed. But if you are an explorer, a photographer and a peace lover, less busy season can also be the right time to do Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek. The problem is the weather is harsh cold in winter and there’s snow everywhere while the summer has rainfalls and clouds obscuring the mountains and the views are not so great most of the time.

Do I have to worry about the altitude sickness in Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek?

The itinerary of our Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek is perfectly designed by Nature Lovers Treks and Tours and has separated enough time in the places to let the body acclimatize well in high altitudes. As long as you follow the guide, you should be fine. Altitude sickness in fact can affect anyone regardless of the age or the fitness level, so it is very important to walk slowly and gradually as you go higher. Learn more in details about Altitude Sickness to prepare yourselves for the upcoming Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek.

Do I need to be healthy and physically fit for Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek?

When it comes to trekking in the mountains, health and fitness of a person plays a vital role. If you are a healthy person without any serious medical problems, Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek is for you but if you have any sorts of medical issues, please consult to your doctor before coming to Nepal for the trek. We will be gaining the high altitude of 4600 m above the sea level which is not a joke. People normally start to have breathing problems above 3000 meters from the sea level, if they have pre-existing health conditions.

Now when it comes to the fitness level required, Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek does not demand high physical fitness. The trekking includes daily walks of about 4-8 hours and involves many ascents and descents which means you need at least some practices before you start the trekking journey. You will be traversing through the glaciers and high hills. If you do not have the previous trekking experience, that’s fine but obviously if you have previous experiences, it will be lot easier. For those not having previous trekking experiences, please exercise regularly for at least a month prior your trekking departure. Go for the morning walks, do some jogging as you get time, participate in some cycling activities, etc. This way, you will be good to go for trekking to Ama Dablam Base Camp.

What kind of food items or meals can I eat on Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek?

Only breakfast is included in Kathmandu while full board meals or full meals are included during the trek. Tea and coffee will also be provided during the entire trip. During the trek, you will have your breakfast and dinner in the same teahouse where you spend the night while the lunch will be served en route towards the next destination of the day. There are a varieties of choices to choose from; Nepalese, Tibetan, Indian, Continental, etc.

The most common and the highly recommended food during the Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek is typical Nepali Dal Bhat {rice and lentil}; even better without meat, means Nepali Vegetarian Dal Bhat. You can also eat other food items such as seasonal vegetables, noodles and spaghetti, pastas, pizzas and French fries, soups, etc. depending upon the availability. For the beverage, you can either choose warm, hot or cold beverages; soft drinks, beer and hard drinks. For the breakfast, you can order cereals, breads, noodle soups, egg dishes, etc.

Do I need a travel insurance for Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek?

Travel insurance is a must when you trek to Ama Dablam Base Camp. Therefore before you come to Nepal, please make sure you have your insurance documents with you since our insurance companies cannot insure foreign nationals. Because of the reason that they cover all the expenses, if you face some unfortunate happenings and you have to be rescued or medically assisted during the trip or if your belongings are lost or stolen. We strongly advise you to take out an insurance which covers any medical risks up to 4500 meter as well as the medical evacuation from the mountains.

What gears and equipment do I need to pack for Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek?

Choosing the right gear and equipment is important as well for the successful trek to Ama Dablam Base Camp. Pack the right gears and equipment but remember, packing as light as possible is the best way to go when trekking to Ama Dablam Base Camp. You should read this What to take for travel to get all the details on what you need to pack or carry.