AMA DABLAM EXPEDITION

Arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, received by Sherpa Expedition and Trekking staff with a warm welcome and transfer to respective hotels with a briefing regarding Ama Dablam Expedition. Overnight at the hotel with BB.

This day after breakfast, at around 8 am, we host a pre-trip meeting at your hotel in Kathmandu and introduce your trek leader/guide. Please seek this opportunity to ask questions about your trek. We will also supply you with our trek luggage Bag, and a Cap. For the meeting, please make sure you bring a passport, three copies of passport-size photos, and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance, if any, and sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer. Please inform us in advance if you will be arriving late and therefore unable to attend the pre-trip meeting. After the Pre-Trip meeting and breakfast, your sightseeing trip will start at 9.45 AM in the morning. We provide a private vehicle and a professional tour guide. We visit Boudhanath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in Asia, where we observe Buddhist monks in prayer in the monasteries surrounding the stupa. After Boudhnath Stupa we visit Pashupatinath, the most famous Hindu temple in the country, located on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Here we see Hindu holy men (sadhus) meditating, pilgrims bathing and occasionally funeral pyres burning on the ghats. We also visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which is a collection of pagoda and shikhara – style temples grouped around a fifty-five window palace of brick and wood. The attraction of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the Lion gate, the Golden Gate, the Palace of fifty-five windows, art galleries, the Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla. The rest of our time in Kathmandu is free for further exploration and some last-minute shopping in Thamel area near your hotel. Overnight at Hotel. Breakfast Included.

Early morning you will be picked up at the hotel by our guide and escort you to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport. Then you board the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. During the 40 minutes, you enjoy stunning views of Himalayas. After landing at Tenzing-Hilary airport you meet your porter. He will carry your luggage. Then you start your trekking. Today you trek of three hours. It’s easy and gentle. The trail starts passing a Kani (ceremonial gatehouse). It descends steeply then runs level above Kyangma village, which has a large gompa (monastery) and school. After that, you enter Cheplung village. The trail descends through community forest with the sight of Dudh Koshi River. Crossing suspension bridge it’s a short climb around the ridge to Ghat. Leaving Ghat the trail passes a school and complex of mani walls, Chortens and prayer wheels. Then the trail climbs to the hamlet of Chhuthawa. From Chhuthawa after a short walk, you reach to Phakding. Overnight at a mountain lodge. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

After a nice morning, walk continues crossing bridges over Dudh Kosi River passing several interesting villages of Toc-Toc,Bhenkar and Monjo arriving at Sagarmatha National Park entrance gate, from here on the river bed for few hours and after the last bridge a steep uphill to Namche Bazaar, at Namche with facilities of good restaurant, pubs, cyber café, post office, and banks. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

This is the first of the two days set aside for "acclimatization". Health experts recommend us to stay active and moving during the rest day too instead of being idle. We either spend the day taking a day's hike to Thame or visiting Khunde or relaxing and exploring Namche Bazaar itself. Namche Bazaar is the main center of the Everest (Khumbu) region and has government offices, ATMs, Internet cafes, shops, restaurants, a bakery, and a colorful market each Friday evening and Saturday. If we trek a few hundred vertical feet during the day, it will help us to properly acclimatize. Our guides take us to the Tourist Visitor Center near the headquarter of the Sagarmatha National Park where we can observe an assortment of things related to the first Everest ascenders, Sherpa culture and learn about the various plant and animal life of the Everest region. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

The trek continues along the rushing glacial waters of the Dudh Kosi with magnificent views of the mountains. We’ll have trekked to an altitude of 3,860 m upon reaching Tengboche. Inside the monastery are incredibly ornate wall hangings, a 20-foot sculpture of Buddha, and the musical instruments and robes of the Lamas. The group will be taken to observe a prayer ceremony either in the evening or in the morning depending on how the trekking goes this day. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

From Thyangboche the trail drops to Debuche, crosses suspension bridge on the Imja Khola, and climbs to Pangboche amongst thousands of mani stones. Overnight at Guesthouse. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included.

We trek back down the trail to the bridge at Pangboche and cross the Dudh Kosi before climbing up the far side of the river and following the trail and ridgeline up to the base camp (three and a half hours from Pangboche). Base camp is located in an idyllic spot from which the majority of the route is visible. At an altitude of about 4600m (15,000ft), it provides a comfortable escape from the rigors of the climb. Our porters deposit their loads and leave us here for the next three weeks, with only our Sirdar, Sherpas and culinary staff remaining. Overnight at tented camp. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included.

Today is another day for acclimatization.

We do not provide a day-to-day itinerary for the climbing period, as this will be determined by the expedition leader and members. Guides will take a flexible approach based on what fits with climbers’ and their own experience. Typically, the team will spend a few days at the base camp organizing food, practicing rope skills, and acclimatizing before moving above the base camp. It is normal to ‘tag,’ or spend at least one night in Camp 1 (5700m), as part of any acclimatization schedule before returning to the base camp, resting, and preparing for a summit push. Ama Dablam climb via the southwest ridge After leaving the base camp old grassy moraine ridges are followed roughly eastwards to a broad saddle 5150m from where we can see the Mingbo La. From the saddle, we ascend easily northwards until the ground steepens at the start of a large boulder field. We may place an advanced base camp at 5400m below the boulder field. The route continues north around the base of the boulder field, and then follows cairns upward to the toe of the southwest ridge. At the end of the boulder field, slabs are crossed and then a short gully ascended, allowing access to the ridge proper in a very exposed position. Easy scrambling on the east side of the ridge leads quickly to Camp 1. There are four or five tent platforms. From Camp 1 we contour around the snowy bowl (possible alternative site for Camp 1) until we are below two rock fingers. The east side of the ridge is followed, climbing easy mixed ground until a short pitch of “severe” standard leads to the ridge proper. The ridge is narrow in places, with difficult turns on the east side, until the second tension traverse leads to two pitches of “very severe” standard. The route continues on the crest of the ridge for a short distance until we are forced via an awkward step onto the west side of the ridge. The crest of the ridge is regained and easily navigable roads followed to the start of a traverse on the east face, which leads to the Yellow Tower. This 15-meter pitch, just below Camp 2, is one of the hardest pitches on the climb at HVS (5.8) standard. A short section of ridge now leads to Camp 2 (5900m). Camp 2 has very limited tent space (three or four tent platforms) and is extremely exposed. It is sometimes only used to store equipment dump, with expeditions choosing to go from Camp 1 to Camp 3 in a single push. From Camp 2, the climb skirts a red rock bluff on the east and, after a step-down, follows the snow ridge directly to a tricky traverse east. This leads to a gully between the Grey Tower and the lower rock buttress. We climb the gully until a very exposed traverse line is reached on the west side of the ridge. A short snow slope is ascended, allowing us to reach the start of the Mushroom Ridge. Following this typically involves negotiating some steep snow sections, until Camp 3 (6300m) is reached. The route climbs the snow and ice slope directly above Camp 3 and to the right-hand side of Dablam. We continue to skirt Dablam on the right, then moving west to gain a small snowfield below the Bergschrund. The Bergschrund is crossed and then the climb heads directly to the ice crest above. This is followed by a magnificent climb to the summit. (High-Quality Camping Tents will be Provided in each camp) Overnight at tented camp. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included)

We descend six hours to Namche Bazaar (3441m). If we are lucky, we’ll arrive at a market time in Namche. Regardless, there is always fabulous food to be found, including delicious espresso, yak steaks, and chocolate cake with frosting! This market is where lowland porters bearing supplies meet the highland Sherpa and Tibetan people who have journeyed over high passes from many miles away to trade food and supplies for their houses and villages. Enjoy and celebrate your expedition. Overnight at Guesthouse. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included.

We return to Lukla (3404m), where the trip began, after a six-hour trek. We’ll take time to reflect on the trek as a group, and the personal achievements of all who took part. You’ll also have plenty of time to explore the town. Overnight at Guesthouse. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included.

We catch an early morning flight to Kathmandu after our long mountain journey. After reaching Kathmandu, we can take a rest or do some souvenir shopping. If we want to explore any other areas of Kathmandu, we may do that today. Our guides can help you with both souvenirs shopping or sightseeing. There will be a farewell dinner in the evening to celebrate with the clients. Overnight at Hotel. Breakfast Included.

Your adventure in Nepal comes to an end today! There is nothing to do but trade emails with your travel companions and organize your photos. A representative from Sherpa Expedition and Trekking will take you to the airport, approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight. On your way home you'll have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal. Breakfast Included.