Ama Dablam Expedition (6,856m)

Amadablam is a technical peak and you need good stamina for a long day effort while climbing it. You can climb the peak without any previous climbing experience and skills of using climbing equipment but knowledge on using equipment and previous experience would be beneficial although not mandatory because a pre-ice climbing training is provided to you in Base Camp to make you skillful on using climbing gears such as ropes, ice pick, harness, crampons.

To prepare for a strenuous trek you should begin training at least three to four months before your departure. As a guideline, an hour of aerobic exercise three to four times per week would be considered a minimum requirement. The best preparation is bushwalking involving relatively steep ascents and descents. If you can manage a couple of valley floor to ridgeline ascents per comfortable and able to enjoy the trek to the fullest. They are physically strong, sharp-witted and have an incredibly positive attitude towards a life that we would consider extremely tough. There is something about a trek in the Himalaya that draws you back time and time again. For keen walkers it is a paradise and even avowed non-walkers find that one foot just seems to follow the other, drawn by the appeal of what lies beyond.

Amadablam climbing involves trekking as well as climbing with all the expedition equipment. Though previous climbing experience certainly helps yet no prior experience is required. However, anyone with knee, ankle, heart or lungs pre medical history needs to seek medical consent before considering Island Peak. Moreover, at Amadablam base camp our climbing Sherpa guide will organize a basic climbing training session on required climbing skills and use of climbing equipment.

Price Includes

• Airport / Hotel / Airport pick up & drop by Tourist vehicle.
• Standard twin sharing accommodation in three star hotel in Kathmandu; Breakfast included. (6 nights)
• Guided city tour in Kathmandu byTourist Vehicle.
• All your standard Meals during the lodge to lodge trek (Breakfasts, Lunches and Dinners).
• Lodges, Guesthouse accommodation during the trek (Twin sharing and ocasionally dormitory room at guesthouse)
• Full board meal during the camping at base camp, prepared by our cook with hot Tea & coffee.
• All base camp and Advance base camp camping gears (We will provide fully water proof dining tents, kitchen gears, dining table, chairs, toilet tents, shower tent at the base camp and advance base camp)
• High quality Climbing tents for all camps.
• Insurance for all Nepali staffs and porters including helicopter rescue provision.
• Boiled and purify drinking water for the trek and at base camp.
• Expedition permits
• Liaison officer and his round trip flight, insurance, wages, expedition equipments etc.
• High altitude climbing food, fuel, Gas- above base camp (you are also advised to bring some high altitude food yourselves)
• Guide, cook, porters, helpers up to base camp
• Climbing Sherpas (2 member = 1 Sherpa Ratio on climbing day)
• A well stocked first aid and medical kit sufficient to counter any possible mountaineering ailments, from headache to serious injury.
• Oxygen equipment for medical use only.
• A portable hyperbaric chamber (Gamow bag)
• Emergency communications on the mountain and satellite communications link for helicopter evacuation.
• Sightseeing/Monument entrance fees in Kathmandu.
• Farewell dinner for members in Kathmandu.
• Power supply at Base Camp for charging electronics such as phone, laptops and cameras (solar backup)
• Flight cost from Kathmandu – Lukla – Kathmandu including airport departure tax at both airport.
• All our government taxes and vat.

Price Excludes

• Lunch and dinner whilst in Kathmandu.
• Travel insurance which covers emergency Rescue and Evacuation. (See the travel insurance page)
• International flights
• Nepal entry visa; you can obtain a visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days can be obtained by paying US $ 50 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 90 days can be obtained by paying US $ 125. Please bring 2 copies of passport size photos).
• Alcoholic and cold drinks.
• Personal trekking and Climbing Equipment
• Tips for trekking staff
• Allow $50-100 for the general non-sherpa crew who stay at base camp.
• Allow $100-200 for sherpas who go up to the base camp.
• Summit climbing Sherpa US$ 200 – 500 per Sherpa.

Maximum 10 members can be included on our Ama Dablam expedition. This is to ensure that we can maintain safety and our attention on detail. There may be more in base camp and in the camps on the mountain if there are private expeditions, but they will generally travel separately from the main team.

Yes, our airport representative will be there to greet you at the airport.

At most cases you can use the toilet provided by the tea houses/lodges on the trail but normally in case of emergency, you just do toilet along the trail wherever you find privacy.

Please bring a copy of your travel insurance, a copy of your passport and 3 photos (passport size) with you for your trip to Nepal. You would need photos for permits.

Yes, you can obtain the visa easily upon your arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu (Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 15 days can be obtained by paying USD 30 or equivalent foreign currency. Similarly, Tourist Visa with Multiple Entries for 30 days and 90 days can be obtained by paying USD 50 and 125 respectively. Please bring 2 copies of passport size photos.)

We use standard rooms at two or three star hotels in Kathmandu with breakfast included.

Along the trekking routes, teahouses/lodges generally provide basic clean facilities with a mattress and a quilt or blanket. We can also offer you Ace the Himalaya sleeping bags if needed (to be returned after the trip) but it is a good idea to always have your own sleeping equipment. The lodges in trekking routes usually provide single and double rooms, or occasionally a dormitory. At times when possible, dining will be around a bonfire. In tea houses, food will be prepared in the kitchen which you should not enter without permission. The toilet in tea houses provides essential and basic facilities and are always outside the room.

From Amadablam peak base camp, the accommodation will be in a Tented camp.

All the guest houses sell the toilet paper so you can buy it there itself. Hand sanitizer and a towel must be brought on your own. For the stay at the tented camps, the toilet papers may not be available which is why it’s best to buy the toilet papers in the guesthouses itself.

Substituting the accommodation or swapping from mountain guest house to Kathmandu is NOT possible. We only provide six nights’ accommodation in Kathmandu included in the package.

In case of flight cancellation or early arrival to Kathmandu due to any sickness in the mountain or any of your own personal reason or due to bad weather and you are unable to continue the expedition, you will need an extra night accommodation/s in Kathmandu. We can make these arrangements for a supplemental charge.

During the trek we will try our best but normally the lodges have twin sharing and dormitory styled room instead of a single room. The lodges will provide a private room for one person when the room is free and additional cost is not required.

In Kathmandu, USD 45 Per Room Per Night would be added as a single supplement fee. The single supplements are always guaranteed in Kathmandu but not in the mountain especially during the peak time.

You can book private tent by paying additional cost of USD 120 for the nights you spend in base camp at and above the Amadablam base camp.

Most teahouses (lodges) in Amadablam Peak trails cook a delicious range of mostly vegetarian fare. Pasta, tuna bakes, noodles, potatoes, eggs, daal bhat (rice and lentils), bread, soup, fresh vegetables (variety depends on the season) and even some desserts like apple pies, pancakes, and some interesting attempts at custard. You will find a lot of garlic on the menu because it assists with acclimatization – eat some every day. In many larger villages, you may find some meat items on the menu. You can always get hot chocolate, tea, and hot lemon drinks, as well as soft drinks, and treats like chocolate and crisps. Each day dinner and breakfast will be at a lodge you’ll stay at while lunch will be taken on the way to your destination.

At Tented camp stay while in and above Amadablam Peak Base Camp, our professional cook will provide you the best veg-delights according to your advice.

Most of the tea houses do have western style flushing toilet however in higher elevation you could find the squat toilets made of either a ceramic basin on the ground or few planks precariously positioned over a hole in the ground which is always outside of the room.

During the night stay in tented camp above the base camp, our team would provide the very basic tented toilet facility.

It depends on your spending habits. Generally, in Kathmandu, you can allocate USD 10 to USD 15 for a lunch and a dinner. Roughly USD 25 to USD 40 per person a day will be enough to buy breakfast, lunch, dinner, bottles of water, chocolates, pay for the hot shower and a few drinks during the trekking. Please note, higher you go the things would be expensive especially at higher altitude; all the goods are supplied either by helicopter, horse, mules or porters therefore the things are expensive.

No problem at all because mostly, the lodges serve the vegetarian meals. We always recommend our clients to eat vegetarian meals to avoid the food poisoning, eating heavy meals and non- vegetarian meals at the high altitude is not really safe for the stomach.

YES, the food is very safe during the trekking and we recommend you to eat the vegetarian and local food. Please follow the suggestion of our guide on the trek.

At the lower altitude like Lukla, Phakding, Namche the guesthouses provide the facilities of hot shower.

And in rest of the places (at higher elevation), warm water in the bucket will be provided for shower.

For all above showers, it would cost you extra about USD 3-4 per shower. The higher you go the hot shower would be expensive.

During camping at and above Amadablam base camp, the proper shower facility is not available.

During the trekking period, cash transaction is highly recommended. Please change the currency in local Nepali Rupees before you go to the mountains.

Especially in the Everest trail, Atm would be available only in Namche and relying on it is not a better idea as you never know when things stops working. Also if you try to exchange your foreign currency there you would be getting very less exchange rates. So changing money from Kathmandu and taking Nepalese cash is a wise idea, which we too recommend.

Bottled water is easily available at the lodges and teahouses. You can buy bottled water at the cost of USD 2 at lower elevations to USD 4 to higher elevation per littler. More higher you go it would be expensive.

If you are planning to drink normal water, purifying water with any sort of purification tablets or drop is must.

One can purchase purification tablets or iodine in Kathmandu, Lukla or Namche.

At Tented camp stay while in and above Amadablam Peak Base Camp, our professional cook/ guide will provide boiled and purified water during the camping, which is included in the package.

The cost of the helicopter is payable directly to our Kathmandu office in the event that this service is utilized. US cash, or credit cards (Visa Cards, Master Cards, American Express only) are accepted. You will be given a receipt upon payment so that you may claim the amount from your travel insurance. The extra charges incurred are approximately $2,500 to $3,000 USD per helicopter (minimum USD 500 to maximum USD 3,000 per person) would be applicable to you for the helicopter charter. Usually the helicopter takes only 4 to 6 passengers at a time. Therefore whatever the cost of helicopter is, the price is divided among the group members. Any card payment requires 4% bank fee while doing the transaction, which is taken by bank itself. (Ace doesn’t own any of those 4% amount)

Following equipment are necessary for climbing Amadablam. YES you can rent the following needed climbing equipment at the additional cost of USD 200 per person.

1 Pair plastic shell mountaineering boots with high altitude liners

1 Pair of crampons (steel, no aluminum).

1 Alpine climbing harness.

1 Mountaineering axe with leash (sized properly for your height)

1 Ascender (right or left handed as appropriate)

1 Belay device (Black Diamond ATC or ATC Guide are good options)

2 D-Shaped locking carabiners

2 Non-locking carabiners

1 Pair expedition style gaiters (ensure fit over your boots)

Neck gaiter

Ski goggles (optional)

Climbing helmet (optional)

Twin Otter and Dornier is the primary mode of transport to and from the airstrip at Lukla. This service is fairly dependable. Sometimes, flights (to and from Lukla) may be cancelled due to mountain weather conditions or technical issues. In such case, Ace the Himalaya can help you to charter a helicopter to ensure you are on schedule for your trek or international flight. The helicopter can fly if the visibility is 1500m, while the twin otter and Dornier can fly if the visibility is 5000m, as per Nepal’s Civil Aviation rules.

If weather is extreme and the visibility is lesser than 1,500m no helicopters are also operated for the flights. In such case we will reschedule your flight for next day we will give you alternative trek options.

Ace the Himalaya is all about providing you with local insights, lifestyle as well as adventure. Depending on the nature of the travel, the transportation to and from the destination varies from domestic flights to vehicular transportation to even piggyback rides on mules and yaks. We provide you only those options which enhance your local experience while allowing you to travel comfortably and efficiently. We use private tourist vehicles for sightseeing, city tours and pickups. Depending on the group size we use cars, minibus, vans or alternatively 4WD jeep, more maneuverable in traveling along the narrow and bumpy roads of Nepal. All the vehicles are usually air-conditioned unless we are traveling in cooler areas.

For domestic flights (Kathmandu – Lukla – Kathmandu), we use Tara Air, Summit Air and Sita Air-popular domestic airlines.

Yes, you need to book your own International flights. We are a local agent and it would cost you significantly higher to book through us. Please find more information in the International Flight page.

In case of emergency cancellation of flights due to weather condition at Lukla or in Kathmandu we recommend our clients to wait for some time for the weather to clear out. In case the weather fails to clear out and the flights are not likely to take place then in such cases we recommend to go for a helicopter charter. This facility can be provided if our clients are agreeing to pay the extra charges applicable for the heli ride. The helicopter takes 4 to 6 passengers at a time and the cost can be shared amongst the passengers. The cost must be paid by the participant, which can later be submitted for reimbursement through travel insurance company. We can help you with the necessary documents for a claim.

You can clear the remainder of the money upon your arrival in Kathmandu or even before you arrive in Kathmandu. You can use USD cash, American Express, Master or Visa cards for the payment options. There will be 4% bank levy when paying by credit cards.

One of the most unpredictable elements of the Everest region is the weather. If you’re not properly prepared for the twists, turns and volatility of the conditions that can occur in this breathtaking region, you might find yourself in an uncomfortable and unpleasant situation. Here are some weather basics to help ensure that you come to the Himalayas as well equipped and prepared to face anything.

Generally speaking, the nights are much cooler than the daytime hours in the Everest region. Many first-time trekkers are surprised to learn about the incredible range that may occur in a given day. During the day, the thermometer could reach temps as high as 25 degrees C (77 Degrees F), only to dip down as low as -20 degrees C (-4 Degrees F) in less than 24 hours. While there’s no way to know exactly what each day in the mountains will bring, the weather and temperature ranges tend to be somewhat predictable based on the month and season.

Spring – March / April / May / June

Spring happens to be one of the best times of the year to visit the Everest region, although because of this, it can become somewhat crowded. One can meet many other Everest climbers during this season and base camp is full of tents. The beautiful clear blue sky can be seen and the many different species of flower are visible in the lower altitude.

During springtime, the average temperature is 20 degrees C (68 Degrees F), with a maximum of 25 degrees C (77 Degrees F), during sunny days and a minimum of -15 degrees C (5 Degrees F), in the morning and at night for areas above 4000 meters.

July / August Through Mid-September is Monsoon Season

This season is not really recommended to travel as it rains in the lower altitudes, below 3500 meters. In areas above 4000 meters, it rains sometimes and although it is also sometimes dry, very few people travel during this season. There are positive sides of trekking during the monsoon months as the excess rainfall can provide ample chance to see spectacular views of the waterfall and it’s also the best season to avoid the crowds.

During Monsoon, the average temperature is 22 degrees C (71.6 Degrees F), with a maximum of 30 degrees C (86 Degrees F), during sunny days and a minimum of -5 degrees C (23 Degrees F), in the morning and at night for areas above 4000 meters.

Autumn – End of September / October / November

Similar to springtime, autumn in the Everest region is also a crowded season, but it’s one of the best times to trek. While it lacks the beauty of flowers, the clear blue sky can be seen, affording incredible views from just about every angle.

The average temperature during the fall is 17 degrees C (62.6 Degrees F), with a maximum temp of 20 degrees C (68 Degrees F), during sunny days and a minimum of -15 degrees C (5 Degrees F), in the morning and at night, for areas above 4000 meters altitude.

Winter- December/ January/ February

Winter start from mid December till mid February. People still like to trek in this month due to fewer crowds. View is still good but foggy so having extra days is highly recommended during this period.

The average temperature during the winter is 10 degrees C (50 Degrees F), with a maximum temp of 17 degrees C (62.6 Degrees F), during sunny days and a minimum of -20 degrees C (-4 Degrees F), in the morning and at night, for areas above 4000 meters altitude.

The above temperature is based on outside of the guesthouse temperature. No need worry about the cold temperature as we provide the sleeping bag plus the extra blanket to make sure our clients are warm enough during the time of need.

Our trekking season extends from mid- September to May. From early September the monsoonal rains decrease. By end of September to December, the weather is usually stable with mild to warm days, cold nights. February, March, April, May, June, September, October, November and December are the best time to do Amadablam Peak Adventure.

The trip will be confirmed only when we receive the completed final booking form and 30% deposit payment. You can pay the rest of the balance when you arrive in Kathmandu by USD Cash, Credit cards (Master, Visa and American Express) any card payment requires 4% bank fee while doing the transaction, which is taken by bank itself. (Ace doesn’t own any of those 4% amount)

The temperature rating of the sleeping bags we provide are about -10 deg C (14 Deg Fahrenheit), our guide can provide liner or extra blanket from the lodge in the mountain if the sleeping bag is not warm enough for you.

Cancellation notice is required, minimum of 20 days prior to trip departure. If the reason is valid the Trip shall then be termed as cancelled and the cancellation charge of 30% of the trip amount would be deducted from the advance paid.

If you do not cancel your trip prior to 20 days due to whatsoever reasons, you must be aware that the trip you’ve already bought is completely non-refundable as per our terms and conditions. If you cancel the trip and need to submit a claim to your insurance company, we can help with the supporting documentation such as a receipt for monies paid. If your trip is cut short due to weather/illness/personal reasons, there is no refund for accommodations unused.

For more details please check this link 

You don’t need to submit any immunization documents to enter Nepal however if you have been immunized with diphtheria TB, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, *malaria, typhoid, polio and tetanus then that is a plus point but it’s not mandatory.

We also recommend:

• A dental check-up prior to travelling.
• That you know your blood group in case of emergency.

If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and Ace the Himalaya at the time of your booking.

Yes, all our climbing guides hold license from Nepal Mountaineering Association. They are experienced in many 6,000 and 7,000 meters peaks and also been to 8,000 meters peaks few times.

Yes, they have all received a 45-days training from the Hotel Management and Tourism Center in Nepal. The guides have also received high altitude first aid training from KEEP (Kathmandu Environmental Education Project). Please check our Trekking Guides Profiles and Training Certificates.

It totally depends on level of your sickness. Once you are sick in higher altitude you need to rest at lower altitude and it at least need 3 days to a week for the recovery.

If you are in private or solo trip you can discuss and decide with guide depending on your health status.

If you were in-group then this option would be limited so please make sure you discuss with guide and catch up the group later on.

Our guides are 24 hours available for the services during the trek. They are trained to use first aid kit and have knowledge to use Oxy meter in order to track your oxygen level just to make sure you are fit enough to continue your high altitude walk.

Guides also carry local sim cards both Nepal Telecom and Ncell in order to update whereabouts and situation of our every client. During the time of emergency our guides are alert and keeps updated to head office in Kathmandu that is available 24 /7 to arranging from horse to mules or helicopters in the must needed cases especially when client is seriously sick in the mountain and needed to be hospitalized.

Yes, we do have PAC but it is not necessarily required for the trip. If someone requires oxygen cylinder then it can be hired from the guesthouses as we use the guesthouse that has facilities of oxygen cylinder.

If one needs PAC we will surely provide one if required and extra charge would be applicable for it.

Please note: Using oxygen in the mountain can be very expensive so please make sure you are covered with good travel insurance policies so that you can claim your emergency medical expenses.

Our guides are 24 hours available for the services during the trek. They are trained to use first aid kit and have knowledge to use Oxy meter. They are very much aware that higher the altitude the oxygen level gets lesser so to get updated on the oxygen level of our client and to know whether they are fit enough or needs extra precautions to continue.

Guides carry local sim cards both Nepal Telecom and Ncell in order to update whereabouts and situation of our every client. During the time of emergency our guides are alert and keeps updated to head office in Kathmandu that is available 24 /7 to arranging from horse to mules or helicopters in the must needed cases especially when client is seriously sick in the mountain and needed to be hospitalized.

Our Company insures all our trekking staff members, including guides, cooks, Sherpa and porters. Please browse though Company Information pages to view insurance details.

For Lukla flights you are given only 15kgs as weight limit, which is equal to 33 Pounds; this includes both your duffel bag and daypack. So please pack and prepare wisely. If you exceed your limit additional cost of USD 2 to USD 5 Per Kgs would be applicable in the airport and this amount should be paid at the airport in airlines counter.

There are telephones in some villages along the trekking routes from which you can make international calls. All our guides carry local sim cards both Nepal Telecom and Ncell and satellite phones in order to update whereabouts and situation of our every client.

You may pass the number of our guide to your family for the callback or you can make a call from the guide’s mobile and pay him directly for the international call too.

Also we have kept a satellite phone at Dingboche, which has poor connection for the network of phones. Our guide’s use it during the case of emergency and also clients can use them by paying its rental fee.

The Ama Dablam climb is not for novice mountaineers. It will require members to be comfortable ascending and descending steep terrain on fixed ropes. A high technical standard is not mandatory because primarily the local Sherpa guides will be leading the climb and fixing the route. However, this is not a mountain to visit and then discover that you are not comfortable with exposure.

You must have solid rock climbing and cramponing skills and be able to climb and rappel with a pack on. You’ll be jumaring on fixed ropes. There are several short, steep sections of near vertical ice and rock on the spectacular ridge between Camp 1 and Camp 3 that require strength and technique. Most importantly, you need good common sense and the ability to learn and adapt. Ama Dablam is usually climbed un-roped, using fixed ropes, so it is common for climbers to move together but at the same time be semi-independent on the mountain between camps. We will provide a walkie-talkie to all climbers so they can stay in contact.

Our ‘Ama Dablam expeditions ‘ is not a “guided” . “Guiding” and being “guided” implies the intimate supervision and care of a “client” by a “Guide” who can be responsible for the direct and immediate control of safety. We believe on mountaineering, such a direct duty-of-care, implicit in the traditional guide-client relationship.

These facilities will be available in most of the places in your guesthouses reception by paying some service charges. Remember to bring TWO and THREE pin travel adapters! You can also buy the adapters in the super markets or electronic shops in the Kathmandu. Our guide can help you with it.

This facility is not available in Amadablam peak base camp.

The hotel in Kathmandu does provide the free storage services. So you can leave all your items that are not required for the trekking at your hotel.

This is a difficult thing to gauge. We have seen everything from USD 20 to USD 1000 per person for guides and porters. Tipping is not required, but a small gesture of thanks to your guides and local porters. The level of the tip should reflect the level of satisfaction from and personal involvement with your guide. However, we recommend you to spend minimum 10% of your total trip cost for tipping entire local staffs, the ratio of tipping guide and porter will be given to you at the pre-trip meeting in Kathmandu before starting the trek.

The above itinerary is not a fixed program but is intended to give an indication of the likely events during the expedition. Please note that because of climbing High Mountain, it will be necessary to have a flexible plan in order to take the best advantage of situations as they present themselves. Any changes to the itinerary will be made with a view to maximizing the benefit to the team members and of ensuring their eventual success on the mountain.

Normally climbers will change their departure flights from Kathmandu when they know exactly when the expedition is going to end. We plan to stay at Base Camp for climbing as long as it takes for us to be successful.

Team members should take out private insurance if they wish to be covered against cancellation due to medical or personal reasons. This is called trip Cancellation insurance and can be obtained from your normal travel agent.

Holiday should never be about making it to the final point quickly. Along your trek we can add days at your request with additional costs to cover guides, porters, accommodation and food. Please consult with your guide and he will update our office in Kathmandu and we can make the arrangements accordingly.

If you are in private or solo trip it would be possible as your itinerary is very flexible or if you were in-group then this option would be limited so please make sure you discuss with your group and guide and your guide will update us accordingly.

Whilst on the trek, our porter will take care of your luggage. All you need to carry is your small day bag for your personal belongings like camera, water bottle, sun cream etc.

YES all our trips are guaranteed to run. We never cancel the trip due to not having enough participants; we can arrange the trip for one person as well as a private trip at very minimum additional cost. Please inquire about this during the time of booking.

Yes, there are a plenty of options and choices to extend your holiday before or after your main trip. Please go into our trip extension page for further information.