Trip Overview
Mt. Ama Dablam, known as the Matterhorn of the Himalaya, is one of the most recognized mountains in the world, a mountain that many aspiring mountaineers want to add to their logbook. Ama Dablam dominates the Imja valley and lies just a few kilometers south of Mt. Everest.
Your Ama Dablam Expedition kicks off with an ‘exciting’ flight to Lukla Airport. From there the trail heads north along the Dudh Koshi (milk river) to Namche Bazaar, the main Sherpa town at 3,440m. At least two nights will be spent in Namche to allow for altitude acclimatisation. From Namche it is a two-day trek to Pangboche at 3,930m where you will spend at least one night before once again crossing the Dudh Koshi and climbing to Ama Dablam Base Camp which is set in meadow with a stream at just under 5000m. Accommodation at Base Camp will be individual spacious tents; there will be a comfortable dining /relaxing tent plus shower and toilets.
At Base Camp, under the watchful eyes of the climbing guides, you will settle into the expedition routine. There will be skills to revise, equipment to be checked and rotations on the mountain to aid acclimatization. When the weather is settled, and you are ready, you will begin your summit push which could take three or four days. The route normally incorporates 3 camps but sometimes, depending on the group and weather, the summit can be reached from Camp 2. The final push is likely to be a long day with the summit reached soon after dawn. Once the event has been duly recorded it will be time to carefully descend to a low camp for rest before continuing the descent to Base Camp. There you will have time to shower and relax a while before setting off on the walk-out to Lukla for the return flight to Kathmandu and a well-deserved cold beer!
Previous Experiences/Fitness
Members should be technically competent, with previous Alpine or Himalayan experience. Summit success will require a high level of mountaineering skill and fitness. Ama Dablam is a technical climb, graded Alpine TD; it is extremely demanding both physically and mentally.
Alpine Grades
F = Facile = Easy
PD-/PD/PD+ = Peu Difficile = Somewhat difficult
AD-/AD/AD+ = Assez Difficile = Fairly difficult
D-/D/D+ = Difficile = Difficult
TD-/TD/TD+ = Tres Difficile = Very difficult
ED-/ED/ED+ = Extremement Difficile = Extremely difficult
EDX = Beyond extremely difficult!
Preparation and Equipment
Once your place on the expedition has been confirmed you will be sent a trip dossier which contains useful information on preparation, medical matters and an equipment list.
Cost for Ama Dablam Expedition
Mt. Ama Dablam Expedition costs USD 4,500 for Full Expedition Service and USD 3,000 for Base Camp Service.
Full Expedition Service: USD $4,500. This includes all transfers, Kathmandu accommodation, fees & permits, internal flights, trek service to Base Camp (BC), accommodation and meals at BC, Sherpa guide on the mountain, tented accommodation & food on the mountain, supplementary oxygen.
Base Camp Service: USD $3,000. This includes all transfers, Kathmandu accommodation, fees & permits, internal flights, trek service to Base Camp (BC), accommodation and meals at BC but no services above BC.
