Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek this trek has been designed to take you to some of the prettiest Sherpa villages within easy walking distance of Namche Bazaar, the ‘capital’ of the famous Sherpa people. Your ultimate objective is to stand at the foot of the region’s most beautiful mountain, Ama Dablam. Ama Dablam means ’mother’s necklace’ – the hanging glacier resembles a ‘dablam,’ which is a piece of traditional jewellery worn by Sherpa women.
You spend 11 nights in six lovely ‘luxury’ properties, which far surpass anything else that exists in the Everest region, and enable you to trek in the shadow of the majestic Everest in relative comfort. The lodges employ local staff, are ecologically sympathetic and have a high level of service. Bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms with flush toilets; there are landscaped gardens and a dining room/lounge/library for relaxation after your day’s walk. If you are well acclimatised to the altitude, you can even attempt to reach the staggering altitude of 5,000m on this trek!
Keeping group sizes small (2-12 persons), the tour operator’s moderate to strenuous trek gives an interesting cultural insight into the lives of local Sherpas. One night, you even get to stay at the home of the record-breaking Apa Sherpa, who has broken his own record twice by summiting Everest 20 times!
Your operator takes its economic responsibility seriously and is committed to ensuring that all the staff working for you throughout your trek have good working conditions and a good salary.
Short Program
Day 1: Arrive in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu – free time to explore. Evening meal of local fare and to get acquainted with the group.
Day 2: Morning: Walking tour of Ason (an old spice market). Overnight Kathmandu
Day 3: Fly to Lukla (2,800m) and trek to Phakding (2,600m)
Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,400m)
Day 5: Acclimatisation day at Namche Bazaar
Day 6: Trek to Thame (3,700m)
Day 7: On and up to Khumjung (3,790m) to enjoy afternoon tea in one of the highest bakeries in the world.
Day 8: Trek to Pangboche past the famous Tengboche monastery (3,790 m)
Day 9: Day excursion to Ama Dablam Base Camp (4,576m) 6-7 hrs approx
Day 10: Day excursion to Taboche Meadows (4,380 m) and trek to Kyangjuma
Day 11: Trek down to Monjo
Day 12: Trek to Lukla
Day 13: Fight to Kathmandu
Day 14: Free day in Kathmandu
Day 15: Departure
The operator focuses on responsibility towards its staff, making sure that the guides and porters that work on the treks are well paid and have good working conditions. Committed to ensuring that the benefits of tourism are spread out, locals are hired, with porters and guides coming from the areas where the trek goes.
The tour company operates tourism that fosters understanding, appreciation and conservation of the cultures and environments they visit. It operates in a socially and environmentally responsible manner and is committed to working with the clients and the people of the host destinations to ensure direct economic benefits at a community level, as well as looking at contributing to conservation of culture and the environment. With continual monitoring of its operations, the tour operator aims to operate beyond best practice guidelines, trying to set the worldwide industry benchmark for responsible tourism.
Trip highs!
- Fantastic views of some of the world’s highest mountains
- Rich Sherpa culture
- Visits to Tengboche and Pangboche monasteries
- The lively and bustling Namche Bazaar, the main town of the region
- Trekking in style – stay in the best lodges and enjoy your trek in relative comfort!
Trip watch-outs!
- You trek on one day (4,370m), but this day is optional and you need to be sure you are acclimatised to the altitude. If you don’t feel like it, you can relax and take in the wonderful scenery and explore Tengboche and the surroundings lower down.
- Some degree of fitness is needed, especially for the climb to Namche – but this trek can be done very slowly and apart from a few aching muscles to start with, most people will not find this too difficult a trek.
Growing up in Singapore, Raj Tamang has had long experience in trekking and running a responsible tour operation. Preferring to be out there with his guests, Raj gives a highly personalised service, usually leading the treks himself. Committed to responsible tourism, he is keen to first ensure his own staff are treated well, as well as helping to share some of the benefits of the income that tourism brings with the local communities. He uses local staff and encourages his guests to ‘think local’.
Ideal For Whom
This is a fairly moderate trek, and taken slowly, shouldn’t present a problem to anyone with a reasonable level of fitness. The trek up to Namche is quite steep, but done slowly, it is good for helping to acclimatise to the altitude. It is a beautiful trek that anyone wanting a taste of the high Himalayas can do. Other than optional day walks that do climb higher, you don’t sleep very high (3,700 m), so you should not have too many problems to acclimatise.
It is expected that all members of the group will be moderately fit and can walk 5–8 hrs daily.
When To Visit
The best times of the year to visit this area is in the spring and autumn, when the weather is warm, dry and fairly settled. There may be the odd showers in spring and the skies tend to be clearer in the autumn.
Winter is cold, but this can be rewarded by crisp, clear days and during the day time it gets quite warm.
The summer is not the best time of year to come, as this is when the monsoon falls and it can rain for a few hours each day. However, once past Namche, it is generally dry and though it may be cloudy in the afternoons, you are more than compensated by the lack of crowds.
Things To Bring
Comfortable walking boots/shoes
Waterproofs – especially when trekking early autumn, winter and late spring
Trekking clothes – no shorts
Warm jacket – layers, fleeces/down jackets especially when going high any time of year
Thermal underwear especially in the winter or when going high
Torch
Iodine tablets or a filter for water purification can be useful to avoid use of plastic bottled water or boiling water, which uses wood as fuel.
You can take your own sleeping bag, but lodges have bedding that is usually adequate.
Arrive Kathmandu, Nepal – Most people arrive by air to Tribhuvan International Airport. It is possible to travel overland from India by bus, arriving New Bus Park, Kathmandu. It’s a 20-minute drive to the centre of the city.
Normal Payment Policy: At time of booking a non-refundable deposit of 10% is charged to your credit card in Euro equivalent by Travel To Care on behalf of the tour operator. Additionally, a deposit of USD 500 per person is required at time of booking – cash or bank transfer.
Payment balance of the tour cost is due 60 days before departure. If booking less than 60 days before departure, the full amount is to be paid at the time of booking.
If you fail to pay by the due date, the operator reserves the right to cancel the booking and retain your deposit.
Prices are dependent on airfares, exchange rates, fuel costs and other unforeseen circumstances. The operator reserves the right to amend the itinerary and trip costs without notice up to the day of departure.
Any additional change to the original booking will incur a fee of USD 50.
Normal Cancellation Policy: For all cancellations, the initial deposit is non-refundable. Contact the operator immediately if cancelling services. Upon receipt of your written advice, cancellation will take effect. A fee applies for a cancellation of your tour and flight. A fee is determined by the date when the tour operator receives written notification of the cancellation and the charges are as follows.
More than 60 days before departure. Less deposit
Between 60-30 days before departure, 50% of booking cost is charged.
Between 30 days and departure date, 100% of booking cost is charged.
The operator will not be responsible/compensate once you have joined the tour and had to leave in the middle of it, be it on your own will, due to ill health or medical emergency. The operator will give you a covering letter to help your claim through your insurance company.
A condition of the operator accepting your booking is that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you receive confirmation. Your policy must cover overseas medical treatment and aircraft evacuation from remote areas. The operator can arrange a comprehensive cover for you.
Cancellation by us
If the minimum number of guests to operate are not reached, the tour operator reserves the right to cancel the tour and advise you of this no later than 28 days before departure. All payments made to the tour operator will be refunded, but the tour operator will not be liable for any claims made by you or for additional costs incurred by you.
Payment Options: Bank draft
Period(s) tour is not operational: n/a
