Ama Dablam Expedition - 25 Days

As soon as you book your flight, please send the flight details to us so that we can arrange a free airport pickup service in a private vehicle for you. We provide you this service because we do not want you to face difficulties navigating in a foreign country. When you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will find our company representative holding a pamphlet with your name and our company name on it. After greeting you, our representative will welcome you with a garland and then take you to your hotel. Similarly, when you depart, our company representative will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport in a private vehicle.

You will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu (4,593 ft./1400 m), and we will take you to your hotel. The next day, you will attend a pre-trip meeting at your hotel or the Discovery World Trek office. During the pre-trip meeting, we will provide important information about the trek. We will also check your luggage to ensure that you have packed all required gear, equipment, and appropriate clothing. On the third day, we will take you to Tribhuvan International Airport for a 40-minute flight to Lukla (9,000 ft./2.740m). Lukla is the gateway to Ama Dablam and lies at the foot of Khumbu mountain. From Lukla, you will start your Ama Dablam expedition.

The Ama Dablam Expedition is a 25-day of soulful journey. This expedition package covers three days hotel stay at a selected hotel in Kathmandu along with breakfast. However, meals in Kathmandu are not covered. 

You will be spending 21 nights at trek regions. We will provide you with 5 nights' accommodations in rooms with attached bathrooms at Phakding, Namche (3N), and Lukla. Similarly, you will stay in standard rooms at Tengboche (2N) and Dingboche (2N) for a total of 4 nights. We will arrange 12 days at tented camps. All rooms will be on twin sharing basis.

We provide you with all camping equipment, like tents (dining, toilet, sleeping), tables and chairs, mattresses, and sleeping bags.

You will need plenty of nutritious, tasty, and hygienic food while on a high-altitude expedition like Ama Dablam climbing, and we will provide enough nutrient-rich food. You will have three meals - breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. We will choose the best available lodges/teahouses/hotels that provide fresh, hygienic, tasty, and nutritious local or international meals.

You will have 21 breakfasts, 21 lunches, and 21 dinners in the expedition region.

You will have several food choices among the traditional, local, Asian, and Western cuisine. However, as you ascend your food choices start getting limited and food becomes expensive too.

We highly recommend garlic soup (must) and other liquids like green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, and ginger tea. 

Please avoid dairy, alcoholic, and caffeinated items during the expedition since experts recommend avoiding them for high trek adventures.

Our expedition team also has experienced and highly qualified cooks and kitchen helpers at Base Camp and other Camps. We provide kitchen and dining equipment for all camps. 

Meals (except breakfast)  in Kathmandu are not included in the expedition package. In Kathmandu, you can get a wide variety of Nepalese and international cuisine – fine dining/meals/snacks/bars, and pubs available, and we want you to choose your own food.

The weather is one of the most important factors to consider while planning your expedition. The best time for trekking to and climbing Ama Dablam is spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). The summer in Nepal coincides with monsoon making the trails wet and slippery. Similarly, during winter the temperature at high altitudes is too low, and it snows heavily, making trekking difficult. Here is a brief description of the weather at high altitudes throughout the year.

January – February

This time is the coldest, especially from early January to late February. During these months, heavy snow falls in the mountain region, resulting in frigid temperatures. The daytime might get warm with clear blue skies and glistening Himalayas. However, at night time it gets extremely cold. It is not advisable to plan an expedition during these months because the Mount Ama Dablam climbing and the trek get very challenging. The cold temperatures and snowfalls make it even tougher!

March – April

March and April are the best months for the expedition with highly favorable. You will get stunning views of the Himalayas ranges and glaciers. The temperature starts to increase from the mid of March, and due to the clear blue sky, glistening snow mountains look at their best. The expedition success rate is very high during these months.

May – June

May and June form the second-best season for the expedition, right before the rainfall. Monsoon in this region starts from the end of June until the mid of August. This season of spring and summer makes the expedition very enjoyable. 

July – August

Monsoon catches up, bringing in a lot of rain in lower trek regions. It is not advisable to trek/climb during this season as the trails get slippery and the expedition difficulty level rises substantially. The chances of flights to Lukla getting canceled or postponed due to bad weather and less visibility.

September – October

It is also one of the perfect seasons for the expedition, and in fact, it forms the peak season for tourists flocking to Nepal. This season boasts pleasant weather and a favorable expedition climate. At high trek altitudes, the temperature goes up to 20 °C/68.0 °F in the daytime and falls to 5 °C/41.0 °F at night. You can get stunning views of the Himalayas ranges and glaciers due to clear blue skies. Other main attractions of this season are the Hindu festivals of Dashain and Tihar, making the whole atmosphere festive.

November – December

As winter slowly begins, snowfall gradually covers the Himalayas region, making it harsh to trek. Late October and early November form a busy season for expeditions. Daytime temperature is stable and constant, but it gets frigid at night. However, the picturesque view of the clear blue sky and the snow-clad mountains are phenomenal. As December sets in, days start getting cold, and there is heavy snowfall on the trek routes.

You will be acclimatizing in at least four places during the expedition. First in Namche Bazaar (3,440m / 11,285ft), and then at Dingboche village (14, 468ft./ 4,410m). You will also rest and acclimatize during the Ama Dablam peak climbing. 

Namche is a prosperous town full of Wi-Fi-linked cafes, restaurants, and shops selling clothing to climbing equipment. While acclimatizing, you can go for a side trek to Sagarmatha National Park Visitor Center and visit Khunde and Khumjung villages. You can also hike to Everest View Hotel to get views of Mt.Everest (8,848m).

One more acclimatization day waits at Dingboche. You get time to hike to the top of the Nangkartshang Peak (5,083m) and see views of Mt. Tawache, Ama Dablam, Island Peak, Lhotse, Everest, and Pumori. In addition, you can reach Chhukung Ri (5546m) - a famous trekking peak. 

You will also be acclimatizing at camps during the climb.

You must have heard about mountaineers suffering from altitude sickness. At high altitudes, there is simply less oxygen in the air. As you move higher, the oxygen gets rarer, increasing the risk of mountain sickness or acute mountain sickness (AMS). 

Altitude sickness is common at high altitudes and can strike anyone during the expedition. Hence our team of Sherpas is well-equipped, experienced, and prepared to prevent, deal with and treat altitude sickness.

However, you need to be aware of altitude sickness symptoms to get help from our Sherpas. The common (mild) symptoms of altitude sickness are:

• Slight headache
• Tiredness and dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Upset stomach
• Swelling
• Fatigue

These symptoms indicate that you are at risk of developing altitude sickness. Once you inform our Sherpas about these symptoms, our Sherpas will assist you to adapt to high altitudes in several ways, such as allowing you to rest, letting you walk at your own pace, and ascending, only after you feel well. 

Symptoms of severe altitude sickness are:

• Severe headache
• Frequent vomiting
• Rapid Increase in heartbeat rate
• Problem in vision
• Irritable cough or persistent cough
• Difficulty in walking
• Irrational behavior
• Confusion or lack of coordination with group members
• Breathlessness even after enough resting
• Difficulty in sleeping

Severe altitude sickness symptoms develop soon if you ignore and do not treat mild altitude sickness. Hence, we request you inform your expedition leader the moment you feel uncomfortable.

In case of severe altitude sickness, if required, our Sherpa will support you and accompany you to lower elevations to avoid potentially life-threatening conditions like HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema) or HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema). In HACE, fluid starts to collect in the brain, while in HAPE, body fluids enter the lungs. 

You can resume your expedition with the Sherpa’s accompanying you once you feel better. Discovery World Trekking has policies to protect expedition members from getting mountain sickness. We have designed our packages to avoid altitude sickness, allocating days for acclimatization.

Our professional guides/Sherpas are specialized in handling altitude-related situations and can provide you with proper care. We follow the golden rule during the expedition - “climb high and sleep low.”

Some people are more vulnerable than others. Adequate travel insurance is a must, and along with treatment costs, it must cover helicopter rescue and evacuation up to the highest climb altitudes.

There are two distinct parts of this expedition. The first part includes trekking to the Ama Dablam mountain and returning from Ama Dablam Base Camp to Lukla after summiting Ama Dablam. The more intense part includes climbing Ama Dablam and staying in several camps at Ama Dablam mountain.

During the trekking days, you will get a unique trekking experience that includes enjoying sceneries, capturing pictures, enjoying Nepali hospitality, and exploring local villages. As you trek, our experienced guide will brief you about the places you are trekking, including place history, myths, and importance.

Porters will carry your main luggage, but the luggage weight limit per trekker is 9 kg. We also expect you to bring a small backpack with your valuables and important documents for safety and ease.

The easier part includes trekking to the Ama Dablam mountain and returning from Ama Dablam. The trekking day starts with an early morning hot cup of tea/coffee. After enjoying a wholesome breakfast, you will set off on the day’s walk from around 7 to 8 AM, depending on the duration and nature of the day’s walk. 

After trekking for three to four hours, we will serve you lunch around midday on the route to the next destination. You will take an hour of rest before continuing the trek.
 
The afternoon walk is generally shorter, lasting about two to three hours. Once you reach the overnight lodge/tea house/tent, you can snack on the extra dietary food. You will also have free time to explore nearby places. 

We serve dinner from around 6 to 7 PM. After dinner and before going to bed, you can indulge in friendly conversations. The expedition leader/guide will brief you about the next day’s plan. After this briefing, you are free to enjoy games like Monopoly, cards, or read books. You can also watch mountaineering documentaries, if available. Most foreigners indulge in light and fun learning of the Nepali language from our crew before heading off to bed.

During the climbing days, you will climb to higher altitudes (camps) early in the morning to avoid wind and sun rays heating the glaciers. You will ascend higher during the day and descend to spend the night, providing enough time for acclimatization and familiarizing yourself with the route. Climbing hours will be short, and you will often be living at the camps.

Almost all lodges/tea houses on the route to Ama Dablam Base Camp have electricity/power, where you can recharge your camera, cell, or power bank by paying a small fee. Most tea houses/lodges have hydroelectricity, and some have solar panels. When you reach Ama Dablam Base Camp, there is limited solar electricity, so we advise you to bring a power bank for your personal use.

Mobile phone coverage is available on most parts of the routes but may not always be reliable, depending on which network you use. If you want, you can buy a local SIM card in Kathmandu. However, at high altitudes, the signals may not be strong enough, depending on the network you use. Discovery World Trekking's head office will remain in contact with all of its expedition (trek) teams at least once a day via the trip lead to ensure that the expedition is progressing as planned.

Though this package covers most costs, it does not cover all expenses. So expedition members must bring spending money for meals in Kathmandu, visa process, travel insurance policy purchase, beverages, snacks for the trek, tips to the trekking crew members, souvenirs, etc. We recommend you bring cash (USD), which you can easily exchange for Nepali Rupees. We estimate that you might require 10 - 20 USD per day during the trip.

Ama Dablam Expedition trip grade is strenuous as it entails the risks of high altitude climbing, potential altitude sickness, and other unforeseen events due to sudden climate changes. 

So, travel insurance is compulsory for the Ama Dablam expedition. All expedition members must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to Discovery World Trekking before starting the trek. 

The policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation, including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses up to the highest expedition altitude. 

We can recommend insurance companies to help you, but we do not sell insurance policies. Our recommendation is based on our previous clients’ experience.

We can refuse expedition members from taking part in the expedition due to insufficient, improper, or absence of travel insurance policy. 

We request our expedition members to send their detailed insurance information after completing their expedition booking. In emergencies, we will use your insurance policy and the informational documents you sent us for a quick and effective rescue operation, transfer for emergency medical help, etc.

Please ensure that your insurance company covers the cost incurred for mountain rescue service up to the highest elevation of the expedition.

All foreigners, except Indians, require a visa to enter Nepal. Fortunately, citizens from most nations can get an on-arrival visa at Tribhuvan International Airport or immigration checkpoints along Nepal-India or Nepal-China border. 

For a visa application, you need a passport with at least six months of validity, a passport-size photo, and visa application fees. Visa application varies based on your length of stay. The current cost is USD 50 for a 30-day stay.

China and SAARC (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Srilanka, and the Maldives) country citizens are eligible for free visas. There are certain countries - Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan - whose citizens may not receive an on-arrival visa. 

So, if you are a national from any of these countries, you need to contact your local Nepalese embassy. The Nepal government can change visa information without prior notice. Hence, for the latest information, visit https://www.immigration.gov.np. 

Nepali Rupee (NPR/Rs) is the local currency.
(1 USD = ~ Rs.130 NPR).

You can exchange most (major) foreign currencies through local banks and legitimate money exchanges in Kathmandu and all over Thamel. Some hotels also exchange small amounts of foreign currency. 

Legal money exchanges display their ongoing rates visibly to the public. If you have Indian Rupees, note that only Indian Rupee notes of 100 and 2,000 are legal in Nepal.

Despite the security advantage of a traveler's cheque, we recommend cash exchange to avoid hassles like lengthy bank processes and commissions. You can also withdraw cash (in Rupees only) from one of the many ATMs in Kathmandu and Thamel. Several of these ATMs are open around the clock. The maximum withdrawal amount is 35,000 Rupees for a 500 Rupees processing fee if using a foreign card.

If you use the money exchange facility at banks and financial institutions, they will charge a service fee of four percent or more, depending on the institutions. 

Our package includes porter costs to carry your luggage. However, your luggage weight limit is 9 kg. So, please bring only your essentials. You can store your excess luggage at the Discovery World Trekking store for free and collect it after the expedition.

You will be sharing your porter with another trekking member. We only allow our porters to carry a maximum of 18 kg of combined weight.

We also expect expedition members to bring a light backpack for easy access to water, a camera, toilet paper, warm layers of clothes, and other personal items.

Discovery World Trekking guarantees client safety and security. The health and safety of our clients are our utmost concern. Our guides are experienced in extensive first aid.

Altitude sickness is common at high altitudes and can strike anyone, anywhere. Hence our Sherpas are well equipped, experienced, and prepared to prevent, deal with and treat altitude sickness. 

Our expert team of Sherpas will provide you required support to prevent altitude sickness, including your acclimatization needs. We conduct extensive research on weather forecasts and use the latest gadgets and technologies for climbing and communication. 

We request our expedition members to send their detailed insurance information once they book the expedition. In emergency situations, we will use your insurance policy and informational documents you sent us for a quick and effective rescue operation, transfer for medical help, etc.

You can buy packed mineral water from local lodges or en-route shops. However, some trek/expedition regions may not allow plastic bottles. So, we advise you to buy boiled water from tea houses/lodges and carry it in a water bottle. We also advise you to use water purification pills before drinking water. If you do not have water purification pills, we can provide them for you.

We advise you against drinking water from taps, wells, and rivers in the trek regions for hygiene reasons. 

We conduct both private and group expeditions. If you have an expedition group, you will be eligible for discounts based on the group size. However, you are ineligible for discounts for the groups Discovery World Trekking assembles. This expedition requires a minimum of two persons, but there is no upper limit. For a group of 12 or more, we add an assistant guide. Each group will have Sherpa guides and porters.