- Trekking
- Nepal
- 14 days
This luxury Everest trek has been designed to take you to some of the most stunning Sherpa villages within a short distance of Namche Bazaar – the Sherpa capital.
Key Information
Book this Nepal trek and get a complimentary one hour Trekker’s’ massage after the trek is over. The masseuses will be from a marginalized community. This is part of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Note: You can pre-book a seat on a direct helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and return for an additional US$450 per person each way. You will avoid the 4-5 hours drive to or from Manthali. For example – if you decide to book a helicopter seat for both ways – US$900 extra needs to be added.
The Ama Dablam Base Camp trek has been designed to take you to some of the prettiest Sherpa villages within easy walking distance of the Namche Bazaar, also known as the Sherpa capital of the world.
The 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,’ a piece of traditional jewellery worn by Sherpa women.
You spend ten nights in remote villages in lodges run by local Sherpa families. Highlights include afternoon tea in the bakery, a visit to the Tengboche monastery, and an Ama Dablam Base Camp excursion.
We are pioneers in gastronome trekking in the Himalayas. We provide a varied, exciting menu on treks throughout the Himalayas. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals can be catered for upon request, and other special diets can be accommodated with advance notice.
Trekking is not only fun, but it is beneficial for you. It helps in detoxifying the body while also nourishing the soul. Although to provide a better experience, we also tailor our meals to include superfoods as part of the ingredients to keep you fit and healthy while assisting in acclimatization to high altitudes. Combining hiking in the pristine mountain air and healthy food makes trekking with us a complete adventure. Read More on Food and nutrition on our treks.
Arrive in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. Our representative will meet you at the airport and bring you to your hotel. You will be given a briefing for the trek by your trek leader.
In the morning, we have a walking tour of Ason (an old spice market) and walk through the busy streets of Kathmandu or Drive To Mulkot in the afternoon, depending on the availability of a direct flight from Kathmandu to Lukla.
Note: You can pre-book a seat on a direct helicopter flight at an additional $450 per person to avoid the 4-5 hours of drive to Manthali.
We fly to Lukla at 2840 meters and start our trek. We aim to trek towards Monjo (5 hours trek) if our flight lands in the morning; otherwise, we stay at the village of Phakding (3 hours trek).
We follow the Dudh Koshi River, crossing a suspension bridge on the Kyashar Khola, and pass through Jorsalle, the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park. We have about one hour of trekking in a combination of flat, some short steep ascents, and descends to a high suspension bridge. There is a steep ascent of 2 hours after the bridge to Namche Bazaar. We stay in a lodge that is at the top of Namche Bazaar.
We rise early and climb for views of Mt. Everest and other peaks, with time to look through the Sherpa museum and cultural centre. The private museum and cultural centre are within the compound where we stay. This lodge owner, L.S Sherpa, is a conservationist and a photographer. You can buy scenic posters and postcards made by him.
You will come across very few trekkers on the trail as this is away from the main route to Everest base camp (EBC). Instead, the course takes you through some small villages, and forested areas, with Mount Kongde towering on the opposite side of the valley. We will stay in a lodge owned by Apa Sherpa, who holds the world record of 22 successful ascents of Everest.
We retrace our steps to the ‘fork’ on the trail and begin climbing towards the Shyangboche airstrip, where we stop for lunch. Then, we trek to the village of Khumjung (3,790m) via Khunde village. We will visit the hospital in Khunde village and the school at Khumjung, built by Sir Edmund Hillary. The villages of Khunde and Khumjung lie below the protector deity mountain Khumbila.
We have an ascend as we leave Khumjung village. We continue to go ‘off the beaten path toward the village of Phortse for lunch. We hike up steadily to a small pass called Mong-La, with a cluster of small tea houses. We have a 350-meter drop to Photrse Tenga and a 200-meter ascend to Phortse village. We might be able to see Danfe Munals (Impeyan Pheasants), Nepal’s national bird, on the trail.
We will get a different vista of surrounding peaks from this village. It is home to the Khumbu Climbing Center. The indoor climbing building was inaugurated on 13th June 2019. It is where the Sherpas and other indigenous Nepalese have learned essential climbing skills since 2014.
The hike to Pangboche is a series of ups and downs on an exposed but wide trail. It generally takes two and a half hours (or longer with photo stops) to reach Pangboche. We stay at a long-time friend’s lodge. His lovely dining room is like a mini mountaineering museum with oxygen bottles, goggles, wooden boxes from the Tenzin and Hillary’s 1953 Everest Expedition, and artefacts from later expeditions.
After breakfast, we hike up to the less trekked base camp of the most beautiful mountain in this region – Amadablam. It is a three-hour trek to Amadablam Base Camp (ADBC). The panoramic views of the surrounding peaks will reward your tiredness as you climb higher.
You might be able to see the mountaineers’ campsite during the autumn climbing season. Our team will serve you the packed lunch they carried from the lodge at the Amadablam base camp.
We will head down to the village after lunch. It usually gets windy in the afternoons. Your trek leader will remind you to pack layers of clothing and a windproof jacket.
Our team will make a good meal with superfood as ingredients to recover from your excursion. It will also give you all the nourishment you need to get ready for higher altitudes in the coming days—a five-hour walk.
We will be trekking on the main trail to and from EBC from Pangboche, which we had avoided by coming through Khumjung and Phortse. We will stop at Thyangboche to see the Monastery and have lunch there.
We have a steep descent of 650 meters to Phunki Tenga, where The Dudh Koshi and Imja Khola meet. Then, we have a steep climb of 90 minutes to Kyangjuma for the day’s final leg.
We can enjoy the after with a hot beverage and delicious confectioneries from their bakery. The owners are cheerful and amiable. 3650 meters. 6 hours trek.
We have a flattish start to the day for 90 minutes to Namche Bazaar. Then, we trek past Namche on a steep downhill to the high suspension bridge. We leave the Sagarmatha National park this morning and have lunch at Monjo. We walk for two more hours after lunch to Phakding, where we stop for the night. Overnight Lodge.
We have a three-hour trek to Lukla. Try remembering your thoughts at the beginning (if you can remember these parts) and now at the end and compare. We will celebrate last night’s party with our support crew! Overnight Lodge.
Fly to Manthali and drive back to Kathmandu for 4 hours. Your afternoon will be free to relax or buy gifts for your family and friends.
Note: You pre-book a seat on a direct helicopter flight to Kathmandu for an additional $450 and avoid a 4-5 hour drive from Manthali.
Free day in case of domestic flight cancellations etc.
International departure. You will leave for the airport three hours before your flight time.
Cost Includes:
Despite the exceptional circumstances in which we find ourselves at the moment, we don’t want you to give up your holiday – and we want you to be able to book your trip without any worries.
To provide additional security for your booking, we have introduced a new rebooking and cancellation policy so that you can easily rebook or cancel your trip free of charge if the worst comes to the worst.
For new bookings made between May 10th 2021, and December 31st 2022, you may cancel your complete package (activities, hotels, tours, excl. flight) free of charge up to 30 days before your departure and get 100% of your money back. However, to stay flexible, we recommend that you choose a flexible fare when booking your flight.
Stay flexible with our new rebooking service until shortly before your departure. For new bookings made between May 10th and December 31st, 2021, you may rebook your package (activities, hotels, tours) free of charge up to 30 days before your departure (subject to availability). Rebooking is only allowed once, and you must inform us 30 days before your planned departure. Any additional costs incurred due to changes in your schedule or upgrades, such as additional fees in high season or upgrades to your accommodation, will still apply. To remain flexible, we recommend that you choose a flexible fare when booking your flight.
Trek FAQ
Most of our clients have completed their treks from 3 years old to some in their 70s with almost no exercise or training.
Do you offer hotel/airport pick-up?
We offer hotel and airport pick-up. As you continue with your booking, there will be an option to input flight details or hotel names.
Do I need a Visa?
A visa for Nepal can be acquired on arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, and at border entry points in Kakadvitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Gaddachowki on the Nepal-India border, and Kerung on the Nepal-China border.
A visa can also be obtained outside of Nepal at the nearest Nepal Embassy or Diplomatic Mission.
For more information, go to the Department of Immigration, Kalikasthan, Kathmandu.
What should I bring on a Trek?
Being adequately equipped is one of the keys to a successful trek. For information to help you select the best type of clothing and equipment for your trip, please see our Clothing and Equipment Guide.
Also, see our Links page for details of specialist retailers who will offer further advice and assistance with purchasing new clothing or equipment.
If you have more questions, please check this article to reference equipment to pack or contact us.
Is this trip safe for solo/female/LGBT+/minority/POC travelers?
You are safe as long as you respect the culture, do not show affection in public, and dress decently (this won’t pose too much problem as you will be covered up in layers to stay warm).
Here are some helpful articles:
Am I too old to go trekking?
Arriving at Kathmandu airport.
Should I bring cash or ATM cards?
What to pack for a trek?
Do I need to train for a trek?
What is a typical day on a trek like?
What is the food like on the trek?
The Benefits of using trekking poles.
What do I need to know about high altitudes?
High altitude myths.
How to trek safely?
For more articles, you can go to our blogs.