Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek - 11 Days

We will rise up before sunrise, grab our breakfast and then, kick off towards the airport as most of the flight to Lukla leaves early in the morning. This is a short flight of about 25-45 minutes but can be one of the most staggering moments of your life. As the plane rises up into the stratosphere, the down view of the earth- particularly the undulating verdant hills and the snowy pinnacles of sky-rocketing mountains- pierces your soul. In simple words, it is the feeling of being out of the world.

Once we land in Lukla, we will head on towards Phakding, which will be our next stopover. The trail to Phakding is fenced by the farm fields on both sides and wavers up and down at several points. A few minutes before arriving at Phakding, a clean and smiley peak of Kusum Kanguru peeks on you. This will inspire you to continue exploring further up the trail.

Though some people make it to Monjo on this very same day, it is highly unrecommended because such a giant leap of altitude may ruin your health and ultimately, your whole expedition.

The ascend to Namche may be challenging for you today. It is not only the terrain that resists your climb; the altitude equally plays a part here. So, ascend gradually, at least to minimize the effect of the altitude.

First, the trail meanders around the west side of the Dudh Koshi river and then, follows a series of switchbacks. When you cross the bridge, the trail will direct you towards the steep route that ultimately leads to Monjo. There is an entrance post of Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, where we will register our name and then, head on up to towards the Namche through Jorsalle. This forest walk is an amazing opportunity to witness the rich variety of floras and also faunas. Red pandas, leopards, bears, Blue sheep, etc. are the major inhabitants of this jungle. Once we extrude out of this National Park, a beautiful Kani Gate (10 mins ahead of the exit check post) welcomes us to the vibrant town of Khumbu- Namche Bazaar.

At an altitude of over 3000 m, the acclimatization becomes absolutely necessary. For that purpose, Namche is a perfect fit as this place is geographically (altitude and temperature) sound and is well acquainted with the modern-day amenities such as internet and others.

A simple technique of acclimatization is “Hike high, sleep low”. Eventually, a number of altitude hikes dissociate from Namche that ultimately leads on to making Namche an ideal destination for acclimatization. On this day, we may hike either to Thame or towards the Khumjung and Khunde (where most people go). At the end of the day, we will return to Namche.

From Namche, Phortse doesn’t appear too far away. However, the frequent ups and downs make us tired enough to rest in Namche.

Early in the morning, we will leave Namche and head on towards Phortse through the Khumjung, where a beautiful monastery in the east reflects a peaceful vibe. We will go past the narrow lane beside a towering rocky face to rise up towards a large white Stupa that apparently tends to touch the sky. From there, we could see the good views of Ama Dablam, and the hidden upper Hongu valley peaks. A suspension bridge across the Dudhkoshi river opens up the way to Phortse.

Not quite far-away from Phortse sits the village Pangboche, where the oldest monastery of the Everest region shines with its historical importance. On the way, there are a lot of zigzags, and by the time we leave the main trail, we could see the walkways squeezing narrower and narrower as you approach close to the Pangboche. However, the good thing about these narrow pathways is that it offers astounding views of the gorgeous Ama Dablam and other peaks which was hidden from the main trail. It takes almost 4 hours or maybe more to reach Pangboche.

Early in the morning, we will leave Pangboche and head on towards the base camp of the Mt. Ama Dablam. A little further ahead, the main trail divides into 2- one leading to the Dingboche while the other one to the base camp of the Mt. Ama Dablam. The trail zigzags at several points and then, climbs constantly. The interesting thing about this ascent is that the more you go higher, the more beautiful the views become. From the top of the base camp of the Mt. Ama Dablam, the views of Pumori and other countless anonymous ranges appear just astonishing. After spending quality time there, descend to Pangboche.

Finally, we will return to the Namche Bazaar via the same route that we have been earlier.

Namche to Lukla is a peaceful walk along the descending trail. Always keep in mind that while climbing is a strenuous task, descending is also a bit of a challenge because it puts more pressure on the knees than ascending.

Grab a scenic flight back to Kathmandu from Lukla. Upon arrival at the airport, we will check-in to the hotel. In the evening, there is a farewell program in the same hotel, where our whole team of the Holy Mountain Treks will gather and chew a chat together.

It is an official goodbye. However, you are welcome to extend your stay and venture on other adventures.