
Ama Dablam Expedition
Ama Dablam is one of the worlds most iconic and stunning peaks, soaring above the Dudh Kosi River Valley en route to Everest Base Camp.
Ama Dablam is one of the world's most iconic and stunning peaks, soaring above the Dudh Kosi River Valley en route to Everest Base Camp. Known for its striking pyramid shape, the name “Ama Dablam” means “Mother’s Necklace,” symbolizing the ridges as a mother’s arms and the hanging glacier as her sacred ornament. The peak was first climbed on 13 March 1961 by Mike Gill, Barry Bishop, Mike Ward, and Wally Romanes via the South-West Ridge — still the standard and most popular route today.
Ama Dablam is a technical climb that demands experience in steep ice, rock, and mixed alpine terrain. Climbers typically establish three high camps: Camp I (5,700 m), Camp II (6,080 m), and Camp III (6,400 m). The route from Base Camp to Camp I is steep and rocky, requiring navigation across boulders and saddle ridges. From Camp I to Camp II, fixed ropes assist on exposed
Trip Facts
Group Size
1-15 persons
Maximum Elevation
6812 meters
Location
Khumbu Region, Nepal
Route
Southwest Ridge
Grade
Mountaineering VI
Best Season
Spring & Autumn (autumn is the best)
Accommodation
Hotel and Camping
Transportation
flight and trek to base camp
Ama Dablam (6,812m) is often called the "Matterhorn of the Himalayas" due to its dramatic shape and elegant ridges. A favorite among climbers for its beauty and technical appeal.
Climbing Ama Dablam involves steep rock, ice, and mixed terrain. You'll ascend using fixed ropes, tackle exposed ridgelines, and rappel through vertical sections ideal for experienced climbers seeking a true challenge.
This world-famous route offers sustained technical climbing, with established high camps and fixed lines. Climbing involves Camp I (5,700m), Camp II (6,080m), and summit push from Camp II (Camp III is rarely used now).
From the summit, enjoy breathtaking views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Baruntse, and the entire Khumbu range.
The approach trek passes through legendary Sherpa villages like Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, and Pangboche—offering rich cultural experiences and traditional Himalayan hospitality.
Asian Hiking Team provides full logistical support, experienced Sherpa guides, climbing permits, and safety management at base camp and high camps.
The expedition is an excellent stepping stone for climbers preparing for peaks like Everest, Lhotse, or Makalu.
- Pick up/Drop from International Airport to Hotel.
- Kathmandu/Ramechhap to Lukla both way flight.
- Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast (3-star).
- Lodge accommodation during the trek.
- Single tent with mattress and pillow at Base Camp.
- High altitude tents for members and Sherpas.
- All camping equipment and furniture at Base Camp.
- All meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) with hot drinks during camping/climbing.
- High-altitude food and snacks for the climb.
- Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park permit.
- Ama Dablam Expedition Permit /Royalty.
- Government appointed Liaison Officer expenses.
- Local entry permits and fees.
- One high altitude Sherpa guide per member.
- Support Sherpas for carrying loads to upper camps.
- Porters/Yaks for baggage (50-60kg allowance per person).
- Base Camp Manager, cook, and necessary staff.
- Wages, meals, accommodation, and insurance for all staff.
- Trekking Map and Itinerary.
- Group climbing equipment (ropes, ice screws, etc.).
- Emergency Oxygen bottles, mask, and regulator.
- Solar panel/generator at Base Camp for charging small electronics.
- Rope fixing fee.
- Company T-shirt and souvenir.
- Expedition success certificate.
- Basic first aid kit carried by staff.
- Satellite phone for emergency communication.
- Farewell dinner with cultural program.
- Travel & Rescue arrangement service.
- International air ticket to/from Nepal.
- Nepal tourist visa fees.
- Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu.
- Hot drinks (tea/coffee), hot showers, and bottled water during the trek at lodges.
- All cold drinks, alcoholic beverages, and beer.
- Personal snacks for the trekking portion.
- Personal trekking and climbing gear (rentals available).
- Personal solar chargers for heavy electronics.
- Internet/Wi-Fi/Telephone costs.
- Medical evacuation and expenses due to unforeseen circumstances.
- Entry fees for sightseeing in Kathmandu.
- Tips for guides, porters, and summit bonuses.
- Cost for hiring an additional porter if your baggage exceeds the 50-60kg allowance.
- Cost for a personal Sherpa/guide if requested.
Tailored add-ons in Nepal trips refer to customizable essentials that enhance and personalize your travel experience, allowing you to align your journey with specific interests, preferences, and schedules. These add-ons can be combined into various types of trips, including trekking, expedition, climbing, cultural tours, wildlife safaris, and adventure activities.
Options include:
- Customized Accommodations: Upgrade from standard lodging to luxury hotels or homestays.
- Helicopter Flights: Option for helicopter transport to the base camp, the cost depends on group size/sharing/private.
- Adventure Activities: Add one above 6000m peak climbing for enough acclimatization for expedition.
- Training Rock/ice climbing: Add rock and ice climbing training before start expedition.
- Sherpa/ Guide: If you want extra personal additional Sherpa Mountain guide, add the cost.
- Flexible Scheduling: Adjust dates and durations to fit your needs. The expedition depends on weather so make a flexible.
- Cultural & Spiritual Journeys: Include visits to Lumbini, Pokhara, Muktinath tour,...
Asian Hiking Team’s Guides/Sherpa are professionals with proven records of honesty and personal integrity, committed to environmentally responsible climbing practices that minimize ecological impact. Our Climbing Guides possess extensive knowledge of all climbing disciplines, local cultures, customs, and religions, and they enthusiastically share these insights with clients. All Guides are fluent in English and speak additional languages upon request.
Asian Hiking Team’s Climbing Guides/Sherpas bring years of experience and exceptional expertise in all facets of Nepal mountaineering. Each holds a Nepal Government License, Mountaineering Association Accreditation, and Summit Certificates for Nepal Himalayan peaks. Our high-altitude Sherpa guides are qualified through rigorous training from NMA, TAAN, and NATHAM.
Every climbing guide undergoes comprehensive technical training and possesses practical mastery of:
• Rock, ice, and snow climbing techniques; • High-altitude camp logistics, setup, and operations; • Advanced safety protocols for high-altitude camping; • Fixed-rope climbing, belay techniques, and all mountaineering gear usage; • Oxygen systems, high-altitude nutrition, and avalanche/mountain rescue techniques. All Mountaineering Guides...
The difficulty of the climbing or expedition depends on the peak. Trekking peaks are easier than high mountain expeditions, but some of the less high trekking peaks are also technical for climbing.
We have to calculate the grade focus on following topic:
- Length of trek and walking days /Easy glacier route.
- Which Mountain and altitude conditions.
- Average altitude, maximum altitude and average gain/loss per day.
- Likely prevailing weather conditions and temperature range.
- Remoteness of local services and general level of comfort.
- Rock climbing or Ice climbing.
- Technical climbing and complicated glaciers.
- Steep climbing or long snow/ice slopes
- Very difficult Long, serious, remote, and highly technical Climbing over thousands of vertical feet
- High commitment, and few bivouac sites.
Grade I: Easy glacier rout, average altitude. Grade II: Half a day or less for the technical portion of the route or not technical but exposed to knife-edged ridges, weather, and altitude. Grade III: Moderate...
Accommodation
Hotel/ Lodge: Single/Twin-sharing room with wooden beds, foam mattresses, and blankets (bring a sleeping bag for extra warmth/hygiene). Most of the place have shared toilets (usually Asian-style squat or Western toilets). Some of the place has attached toiled. Hot showers available (on extra cost). Higher up, hot water is scarce.
**Tented Camping: ** tented camping is a classic and essential part of trekking, peak climbing, and expedition in remote areas of the Himalayas where teahouse accommodation is unavailable. Asian Hiking Team provides tent (2-person or single occupancy Dom and Box tent depends on area and numbers of days), sleeping mat (foam or inflatable), dining tent, kitchen tent, toilet tent (group use - for expedition), Kitchen equipment and utensils (carried by support crew/yak/donkey), Power bank or solar charger, heater, Generator (for expedition) etc.
Meals:
During the hotel/guest house trekking, there are international menus so you can choose whatever you...
Nepal has five main seasons, but the best times for trekking and climbing are Autumn and Spring.
- Autumn (Sep-Nov): Best season. Clear skies, stable weather, and excellent mountain views. Warm days and cold nights.
- Spring (Mar-May): Second best season. Warmer weather, blooming rhododendrons. Can be hazy at lower elevations.
- Winter (Dec-Feb): Cold and snowy. High passes are often closed. Suitable for lower-altitude treks.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug): Rainy and challenging. Best for treks in rain-shadow areas like Upper Mustang.
Climbing in Nepal requires a government-issued permit. The royalty fee for Ama Dablam for foreign climbers is:
- Spring Season: US$ 1,000
- Autumn Season: US$ 1,000
- Winter/Summer Season: US$ 500
Additionally, a rubbish management deposit of US$ 2,000 is required, which is refundable upon proper disposal of waste. All staff must have mandatory insurance coverage for medical emergencies and rescue.
Royalty for Foreign Climber per Person in US Dollar
(Effected from 1st September 2025): Everest Normal Route - Spring Season 15,000, Autumn Season 7500 and Winter/Summer 3750 Everest Other Route - Spring Season 10,000, Autumn Season 5000, Winter/Summer 2500 Others Mountain more than 8000 - Spring Season 3000, Autumn Season 1500, Winter/Summer 2500 Mt. Manaslu - Spring season 1500, Autumn seasons 3000, Winter/summer season 1500 Mountains - 7501 m. - 7999 m. Spring Season 1000, Autumn Season 500, Winter/Summer 250 Mountains - 7001 m. - 7500 m. Spring Season 800, Autumn Season 400, Winter/Summer 200 Mountains - 6501 m....
We use a combination of transport modes:
- Air: Domestic flights (e.g., Kathmandu to Lukla) and helicopter services for scenic or emergency transport.
- Road: Private vehicles (cars, vans, jeeps) and tourist buses for travel between cities and to trek start points.
- Traditional: Porters and yaks are used to transport gear in mountain regions.
Health and safety are paramount.
- Altitude Sickness (AMS): Prevent by ascending slowly, staying hydrated (4-5 liters/day), and acclimatizing properly. Know the symptoms (headache, nausea) and descend if they become severe.
- Food & Water: Drink only boiled, filtered, or bottled water. Eat well-cooked meals.
- Foot Care: Use well-fitted boots and address hotspots immediately to prevent blisters.
- First Aid: Our guides carry first aid kits, but you should bring personal medications.
NTC and Ncell SIM cards offer good coverage in the Khumbu region, though service can be spotty at high altitudes. Everest Link Wi-Fi is available at most teahouses and lodges for a fee. For emergencies, our guides carry a satellite phone.
Comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory for this expedition. Your policy must cover:
- Emergency Air Ambulance/Helicopter Rescue
- Medical Expenses
- Trip Cancellation and Interruption
You must provide proof of insurance before the trip begins. For the insurance company details please check our insurance recommended company in travel insurance page.
We are committed to responsible tourism. Our policies include:
- Environmental: Minimizing waste, using gas for cooking, and leaving no trace.
- Cultural: Respecting local customs, asking permission for photos, and supporting local economies.
- Community: Donating a portion of profits to community projects and ensuring fair treatment and wages for all staff and porters.
Ice Axe/Ice Hammer : Bring a lightweight axe with a pick that will stick easily in hard glacier ice. Attach a light weight wrist leash that is usable for climbing steeper terrain.
Crampons : These must be sharp and must fit your boot perfectly.
Harness : Make sure the buckle is easy for you to thread in cold conditions! Gear loops will be useful for this trip as well as adjustable leg loops.
Helmet : Be sure you can comfortably fit a warm hat underneath.
Hardware : Bring 3 locking and 4 lightweight regular carabineers. It is helpful if at least one of the locking carabineers has a "key gate", like the Petzl Attaché. Bring one handled ascender and one Petzl Tibloc for ascending the fixed rope. You will need rigging material--two sewn 48" nylon slings and 10' of 8 mm perlon should be sufficient. Also include one small 5 mm prussik loop (about 4 feet of cord tied with a double fisherman's knot) for a rappel backup. For rappelling the Black Diamond ATC Guide is good since it can handle ropes from 7.7mm to 11mm. A Figure 8 is an old standby and works on a variety of ropes and also icy ropes.
Insulated Parka/Expedition Suit : Heavyweight insulated expedition Suit/parka with hood.
Jacket : Lightweight waterproof-breathable construction with a hood.
Pants : Lightweight waterproof-breathable shell pants or bibs with full-length leg zippers. ALSO, very useful are synthetic insulation full-zip pants, for example, Mountain Hardware Compressor Pants--for evenings and cold summit days.
Mid-Layers : Fleece or Soft Shell layering pieces that work well with the rest of your clothing. A Soft Shell jacket and an expedition weight long john top will work well.
Climbing Pants : Look for construction that provides freedom of movement and/or stretch materials. Fabric should be a breathable synthetic that preferably holds up to abrasion.
Base Layers : 2 synthetic tops and 1 bottom. Zip neck tops are the way to go.
Mittens : Fleece mittens with an over mitten. Nothing competes with a mitten for warmth when the going got tough.
Ski Gloves : A warm insulated glove with leather palm will be worn a lot of the time.
Light Gloves : Polypropylene or fleece. Leather palms handle the fixed line better, Leather gloves or good abrasion resistant climbing glove for the rock sections.
Stocking Hat : Wool or fleece stocking hat with ear protection, Neck Gaiter and/or a Buff (highly recommended), Baseball hat and Bandana.
Trekking Poles : Poles come in handy for balance and easing impact to your knees. Get collapsible poles that can attach to your backpack and fit into your Duffel.
Backpack : You may choose to bring a smaller "day pack" for your airline travel carry on, and this can be used on the trek if you want to carry a smaller (35 liter or so), light trekking pack. You need a pack big enough for your clothes, water, camera, food, etc. during the day.
Pack Cover : Waterproof rain cover for your trekking pack.
Trekking Clothes : Light hiking pants and / or hiking shorts for warm weather down low-NOT cotton. Shirts for hiking on nice days (t-shirts OK, quick-drying synthetic fabric is better.) Don't overdo your trekking clothes. A pair of shorts, long pants and a couple of shirts will do. Some pair of Socks, Underpants/panties/Bra, Belt, Skirt, one set sport sandals and Trousers, you can handwash them during the trek as needed.
Lightweight Approach Boots : Find a pair that fits and log some miles in them before your trip. A low cut shoe is adequate, but some hikers will prefer more ankle support.
Sleeping Bag : Bring a sleeping bag comfortable to -20 for trekking, however it is better to bring -30 for climbing. During the trekking in hotel/guest house -20 is fine but on the tented home you need -30. Down is lighter and much more compressible.
Double Climbing Boots : Double Climbing Boots with expedition liners. Make sure your crampons can be adjusted to fit them (La sportiva - Olympus Mons Cube).
Approach boots : Which will work on the trek and approach to Camp 1, and even up to Camp 2 if conditions warrant.
Gaiters : Gaiters and Yaktrax or Kahtoola Micro spikes in case of snow.
Socks : Four/five sets of climbing socks.
Eyewear : Bring good sunglasses with side protection. For contact lens wearers, ski goggles with light color lenses (for use at night) might be useful in windy conditions. The ski goggles are essential for all climbers in really stormy conditions and can serve as an emergency backup for broken or lost sunglasses.
Vision correction : Bring extra prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses if you wear them. Lens solutions are not widely available in Nepal, bring enough for the duration.
Wrist Watch : With alarm and night light. An altimeter watch is useful.
First Aid : Hand sanitizer (Purell), moleskin or Compede, athletic tape, aspirin (some climbers take a baby aspirin every day up high) and/or ibuprofen / acetaminophen, Imodium, Band-Aids, antacid, insect repellant, ear plugs, and two rolls of toilet paper in quart Ziploc bags (we will have a supply at Base Camp), small towel, soap/shampoo.
Prescription Medications : Antibiotic for upper respiratory problems, Antibiotic for GI problems, Diamox for acclimatization (125 mg tabs recommended; enough for a week or more), Tylenol 3 or similar for severe headaches, Asthma medication, if any history.
Skin Care : Sun block lotion (at least #30 protection factor -- have at least one smaller tube (1 oz) that can fit in your pocket) and lip salve. Put your lip protection on a string and hang it from your neck. That way, you'll use it. It also works great for your nose.
Garbage Bags : 2 or 3 large plastic bags make great liners for your pack in wet weather.
Personal Snack Food : The food is great on the trek, but you might enjoy a few snacks (not more than 5 pounds) from home and also some drink mixes if you like these to add to your water bottle (let the iodine have 30 minutes contact time before adding). Summit climbers should bring some high altitude snacks they prefer for hard days.
MP3 Player and Books : As you want to read on the way to trekking. Plan on sharing books on hotel/guest house and on sharing books with the Base Camp.
Headlamp : Bring a good LED headlamp with 2 sets of lithium batteries for cold conditions.
Water Bottles : 2 wide mouth plastic water bottles with insulated covers. A small Thermos bottle is great for cold mornings. Bring a pee bottle too.
Water purification : Iodine tablets (Potable Aqua or similar) or iodine crystals (Polar Pure). One bottle of Potable Aqua (enough to treat 25 liters) should be more than sufficient.
Utensils : Bring an insulated mug with a lid, a decent sized bowl, spoon, pocket knife and lighter.
Climbing Backpack : Medium size internal frame pack (60 liter capacity). Look for a pack which is comfortable to carry, very durable, as light as is reasonable and one which has a minimum number of bells and whistles.
Duffel Bags : We normally pack all our equipment in two large Duffel bags. Make sure they are well labeled with indelible ink as well as a travel tag. The duffels go on the trek/climb with you and will be carried by porters and yaks. Except for them to get wet and muddy, so rugged, waterproof duffels are good. Bags with wheels are nice for the airport, but the porters and yaks don't like to carry them, so don't bring wheeled bags (or at least not two of them). You will also store some travel clothes at the hotel in Kathmandu while trekking, so a small additional bag with a lock might be handy. Bring 5 large plastic garbage bags to pack gear inside duffels to protect gear from rain.
Travel Wallet : Some type of secure travel wallet is a must. Remember a pen for travel documents.
Passport : Passport (valid for at least 6 months): It is easy to get your Nepal visa on arrival in Kathmandu at the airport bring a passport photo. Bring a copy of the information pages and a couple of extra passport photographs. Carry these in a separate location. You'll be glad you did if you ever lose a passport.
Camera : with spare batteries, and film or memory cards, but keep it reasonable and weight. Consider a small USB drive to make it easy to share photos with your teammates.
Bathing Suit : Towel, Toothpaste and brush, floss, mini hairbrush, razor, soap, mini bottle of shampoo, travel mirror, nail clippers, Pie bottle etc.









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