Amadablam Base Camp Trek: 13 Days
If you want to properly get introduced to the Sherpa culture and witness stunning mountain landscapes, then the Ama Dablam base camp trek is a great alternative. This trek lets you enjoy the bustle of the Khumbu region and less-crowded undisturbed walking in one trip.
Ama Dablam base camp trek is not a known trekking package in the Everest region but offers an adventurous, fascinating venture through lush woodlands & picturesque villages. As the name of the package explains, you'll be walking to the base camp of Mt. Ama Dablam, the most stunning mountain in the Himalayas. It is a moderate trek and a great alternative to Everest base camp trekking. So, anyone looking for something different in the Khumbu region can consider the Ama Dablam trek.
Ama Dablam's trek itinerary follows the mainstream trail for the first few days. You can enjoy the bustle of the Khumbu region during this time. From Pangboche village, you'll be trekking on a less crowded and less visited trail. The trail from Pangboche to Ama Dablam base camp (5,120 m) is steep & rugged and goes along a glacial river. The Ama Dablam base camp trek route ascends and descends through remote villages & rhododendron forests. You'll have a very wholesome trekking experience on Ama Dablam trekking.
The locals are welcoming and friendly. You'll learn a lot about the mountain lifestyle. We have an acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar (3,440 m). It means you'll spend two nights in this village. Acclimatization is very crucial on high-altitude journeys like the Ama Dablam trek to ensure the safety of trekkers. We’ll spend our time in Namche Bazaar by hiking to the Hotel Everest View (3,962 m). It is one of the highest luxury hotels in the world that also holds the Guinness world record.
Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek Attractions
Explore historical monuments in Kathmandu
You'll get two full days in Kathmandu to visit monuments, museums, and galleries. On your second day in Kathmandu, we'll organize a guided Kathmandu sightseeing tour. An experienced local tour guide will accompany you. You'll begin the tour from Swayambhunath. Located on a hilltop, this place is famous as Monkey Temple and presents an aerial view of Kathmandu. From here, you'll drive to Pashupatinath Temple, a pilgrimage site, and continue the tour to Boudhanath Stupa.
Boudhnath Stupa is the largest stupa in Nepal, built on a trading route. The vibe around the stupa is immaculate and lets you unwind. From here, we drive to Kathmandu Durbar Square, a former royal residence. It is an open museum full of courtyards, shrines, and palaces. There are many cafes and restaurants around the monument. We'll then make our way back to Thamel.
Thrilling flights between Kathmandu and Lukla airports
Lukla (2,860 m) is our starting point of the trek. It is a small village on top of a ridge and gateway to the Khumbu region. Because of the short runway and high elevation, flying in & out of Lukla airport is quite famous. It is not something that we city people have seen or are used to. The flight offers breathtaking views and nerve-racking landing/take-off.
The abundant flora, fauna, and natural wonders of Sagarmatha National Park
The Sagarmatha National Park starts from Mojo onwards and was established to protect the area & its locals. The national park is home to many vegetation, animals, and birds. The park has forests of rhododendron, magnolia, fir, pine, etc. Ascending from sub-tropical forests, it goes to the alpine zone. The beautiful waterfalls, terraced fields, streams, rivers, glaciers, and moraines are all part of this national park. Likewise, the national park also houses fine villages and small settlement areas.
Come across Sherpa culture
One of the major highlights of this trek is the Sherpa culture. Sherpas are the native of the Himalayas and are known for their strength, resilience & kindness. The Ama Dablam trek for 13 days will give you ample opportunities to understand the values, practices, and traditions of Sherpas. You will get to see their daily lifestyle and homes.
The Ama Dablam trail exclusively involves a visit to two ancient monasteries, Tengboche (3,860 m) and Pangboche (3,985 m). Apart from that, the trail has many stupas, chortens, and prayer wheels. You'll not have to do anything extra. The venture itself is enriching in cultural aspects too.
Views during the Ama Dablam base camp trek
Talking about the views during the trek, it's fantastic. You get to enjoy some of the best views of Mt. Everest and many other Himalayan giants along the trail. The flight between Kathmandu and Lukla offers stunning aerial views of the Himalayas. On the first day of the trek, you'll be seeing views of snow-capped peaks like Kongde Ri (6,187 m) and Khumbila (5,717 m).
As the trail progresses to Namche Bazaar, Mt. Everest (8,849 m) is seen for the first time, along with Mt. Lhotse (8,516 m), Mt. Nuptse (7,861 m), Mt. Thamserku (6,608 m), Mt. Khumbila (5,761 m), etc. Soon, we'll get to witness views of Mt. Ama Dablam (6,812 m), Mt. Pumori (7,161 m), etc.
You'll watch numerous sunrises and sunsets. The views of waterfalls, rivers, impressive rhododendron-covered trails, and fluttering colorful prayer flags add more depth to the scenery. The Ama Dablam base camp itself lets you see breathtaking mountain landscapes.
Mt. Ama Dablam & the meaning behind the name
Ama Dablam (6,812 m) is one of those mountains in the Himalayas that has close ties with the natives. The beautiful meaning behind the name Ama Dablam, which means "Mother's Necklace". The perennial hanging glacier from the mountain resembles Dablam. It means a unique piece of traditional jewelry worn by Sherpa women.
Likewise, if seen from Tengboche village, the Ama Dablam mountain looks like a mother's hand protecting her child on each side. Interesting right, how can some tribal thing become so meaningful.
