Mt. Ama Dablam Expedition

AMADABLAM EXPEDITION WITH ISLAND PEAK:

DAY 01:  Arrival Kathmandu -1,350m/4,428ft Upon your arrival in the Kathmandu airport (KTM), you will be greeted by a representative from Adventure Geo Treks. After completing your custom formalities (Visa, etc) pick up your luggage and look for our representative with a Adventure Geo Treks display board at the arrival gate. You will be then transferred to Hotel. After check in, you can take a rest, hang around in the city. In the evening we will organize a "Welcome Dinner" at an excellent traditional Nepalese Restaurant where you will enjoy a Nepalese cultural program as well as a fine meal. Included meal: (D)

DAY 02:  Kathmandu [1300 m/4264 ft]: Sightseeing and Preparation After breakfast, we can enjoy a free day on our own or participate in a sightseeing program. The sightseeing program is focused to introduce some highlights and UNESCO World Heritage sites of Kathmandu such as Durbar square, Swoyambhunath, Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath. After some hours' sightseeing, we go to the tourism board office for briefing and get the permit for expedition and after that go to hotel get our equipments checked by the climbing guide, prepare things as per need, and after Adventure Geo Treks briefs you about the trip, you get chance to ask questions you might have regarding the trip. Overnight at hotel. Included meal: Breakfast (B)

DAY 03:  Kathmandu to Lukla [2,800 m/9,184 ft] to Phakding [2,652 m/8,700 ft]: 35 min flight; 3-4 hours trekEarly morning after breakfast, we get transferred to domestic airport and fly to Lukla. After an adventurous 40 minutes flight above breathtaking green and white mountains, we reach Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. This is one of the most beautiful air routes in the world culminating in a dramatic landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains peaks. At the airport, we meet our other crew members. We get time to stroll around while the guide divides and manages baggage to be carried by porters. We start our trek through the prosperous village of Lukla until we reach Phakding. To assist in acclimatization, we only have a short hike today. However, if interested in additional activities, take a side trip to a nearby monastery. Overnight in Phakding. Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B,L,D)

DAY 04:  Phakding to Namche Bazaar [3,440 m/11,283 ft]: 5-6 hrsTrek starts in the morning after breakfast. The walk today is pleasant with few short uphill and downhill with multiple crossings over Dudh Koshi River and magnificent view of Mt. Thamserku (6,608m/21,675ft) from the Benkar village. Cross some more bridges and reach the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo, where our trekking permits are checked in order to keep record of trekkers and local trekking staffs as well. A descend and a gradual walk brings us to Jorsale, the last village until Namche Bazaar. The walk is enjoyable through the river bed and we reach Hillary Suspension Bridge. Now, as we climb up hill towards Namche Bazzar, closer and magnificent sight of Kwangde Peak, its sister peaks, Kusum Kangaru, Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Tawache, and many other fabulous mountains are viewed closer, we stop at the Chautara here to admire the view. Finally, we reach the colorful village of Namche Bazzar, the main gateway of Khumbu region. Overnight in Namche Bazzar. (B,L,D)

DAY 05:  Namche Bazaar [3,440 m/11,283 ft]: Acclimatization DayThis is first scheduled 'acclimatization' day for this trek. Health experts always recommend us to stay active and moving during the rest day too instead of being idle. We either spend the day taking a day hike to Thame or visiting Khunde or carry out relaxed exploration of Namche Bazaar itself. Namche Bazzar is the main centre of the Everest (Khumbu) region and has government offices, ATMs, Internet cafes, shops, restaurants, a bakery and a colorful market each Friday evening and Saturday. If we trek a few hundred vertical feet during the day, it will help us to properly acclimatize. Visit the Tourist Visitor Center near the Sagarmatha National Park headquarters and observe an assortment of things related to the first Everest ascenders, Sherpa culture and learn about the various plant and animal life of the Everest region. We also take an interesting side trip up to Khumjung and climb up to famous airstrip at Syangboche. Just above the airstrip is the Everest View Hotel, a Japanese scheme to build a deluxe hotel with great views of the highest mountains on Earth. The Khumjung valley surrounded by the snowy peaks of Kongde and Thamserku and the sacred peak of Khumbila hosts a well known monastery that houses a yeti scalp. Visit Hillary School which is at the same site. After having lunch and spending some time in Khumjung, walk back down to Namche Bazzar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar. (B,L,D)

DAY 06:  Namche Bazzar to Tengboche (3,870m/12,694ft) - 5 to 6 hrs walkAfter breakfast in Namche, we start our trek towards Tengboche enjoying superb view of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and close up view of Thamserku. Our trek follows on the gradual trail with few ups and downs overlooking magnificent view of the great Himalaya. Along the way we can spot wild lives like pheasant, musk deer, or a herd of Himalayan Thar. The trail goes gradually down up to Kayangjuma. The path eventually reaches Sansa which is the major trail junction to Gokyo valley and Everest Base Camp. The track then follows through the pine forests and after we cross the prayer flags festooned bridge over Dudh Koshi River, we reach Phunki Thenga, a small settlement with a couple of teahouses and a small army post amidst the alpine woods. After having a relaxed lunch at Phunki Thenga we then have a little tough climb steep up through the pine forests while before we reach Tengboche. Tengboche is a great place for close up views of Ama-Dablam, Nuptse, and Everest and it has a biggest Buddhist Monastery all over in Khumbu region. We visit the monastery the same day at around 3 p.m. to witness the ceremony in the principal and popular monastery of Everest region. Overnight stay at lodge in Tengboche.(B,L,D)

DAY 07:  Tengboche to Dingboche (4,360 m/14,300 ft): 5 to 6 hrsMountains as a backdrop, the monastery in Tengboche looks spectacular more in the morning. We snap pictures of the monastery and the sceneries around and as usual start the day journey. We choose the upper trail for better views to visit Pangboche village and its ancient Monastery. We pass through several Chortens and Mani walls and small villages. We enjoy lunch with fantastic close-up views of Ama-Dablam. In the afternoon, go north to Pheriche or take the eastward trail beneath the towering north face of Ama Dablam. From here onwards the walk is fairly moderate as we enter the Imja Valley. The valley ahead will begin to open up as we approach the confluence of the Lobuche River, we descend into the river and begin the last and steepest climb of the day up to Dingboche On arrival in Dingboche, we enjoy the beautiful array of fields enclosed by stone walls to protect the barley, buckwheat and potatoes from the cold winds and grazing animals. Overnight in Dingboche. (B,L,D)

DAY 08:  Dingboche to Chhukung [4,730m/15,518ft]: 3-4 hrsThe walk is pleasant as we leave Dingboche through stone walled fields and alpine landscape. We take the trial from Dingboche through Imja Khola valley to land raven by glacier moraines amidst towering formidable mountains. We walk leisurely as our schedule for today is only 3-4 hours trek. While walking through the valley, Lhotse towers on our left and Ama Dablam on our right. After walking about 3 km, we reach at yak herdman place called Bibre. Straight ahead, beyond a terminal moraine wall, soars the Island peak (Imja Tse), a most popular trekking peak. The pyramidal Imja Tse looks awesome with its step rocky and-icy south face. The trail ahead is intersected by icy streams. We reach Chhukung in about half an hour from Bibre. There are glaciers and massive snowy mountains all around the place. We might choose to hike to the rocky knoll of Chhukung Ri which offers stunning views of Lhotse, Island Peak, Ama Dablam, Makalu and several others including Baruntse. Overnight in Chhukung.(B,L,D)

DAY 09:  Chhukung -Island Peak Base camp [5,200m/17,060ft]: 3-4 hoursThe path from Chhukung leads fairly steep way climbing south then turning east to the main line of the valley. It then winds along or below the southern flank of the moraine from the Lhotse Glacier. We continue short pleasant walking along a stream side. The route to the Amphu Lapcha lies to the southeast. A cries-cross route through the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines leads to a wide valley flanking the SW side of Island peak. Overnight at Island Peak Base Camp. (B,L,D)Pre-Climb Training : After lunch, our guides will provide training on peak climbing techniques and using climbing gears such as ice axe, climbing boot and crampons, harness, ascender, etc and on how to go up and down using ropes. Although it is not mandatory to have prior training experience for Island Peak Climbing, we believe that some training experience will boost up your confidence and climbing skills; thus increasing the chances of scaling the summit as well as to fully enjoy the experience.

DAY 10:  Island Peak Base Camp to Summit and back to Base Camp [5,600m/18,372ft]: 12-13 hrsToday is the climax of our trip, so we wake up very early at around 1 to 2 am so that we can reach the summit before noon because subsequent to afternoon the strong winds in the high lands might be our barrier for successful summit.  We eat breakfast and start the venture. The path leads up beyond base camp for several hundred meters before striking off the steep hillside. Initially sandy, the path soon turns to grass before becoming boulder strewn. As we climb the hill, we will see that the slope narrows and the path enter a steep rock channel. We climb the rock gully. This is not difficult but there are several short rock steps to climb before we emerge on the right side of the gully. The route then follows a ridgeline, which leads to an exhilarating and exposed traverse onto the snout of the summit glacier. We need to rope up for the glacier as it contains several crevasses. The guides will fix a rope wherever necessary. A steep snow slope leads us onto the summit ridge. After enjoying the summit views, and taking pictures, we descend all the way to Island Peak Base Camp where some of our crew is waiting for us. We celebrate on our successful Island peak climb. (B,L,D)

DAY 11:  Reserve Day for Contingency There is no such guarantee that we can get quite a favorable weather on our planned day for the summit, so this day is used as a contingency in case if we are unable to summit the Island Peak on the planned day due to bad weather condition or some other reasons. If weather gets exceptionally unfavorable we wisely have to postpone the program of summiting the peak for today. Sometimes somebody in the group may get some problems in acclimatizing well enough to make the ascent; the day can be used in that condition too. If the trip goes smoothly, we do not need this spare day. (B,L,D)

DAY 12:  Move to Base Camp 4570m/15000ftTrek back to Pangboche and cross the Dudh Kosi River. Climb up the trail which takes to the Ama Dablam Base Camp. The Base Camp lies at an altitude of 15,000ft (4,570m). Spend the day at the Base Camp for acclimatization and further planning.

DAY 13-23:  Ascending and Descending of Ama Dablam Top 6856m/22488ftBased on their previous Adventure Geo Trkes experience, the climbing guide will make the planning and other necessary ground work for the ascent. A few days may be spent on the Base Camp for organizing food, acclimatization, and practicing rope and other mountain climbing skills. 
A typical strategy would look like what follows:After getting established on the Base Camp, move further up to Camp 1 at 5,700m (17,400 feet) along the standard route. Generally, one night is spent at camp 1for acclimatization and then returning to the Base Camp for the final preparation to scale the summit. There are three camps above the base camp before reaching the summit. The ascent from Base Camp to camp 1 is technically challenging. From Camp 1, follow existing fixed lines. Establish new ropes wherever necessary both for ascent and descent. The climb from Camp 2 to Camp 3 is mostly ice and mixed-climbing. The climb from Camp 3 to the summit is relatively less technical. By the Day 23, scale the peak before getting back to the Base Camp.

DAY 24:  Trek back to LuklaTrek back to Thyangboche, Namche Bazaar and Phakding finally arriving at Lukla.

DAY 25:  Fly Lukla to KathmanduMorning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu

DAY 26:  Reserve day for weather condition for flight from Lukla.

DAY 27: At leisure in KathmanduAlso a reserve day to accommodate possible delay in Lukla to Kathmandu flight. If the flight is as scheduled, spend the day enjoying Kathmandu's delights.

DAY 28:  Depart KathmanduConcluding day of Ama Dablam Expedition. We transfer you to airport for your journey ahead. Our staff will pick you up approximately 3 hours before your flight time.