Amadablam Base Camp Trek-15Days

You will have beautiful views over the city as you fly into Kathmandu. You will see the mighty Himalaya, and of the terraced fields below. After going through customs, a representative of Ian Taylor Trekking will be there to meet you and transfer you to your hotel. We have an early evening briefing to allow you to meet our ground staff and your Trek guide for the trip.

We will make an early morning start for the Twin Otter flight to Lukla 2,853m/ 9,360 feet, the gateway to the Khumbu Region. This is an exciting flight, which should give a glimpse of Everest in the distance. In Lukla, we will meet our trek staff, porters or yak herders and set off straightaway for our first night’s stop at Phakding (2,600m/8,500ft). Or continue on to Monjo. Situated on the banks of the Dudh Kosi, which drains the whole of the Khumbu Region, this small hamlet is on the main trade route through the area and there are a number of clean, well-built lodges where we can spend the night.

Trek to Namche Bazaar. We will continue up the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing it twice by small suspension bridges before reaching the village of Monjo where we will enter the Sagarmatha National Park. We will then cross the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Bhote Kosi on a high suspension bridge and climb steeply for about two hours up ‘Namche Hill’ to reach Namche Bazaar 3,440m/ 11,286 feet. This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Many Tibetans cross the nearby border to trade their wares here, and the local market is a fascinating spectacle. This is a good place to buy genuine Tibetan artifacts. Just across the valley to the east stand the peaks of Thamserku and Kangtega, both very impressive mountains.

Today will be used as an acclimatization day as we need to adjust to the low oxygen levels. We will aim to climb high and sleep low. We will take a stroll up to the Sherpa Museum. The museum is just below 3,600m/ 11,800 feet. We will stay there for a while to gain the additional acclimatization needed for going higher. We will return to our lodge in Namche for lunch. The afternoon can be spent sampling the delights of the Namche bakery! or playing pool in Cafe Danfe. You can also visit Kancha Sherpa, he is the last remaining Sherpa climber from the 1953 Everest Expedition.

After an early breakfast we gather our belongings and take a hike up to Shangbouche hill 3,900m/ 12,800 feet with stunning panoramic views of the whole Everest Region. After reaching the viewpoint we make our way downhill to Khumjung 3,790m/ 12,434 feet. We go to our lodge, have time for lunch and then head out to explore the local area. We will visit the Khumjung Monastery famous for its Yeti Scalp. We may also be able to visit the Sir Edmund Hillary School. During this critical acclimatization phase, we will spend time resting and trekking to higher altitudes to aid in the process. This will allow our bodies to become more acclimatized at this critical point of the trip.

We leave Khumjung after breakfast and move to Phortse. We walk through agricultural land and some rhododendron trees for about half an hour then we start ascending to the Mong La (2 1/2 hours) where we enjoy a relaxing tea break and the views of Tawache Peak, Thamserku, Kangtega, Ama Dablam, Kongde Peak, Kusum Kangaru. We then walk downhill for about an hour to Phortse Tanga where we stop for lunch. After lunch we walk uphill through the forest to Phortse village 3,950m/ 12,960 feet where we stay for the night.

Today we have a short trek of about 3 – 31/2 hours to Pangboche farther up the valley. The trail is on a gradual incline around the valley with the most beautiful views as we walk. After lunch we will go to visit the famous Pangboche monastery, this claims to have a Yeti Scalp and hand. We will let you decide. You might be able to get a blessing from the high Lama and relax in quieter upper Pangboche. We then have a short acclimatization walk for anyone up for it. There will be stunning views of Ama Dablam

After breakfast we head out on what must be one of the best days of the trek. We cross the Imja Khol river and then start the steep ascent toward Ama Dablam Base Camp. The trail we are on is much less traveled as we leave those on the Everest Base Camp Trek behind us. We have time to enjoy our packed lunch and hot drinks taking in the spectacular views before heading back to Pangboche where we stay for the night.

We will leave Pangboche, and cross the new bridge above the river and then walk uphill for about an hour into Tengbouche. We will have a tea break here and it will be possible to visit the monastery before making the 1 hour descent back down the dusty hill toward the valley to our lunch spot at riverside. After lunch we cross another bridge and start a steep ascent back up the other side of the valley, passing some of the small villages and top out at the Ama Dablam view lodge. This should take 2 hours 30 minutes from the lunch spot. We will continue the traverse along the side of the mountain and drop back into Namche Bazaar. You can spend the rest of the day playing pool and celebrate your success in cafe Danfe. This is a 6-7 hour trek.

Today we will leave Namche Bazaar by 9am for the trek back to Phakding. After 1 hour downhill to the famous high bridge. We will stay high above the river before crossing some more suspension bridges. We will retrace our steps through Jorsalle, Monjo and back to Phakding. This should take 4-5 hours. You will be seeing the Khumbu valley from a different view on the return journey.

There is no rush this morning, you can rest and enjoy the morning sun before setting off back to Lukla. It should take 3 hours to hike from Phakding back to Lukla. We will arrive back to Lukla for lunch. We will stay the night in Lukla and prepare for the early morning flight back to Kathmandu. You can do your tipping ceremony and enjoy the party.

You will be up early for breakfast before your flight back to Kathmandu. Once you are back in Kathmandu you have options, you can go sightseeing, relax at the spa or catch up on some sleep. We will enjoy our final evening meal together to celebrate our achievements, say goodbye to your fellow trekkers and your trekking team.

Kathmandu——Airport Drop Our journey in Nepal comes to an end today! A VNTE representative will drop us off at the airport approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight. On our way to home, we have plenty of time to plan our next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal. Included meals: Breakfast