The Ama Dablam Base Camp trek branches off the Everest trail near Pangboche and climbs to a camp at roughly 4,500 to 4,600 m. It is often added to the Everest Base Camp trek as a side trip.
An optional detour on the Everest trek
Ama Dablam Base Camp lies at about 4,570 m in a side valley above Pangboche. It can be visited as a day trip or overnight on the Everest trek, and it gives a closer view of the mountain and its climbers' tents. Our combined itinerary adds a day or two to the standard Everest route.
The route from Pangboche
From Pangboche at about 3,985 m a steady path climbs through juniper and rhododendron to a high meadow and then to the base camp, a walk of three to four hours. The return is faster.
What you see
The face of the mountain rises close above the camp, and in autumn many expedition tents are set up. You may see climbers on the lower ridge. Clear days give views across to Lhotse and Nuptse.
Acclimatisation benefit
The extra night at altitude helps acclimatisation before the higher part of the Everest trek, so it can make later days easier.
A sample day from Pangboche
Leave Pangboche after breakfast, walk through the village gate and follow the trail along a ridge above the river. The path climbs steadily through scrub and boulder fields, reaching base camp at around midday. Spend an hour or two watching the mountain and the climbers, have lunch at a camp tea tent in the climbing season, and return to Pangboche by late afternoon.
Fitting it into the Everest schedule
The side trip is usually done as an acclimatisation day. It is best added after Namche and before Dingboche, because it gains useful altitude without sleeping higher. Check with your guide on weather and the condition of the path.
Plan it
We offer the combined trek as Everest Base Camp with Ama Dablam Base Camp.
A sample day plan
A typical route follows the Everest trail to Pangboche, then climbs to Ama Dablam Base Camp near 4,600 m. The day trip from Pangboche takes five to seven hours return. Plan a rest day to enjoy the views and check altitude.
