Ama Dablam Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes

Escape the Everest Base Camp crowds for a more serene, authentic Himalayan experience.

On this multi day trek in Nepal, you will reach the base of Ama Dablam, often dubbed the “Matterhorn of the Khumbu”. This trek offers adventurers the chance to explore the serene Gokyo Lakes and enjoy spectacular views of Everest and other majestic peaks, without the crowds.  Designed with an optimal balance of adventure and acclimatization, you can expect 6 - 8 hours of trekking per day, with plenty of breaks to capture the awe-inspiring views. While the high-altitude terrain will test your limits, the sense of accomplishment and the sheer beauty surrounding you will be your ultimate reward.

Level 5: Walks are approx 8 hours per day in alpine environments, weather conditions variable, long steep ascents and descents, at altitude, mostly rough tracks and some rock scrambling in places and crevasses.

GirlsTrek trips are graded according to the length of hours out on the trails, the type of trails underfoot and the fitness required to comfortably walk longer distances, on tougher terrain, for several days in a row. 

For our Level 5 trips, we request that you have the following experience/fitness to join:

Experience hiking a multi-day trek in the last 4 years that required you to walk for up to 8hrs per day on undulating terrain.

OR Experience hiking 2 x  GirlsTrek Level 3 or 4 trips in the past 4 years. 

AND 4-5 hours a week of regular consistent exercise that involves hiking / running or fast walking.

Brief overview: 17 days/ 16 nights

DAY 1:
Arrive in Kathmandu, hotel accommodation for the night

DAY 2:
After breakfast we set out on a cultural tour to some of Kathmandu's UNESCO World Heritage sites. Later in the day we meet our guide for a trek briefing and final packing. Hotel and dinner. 

DAY 3: 
Trek to Phakding (2,610 m). Duration: 4-5 hours. 
Early morning start at 3am to drive 5hrs to Ramechap airport: The flight from Ramechap to Lukla takes around 15 minutes, time enough to take in the spectacular views of the Himalayas. After landing at Tenzing-Hilary airport, you will meet your porter, who will carry your luggage. You then begin your journey with a relatively easy trek through the village of Lukla.

DAY 4: 
Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,441 m) Duration: 5-6 hours.
After breakfast, the trek crosses several suspension bridges over the Dudh Kosi River before passing through Tok-Tok, Benkar, and Monjo and then arriving at the Sagarmatha National Park entrance gate, where your guide will check you into the park. After following the riverbed for a few hours and after the last Hillary suspension bridge, there is a steep uphill trek to Namche Bazaar.

DAY 5: 
Acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar. Duration 4-5 hours. We visit Sir Edmund Hillary's “Schoolhouse In the Clouds”.

DAY 6: 
Trek to Dole (4,200 m) Duration: 6-7 hours.
The path to Dole is rocky and has many ups and downs. After about two hours of trekking, we will reach Mong La Pass (3957m / 12982ft). From here, we can get amazing views of Mt. Ama Dablam (6,812m / 22,349ft) and Mt. Khumbila (5,761m / 18,901ft).

DAY 7: 
Trek to Machermo (4,470m) Duration 4-5 hours.
The path is steep in most places as we pass through thorny bushes up to Lhabarma, which will offer us good views of Cho Oyu, the world’s 6th highest mountain. You will also see Kangtega and Thamserku.  The trail takes us through many summer settlements and a charming hamlet of Luza, 4,360m.

DAY 8: 
Trek Machermo (4,470m) to Gokyo (4,790m) Duration 4- 6 hours
Trek to Gokyo in the morning.
After lunch, we go and climb the Gokyo Ri. Gokyo Ri is one of the highlights of this trip.  Climbing to Gokyo Ri is strenuous as it is steep and takes about 3 to 4 hours round trip. The trail vista of Gokyo village on the edge of Third Lake, overlooked by Cholatse and the broad Ngozamba Glacier, is astonishing. 

DAY 9:
Sunrise trek to Thagnak: (4,700m) Duration 4 – 5hrs
Crossing the Cho La Pass is very challenging and not to be underestimated. Today is the toughest day of the trek, and we need to start early at 4-6 am compared to other days on the trip. The pass is not itself difficult, but it is steep and involves a glacier traverse on the eastern side.

DAY 10: 
Early morning start. Trek from Thagnak (4,700 m) to Dzonglha (4,830 m) over the Cho La Pass (5,420 m). Duration 7 – 8 hours. A steep, rocky traverse.

DAY 11: 
Trek Dzonglha to Somare: Duration 5.5 – 6.5 hours.
Our hike today will give the best views of Chola Tse, Tawache, and a glacial lake. 

Day 12: 
Trek from Somare (3,990 m) to Ama Dablam Base Camp (4,600m), back to Pangboche (3,900m). Duration 5.5 – 6.5 hours. We gain about 2700 ft on this day to Ama Dablam Base Camp. Upon reaching Ama Dablam Base Camp, we will stop for 30 minutes before we head down to Pangboche for the night.

DAY 13: 
Trek from Pangboche (3,985 m) to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m). Duration 6 – 7 hours.
This morning, we will descend to Debouche and ascend to Tengboche.  We will likely reach Tengboche around 11 am and visit the monastery. The trail goes through the pine trees from Tashinga into an opening where you can see the trail heading to Namche Bazaar.  We should arrive in Kyanzuma around 3 pm, and then our final 2.5-hour walk to Namche Bazaar from here. We shall reach Namche in the evening.

DAY 14: 
Trek to Lukla (2,804 m) Duration: 8 - 9 hours.

DAY 15: 
Flight to Ramechap and drive 4.5 hours to Kathmandu, hotel in Kathmandu, dinner

DAY 16: 
Bhaktapur Durbar Square Tour; final dinner Kathmandu; hotel in Kathmandu, dinner

DAY 17:
Depart for home 

See itinerary for inclusions/exclusions.

This itinerary involves an internal flight between Kathmandu and Lukla or Ramechap and Lukla.

Weight allowance during the trek is recommended to be 10kg only

Flight weight allowed 10kg check-in and 5kg carry-on (Excess weight has to pay $8 per kg)

When on trek, accommodation is twin share in mountain lodges/tea houses with shared bathrooms.