Strap on your hiking boots - Local Secrets Edition 3 is taking you to the Himalayas.
Trekking to Ama Dablam
As with all Local Secret Reviews and DKs Content & Copywriting Articles, we share our honest option of the experience we have, and they are independent from any of the places or products we may mention.
With this core value, I first want to disclose, I did this trek back in 2008, and all the wonderful memories came back when I recently found my photos.
To ensure my story would still add value to you reading it today, I was happy to find that World Expeditions is still offering a similar trekking adventure I had booked with them.
Have you heard of this mountain, Ama Dablam?
It stands 11, 100 ft above sea level or for us Aussies, 3,383 meters. It’s one of the most striking peaks in the Himalaya’s, uniquely standing out amongst the others, like the famous Mount Everest, as it has a rounded peak, rather than a sharp point.
Secret One
I’m going to tell you this one early. With my booking information was a list of things to purchase before the trip, and I decided to ignore two items I wish I didn’t:
- Trekking poles, trust me get them – they’ll make the many stairs to Ama Dablam base camp much easier.
- Head torch, there’s no sitting around the campfire, like I imagined. After dinner it’s straight to your tent. So, when you’re trying to read or play cards with your travel buddy having a few sneaky whiskeys, it makes it so much more enjoyable if you’re not trying to strategically position your touch every few minutes.
Trekking to Ama Dablam Base Camp
Day 1: fly out of Kathmandu on a 30-minute scenic flight through the mountainous terrain and arrive at Lukla airport.
Pick-up last minute supplies in the small town of Lukla before heading off to the first camp site. It’s a relatively short and easy trek, giving you plenty of time to be in awe of the spectacular surroundings.
On one side you have magnificent, humungous hills crisscrossed with colorful prayer flags which are said to spread blessings and good fortune as the wind blows through them.
On the other side is the raging glacial river called The Dudh Koshi or The Milk River, the perfect spot to set up camp on first the night.
The trek to Ama Dablam Base Camp is slow and truly magical. Through local villages, across many bridges high above the Milk River and up many, many stairs.
A Memorable Moment
Sitting high above the village below Namche Bazaar, as close to the edge as I dared, staring at the giant dark green mountains framing the region on the other side – unforgettable.
Secret Two
In the front windows of many houses along the trek, they sell soft drinks and chocolate bars – check the use by dates.
The Trek Back
Spiraling down the dirt trails on the edge of the large hills we felt like we were being taken back through the locals ‘short cut. In just three days we were back at Namche Bazaar for our final night under the stars and mountains.
Final Secret
This one is for the solo female travelers for when you’re in Kathmandu. This wonderful, vibrant, chaotic city is filled with rich culture and sensational food. And while most locals are warm and respectful, I urge you to avoid walking alone at night and choose reputable accommodation with good reviews.
World Expeditions still appears to be booking their travelers at the Radisson Hotel, which I found most comfortable, clean and good water pressure for that much wanted shower.