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Birds Eye View of Everest from the Chopper
Sample Nepal Heli-Trekking Itinerary:
Heli-Trekking the “Other� Base Camp: Ama Dablam PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com
The Art of Adventure Travel
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Heli-Trekking the “Other” Base Camp: Ama Dablam For lovers of big mountains, there are few places in the world that can compare with the Khumbu, the name given to the Everest region by its local inhabitants, the Sherpas. Everest may be the biggest and most famous of the peaks here, but it is surrounded by peaks that steal its thunder in the “stunning” category, including the inimitable Ama Dablam, a name derived from the charm boxes worn by Sherpa women, and which translates as “Mother’s Arms.” As spectacular as these peaks look from the ground, the bird’s eye view from your chopper at the end is the perfect cherry on this delicious mountain cake. The most popular destination in the Khumbu is Everest Base Camp, but at this time of year it will be empty and have a desolate feel to it. More importantly, the views of Everest from Base Camp are of moderate quality at best. And putting aside the symbolism of Everest for a moment, let's assume a beauty contest where Everest and nine other randomly chosen Himalayan peaks were competing. Everest would likely not make the semi-finals, while Ama Dablam would be the odds-on favorite in Vegas. The trail from Pangboche, one of the most traditional Sherpa villages in Nepal, to Ama Dablam Base Camp will likely have few if any other trekkers besides your group, providing a rare and special experience for the Khumbu. You’ll arrive into Kathmandu a few days earlier than your trek begins, while the date and flights have yet to be established,. Once these details are settled you can send along to us your arrival and departure details. We’ll be more than happy to confirm your airport transfers. In the meantime,here are the details of the time you’ll be on trek in the Khumbu. PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com
Day-By-Day Itinerary: 01: Arrive Kathmandu (4,300’) today, where upon arrival, you’ll be met and escorted the short distance to your hotel to relax and enjoy your first night in country. Dwarika’s Hotel. 02: You’ll be able to sleep in this morning and have a relaxing start to your time in Nepal. There is an excellent spa at the hotel, and well-trained masseurs to help get you on track to loosening up after the long flights. In mid-morning you will be picked up and head to Bodhanath Stupa, the holiest place to Nepali Buddhists. Surrounding the stupa (shrine) are over a dozen Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, two of them funded by Richard Gere and Steven Seagal. Buddhists come from all over Nepal and the region to circumambulate the stupa and do their puja (worship). If you saw the Everest IMAX film, one of the last scenes was of this stupa, covered by thousands of devotional candles. Jamling will meet you at the hotel at 6pm to give you a trek briefing, followed by a welcome dinner. Dwarika’s Hotel. 03: Your half-hour flight to Lukla (9,200’) departs at 6:30am, so you’ll need to be at the airport at 5:30am. On arrival at Lukla you’ll go to the Everest Summit Lodge for breakfast, and then begin your first day of trekking. The trail gradually descends to the Dudh Kosi River, passing small villages and family farms along the way. You’ll have lunch in a restaurant in the village of Ghat, then begin the gradual ascent to Monjo (9,300’). The valley you’re in is narrow and steep, with limited views of the snow-capped peaks, but you will get your first good looks at Kusum Kanguru and Thamserku above the east bank in a few places. Everest Summit Lodge. 04: Today’s hike is the shortest of the trek, but not necessarily the easiest. It begins easily enough, with more of the same from yesterday afternoon: gradual uphill along the river. After crossing the Hillary Bridge, you’ll begin the ascent of the infamous hill up to Namche Bazaar (11,300’). The trail is comprised mostly of switchbacks, so the steepness isn’t extreme, but due to the altitude and coming so early in the itinerary, it tends to be one of the more memorable experiences of the trek for many people. You’ll arrive in Namche in time for a late lunch, around 1pm, at your lodge, Hotel Namche. You then have the remainder of the day to wander around the town and feel the energy that is ever present in this most important of all Sherpa market towns. The Art of Adventure Travel
5 05: Today is an important acclimatization day, to give your body a chance to adapt to the altitude and begin to feel more comfortable at this elevation. There are several options available to you today, including the day hike to the village of Thame, west of Namche. By afternoon you’ll finish your hike up to Mende, for your next overnight. Everest Summit Lodge. 06: This morning’s hike is steeply uphill to the village of Khumjung, home to many of the Sherpas who have made their livelihood guiding on Everest and its neighboring peaks. This is still one of the most important and traditional Sherpa villages in the Khumbu, and was the cultural center long before Namche held any importance. After lunch here you’ll enjoy a relaxing hike gently downhill to Tashinga (11,650’). Everest Summit Lodge. 07: You’ve got a very full day ahead of you today, long and with plenty of uphill, some of it fairly steep. That said, it’s one of the most memorable days of trekking anywhere in the world, as you’ll have regular views of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse, but more impressively the peaks that will be towering over you throughout the day: Tawoche, Thamserku, Kangtega, and most spectacular of all, Ama Dablam. The day begins innocently enough with a stretch of steep downhill to the small village of Phunki Tenga on the riverside. The next couple of hours are straight uphill to one of the highlights of the trek, Thyangboche monastery. This is the same monastery where Tenzing and Hillary stopped to secure the blessing of the Rinpoche in 1953 en route to their epic ascent. After lunch at a small café here, you’ll trek this afternoon to Pangboche, your high camp for the trip at 13,150’. Everest Summit Lodge. PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com
08/09: You’ll have two full days based here in Pangboche to get out and into the heart of the big peaks surrounding you. One of the days will be used to explore the day hike to Ama Dablam Base Camp, where you may even see some of the last climbers of the season making their summit bids. The other day can be used to climb up toward a 16,450’ pass SW of Tawoche for views up the Gokyo Valley, based on how you’re feeling, the weather, etc. While you’ll be concentrating on exploring during the day, nightfall offers just as much beauty and a hefty dose of awe. While you may not be able to see the moon or stars until an hour or so past sunset (as the mountains here tend to delay the actual moonrise due to their great heights), if it’s clear, being in the midst of these mountains and seeing them under moon and starlight is an experience of a lifetime. Everest Summit Lodge. 10: As special as the past few days have been, this one will top them all! After breakfast you’ll hear the sound of the helicopter coming up the valley (Eurocopter AS350 B3). It will bring you on a grand circle through the heart of these giants, crossing three passes in excess of 17,000’, the latter slightly higher than 18,000’: Renjo La, Cho La, and Kongma La. After crossing the final pass you’ll find yourself in close to a peak that is now intimately familiar, Ama Dablam. Along the flight path you’ll have close-up views of Cho Oyu (#6), Everest (#1), and Lhotse (#4), as well as moderate distance views of Makalu (#5). After your chopper ride back to Lukla, you will board a fixed wing plane and fly the short distance back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival in the capital, you’ll be met and transferred back to your now familiar hotel. Dwarika’s Hotel.. 11: This morning will be at leisure to rest and recover from trek while this afternoon you’ll get a chance to do some sight seeing around the Kathmandu valley, including watching sunset from Swayabunath Stupa. Dwarika’s Hotel. 12: After a full trek and lots of miles covered, today is departure day. Depending on the time of your flights home – you’ll be transferred to the airport for your onward flights and connections home. End of Services. The Art of Adventure Travel
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Heli-Trekking the “Other� Base Camp: Ama Dablam COSTS:
Land Costs: $8,900 per person (based on 2 persons and double sharing throughout)
NOTES:
INCLUDED: Pre-departure assistance, all accommodations as indicated throughout the itinerary, all meals on trek, welcome & farewell dinner and all breakfasts in Kathmandu, sightseeing as indicated, services of a personal guide, full staff on trek, domestic flight Kathmandu-LuklaKathmandu, charter helicopter (Pangboche - Lukla), trek permit, and all required entrance fees. NOT INCLUDED: International airfare, meals & accommodations not indicated, Nepal visa (best obtained on arrival at Kathmandu airport), travel/medical evacuation insurance, tips to your guides/porters, and items of a personal nature such as alcoholic beverages, telephone, laundry, and shopping. PO Box 1566 | Burlington VT 05402 | (800) 233 4499 | info@aboveclouds.com | aboveclouds.com