Ama Dablam, Himalayan mountaineering in Nepal with Summit Guides.

Flights to and from Nepal are NOT included. You will need to make your own way to and from Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal (KTM). Qatar Airways are generally the best choice as they have flexible flight changes and flights are available from multiple UK cities (London and Manchester). Nearer the time we will communicate so we are on the same flight, either meeting at the airport in the UK or potentially Doha en route. 25-30kg of hold baggage + 7kg cabin baggage is generally adequate for this trip.

Internal flights from Kathmandu/Ramechhap to Lukla are included in the cost of the trip, with 15kg baggage allowance (10kg in the hold, 5kg cabin baggage). In the event we are over the weight limit, excess bags are sometimes put onto a later flight and will join us later in the trip – normally this will be the heavy high altitude jackets, ice axes, crampons etc which we don’t need immediately.

The flight from Kathmandu (or Ramechhap) to Lukla is weather dependent, and frequently flights are delayed by a day or two (any cloud at Lukla airport means the planes will not land there for safety reasons). A good attitude to have is to assume there will be 1-2 days of delays to the Lukla flight – and if we fly in earlier it’s a bonus! The trip itinerary is generous enough to allow for a few days of delays at either end of the trip.

A helicopter to Lukla is also a viable but costly back up option – at additional expense (approximately $2000-$3000 shared between the clients).

• Kathmandu: 3 star hotel accommodation – we stay at Aloft Marriott Hotel www.marriott.com/en-gb/hotels/travel/ktmal-aloft-kathmandu-thamel/ This is on the edge of the tourist hotspot Thamel District, so ideal for local coffee shops, bars and picking up outdoor kit. Don’t forget your swimming trunks for the steam room/sauna/jacuzzi and pool!

• Walk in/out: Teahouses on the trail. These are remote mountain refuges, often with roaring yak-dung fires for heating, and have basic rooms - but always come with a warm welcome!

• Basecamp: Individual box tents with sleeping cot, spacious dining tent, basic shower facilities and long drop toilet. Eye masks (and possibly ear plugs) are invaluable for a good nights sleep while camping. Some clothes washing is possible (take some travel soap) and dries quickly in a breeze on a sunny day.

• On the mountain: mountain tents (sharing with one other team member).

Phone signal is good in cities, but poor in more remote areas – the exception being the lower Khumbu valley, where there is good coverage. You can pick up a data SIM card either at Kathmandu airport on arrival or in Thamel - NCell has best coverage (remember your passport photo). Wifi is now in some of the teahouses – but is not always strong (generally it is $10USD for 24 hours). The group will always carry a Sat Phone and Garmin In-Reach for emergency use only.

If loved ones would like to follow along each day, the leader carries a Garmin InReach tracker - which can be viewed at: Summit Guide InReach

On the mountain, all food is included. Off the mountain, meals in Kathmandu are NOT included (with the exception of buffet breakfast at the hotel and the Celebration Dinner).

In the valley on trek, there are a good range of teahouses and cafes that we will use, and in the mountains food will be provided by a cook team.

The exception to this is the 'Comfort food', which you bring from the UK. Appetite diminishes at altitude, so having something substantial that you know you will find tasty can be handy. You will need 1 x breakfast, 1 x evening meal, 1 x pudding. Try a range beforehand and see what you like! In the Kit List you will find further comfort meal/snack suggestions.

Typical meals in the teahouses:

• Breakfast: cheese omelette, Tibetan bread, porridge, tea, coffee

• Lunch: snacks of apple or a chocolate bar - with sit down meals

• Dinner: pizza, spaghetti with tomato sauce, egg fried rice, noodles, potato wedges, powdered and fresh soups, momos (dumplings) dahl bhat (traditional lentils and rice), apple pie.

Places to try in Kathmandu: Fire & Ice for the pizzas, Himalayan Java (great sausage and mash) or Forest & Plate for their Mexican salad bowl - or get away from Thamel to Queens (best burgers in town).

For a range of different local Nepali cuisine (not just Dahl Bhat) from all over the country, try the secluded Raithaane. This has a creative take on the full breath of traditional Nepali dishes in a relaxed cafe atmosphere.

For our Celebration Dinner, we head to Le Sherpa, or Chez Caroline - both a short taxi from Thamel and serving international and French cuisine respectively.

Spring & Autumn weather in the Himalayas tends to be relatively settled. While during the day we may be trekking in little more than a long sleeved t-shirt/light fleece and sun hat, night time temperatures may well be below freezing. With altitude, and particularly on the summit nights, the temperatures will likely be in the region of -10 to -20˚C, compounded by any windchill and the fact the body feels the cold more in the lowered oxygen environment.

The effects of altitude on the human body, and more specifically Acute Mountain Sickness, along with the serious conditions of HAPE and HACE will be discussed in detail at the briefing on the first night.

The people of Nepal are fascinating – with a mixture of Buddhism and Hinduism interwoven in a culture that is tolerant and welcoming to visitors. The food is delicious – for instance momos (dumplings) are a popular street food, and a standard meal is Dal Bhat – a lentil soup with rice. We will be entering the land of the Sherpa people – a 150,000 strong group based in the Everest region.

Time Zone: GMT +5.45 hours

Prices are generally considerably lower than the UK.

Currency: Nepalese Rupee Rs. (USD accepted for bigger transactions). Euros & pounds can be readily exchanged in Kathmandu.

Days of the week (starting with Sun):

Sun - Nima

Mon - Dawa

Tues - Mingma

Wed - Lakpa

Thurs - Phhurba

Fri - Pasang

Sat – Pemba

In the capital Kathmandu you can wear whatever you might in any city – although bear in mind it can be exceptionally dusty so a facemask may be useful as you walk around. In the hills, we will be wearing our trekking/mountaineering clothing. Perhaps a collared shirt is nice for the celebratory dinner in Kathmandu, but a t-shirt is just as acceptable!

For the trek in, our sleeping bags and overnight kit is carried by porters. Our high altitude equipment is carried directly from Lukla to Base Camp by a seperate porter team. On the mountain you will be expected to carry some of your own equipment, although tents and sleeping bags are portered.

Some people stay a few days at the end to see the sights of Kathmandu, or fly to the lakeside town of Pokhara to try paragliding.

Mount Everest Terraquest Trekking Map, 1:80000

Maps available on your laptop/phone include Fatmap and Outdoor Active.

Medical facilities are very limited. Limited medical facilities at available at Lukla and Base Camp. Helicopter transport for evacuation is based in Lukla, with the nearest hospital being Kathmandu. The expedition leader will be carrying an expedition medical kit.

Mountaineering insurance to the required altitude, including the relevant altitude of the trip, helicopter evacuation and repatriation. (I will require a copy with final payment).

BMC or Global Rescue Insurance come highly recommended.

https://partner.globalrescue.com/summitguides/index.html

Tips are mandatory, and will be divided between the local team:

• Climbing Sherpa Summit Bonus $600USD

• Porter & Cook team: US$300USD

The tips are a way of showing our appreciation for the hard work of the local team. Small tips are sometimes given to the teahouse owners as we go along.

At the end of the trip, the local guides appreciate clean, usable quality kit donations in addition to their cash gift.

For UK passport holders, you will be granted a 30 day visa for $50 on entry to the country at Kathmandu airport (input your info onto a computer then pay at a separate counter - normally slightly disorganised). A 90 day visa is $125. £ & € are also accepted.