Ama Dablam Expedition

Summit the Himalayas most beautiful peak – Ama Dablam

Join Soul Adventures for a fully guided 34-day expedition into the heart of the Khumbu region – Ama Dablam

Why Climb Ama Dablam?

Let’s face it, you’re not the type to be satisfied with a local hill and a hot chocolate. You want the drama, the views, the frozen snot icicles – the full Himalayan experience. Enter Ama Dablam: one of the world’s most iconic peaks and a rite of passage for those seeking more than a bucket-list selfie.

Towering over the Khumbu Valley at 6,812m, Ama Dablam is often called the “Matterhorn of the Himalayas,” and not just because it looks epic in photos. Its steep faces, knife-edged ridgelines, and surreal summit views over Everest, Lhotse, and Makalu make this climb the stuff of mountaineering legend. It’s the perfect peak for those wanting a real challenge that doesn’t involve bank-breaking logistics or lottery permits.

And let’s be honest – it sounds better at parties when you say, “Oh, I just climbed Ama Dablam.”

Who Is This Expedition For?

This isn’t a Sunday stroll with a flask of rooibos. It’s for those with a bit of mileage on the legs and some ambition in the soul. We’re talking:

• Adventurers who’ve done Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, or slogged up too many Drakensberg passes and are ready for something with ropes and exposure.
• People who understand the appeal of suffering a bit if the reward is standing on top of one of the world’s most photogenic peaks.
• Climbers or trekkers who can carry a pack, stay calm on a steep ridge, and who don’t mind their tent turning into a freezer overnight.

Never done a climb with fixed ropes? No problem. We’ll train you. Never camped above 6,000m? We’ll ease you in. Scared of heights? Well… this may not be the one. Unless you’re into character development.

How Challenging Is It?

Let’s not sugarcoat it: this is a serious mountain. Ama Dablam is known for its technical climbing and high-altitude conditions. It demands respect, strength, and an unhealthy relationship with uphill suffering.

Expect:

• Exposure (yes, the kind that makes your palms sweat)
• Fixed rope climbing (you’ll be ascending with jumars and descending with figure-8s)
• Camp III bivvy at 6,300m (where your sleeping bag may briefly become your emotional support animal)
• Long summit push days (up to 14 hours)

But also expect the kind of views that make you question whether you’re in real life or a National Geographic special. The kind of silence that only 6,800m can bring. And the kind of camaraderie forged over shared instant noodles and frozen boots.

This climb is totally doable if you put in the work, prepare properly, and bring the right mindset. We’ll help with all three.

Best Time to Climb Ama Dablam

The Himalayas don’t run on your schedule, they run on weather windows. Fortunately, Ama Dablam has two prime seasons:

• Autumn (October – November): The classic season. Post-monsoon skies are clear, snow is settled, and the Khumbu looks like a postcard.
• Spring (April – May): Milder temps and fewer crowds, though sometimes less predictable in terms of snowfall.

We run trips in both seasons. All you have to do is pick your pain window.

Why Climb Ama Dablam with Soul Adventures?

Because we do it differently. We don’t just book a ticket, give you a checklist, and pat you on the back. We train with you. We joke with you. We suffer with you. And we celebrate with you when you hit that summit.

We work with a top-tier Nepali team (Breeze Adventure) to provide you with a local crew who knows every icy crevasse and suspicious teahouse toilet in the Khumbu. But more than that, we bring you into a community. A band of lunatics who think “fun” involves -20°C mornings and crampons.

We also:

• Train with you in South Africa (Drakensberg hikes, rope skills, gear tests)
• Run gear-check weekends and ice workshops
• Offer pre-expedition Q&As, check-ins, and packing support

If you’re going to freeze, bleed, and summit – you might as well do it with a crew that knows your name, your limits, and how to boil water in a storm.

Pre-Expedition Training (A.K.A. How to Not Cry on Day Two)

Ama Dablam is climbable. But not if your cardio comes from the walk to Woolies. That’s why we run a structured, guided training program in the months leading up to your departure. No guesswork. No excuses.

Our pre-expedition support includes:

• Weekend training hikes in the Drakensberg with altitude, steep ascents, and team bonding (read: shared misery)
• Technical workshops: crampons, ice axe arrest, rope work, knots, and descending on fixed lines
• Gear fitting and testing: because discovering your boots don’t fit at Camp II is a great way to ruin your toes (and morale)
• Mental prep: you’ll learn how to pace yourself, deal with altitude symptoms, and stay positive when your toothpaste freezes

We also throw in a healthy dose of sarcasm, honest feedback, and real-time WhatsApp support for those 3AM “Do I need two down jackets?” panic moments.

What You Get Out of This

Aside from sore legs, amazing photos, and possibly the best glutes of your life?

• A Himalayan summit few can claim
• Real-world climbing skills you can use again and again
• A profound sense of achievement (and probably a new fear of squatting over frozen toilet pits)
• Lifelong friends and bragging rights
• And a rock-solid answer to the question: “So what have you been up to lately?”

Ready to Get Involved?

The Ama Dablam Expedition expedition isn’t for everyone. But if you’re the kind of person who wants to live a little louder, push a little further, and see the world from 6,812m, we want to hear from you.

Drop us an email at info@souladventures.co.za, and we’ll send you the full plan, gear list, and training calendar. We’ll also answer your questions, make you laugh, and gently bully you into getting fitter for your Ama Dablam Climb!

Climb Ama Dablam. Challenge Your Limits. Rediscover Your Soul. And maybe lose a toenail or two along the way