How Dangerous Is Ama Dablam? Deaths, Difficulty and Who Guides It
By Blake Penson, Founder of ExpedReview · Everest summiter · Seven Summits climber · 20-year mountaineer · Industry expert
Last reviewed: 20 October 2026 · Editorial picks are ranked only by verified ExpedReview reviews; sponsors cannot buy a position.
The short answer
The Himalayan Database records 35 deaths against 6,765 summits on Ama Dablam, about 0.5 deaths per 100 summits, lower than Everest's 2.5. The risk is technical (steep rock, ice and objective hazards on the Southwest Ridge) rather than extreme altitude. On ExpedReview, Tim Mosedale has the most verified Ama Dablam reviews (16, 4.95/5).
| Key figure | What it is |
|---|---|
| 35 | recorded deaths (HDB) |
| 6,765 | recorded summits (HDB) |
| US$1,000 | royalty, spring and autumn (Nepal DoT) |
| 29 | verified Ama Dablam reviews (ER) |
How does Ama Dablam compare on risk?
| Peak | Deaths | Summits | Deaths per 100 summits (derived) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ama Dablam | 35 | 6,765 | 0.52 |
| Cho Oyu | 52 | 4,056 | 1.28 |
| Manaslu | 90 | 3,238 | 2.78 |
| Everest | 344 | 13,550 | 2.54 |
Source: Himalayan Database. Ratios describe past expeditions, not your odds.
What makes Ama Dablam hard?
The normal Southwest Ridge involves sustained fixed-rope climbing on rock and ice, exposed camps and a steep summit face. Fitness for altitude matters, but rope skills (ascending, abseiling, managing your own safety on fixed lines) matter more than on most 8,000 m normal routes.
What does the permit cost?
| Season | Royalty (foreign climber) |
|---|---|
| Spring | US$1,000 |
| Autumn | US$1,000 |
| Winter / summer | US$500 |
Nepal Department of Tourism, effective 1 September 2025.
Who guides Ama Dablam, by verified reviews?
| Operator | Verified reviews | Avg rating /5 | ERTI | Base | Lowest price (ER listing or operator site) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Mosedale | 16 | 4.95 | 4.42 | United Kingdom | US$4,700 |
| Furtenbach Adventures | 5 | 4.92 | 4.76 | Austria | US$13,968 |
| Summitclimb | 3 | 4.80 | 4.62 | United States | US$6,850 |
| 360 Expeditions | 2 | 5.00 | 4.61 | United Kingdom | US$8,821 |
| Elite Exped | 2 | 5.00 | 3.95 | Nepal | US$10,108 |
| Summit8000 | 1 | 5.00 | 3.75 | Nepal | US$7,500 (2027) (summit8000.com) |
What else should you plan for?
| Item | Figure or guidance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Success | About 56% summits per member | Derived from HDB |
| Guide/Sherpa ratio | Ask for the guide-to-client and Sherpa-to-client ratio on summit day | |
| Weather | Autumn brings stable post-monsoon weather; winds rise in late November | General pattern |
| Acclimatisation | Rotations to Camp 1 and Camp 2 before the summit push over 25–30 days |
Frequently asked questions
How many people have died on Ama Dablam?
The Himalayan Database records 35 deaths against 6,765 summits.
Is Ama Dablam harder than Everest?
Technically, yes for many climbers: it demands more rope work. It is far lower (6,812 m), and its recorded deaths per summit are lower.
How much is the Ama Dablam permit?
US$1,000 in spring or autumn and US$500 in winter or summer (Nepal Department of Tourism, effective 1 September 2025).
Who is the best Ama Dablam operator?
Tim Mosedale has the most verified Ama Dablam reviews on ExpedReview (16, 4.95/5), followed by Furtenbach Adventures (5, 4.92/5).
Sources
- Himalayan Database, 'Most Dangerous Peaks' report (himalayan-database.climbing-history.org/reports/most-dangerous-peaks).
- Himalayan Database, '8000m Peak Comparison' report (himalayan-database.climbing-history.org/reports/8000m-peaks), Nepal records.
- Nepal Department of Tourism, 'Updated Royalty and Insurance Provisions (effective from 01 September 2025)', tourismdepartment.gov.np/pages/mountaineering-fee.
- ExpedReview database (expedreview-prod): approved, verified reviews, operator listings and listed prices, queried 20 Oct 2026 with read-only SELECT queries.
How ExpedReview data works: counts are approved, verified client reviews on ExpedReview as of 20 October 2026. ERTI is ExpedReview's trust index, a summary of review evidence and operator conduct on the platform; it is one input, not a guarantee. Listed prices are each operator's lowest "from" price on ExpedReview and change often. Historical fatality and summit ratios describe past expeditions, not your personal odds.