Guide to choosing an operator · Ama Dablam

How to choose the best guide for Ama Dablam

Last updated 11 Oct 2026

Reviewed by Blake Penson, Expedition Advisor
Two decades in the mountains, the Seven Summits and two Everest expeditions

Short answer

As of 10 Oct 2026, 8 operators have 31 verified client reviews for Ama Dablam on ExpedReview. Ranked first by those reviews is Tim Mosedale (5.0★ from 16 reviews, latest Jan 2023), then Furtenbach Adventures (4.9★ from 5 reviews, latest Mar 2026) and Summitclimb (4.8★ from 3 reviews, latest Feb 2026). Our Ama Dablam reviewers describe a more technical climb than the trekking peaks, with rotations to the higher camps, so the guide team matters more than the brochure. Compare the climbing Sherpa or guide ratio, the acclimatisation plan, what each operator expects you to have climbed before, and the rescue plan.

Ama Dablam in numbers

Operators reviewed: 8
Verified reviews: 31 · 3 in the last 24 months
Average rating: ★ 4.9 · 31 of 31 rated 4★ or more
Review dates: May 2020 – Sep 2026 · latest 30 Sep 2026
Guide-listed starting prices: $6,850–$13,968 USD. Only 2 of 8 operators show a current price (2 updated in the past 12 months). 4 operators on Basic plans and 2 unclaimed companies show no price. Starting prices, not quotes.

From ExpedReview verified reviews, as of 10 Oct 2026.

See the full ranked list on the Ama Dablam page →

Operators ranked by their Ama Dablam reviews

Same order as the live Ama Dablam page: the star rating at this place, adjusted so one or two reviews, or only old ones, count for less than many recent ones.

#	Operator	Stars here	Reviews	Review dates	Price shown
1	Tim Mosedale	★ 5.0	16	Jun 2020 – Jan 2023	No price shown
2	Furtenbach Adventures	★ 4.9	5	Dec 2021 – Mar 2026	From $13,968 USD · updated Jun 2026
3	Summitclimb	★ 4.8	3	Nov 2023 – Feb 2026	From $6,850 USD (listed up to $8,350 USD) · updated Jul 2026
4	360 Expeditions	★ 5.0	2	Mar 2021	No price shown
5	Elite Exped	★ 5.0	2	May 2020 – Nov 2021	No price shown
6	Summit8000	★ 5.0	1	Sep 2026	No price shown
7	Madison Mountaineering Unclaimed	★ 5.0	1	Nov 2022	No price shown
8	Seven Summit Treks Unclaimed	★ 4.8	1	May 2022	No price shown

What to look for in a Ama Dablam operator

Ask every Ama Dablam operator on your shortlist the same questions, in writing.

Guide and climbing Sherpa ratio

Nepal's rules require a team climbing a peak below 8,000 m to take at least one mountain guide (Nepal News); that is a minimum, not a ratio. Ask how many climbers each guide or climbing Sherpa looks after above base camp, and on summit day.

Our reviews Personal Sherpa & ratios: mentioned in 3 of 31 reviews (3 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★); Sherpas & porters: mentioned in 19 of 31 reviews (19 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★); Guides & leadership: mentioned in 17 of 31 reviews (17 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★).

Acclimatisation plan

Ask how you will acclimatise: the trek in, any warm-up peak, rotations to the higher camps, and how many nights you will sleep at each camp before the summit push. Some of our Ama Dablam reviewers mention climbing Lobuche East first; ask whether that is in the plan.

Our reviews Acclimatisation: mentioned in 9 of 31 reviews (9 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★); Pace & itinerary: mentioned in 6 of 31 reviews (6 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★).

What experience they require

Ask what climbing experience the operator expects before they accept you, whether they check it, and whether there is any skills training at base camp before you go higher.

Our reviews Guides & leadership: mentioned in 17 of 31 reviews (17 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★); Safety: mentioned in 13 of 31 reviews (13 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★).

Camps and the summit day

Ask which camps you will use on the mountain, who carries and sets up the tents, what food is provided at each camp, and the turn-around time on summit day.

Our reviews Camp comfort: mentioned in 8 of 31 reviews (8 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★); Tents & equipment: mentioned in 5 of 31 reviews (5 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★); Food: mentioned in 11 of 31 reviews (11 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★); Summit: mentioned in 9 of 31 reviews (9 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★).

Track record and rescue plan

Ask for the operator's Ama Dablam results over several seasons and compare them with The Himalayan Database (himalayandatabase.com). Ask how a sick or injured climber would get down from the higher camps, and check that your insurance covers helicopter rescue at the height you will reach.

Our reviews Rescue & helicopter: mentioned in 4 of 31 reviews (4 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★); Weather & forecasting: mentioned in 4 of 31 reviews (4 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★); Safety: mentioned in 13 of 31 reviews (13 in 4–5★ reviews, 0 below 4★).

What Ama Dablam clients mention most

How many of the 31 verified reviews mention each topic. A review counts once per topic, whatever its star rating.

Sherpas & porters: mentioned in 19 of 31 reviews. 19 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 8 of 8 operators
Guides & leadership: mentioned in 17 of 31 reviews. 17 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 5 of 8 operators
Organisation & logistics: mentioned in 15 of 31 reviews. 15 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 4 of 8 operators
Safety: mentioned in 13 of 31 reviews. 13 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 5 of 8 operators
Food: mentioned in 11 of 31 reviews. 11 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 3 of 8 operators
Summit: mentioned in 9 of 31 reviews. 9 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 4 of 8 operators
Acclimatisation: mentioned in 9 of 31 reviews. 9 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 3 of 8 operators
Camp comfort: mentioned in 8 of 31 reviews. 8 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 3 of 8 operators
Flights & transfers: mentioned in 7 of 31 reviews. 7 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 4 of 8 operators
Value & price: mentioned in 6 of 31 reviews. 6 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 1 of 8 operators
Pace & itinerary: mentioned in 6 of 31 reviews. 6 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 2 of 8 operators
Tents & equipment: mentioned in 5 of 31 reviews. 5 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 2 of 8 operators
Weather & forecasting: mentioned in 4 of 31 reviews. 4 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 1 of 8 operators
Rescue & helicopter: mentioned in 4 of 31 reviews. 4 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 2 of 8 operators
Tea houses & lodges: mentioned in 4 of 31 reviews. 4 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 1 of 8 operators
Personal Sherpa & ratios: mentioned in 3 of 31 reviews. 3 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 3 of 8 operators
Communication: mentioned in 2 of 31 reviews. 2 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 2 of 8 operators
Tipping: mentioned in 2 of 31 reviews. 2 in 4–5★ reviews · 0 in reviews below 4★ · 1 of 8 operators

Red flags

None of these proves an operator is unsafe. Each is a reason to stop and ask more questions.

No answer on the guide ratio above base camp. "Experienced Sherpas" is not a number. Ask for the ratio on summit day.
No questions about your experience. An operator that accepts you without asking what you have climbed.
A summit success figure with no definition. Ask who the figure counts: everyone who signed up, or only those who started the summit push.
A vague rescue plan. No plain answer on how a climber would be brought down from the higher camps.

How we built this

Verified reviews only. Every review is checked by our team before it is published. Critical reviews stay up.
Tied to this place. Every figure on this page uses only the 31 reviews written for Ama Dablam, not an operator's reviews elsewhere.
Same order as the place page. The ranking is the one on the Ama Dablam page.
Prices. Shown only where a Pro operator set the price itself on ExpedReview; prices 1 to 3 years old carry a “may be out of date” note; older ones, and prices carried over from our old site that the operator never edited, are hidden.
Themes. Counted by matching keywords in each review's title and text. A review counts once per theme.
ERTI. The ERTI shown on operator profiles is a company-wide score out of 5, built from reviews we verify and many other factors. It is not a rating for Ama Dablam and is not used in the order above.
Independence. No operator paid to appear on this page. Operators cannot pay to rank higher or to have reviews removed.
Outside facts. Anything not from our reviews is linked to its source: Nepal News, 1 Sep 2025, The Himalayan Database (checked 11 Oct 2026).

From ExpedReview verified reviews, as of 10 Oct 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the best guide for Ama Dablam?

There is no single best operator for every climber. On ExpedReview's verified reviews for Ama Dablam, as of 10 Oct 2026, the highest ranked is Tim Mosedale (5.0★ from 16 reviews, latest Jan 2023), then Furtenbach Adventures (4.9★ from 5 reviews, latest Mar 2026) and Summitclimb (4.8★ from 3 reviews, latest Feb 2026). The ranking uses the star rating at this place, adjusted so a handful of reviews, or only old ones, count for less than many recent ones.

How many Ama Dablam operators and reviews does ExpedReview have?

8 operators with 31 verified client reviews, with an average of 4.9★. The reviews are dated 29 May 2020 to 30 Sep 2026; 3 of them are from the last 24 months.

What do Ama Dablam operators charge?

2 of the 8 reviewed operators show a current price on ExpedReview. Their guide-listed starting prices run from $6,850 USD to $13,968 USD. These are starting prices, not quotes.

Do I need a guide to climb Ama Dablam?

Yes. Nepal's mountaineering rules, in force since 1 September 2025, require a team climbing a peak below 8,000 m to take at least one mountain guide (Nepal News). Ask each operator how many guides or climbing Sherpas your team will have.

How do I check an operator's Ama Dablam record?

Ask for their results by season and compare them with The Himalayan Database, which records expeditions in the Nepal Himalaya (himalayandatabase.com).

Can operators pay to rank higher on ExpedReview?

No. Operators cannot pay to appear, to rank higher, or to have reviews removed. Every review is checked by our team before it is published, and critical reviews stay up.

What is ERTI?

ERTI is ExpedReview's company-wide trust score, out of 5, built from reviews we verify and many other factors. It is not a rating for Ama Dablam.

Next step

Read the reviews behind these numbers on the Ama Dablam page, then send your shortlist the same questions.

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