KATHMANDU — Nepali dancer, model, and actress Kabita Nepali has added another Himalayan achievement to her record by successfully summiting Mt. Ama Dablam (6,812 meters).
She reached the 6,812-meter summit on the morning of October 28, 2026, alongside her climbing guide Mingtemba Sherpa. The expedition was organized by Seven Summit Treks and led by veteran mountaineer Dawa Steven Sherpa, with technical gear sponsorship from Pelliot.
A Fast-Track Push to the Top
While standard Ama Dablam expeditions typically require several weeks of gradual acclimatization and camp establishment, unpredictable autumn weather patterns forced a rapid change in plans. Facing a narrow weather window, the team modified their strategy and executed a fast-track summit push from Kathmandu to the peak in under a week.
“Ama Dablam was something else,” Nepali shared following her descent. “I thought it was just another Himalayan peak, but Ama Dablam is a serious technical challenge, arguably harder than Everest in terms of climbing difficulty.”
Known widely as the “Matterhorn of the Himalayas” due to its steep granite faces, exposed ridges, and technical ice sections, Ama Dablam demands advanced rock and ice climbing skills beyond standard trekking peaks.
Nepali expressed her gratitude to her support team, acknowledging Dawa Steven Sherpa, Mingtemba Sherpa, and her mentors for ensuring a safe and successful ascent despite the compressed timeline.
Autumn Season Hits Peak Activity
Kabita Nepali’s success comes as the autumn 2026 climbing season on Ama Dablam reaches high activity. Known as one of Nepal’s most iconic technical peaks, Ama Dablam attracted 386 foreign climbers this season as the Department of Tourism issued 1,410 autumn climbing permits across various Himalayan peaks.
Teams continue to take advantage of clear autumn skies to make their summit bids.
