Island Peak Climbing

When you arrive at the airport, our staff will greet you warmly and take you to your hotel. After you check in, you’ll meet your climbing guide to go over the trip plan. Later, you can walk around the nearby market for any last-minute shopping. Rest overnight in Kathmandu.

While your climbing guide arranges your permits, you’ll go sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley. A tour guide will accompany you to Swayambhunath, a famous Buddhist site, then to Pashupatinath, a significant Hindu temple. Next, you’ll visit Boudhanath, the largest stupa in Nepal, and take a quick tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square. Rest overnight in Kathmandu.

After an early breakfast, we’ll drive to the airport and catch a short 35-minute flight to Lukla. Lukla, situated 140 km northeast of Kathmandu in the Khumbu region, is our gateway to the Everest region. Upon arrival, we’ll take a brief rest and then start trekking downhill towards Phakding village. Phakding is a small village nestled in the Dudh Koshi River Valley. We’ll spend the night in Phakding.

From Phakding, we’ll slowly trek northward until we reach Monjo. Monjo is where we enter Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal’s first Himalayan national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, we’ll obtain permits to enter the park and continue our trek. The trail follows the Dudh Koshi valley all the way to Namche Bazaar. This part of the trek may take around 5-6 hours from Phakding to Namche Bazaar. The second half of the trek is uphill and might be a bit challenging. We’ll spend the night in Namche Bazaar.

Today, we’ll take a break from trekking to help our bodies acclimatize to the higher altitude. Namche Bazaar is the biggest village in the Khumbu region, and there’s plenty to explore here. You can wander around the village and its surroundings, or take a short hike to nearby Khumjung and Khunde villages. In Khumjung, you can visit the monastery, which is famous for supposedly housing a Yeti scalp and hand. There’s also a Sherpa Culture Museum you can check out. We’ll spend another night in Namche Bazaar.

Leaving Namche Bazaar, we’ll follow the Dudh Koshi River, enjoying a relatively easy trekking path. We’ll pass through Phunki Thanga and climb up rocky terrain until we reach Tengboche. Along the way, we’ll be treated to stunning views of Ama Dablam (6,856m), a majestic mountain in the region. Tengboche is a picturesque Sherpa village that’s famous for its monastery, which happens to be the largest Buddhist monastery in the area. We’ll spend the night in Tengboche.

After leaving Tengboche, we’ll make our way down to the village of Debuche. We’ll cross a bridge over the Imja Khola river and continue our journey to Pangboche, navigating through rocky terrain along the way. As we trek, we’ll come across numerous Mani stones and several Buddhist monasteries, adding to the cultural experience of our adventure. After a short uphill climb, we’ll reach the charming Sherpa village of Dingboche, where we’ll spend the night.

Today is a rest day in Dingboche to help us acclimatize before continuing our journey. Here, we can take in the beautiful scenery of the Chhukung and Imja valleys, which are connected to Dingboche. The Imja valley serves as a gateway to other parts of the region, including the Island Peak (6189m) and Makalu Barun National Park. From Dingboche, we’ll also enjoy panoramic views of the Everest Region’s various peaks. We’ll spend the night in Dingboche.

Leaving Dingboche, we’ll trek towards Thukla village and cross the Thukla Pass (4830m). The trail will then lead us along the snow moraines of the Khumbu Glacier until we reach Lobuche village. Lobuche is a small Sherpa village situated at the base of Lobuche East (6119m). From here, we’ll be treated to magnificent views of Lobuche East (6119m), Pumo Ri (7165m), and Nuptse (7861m). We’ll spend the night in Lobuche.

Leaving Lobuche, we’ll head north towards Gorakshep village. Gorakshep is the last stop on our trek before reaching Everest Base Camp or Kalapatthar. The trail to Gorakshep is relatively easy, and from there, we’ll gradually advance through boulders and moraines to reach Everest Base Camp. At the base camp, we’ll explore the Khumbu glacier and enjoy the breathtaking views of numerous Himalayan peaks before returning to Gorakshep for the night.

Today, we’ll start early and trek to Kalapatthar. It’s a short but tough uphill hike to the top. From there, you can see the beautiful sight of Everest’s summit (8848m) shining in the sunlight, as well as Lhotse (8414m), Nuptse (7861m), and Pumo Ri (7165m). After enjoying the view, we’ll head back to Gorakshep for breakfast. Then, we’ll continue our descent and head to Dingboche village, where we’ll spend the night.

Leaving Dingboche, you’ll head east towards the cozy village of Chhukung. The trail goes uphill gently. It’s a shorter hike, taking you along the Chhukung glacier. Chhukung village is nestled in the Chhukung valley, at the base of Chhukung Ri (5550m). From the village, you’ll enjoy magnificent views of Island Peak (6189m) and Chhukung Ri (5550m). Overnight in Chhukung.

After leaving Chhukung village, you’ll have a shorter trek to Island Peak Base Camp. You’ll pass along the Lhotse Glacier and walk through the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines until you reach the base camp. The trail takes you through a wide valley on the southwestern side of the peak. At the base camp, you’ll enjoy a fantastic view of the entire Imja Valley, Lhotse Glacier, and Imja Tsho Lake. Overnight in Island Peak Base Camp.

Today is the big day – the summit day! You’ll wake up at 2 am, have breakfast, and then start your climb. The trail follows a ridgeline, leading you to an exposed traverse onto the snout of the summit glacier. From there, you’ll use fixed ropes to climb all the way to the top. It’s a tough trek and might feel long, hard, and slow. But once you reach the summit, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Mt. Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8414m), Ama Dablam (6856m), and Makalu (8463m). Afterward, you’ll gradually trek back down to Chhukung Valley. Overnight in Chhukung Valley.

In case the weather doesn’t cooperate on the scheduled summit day, don’t worry! We have a spare day set aside just for situations like this. This extra day ensures that you have another opportunity to complete the climb if needed.

You’ll head back to Namche Bazaar from Chukung, following the same trail you took earlier. You’ll trek along the Dudh Koshi River and pass through forests filled with rhododendron and juniper trees. After crossing the village of Sanasa, you’ll continue your gradual descent until you reach Namche Bazaar. Here in Namche, you can enjoy some modern comforts and amenities. Overnight, you’ll stay in Namche Bazaar.

The trek downhill is quite long and could take around 7 to 8 hours. Along the way, you’ll take a few breaks and make stops at places like the Hillary Suspension Bridge and Phakding. Finally, you’ll reach Lukla after a short downhill trek. In Lukla, you can celebrate the completion of your trek. You’ll spend the night there.

You’ll say farewell to the Everest region and take a short flight back to Kathmandu, which usually takes around 35 to 40 minutes. Once you land in Kathmandu, you’ll be taken back to your hotel. In Kathmandu, you can treat yourself to some relaxation at wellness centers and spas to ease any tiredness from the trek. Alternatively, you can simply rest at the hotel or try out some delicious Newari cuisine. You’ll spend the night in Kathmandu.

In Kathmandu, you can have fun exploring the local market, shops, and restaurants. The city has many interesting places to visit, like UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can learn a lot about the culture and history of Nepal by visiting these sites. Don’t forget to buy some souvenirs and gifts to remember your trip. Enjoy your time in Kathmandu!

Today, our company representative will take you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight back home. It’s a good idea to leave for the airport about 2 hours before your flight. We say goodbye for now and hope to see you again soon for another adventure together!