Island Peak Climbing

When you land at Tribhuvan International Airport we will have a representative who will receive you and take you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Your journey will be followed by time to relax after you have checked in or you can take time to explore the surrounding area at your own pace provided that there is time.

We will have a briefing of the trip in the evening that will introduce the expedition, the itinerary, and examine the much needed climbing equipment. It will also be a good time to ask questions prior to the adventure. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Today, we will visit some of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kathmandu Valley such as Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa and Kathmandu Durbar Square. These cultural sites are an excellent introduction to the culture, architecture and religious practices in Nepal.

We will finish the last climbing preparations later, check personal equipment and ensure all is ready to the flight to Lukla. The remaining evening is free to pack and to relax. Overnight in Kathmandu.

In the early morning, we will take a flight to lukla where our Himalayan journey starts. We will begin our walk through the Sherpa villages, fields and pine forests after meeting our trekking crew and walk along the Dudh Koshi river.

The path is generally smooth and has a number of suspension bridges on the way and it is a comfortable first day of trekking. By afternoon we arrive in Phakding and put up in our teahouse overnight.

After breakfast, we will continue along the Dudh Koshi River, crossing several suspension bridges before entering Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo. The trail then slowly ascends through the woods and along the river leading to the last climb.

The final part is a gradual climb to Namche Bazaar, the trading hub of the Khumbu region. On a clear day, the first distant view of Mount Everest may appear before reaching the town. Overnight stay in Namche Bazaar.

Acclimatization is an important part of the expedition, so we will spend the day gaining altitude before returning to Namche Bazaar. The ascent brings one to Hotel Everest View, which is the region where the clear weather allows broad outlooks of Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and other surrounding mountains.

We will then proceeds to Khumjung Village, a traditional Sherpa village with a monastery and local culture. We will spend some time in the village and then go back to Namche Bazaar to spend the night.

Today, we will leave Namche Bazaar, and we will walk on a scenic route with glimpses of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku. The trail then slowly leads to Phunki Tenga, where we cross the Dudh Koski River and then start an upward climb through the rhododendron and pine trees.

Our last ascent is to Tengboche, the seat of the biggest monastery in Khumbu. If time allows, we can visit the monastery and experience its peaceful surroundings before settling into our teahouse.

In the morning we will go down through the forest to Deboche and then cross the Imja Khola on a suspension bridge. It then moves on to the Pangboche Village which is among the oldest Sherpa villages in the Everest region, and then enters the open valley.

The higher the elevation, the rockier the landscape with a smaller number of trees and greater mountain scenery. We reach Pheriche by afternoon, where the higher altitude reminds us to take the rest of the day at a relaxed pace.

The path of today is a slow ascent through alpine terrain with panoramic vistas of the neighboring mountains. On our way to Lobuche, we will go through the Thukla Memorial where we will see monuments of those climbers who perished in the Himalayas.

The road turns steeper beyond the memorial and then it reduces and we come to the village. This is one of the memorable parts of the expedition because of the fresh mountain air and the dramatic scenery. Overnight stay in Lobuche.

We will head to Gorak Shep via rocky glaciers with breakfast. After taking a small break, the expedition proceeds to Everest Base Camp where climbers worldwide gear up to attempt the summit during the climbing season.

We will spend some time at Base Camp, taking photographs, and we will come back to Gorak Shep to spend the night there. This is one of the most rewarding days of the expedition and an important milestone before the Island Peak climb.

We will also hike to the top of the trekking route, Kala Patthar, the highest point before sunrise to have a panoramic view of Mount Everest and other Himalayan peaks. The morning light is perfect when it comes to photography.

We will go back to Lobuche and then on to Dingboche after a breakfast at Gorak Shep. The reduced altitude gives the opportunity to rest comfortably and prepare the climbing part of the expedition.

We will take a slow path through the upper Imja Valley after quitting Dingboche. The path goes through open alpine scenery, where we have clear views of Lhotse, Island Peak, Ama Dablam, and the surrounding mountains and other mountains around it as we head towards Chhukung.

Although the walk is relatively short, the higher elevation calls for a steady pace. Chhukung is the last permanent settlement before Island Peak Base Camp and an ideal place to rest before moving higher.

It is the first day of the climbing part of the expedition. We will leave Chhukung and ascend gradually along rocky trails toward Island Peak Base Camp while enjoying views of the surrounding glaciers and snow covered peaks.

Upon arrival at Base Camp, we will have time to acclimatize ourselves in our tents, as well as to organize climbing gear, and to be ready in the training session on the next day. The remainder of the afternoon is reserved for rest and acclimatization.

The day is dedicated to climbing preparation before the summit attempt. Our seasoned climbing team will guide us as we train on the use of crampons, harnesses, helmets, ascenders, fixed ropes and ice axes on the local training slopes.

This session helps improve confidence and allows everyone to become familiar with the climbing equipment. After the training session, we will rest at Base Camp and make our final preparations for the early morning summit attempt.

Our summit day starts long before dawn when we will go up rocky trails, glacier stretches, and fixed ropes as we reach the summit of Island Peak with the help of our guides. The climb requires careful pacing and working as a team.

The summit rewards us with panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Ama Dablam, and many surrounding Himalayan peaks. Once we have celebrated our success, we will safely descend to Island Peak Base Camp and take a well deserved rest.

We will leave Base Camp after breakfast and make our way down through Chhukung and then turn back to the main trail of the Everest trekking. The scenery is slowly transformed as we lose ground and the stroll becomes easier.

Passing Dingboche and Deboche, we continue to Pangboche, one of the oldest Sherpa villages in the Khumbu region. The reduced altitude is a welcome break after the successful summit climb.

We will leave Pangboche and go down Deboche and cross the Imja Khola to arrive at Tengboche Monastery. The path goes downhill here to Phunki Tenga and then back to Namche Bazaar, gradually.

The well-trodden path provides an additional opportunity to see Ama Dablam, Everest, and the neighboring mountains. We will arrive at Namche Bazaar where we will be able to rest and have some celebrations of the successful completion of the climbing expedition.

Today, we will retrace our steps along the Dudh Koshi River, passing through Monjo, Jorsalle, Benkar, and Phakding. A number of suspension bridges and easy forest tracks bring us back to Lukla.

The last ascending point until we arrive at Lukla is where our trekking journey would be completed. After arriving, we will thank our trekking crew and enjoy the last evening together in the Everest region.

An early morning flight takes us back to Kathmandu, offering one last view of the Himalayan landscape. After landing, we will transfer to the hotel, where the rest of the day is free to relax or explore the city at your own pace.

You can also use this period to shop for souvenirs, go to local cafes or you can just spend a comfortable evening once the expedition is over. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Today is the end of your Island Peak expedition. We will also take you to Tribhuvan International Airport depending on your flight schedule, to continue with your travel.

Our team will assist with your departure arrangements and wish you a safe trip home. We hope the memories of trekking through the Everest region and climbing Island Peak will stay with you for years to come.