Island Peak (6,189m) Climbing – 20 Days

After you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will need to go through customs. You will be greeted by our representative, who will be waiting for you with a placard displaying your name. Afterward, you will be transferred to a 4-star hotel in a private vehicle.

After reaching the hotel, you’ll check in. Once you are refreshed, you will receive a briefing regarding the trek, including the itinerary, followed by a gear check. You will also be introduced to your crew members and other trekkers who will be joining you on the trip. Enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening, where you can taste an authentic Nepali dinner. Stay overnight in a hotel.

In the morning, you will do the final packing and get ready to begin the first step towards our Island Expedition. If you need to do any last-minute shopping, you will have time for that after lunch in Kathmandu. If you wish, our guide can help you with shopping for essential gear and equipment for your journey.

In the midday, we will start our drive to Ramechhap, which is approximately 5 hours and 195km away from Kathmandu. Leaving Kathmandu, the route winds through picturesque hills, terraced farmlands, and small rural settlements. The air becomes fresher as the drive continues eastward, offering views of distant mountains and traditional Nepali villages. As we get to Ramechhap, we’ll check into Freedom Resort or a similar standard resort near the Manthali airport for our overnight stay and dinner.

Depending on our flight time, we will travel to the Manthali airport early in the morning, complete the necessary check-in process, and then fly to Lukla. We will follow one of the most scenic air routes in the world, with panoramic views of glistening mountains, to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla. Lukla serves as the gateway to the Everest region of Khumbu.

We will assemble the crew and have breakfast before starting the Everest Base Camp and Island Peak Climbing trip. Leaving Lukla, the route descends through pine forests, crossing several suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River. Along the way, we’ll pass through several Sherpa settlements like Chheplung and Ghat, where you see mani stones and hear the sound of prayer wheels spinning. As we get to Phakding, we’ll check into the tea house and visit the local monastery. Stay overnight in Phakding.

Leaving Phakding, we will walk along Dudhkoshi River and enter the dense pine forest. We will cross suspension bridges and walk through dispersed houses of Zapute, Benkar, and Chumoa to reach Monjo. Monjo provides access to Sagarmatha National Park. We need to complete the required national park formalities before we can enter.

Sagarmatha National Park is rich in Himalayan flora and fauna, including mammals and birds. We will descend to Hillary Bridge, which exists at the base of the hill. After crossing the bridge, we will follow the path up to Namche Bazaar. The path offers views of Thamserku, Everest, Lhotse, and other mountains and peaks. Stay overnight in Namche Bazaar.

Namche Bazaar serves as the major trade centre for local and neighbouring Tibetan trade. Namche is also popular as the capital of Sherpa land. It is wise to take a rest at Namche on this day. For proper acclimatization to the changing altitude, we’ll arrange a day hike to the villages of Khumjung and Everest View Hotel.

Still, we’ll begin our day with a hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880 meters) that takes about two hours from Namche Bazaar. The hotel is renowned for offering one of the best vantage points of Everest, where you can enjoy a warm cup of tea on its terrace. After enjoying the mountain view from the Everest View Hotel, the path continues gently down toward Khumjung Village, one of the largest Sherpa settlements in the Khumbu region.

On the Khumjung, you’ll visit the Khumjung monastery and observe the local lifestyle. Similarly, you can explore the Hillary School and the traditional stone houses of the area. After the visit, we’ll descend to the Bazaar. If we have time, we can visit the National Park head office, the Museum, and the monasteries, which are interesting places near Namche. Our overnight stay is in Namche.

With a fresh energy of acclimatization day, we’ll continue our journey along the glaciated Dudh Koshi River from Namche. We will take the scenic route, which offers views of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, and other nearby peaks, before entering the forest. Walking through the rhododendron forest, we can see Himalayan birds and animals.

Continuing the trek, we will move further to the Sanasa village. The trail branches at Sanasa. We will follow the main route towards Everest Base Camp. Following the escalating path from Sanasa, we will reach Tengboche. Here, we can visit the Tengboche monastery, and the gate opens after 3 p.m. We will visit Tengboche Monastery, the largest in the region. The day’s overnight stay is at Tengboche village.

On the seventh day of the Island Peak Climbing journey, we’ll leave Tengboche after breakfast. As we leave the village, we will enter the birch and rhododendron forest. In a couple of hours, we will reach Debuche from where we will descend to the beautiful Chhukung Valley. We will descend to the Imja River and follow the raised path to Pangboche.

At Pangboche, we’ll stop for lunch and have the opportunity to visit the Pangboche Monastery. The monastery in Pangboche is believed to be the oldest in the region. As we walk along the Mani walls, we will climb to Pheriche. Walking along the Lobuche River, we will reach the village of Dingboche, where we’ll spend the night.

Day eight is the second acclimatization day on the journey to summiting Island Peak. On the day, we’ll go for a day hike to Nangkartshang Viewpoint (5,060 meters). To get to the viewpoint, we have to ascend steeply along a ridge above the Dingboche village. As we hike higher, the landscape transitions from alpine meadows to rocky terrain, with sparse vegetation and a crisp, clear atmosphere.

As we reach Nangkartshang Viewpoint, we will be rewarded with a 360-degree view of the Everest region. Peaks like Lhotse, Makalu, Thamserku, and Island Peak are awe-inspiring from the viewpoint. The high altitude and steep incline to the Nangkartshang are challenging, but a highly beneficial acclimatization hike to adjust to the change in temperature before heading to higher sections.

After appreciating the view from the viewpoint and adjusting to the changed temperature, we’ll descend back to Dingboche for an overnight stay. It takes approximately 3-4 hours, round-trip, from Dingboche to Nangkartshang. The overnight stay and dinner are at the teahouse of Dingboche.

Leaving Dingboche, we will start our hike towards Pheriche. The trail continues through Dugla to the steep moraine of the Khumbu glacier. However, the path follows the Imja Khola Valley for a while before curving north toward the Khumbu Glacier’s glacial moraine. Following the glacier, we will head towards Chupki Lhara, which is the memorial site for the renowned climber Babu Chhiri Sherpa.

Chupki Lhara is decorated with prayer flags. As we walk through the Khumbu glacier moraine, we will reach Lobuche. There, we can enjoy panoramic views of Pumori Peak, Khumbutse Peak, and other mountains from the teahouse. We’ll have our dinner at Lobuche and go to bed early, excited about the next day’s adventure.

We’ll begin our tenth day early as we plan to reach Everest Base Camp on this day. From Lobuche, we will take a short, easy path to Gorakshep. The trail stretches through a levelled path from Gorakshep to the army mountaineers’ memorials. Although levelled, the path is tricky because it becomes slippery due to the glaciers. Also, the challenges are compounded by the increased altitude and the thin air.

After about 3 hours, the route reaches Gorakshep (5,164 meters), the last settlement before reaching Everest Base Camp. At Gorakshep’s teahouse, we’ll check in, take a short rest and a light meal, then leave our backpacks and make our way towards Everest Base Camp. The route to EBC passes along the Khumbu Glacier, which weaves through rocky terrain with continuous views of the region’s icy, towering peaks.

As you get to Everest Base Camp, you’ll feel emotional and a sense of accomplishment. The moment you see written in a red painting color “EVEREST BASE CAMP 5364 m” on a big stone makes you feel proud of yourself, and you’ll be like, “aww, I am finally at the foot of Mount Everest”. The 360-degree view of mountain peaks will surround you, including Mount Lhotse, Nuptse, Lingtren, Pumori, and Ama Dablam.

After spending some time at Base Camp, we will return to Gorakshep for an overnight stay.

The eleventh day on the climbing journey to Island Peak is another remarkable yet long day. We will wake up at around 3 a.m. and prepare tea before heading through moraines and boulders to Kala Patthar. As we begin our hike towards the vintage point, expect the challenges of low temperature and cold wind. Within a short duration from Gorakshep, we’ll gain 400+ elevation by the time we reach Kala Patthar.

Kala Patthar is famous for its sunrise and sunset views over Everest. From the top of the vantage, we’ll get a 360-degree view of Everest, including panoramic views of Nuptse, Khumbutse, Changtse, and other peaks and mountains. Witnessing all those peaks bathed in a golden hue from the rising sun inspires awe. After spending 20-30 minutes at the top, we’ll descend to Gorakshep to have breakfast. After breakfast, the journey continues downhill toward Dingboche, retracing the trail back through Lobuche and Thukla. Stay overnight at Dingboche.

After two long days of trekking and climbing, we will take an easy, short day hike up to Chhukung today. We will walk for only 3 hours today, then take a well-deserved rest before heading to complete our main mission: climbing Island Peak. Leaving Dingboche, the route heads east through Imja Valley, following the Imja Khola River. The path ascends slowly on a landscape of dry stone walls, alpine shrubs, and yak pastures.

The view of Ama Dablam will accompany us throughout the journey, along with Lhotse, Lhotse Shar, and Island Peak (also known as Imja Tse). About halfway en route, you may pass small yak herding huts or stone-walled pastures used by locals during the summer months.

The final section of the trek to Chhukung passes through a glacial section surrounded by ice-capped ridges. After getting to the day’s destination, we’ll check in and have a rest. We could use the afternoon for a training session on using climbing equipment like ropes and jumars, as well as other peak-climbing techniques.

Day thirteen takes us closer to our final destination. After having a morning meal at Chhukung, we’ll pack our belongings and head toward Island Peak Base Camp.

Heading south from Chhukung, we will walk along the moraines of the Imja and Lhotse glaciers through a narrow valley. The initial section is a gentle walk through a dry, rocky path surrounded by glacial debris and alpine meadows.

As we trek up, the air becomes thinner, and the oxygen level drops, so we must be careful of the altitude sickness symptoms. After a while of trekking, the route crosses small streams and ascends along the Imja Glacier’s lateral moraine, with a view of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Island Peak. The final section of the trek involves crossing glacial sections and uneven topography before reaching the Island Peak Base Camp. We will stay overnight in the Base Camp of Island Peak in a camp set by our crew member.

The fourteenth day is the most awaited time in the entire Island Peak expedition. The day takes us to our ultimate destination, the summit of Island Peak. After packing our essentials, we will begin our climb to the High Camp of Island Peak early in the morning. The slope continues to narrow, and the trail enters a sloped rock channel. We will need to use crampons and rope on this day, which tests our climbing skills.
Follow your guide’s instructions properly for safety. The trail continues to climb out of the rock gully. We need to climb a series of short rock steps to reach the right side of the drain. We will follow a ridgeline to the exposed traverse onto the snout of the summit glacier. Depending on the season and snow conditions, we might move through crevasses and cross over a few ladders.

We will climb a 40-degree slope using a rope and follow the ridge to the summit. Reaching the summit is a great accomplishment and a moment of pride that makes all our hard work worthwhile. The surreal sight of the entire Everest region from the top of Island summit adds to the excitement of the journey. To the north, we can witness iconic Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse. Looking at east, we see Makalu. Turning south, the Ama Dablam, the white glaciers of the Imja Valley, and the Khumbu Glacier will appeal to our sight.

We will spend some time at the summit enjoying the successful ascent of Island Peak and the views, then head down to Base Camp, from where we will retrace our route back to Chukung for an overnight stay and dinner.

This morning will be different as we’ll wake up after our victory. We’ll have a warm cup of tea and a hearty breakfast while enjoying the crisp air and mountain view from the teahouse. After breakfast, we retraced our steps back towards Pangboche. From Chhukung, the path descends westward along the Imja Khola River through the route back toward Dingboche at the initial phase. After about two hours of trekking, you reach Dingboche, where we can stop to rest.

From Dingboche, the route continues to descend toward Shomare and Orsho while providing views of Ama Dablam’s west face. The final leg of the trek leads to Pangboche, a picturesque Sherpa village where we can visit the Pangboche monastery, one of the oldest in the region.

On the sixteenth day, we will descend to Namche Bazaar from Pangboche. From Pangboche, we’ll first head to Deboche. After Deboche, the pathway continues towards Tengboche Monastery, where we can see Buddhist Lamas performing rituals. Tengboche Monastery is one of the famous monasteries in the Khumbu region.

From Tengboche, our trail continues along the Dudh Koshi Valley to the small village of Phuki Tenga. We will follow the ascending path to Namche. The route is scenic with views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and other mountains. Stay overnight in Namche.

The seventeenth day marks the final leg of the Island Peak Climbing. On this day, we’ll trek down to Lulka from Namche Bazaar, from where our journey started. The journey retraces the route that brought us to the Khumbu valley, through the familiar landscape, offering a chance to reflect on the journey’s memory.

The path then passes through Monjo, from where we officially check out of the Sagarmatha National Park. From here, the route continues to Phakding, where we’ll stop for a break and lunch. Beyond Phakding, the route continues to descend through Ghat and Chheplung before reaching Lukla. Overnight at Lukla.

On the 18th day, we will leave the Khumbu valley to catch an early morning flight from Lukla to Ramechhap. As soon as we get off the plane, we will start our drive to Kathmandu. We might take a break in the middle for Lunch, depending on your appetite. Once we reach Kathmandu, we’ll drop you off at the hotel. After checking into your hotel room and getting freshened up, take a rest and get ready to have a celebration meal in the evening with the Dream Himalaya Adventure Team. Stay overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu.

In the morning, after breakfast, prepare for a guided city tour lasting about 3 hours. Enjoy the city and heritage sites of the Kathmandu Valley, including Pashupatinath Temple and Bouddhanath Stupa. In the afternoon and evening, you will have free time to shop for your loved ones, family members, and friends.

Also, note that due to the climate, flight delays in Lukla are common. Also, we might lag behind schedule due to unforeseen circumstances. Under such conditions, we will catch a flight from Lukla to Ramechhap/Kathmandu on this day, and you will be transferred to the hotel. Overnight at Kathmandu.

We have to say goodbye to you with a heavy heart on the twentieth day. We hope you enjoyed the Island Expedition with us and remember us for your future journey in Nepal. Please let us know your flight time so that we can pick you up from the hotel and drop you off at Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward destination. At the airport, our representative will bid farewell. Safe journey. We hope to see you soon.