Island Peak Climb Itinerary

On arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, where you will be warmly received by our guides and staff with garland and then transfer you to your hotel in the hub of Kathmandu city, after getting refreshed join in with other members of Island Peak Climb and Everest Base Camp Trekking, our guide will brief you with information regarding trek and climb, do’s and don’ts, Nepalese culture, lodge on route trek with full information to make your stay with us enjoyable and memorable, evening welcome dinner at typical Nepalese restaurant with folk-cultural program as entertainment during dinner.       

Morning after breakfast at given time for sightseeing tour, our city guides will meet you at the hotel for interesting sightseeing tour leading you in the heart of Kathmandu at old Durbar (palace) square of great historical importance includes Temple of Kumari (Living young virgin Goddess) Kastamandap Temple where Kathmandu name derived from, a temple built with the wood of a single tree, tour of old palace during the reign of Malla and late Shah kings.

Tour leads to famous landmark of Nepal at Swayambhunath Stupa of more than 2,500 years old a Buddhist Chaitya or Stupa with all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha.

Afternoon visit holy Hindu Temple of Pashupatinath adorned with silver doors and golden tiers roofed pagoda a popular and famous temple where thousands of pilgrims visits every year in the month of February on Shiva Rartri (Lord Shiva birth anniversary). From Pashupatinath a short drive to Bouddhanath with Asia’s largest domed Stupa with four cardinals eyes of Buddha surrounded with prayer wheels and small market with interesting stores, shops and restaurants, the place is also known as Little Tibet due to strong hold of Tibetan influenced tribe and peoples.

After an interesting and exciting tour of world heritage sites return back to hotel for Island Peak Climb and Everest Base Camp Trekking preparation and for last minute briefing from our guides and staff.

Morning depart from the hotel for a short drive to Kathmandu domestic airport where a small aircraft take you to Lukla with short scenic flight of 35 minutes with wide range of mountain views including Mt. Everest, on reaching at Lukla the gateway to high Khumbu and Everest areas.

In Lukla with time for rest and getting refreshed our walk starts passing shops and stores around Lukla markets and then downhill for a while with short ups and on gradual winding trail past Sherpa farm villages and around Buddhist monuments with views of Kusum Kanguru and Kwangde and finally reaching our overnight stop at Phakding village by the Dudh Kosi River.

Our second day starts with an easy morning walk with few ups following Dudh Kosi River most of the way and crossing the same river several time to reach at Monjo a nice village with views of Thermasharkhu peak and Khumbi-la mountain (patron god of Khumbu Sherpa).

From Monjo starts Sagarmatha National Park where trekking and park permits are checked here, after a brief moment continue walk crossing over Dudh Kosi to Jorsalle village for lunch, the last village till Namche is reached.

From here walks leads on river bed for a while and then over a last bridge and into lovely alpine forested areas of rhododendron, pines and fir trees with views of Kwangde, Kusum kanguru, on a clear afternoon view of Mt. Everest and Lhotse can be seen as well.

After few hours of uphill climb reaching at famous Namche Bazaar for overnight stop, here you can find wide facilities with excellent lodges, hotels, pubs, restaurants, fresh bakeries, cyber café, health post, post office and banks. 

A necessary to have a rest day for acclimatization using two nights at this altitude, here at Namche one can take a short hike to the top of Namche hill with view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Tawache, Tharmarserku, Kwangde and Amadablam peaks, visit the museum with information of the Khumbu area, afternoon at leisure or walk around the bazaar with nice shops and stores, Namche is flooded with locals and trekkers on Saturday colorful market.  

From Namche on gradual scenic path with downhill to Imjatse river at Phunge-Tenga for lunch, and then uphill through rhododendron, pines, firs tree forest with views of snowcapped peaks.

On reaching at Tengboche enjoy the magnificent panorama of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Kangtenga, Tharmarserku, Kwande and majestic Amadablam.

Afternoon with time for tour of the monastery, which was burnt by accidental fire in 1991 at present back into normal form, where you can observe monks and priest on evening prayer. 

Morning downhill walk for few hours over Imjatse River, after the bridge walk on an open country where tree lines fades for few short juniper and dwarf rhododendron bushes, uphill for a while to reach at Pangboche village at 3,900 meters. Last permanent village before Dingboche and beyond, from here a slow climb to Somara for lunch and continue walk with climb to Dingboche village for overnight stop, located in Imjatse valley with panorama of mountains.

Another rest day for proper acclimatization, a short hike to Nakarjung hills for best views of Mt. Makalu and other adjoining. For energetic people can walk up to Chukung at 4,760 m high a small and last settlement within Imjatse valley offers incredible views of Island Peak, Lhotse Shar, Lhotse, Nuptse and Amadablam.

After a great pleasant time at Dingboche morning walk leads to a short steep climb for an hour or less commanding excellent views, and then on gentle trail to Thugla for lunch where Khumbu glacier melts into a raging river, here trail from Pheriche joins after a break a steep climb for an hour to Thugla pass, with stone memorials of unfortunate climbers died climbing on Mt. Everest, Lhotse or other high mountains. From here a nice pleasant walk brings to Lobuche for overnight stop.

Today reach the highlight of the adventure at Everest Base Camp, walk for few hours with short steep climb in between over glacier and moraine, reaching at Gorakshep, beneath lofty peak of Pumori and Kalapathar.

Walk continues towards Everest Base Camp, at base camp enjoy the view of notorious Khumbu Ice Fall and glaciers, after a grand time with experience of a lifetime adventure at base camp retrace the journey back to Gorakshep for overnight halt.

Early morning a steep climb to the top of Kalapathar for the fantastic panorama of surrounding giant peaks including Mt. Everest at close distance, this will be the highest point on trekking at 5,545 m / 18,192 ft. After a fantastic time with super views downhill to Gorakshep and continue trek to reach Imjatse valley towards Dingboche and further to Chhukung for overnight stop. 

From Chhukung walk on Imjatse valley to Parsya Gyab at Island Peak Base Camp, which leads to a steep climb over moraine of rocks and Lhotse glacier, follows a glacial streams to the snout of Imjatse glacier and then crossing a dry lake between Lhotse and Imjatse glaciers to reach at base camp around a small place at Pareshaya Gyab, afternoon free for practice climb and short hike. 

From base camp, climb leads further to set up High Camp to make the climb to the summit more approachable, normally climbers make it from base camp to the summit but it is always safe and best to add more camp, morning on leaving base camp to high camp of Island Peak leading over moraines and then scrambling up on open gully leading in between two well defined ridges and to high camp below a small hanging glacier at 5, 280m, afternoon with last and final preparations for the big climb next day.

A Grand day of this awesome adventure! After full preparations start before dawn climb across broad open gully, following snow-covered glacier, avoiding serac and crevasses climbing northwards over snow covered scree in the margin between a glacier of the top ridge.

Climb leads to cross a gully with some stone and icefall danger, a steep snow and ice ramp leads upwards for nearly 100 meters (300ft) to the summit, on reaching top fulfilling adventure of a lifetime experience with success with unmatched views of Mt. Everest 8,848 m, Lhotse 8,501 m, Mt. Amadablam 6,856 m, Mt. Makalu 8, 463 m, Chamlang and Baruntse peaks.

After an exciting and tough climb descend on the same route towards base camp. 

We reserves an extra day as contingency in case of unfavorable and bad weather conditions which can happen sometimes around high Himalaya region, this will provide time for second attempt to the summit top of Island Peak.

If all goes well as per our itinerary days, where our guide and leader will plan this spare day using on route Lukla having short day in making the trip more enjoyable with views along the way.

After a successful climb of Island peak, return journey to Lukla as the morning walk leads with few uphill’s over dry moraine, then reaching at Chhukung with striking views of snowcapped mountains, after short rest continue walk to our overnight stop at Dingboche in the comfort of nice cozy lodge with great views.

Return journey is much easier losing heights every hours, walking downhill with few short ups to Pangboche and then to the bridge with two 2 hours climb to Tengboche for overnight stop.

After a great time an easy descend to Imjatse River, and then with steep climb for an hour to Sanasa, from here on gradual path with short ups and downs to Namche Bazaar for overnight stop with rest of the afternoon free to enjoy time around Namche Bazaar.

Today a long day walks where you can enjoy our last day trekking of this great adventure to Lukla, as the trail leads downhill to Dudh Kosi River to reach at Monjo and Sagarmatha National Park entrance, from here a pleasant walk to Phakding and then retrace the journey back to Lukla with a last climb. On reaching Lukla celebrate last night dinner with fellow trekkers and staff.

Morning as per your flight time for Kathmandu transfer to Lukla airport also named as Tenzing-Hillary airport (tribute to legendry climbers who conquered first on Mt. Everest in May 29th 1953). Soon on getting a boarding pass board on a small plane for sweeping scenic flight back to Kathmandu. On reaching at Kathmandu domestic airport transfer to your hotels with time in the afternoon for individual activities and shopping souvenirs includes farewell dinner in authentic Nepalese restaurants with folk cultural programs.

Today free or contingency day in Kathmandu just in case of flight delay and cancellation at Lukla to Kathmandu, which can occur sometimes due to unfavorable bad weather if all goes well enjoy the day for individual activities and souvenir shopping or join in our interesting sightseeing tour around Kathmandu-Patan (Lalitpur) or Bhaktapur.  

Last day in Nepal in the land of great Himalayan wonders with fascinating culture, after a memorable time on Island Peak Climb with Everest Base Camp Trekking, having an awesome and wonderful experience, as per your international flight time our staff transfers you to airport for the flight back home or to respective countries.