Island Peak Climbing-17 days

Trip Level
Moderate
Destination
Nepal
Max Altitude
6189m
Trip Duration
17 Days

Overview

This wonderful Island Peak trekking and climbing take you into the heart of Khumbu Gokyo (4750m/158840ft) and Everest Base Camp (5357m/17575ft). An ascent of Gokyo RI (5357m/19216ft) and Kala Patthar (5545m/18192ft) is good acclimatization and gives you magnificent close-up views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu and more. You will cross the little use of Chola pass (5420m/17782 ft) and Kongma La Pass (5535m/18159ft); ascend one of the popular peaks of Everest regions. Island Peak (6189m/20305ft) is one of the main climbing peaks of the Everest Area. This name was kept in 1952 AD due to its striking location in the middle of the Chhukung valley, like an island on the sea of ice. It was renamed Imje Tse in the early 80 through its original mane is still more popular. Island peak has an impressive highly glaciated west face that rises from the Lhotse Glacier.

Island Peak also called Imja Tse (6,189m / 20,305 ft) situated in the center of the Everest Region of Nepal and is the most popular of Nepal's 33 designated trekking peaks. It's a great summit for first time climbers who are looking for something a little more challenging then the Everest Base Camp Trek and a good peak to start with for those with more mountaineering ambitions in Nepal.

The trek to Island Peak also walks us through the countryside, where we immerse in centuries-old Nepalese and Tibetan cultures. The journey offers some of the most striking scenery in the Khumbu via the enchanting village of Dingboche. Filled with Buddhist shrines, this village of stone charms our path to the mountain.

All accommodation during the trekking is in comfortable lodges. And we give the best tented camp during the climbing period.

Check out our itinerary for Island Peak Climbing or just send us an email at nepalhighpoint@gmail.com and we’ll tailor make an itinerary based on your requirements.

Overview Itinerary: 

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to respective hotels

Day 2: Kathmandu sightseeing and prepare for the trek

Day 3: Fly to Lukla 2,820 m and trek to Phakding 2,650 m - 04 hrs

Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar 3,440 m - 06 hrs

Day 5: Rest day

Day 6: Trek to Tengboche 3,867 m - 05 hrs

Day 7: rek to Dingboche 4,530 m - 05 hrs

Day 8: Rest day at Dingboche for acclimatization and day hike

Day 9: Trek to Lobuche 4,910 m via Thugla 4,640 m - 05 hrs

Day 10: Trek to Gorakshep 5,153 m and hike to Kalapathar 5,545m

Day 11: Trek to Island Peak Base Camp 4,970m - 04 hrs

Day 12: At Base Camp rest day for acclimatization and preparations

Day 13: Climb to the Summit at 6,189m

Day 14: Trek to Tengboche - 07 hrs

Day 15: Trek to Namche Bazaar – 05 hrs

Day 16: Trek to Lukla - 06 hrs

Day 17: Fly to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel at Kathmandu

Day 18: Shopping day or free day

Day 19: International departure or plan for next trip

Note* Please reach us at nepalhighpoint@gmail.com for any concern related to your Nepal trip.  


Detail Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to respective hotels

On reaching Kathmandu International Airport, one of our representative will welcome you and transfer to respective hotels. We will provide orientation and meet with other members of the group, briefing with welcome dinner at authentic Nepali dinner.

Day 2: Kathmandu sightseeing and prepare for the trek.

A free day in Kathmandu with half day guided tour of world heritage sites visit the Pashupatinath a Hindu Temple, Bouddhanath to visit the huge Buddhist Stupa. Afternoon free for own activities and preparation for the trek and climb.

Day 3: Fly to Lukla 2,820 m and trek to Phakding 2,650 m - 04 hrs.

Early morning after your breakfast transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for short scenic flight of 35 minutes to Lukla the gateway to Everest and higher Khumbu area, from here after a break to refresh meet the guide, trekking staff and porters and continue walk past Lukla town on the easy path with views of Kwangde peak and village of Muse and Chowri Kharka, the walk with few ups and down following the Dudh Kosi River passing villages of Choplung, Ghat till Phakding is reached for overnight stop. Have dinner and take rest for whole night.

Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar 3,440 m - 06 hrs.

Weak up in the early morning with pleasant environment. Have breakfast and start walking through nice woodland of pines and rhododendron trees with few ups and down with views of Kusum Khanguru, Kwangde and Tharmasarku peaks crossing bridge over Dudh Kosi to reach at Monjo and to Jorsalle after entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, at Jorsalle take lunch. From here walking on the river bed for some time and heading uphill in the forest to cross the last bridge over Imjatse and Bhote Kosi that joins Dudh Kosi river at this point. A long winding uphill with first views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse (on a clear day) this winding climb finally reaches at Namche Bazaar. At Namche check into one of the fine designated lodge take rest overnight.

Day 5: Rest day

Namche is amazing location for rest and prepare for next hike beyond Namche. At Namche optional short hike to view point and the museum provides information of this area from flora / fauna, geography, mountain and Sherpa history, culture and religion offering tremendous views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Thermasarku, Kwangde, holy Khumbi-la peak and of valley and gorge below.

Day 6: Trek to Tengboche 3,867 m - 05 hrs.

After an enjoyable rest at Namche, hike continues on the nice and scenic trail with views of Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam and other range of peaks walking into green tree lines a good walk with downhill to Phungetenga a small place in a gorge after crossing the Imjatse River for lunch at Phungetenga. From here a steep uphill haul through the nice forest surrounding with views of Thermasarku and Kangtenga peaks, and then with long climb of less than two hours reaching at famous Tengboche monastery with awesome views of surrounding peaks including Mt. Everest and Ama Dablam.

Day 7: Trek to Dingboche 4,530 m - 05 hrs.

After Tengboche, walk starts through nice cool woodland passing settlement of Deuboche to reach a bridge over Imjatse river gorge, from this bridge the last of tree lines and lush vegetation, walk leads to a gradual climb through rows of prayer and mani wall, stupa with fantastic views of Ama Dablam as the walk progress reaching at Pangboche. From Pangboche walk goes to a short steep climb to Shomare a small temporary village serving as lodge, teahouse and popular lunch stop on route Dingboche and Pheriche with close views of AmaDablam. From here a slow climb towards Orsho where the walk gets gentle and path splits from this place the other high trail to Pheriche, the lower path east to Dingboche, our route heading east crossing the icy Khumbu river tributary of Imjatse and Dudh Kosi river, and then a steep climb for 45 minutes to reach the ridge with prayer stones, a pleasant walk from here brings at Dingboche with many lodges around where the areas are guarded with stone walls located on the southern Imajatse valley beneath the towering North Face of Ama Dablam with views of Lhotse, peak 29 and Island / Imjatse peak towards east.

Day 8: Rest day at Dingboche for acclimatization and day hike

Another amazing location for rest day with pleasant environment. Here optional hike to Nangkartsang a high hill offering superb views of surrounding snowcapped peaks including world 5th highest Mt. Makalu and Amphu Labtsa peaks as well.

Day 9: Trek to Lobuche 4,910 m via Thugla 4,640 m - 05 hrs.

Early morning after breakfast we start walking with a slow climb uphill to the ridge with prayer flags and Buddhist monument of stupa, overlooking superb views of snowcapped peaks and on the pleasant trail with gradual up and downhill reaching the raging streams fed from the Khumbu glacier at a small place of Thugla (Dugla). Stop for lunch A popular lunch stop place where the trail from Pheriche and Dingboche joins with an hour break a steep climb of less than an hour reaches the top ridge of Thug-la with great views of Ama Dablam north face with Tawache and Cholatse, an interesting spot with memorials of late mountaineers who died climbing Everest, Lhotse, Pumori or other peaks of this area.

Day 10: Trek to Gorakshep 5,153 m and hike to Kalapathar 5,545m

A morning trek to Gorakshep and Kalapathar, walk is gentle following a small stream on the wide valley, reaching near at Glass Pyramid a metrological station operated by Italian and Nepalese scientist, from here on the steep uphill reaching at moraine with Khumbu glacier below, couple of hours of steady and hard walk brings at Gorakshep with few lodges, this was an earlier Base Camp for the climb to Mt. Everest, located beneath Mt. Pumori and Kalapathar on route present Everest base camp.Less than two hours of steady hard steep climb reaches the view point at Kalapathar 5,545 meters famous and popular spot with tremendous panorama of surrounding high mountains with Everest at mere distance.After a wonderful time head back to Chukung for overnight stop before the next adventure towards Island / Imjaste Peak.

Day 11: Trek to Island Peak Base Camp 4,970m - 04 hrs.

The route to Base Camp, the path at first climbs quite steeply to the south before following the moraine east along the main valley below the southern or true left bank of the Lhotse Glacier. The trail then follows glacial streams to the snout of the Imja glacier. At this point the path swings north-east and crosses a dried up lake bed between the Lhotse and Imja Glaciers, from a base camp at Pareshaya Gyab. A well acclimatized party in good condition can make the summit and return in a day back to Base Camp.

Day 12: At Base Camp rest day for acclimatization and preparations

A necessary rest or free day for acclimatization with preparations sorting out gear for the climb, afternoon short hike around on this beautiful surrounding enclosed with snowcapped peaks.

Day 13: Climb to the Summit at 6,189m.

A celebration day !!! starts after breakfast scrambling up an open gully leads between two well defined ridges of a small hanging glacier at 5,280m / 17,323ft. Climber should be careful for unexpected possible avalanche danger from the ice above. After crossing a gully with some stone and icefall danger, a steep snow and ice ramp leads upwards for nearly 100 meters (300ft), to the summit ridge. The last moves on to the ridge often prove difficult and many climbers leave a fixed rope in place to aid descent. The ridge itself is a classic and undulates towards the main summit which is reached by a final tricky snow pitch. Standing atop we have the stunning close-up view of the South face of Lhotse (8,501 m.) in vastness that looms before us. We have the impressive dramatic views of the mountains-Amadablam (6,856 m.), Chamlang and Baruntse in the far horizon.

Day 14: Trek to Tengboche - 07 hrs.

Leaving Island Peak base camp and Imjatse valley on the trail towards Tengboche passing Chukung and Dingboche with views of Ama Dablam, Nuptse wall, Lhotse, heading on the downhill path and back to Tengboche Monastery for overnight stop.

Day 15: Trek to Namche Bazaar – 05 hrs.

From Tengboche climb to the top of Luvisa and Shanasa villages and then on the gradual winding trail reaching at Namche Bazaar for overnight stop in the comfort of nice lodge.

Day 16: Trek to Lukla - 06 hrs.

This is last day walk for this trip. Walking with great view to the Lukla.

Day 17: Fly to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel at Kathmandu

Early in the morning after breakfast transfer to the airport for flight back to Kathmanu. After short scenic flight back to Kathmandu with parallel views of snowcapped mountains all the way to Kathmandu, on reaching the airport transfer to respective hotel.  Take rest of the afternoon free at leisure.

Day 18: Shopping day or free day

Free day in Kathmandu you can plan for shopping.

Day 19: International departure or plan for next trip:

In the last day of your trip, we will transfer you the Kathmandu for your flight to home or plan for next trip.

Note* Please reach us at nepalhighpoint@gmail.com for any concern related to your Nepal trip.  


Cost Details

  • Airport Pick up and Drop as per itinerary by private car / van
  • All the standard meals (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) during trekking period.
  • Peak Climbing permit fee
  • Local Guest house accommodation during trek and tented accommodation in climbing period
  • Experience and helpful trekking guide during trek and friendless porters
  • Expert climbing guide
  • First aid medical kit
  • Sagarmatha National park permit fee
  • Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment, medicine for all staff
  • Round trip domestic airfare as per itinerary
  • General climbing equipment's (rope, ice-crew, snow bar etc.)
  • TIMS card fees - Trekking Information Management System
  • All the government tax

  • Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu Hotel
  • Nepal Visa
  • International Airfare
  • Your Travel Insurance
  • Personal climbing equipment's
  • Items of a personal nature such as alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, laundry.
  • Tips for Trekking guide, porters, Drivers
  • Any others expenses which are not mentioned on Price Includes section

Equiment Checklist

Generally, peak climbing in high range of Himalaya is quite challenging and safety is major part. we recommend following equipment for peak climbing in Himalayan region.

For Climbing:

  • Ice axe
  • Crampons
  • Harness
  • Screw gate
  • Descended abseil device
  • Prussic loops
  • Plastic mountaineering boot

For head protection:

  • Sun hat or scarf
  • Light balaclava or warm fleece hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Head torch

For upper body safety:

  • Cotton t-shirts or thermals
  • Fleece jacket
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Down jacket

For lower body Safety:

  • Lightweight cotton pants (long)
  • Waterproof Pants

For feet safety:

  • Thin inner socks
  • Thick, warm wool hiking socks
  • Comfortable hiking boots

For hands safety:

  • Gloves

Other Accessories:

  • Sleeping bag rated to 0°C
  • Trekking bag/duffel bag
  • Large plastic bags (for keeping items dry inside trek bag)
  • Trekking poles (optional, recommended)
  • Water bottle or camel bag
  • Toiletries

Departure Dates

No fixed departures.