Island Peak Expedition

Upon arriving in Kathmandu, you will be promptly transferred to the hotel in Thamel. After refreshment, you will meet your guide in the evening.

During the briefing, our guide provided a comprehensive overview of the Island Peak expedition program, ensuring you were well-prepared for the adventure ahead. Pay any remaining payments for your trip and ask any questions you may have about your trip.

You will be picked up by our trekking guide early in the morning and transferred to the domestic airport for your short Lukla flight. Upon arrival in Lukla, we’ll meet our porter and commence the trek to Phakding. Today marks the inception of our expedition, with a leisurely 3-4 hour trek alongside the Dudh Koshi River. We can explore Phakding and the monasteries nearby and ready ourselves for another longer trek ahead tomorrow.

Lukla Flights: During the peak trekking seasons all the flights to Lukla operate from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap. These peak months are from the third week of March to the Third week of May in the spring season and from the third week of September till to the Third week of November in the autumn season. During these peak trekking months, you will be transferred to Manthali airport from Kathmandu for the Lukla flight, which is about a 5-hour drive.

After a good breakfast at Phakding, we set out for the mountain junction town of Namche; we cross and re-cross the river on high-airy suspension bridges. Beyond Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park which was set up to protect and preserve the fragile mountain environment. We then take a steep hike to Namche Bazar.

If the weather is clear, we get our first glimpse of Mt Everest. Namche is the main trading village in the Khumbu and has a busy Saturday market – a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La. Namche is the gateway to the Khumbu. This is where we crash out for the night. Overnight at a local lodge.

Namche is tucked away between two ridges amidst the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops, and souvenir shops. It is an ideal place to spend a day, acclimatizing to the new altitude before heading off towards Syangboche. To acclimatize, you visit Khunde Hospital set up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or take a one-hour walk up to the Everest View Hotel above Namche for the sunset view of Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest. We then go to Khumjung where we visit a school established by Hillary.

We begin our hike after enjoying lunch; bypassing the route of Khimde. There are also good views from the National Park Centre and Museum just above the town. After going through our acclimatization drills, we head down to our lodge for some beers & a night of good sleep. Overnight at a local lodge.

After breakfast in Namche, we start our trek towards Tengboche enjoying a superb view of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and a close-up view of Thamserku. Our trek follows the gradual trail with a few ups and downs overlooking a magnificent view of the great Himalayas. Along the way, we can spot wildlives like pheasant, musk deer, or a herd of Himalayan Thar. The trail goes gradually down to Kyangjuma. The path eventually reaches Sanasa which is the major trail junction to Gokyo Valley and Everest Base Camp.

The track then follows through the pine forests and after we cross the prayer flags festooned bridge over Dudh Kosi River, we reach Phunki Tenga, a small settlement with a couple of teahouses and a small army post amidst the alpine woods. After having a relaxed lunch at Phunki Tenga we then have a little tough climb steeply up through the pine forests before we reach Tengboche. Tengboche is a great place for close-up views of Ama-Dablam, Nuptse, and Everest and it has the biggest Buddhist Monastery all over in the Khumbu region. Overnight stay at lodge at a lodge in Tengboche.

After breakfast, we will leave for Dingboche. In addition, before you go on today’s excursion, give yourself some extra time to soak in the surroundings of Tengboche Monastery. In the early morning light, the monastery appears even more stunning against the backdrop of mountains. Begin our day’s adventure by strolling down to Imja Khola. We will travel to the village of Pangboche by crossing the turbulent Imja Khola over a steel box bridge. This beautiful journey has many fields, summer settlements, and majestic mountain views. We will finally reach the sprawling settlement of Dingboche after a few hours of walking.

Dingboche is a small village near the Everest base camp. It has the most homes in the area and offers many nice restaurants and friendly locals. When we arrive, we will see beautiful fields surrounded by stone walls. These walls protect crops like potatoes, buckwheat, and barley from grazing animals and cold winds. In the summer, yak herders use the meadows in Dingboche to graze their yaks. We will stay overnight at a lodge in Dingboche.

Today’s trek is a short yet picturesque journey from Dingboche to Chhukung, which is just 2-3 hours. We begin amidst enchanting hilly landscapes adorned with stone-walled meadows, setting the stage for an immersive experience.

As we venture deeper into the Imja Valley, the grandeur of Lhotse and Ama Dablam unfolds before us, offering breathtaking vistas. Passing through Bibre, a haven for yak herders, we’re greeted by the rugged beauty of Imja Tse’s southern face. We conclude our trek with a scenic 30-minute hike along the cold stream to the charming village of Chhukung.

Overnight stay at lodge at a lodge in Chhukung.

After breakfast, we began our hike towards the north side and walk along the valley next to the Lhotse glacier’s rocky edge. After a short walk by the river, we climb for about 1 hour to reach Island Peak Base Camp. From today, we will stay 2 nights at the tented camps in Island Peak base camp with our team. We’ll have a brief training session to learn important climbing skills. This includes how to use equipment like ice axes, climbing boots, crampons, harnesses, and ropes, getting us ready for the climb ahead.

Overnight at tent in Island Peak Base Camp.

Today is a rest day at Island Peak base camp, dedicated to acclimatization. Our climbing guide will provide essential instructions for the climb ahead, ensuring everyone is well-prepared.

Following the training session, take some time to relax and rejuvenate while indulging in delicious meals prepared by our skilled cook. It’s a day to recharge both physically and mentally, savoring the serene atmosphere of the base camp before the ascent begins.

Today is our big adventure day! If the weather is in our favor, we’ll set off early in the morning to climb Island Peak, which stands at 6,189 meters (20,299 feet). Starting from Camp 1, we’ll climb through a gully and move towards the right. Crossing a wide stone field, we’ll navigate the ridge and glacier with its crevasses. After the successful summit, we’ll retrace our way back to base camp and return to Chhukung on the same day. It’s going to be an exciting and challenging journey!

After breakfast, we’ll begin our hike back down the trail. It takes about an hour from Chhukung to reach Dingboche. Then, we’ll follow the main Everest trail through Shomare and Pangboche. After Pangboche, we’ll cross the river and head uphill to Tengboche for the night. If you’re feeling energetic, visit the Monastery or the local bakery. Otherwise, a good night’s sleep will help you recover for another long day tomorrow.

After breakfast, we descend from Tengboche to Namche Bazaar which is situated at an elevation of 3,440 meters. It’s about a 5-hour walk, and we reach Namche Bazaar in the afternoon. There, we can relax and spend the evening chatting with other trekkers with our delicious meal.

Your Island Peak Expedition adventure comes to an end today. The Dudhi Koshi River is followed down to Lukla, where you’ll spend your final night in the Himalayas. We need to walk carefully as our worn-out legs continually battle the rocky ground as the trail descends steeply.

You can explore Lukla Bazaar and shop for local items as a gift for your family and friends there, celebrate your successful and safe journey with your crew, and learn some Sherpa dance steps during the farewell party.

Early in the morning, we leave Tenzing-Hillary airport, boarding a scenic 35-minute flight back to Kathmandu. As we soar above the sky and take in the captivating vista of the Khumbu region, we’ll be carrying an unforgettable and fruitful voyage to the Island Peak.

Your guide will transfer to your hotel once you land in Kathmandu. In the evening, we have a farewell dinner together.

After breakfast and our last day in Kathmandu, our vehicle and escorts will be on standby to drop you off at the international airport three hours before our scheduled flight back home. At Glorious Himalaya, meeting you has been a great honor and we pray for your Safe journey home and will reflect on the wonderful times we spent together. Bon Voyage!!! We hope to see you again someday…