Island Peak and Everest Base Camp is one of the most popular trekking peaks in Nepal. Sherpas know Island Peak as Imja Tse. Locals called the peak Island, due to the fact that the peak appears like an island in the icy belt of the Imja Tse valley.
The journey starts with a trek to Everest Base Camp. After you have visited base camp and climbed Kala Patthar, you have acclimatized perfectly for your ascent to climb Island Peak. Island Peak is a challenging climbing peak, but not too technical.
Upon your arrival, we’ll have a gear check and finalize the climbing permits. The Island Peak and Everest Base Camp adventure begins with the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. From here on, you hike towards Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital.
At Namche, you’ll enjoy an acclimatization day with a day hike to the famous Everest View hotel. Moving on, you’ll hike slowly in the coming days to Everest Base Camp. After visiting base camp, you‘ll hike up Kala Patthar viewpoint. From this point, the Khumbu mountains are up close to Pumori, and Mount Everest is in clear sight.
Once descended from Kala Patthar, you’ll hike to Lobuche before heading over the Kongma La pass to Chhukung. In half a day, you hike to the east in a moraine landscape. Suddenly, the huge Lhotse wall rises before you; so close you have never been so far. At Chhukung, you enjoy the remote wilderness of the Khumbu region.
Finally, you’ll arrive at Island Peak base camp. This location is situated at an altitude of 5,100 meters, near the vast Imja Lhotse Glacier. Here, you’ll learn how to use the jumar for ascending and descending.
The final ascent to Island Peak begins with a scramble up a rocky gully to a ridge where you put on crampons and rope up for the glacier crossing heading towards the south ridge. The route across the glacier is easy-angled, but it can be crevassed in places. Further up, snow and ice cover the base of the headwall for 100 m. The climb is as steep as 45° before you arrive on the airy summit ridge. Next comes the summit, where you can enjoy fabulous views of Lhotse Shar, Makalu’s west face, the north face of Baruntse, and Ama Dablam’s north ridge.
In the course of the afternoon, we want to be back at the base camp. After the descent and after a break, you will return to the teahouse in Chhukung. The following day, leaving the teahouse, you’ll return to Lukla, passing by beautiful Sherpa villages. In the end, a flight back to Kathmandu concludes your Island Peak and Everest Base Camp adventure.
Our itineraries are designed to be flexible. If you would like to modify this plan, let us know, and we will work with you to create a personalized trip.
Day 1: Arrival Nepal; pick up at the international airport and drop off at a hotel in Thamel Kathmandu
Day 2: Final preparations for Island Peak and Everest Base Camp adventure
Day 3: Flight from Kathmandu / Ramechap to Lukla (0,5 hrs.) and trek to Phakding (2640 m – 3 hrs.)
Day 4: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440 m – 5 hrs.)
Day 5: Resting day at Namche Bazaar for acclimatization. Optional day hike to the Everest View hotel
Day 6: Trek to Tengboche (3867 m – 5 hrs.)
Day 7: Trek to Dingboche (4260 m – 4 hrs.)
Day 8: Trek to Lobuche (4930 m – 6 hrs.)
Day 9: Trek to Gorakshep & Everest Base Camp (5364 m), overnight at Gorakshep (5170 m – 6 hrs.)
Day 10: Trek to Kala Patthar (5545 m) en Lobuche (4630m – 6 hrs.)
Day 11: Cross over Kongma La pass (5535 m) to Chhukung (4720 m – 7 hrs.)
Day 12: Trek to Island Peak Base Camp (5150 m – 6 hrs.)
Day 13: Island Peak (6189 m) ascent and overnight in Chhukung (11 hrs.)
Day 14: Trek to Dingboche (4290 m – 5 hrs.)
Day 15: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440 m – 6 hrs.)
Day 16: Trek to Lukla (2800 m – 5 hrs.)
Day 17: Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu / Ramechap (0,5 hrs.)
Day 18: Free day at leisure in Kathmandu
Day 19: Departure; pick up from the hotel and drop off at the international airport
During the trekking season prices may rise. The final price depends on the trekking season, group size and, if applicable, the cost of the local transfers.
Cost includes:
– Pick up and drop off from Kathmandu International Airport to the hotel
– Return flight Kathmandu/ Ramechap to Lukla and transfer to and from the domestic airport
– 4 nights hotel room in Kathmandu; breakfast included
– Teahouse room during trek
– Free use of tent equipment at base camp, including one dome tent for two persons and a light sleeping mattress; dining tent and heater, tables & chairs; toilet tent; cooking equipment
– 3 meals per day; breakfast/ lunch/ dinner. At Base Camp: including tea/coffee/ hot chocolate/ hot water
– Licensed and certified mountain guide. Well experienced and English speaking
– Experienced and certified climbing Sherpa
– Porter and yak service for carrying luggage, tent equipment and climbing gear.
– Salary, food, accommodation and insurance for the mountain guide, climbing Sherpa, porters and cooking staff
– Climbing gear including: climbing harness, crampons, ice axe, helmet, climbing ropes, and a jumar
– Radio set during climb
– First Aid kit
– Free use of one waterproof bag
– Sagarmatha National Park entrance fee, Island Peak climbing permit, TREK card and local taxes
– Support of the Sherpa Heritage Trails head office in Kathmandu
Cost excludes:
– International flight to Kathmandu
– Nepal entrance visa
– Personal clothing, climbing gear and personal medical kit
– Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu
– All other beverage bills, hot shower, internet services, laundry, and battery charge during trek
– Personal travel and climbing insurance
– Rescue operation charge in case of an emergency
– Any cost of hotel/ teahouse/ transport related to the member terminating earlier than the scheduled itinerary from the expedition/ trekking
– Any cost that arises due to a change of itinerary, like health issues, flight delay, natural calamities, etc.
– Gratitude and tips for the mountain guide and porters
