Island Peak climb for the most spectacular views of the entire mountain range of Khumbu Valley
Steep ascent during the climb
Photo By: SIHASAKPRACHUM
Among the glorious Himalayas ranges of Nepal, Imja-Tse also known as Island Peak has got most of the attention. With an elevation of 6189 meters, this glorious peak lies in the Khumbu region. The main reason for the popularity of climbing Island Peak for the expedition is that it is suitable for all novice climbers wishing to enter the incredible world of mountain climbing.
It is often the first step for most enthusiast climbers before they go on a journey to the summit of other higher peaks of the Himalayas. Although the expedition to Island Peak is not technically challenging but is physically demanding. You will need to be energetic and physically fit to be able to climb this stunning peak. By climbing the Island Peak, you can enjoy the closest views of the 4th highest peak in the world, Lhotse alongside several other high peaks such as the Amadablam, Amphu Labsa, and Nuptse. Apart from the scenic beauty of the climb, the hike also offers insights into the life of the people living in the Everest Region.
Himalayan Scenery Treks has an especially designed package so that you will have a fantastic experience in the Himalayas of Nepal. This package includes both Everest Base Camp Trek and the Island Peak expedition. Several days of trekking in the Everest region, before the actual climbing of the mountain begins, lets you have ample time to enjoy the stunning beauty of the Himalayas. The climb is an extraordinarily beautiful feat on its own that is the highlight of the trip.
Photo By: SIHASAKPRACHUM
What does the Island Peak Expedition look like?
The journey of the peak climbing expedition starts with a scenic flight to the dangerous airstrip of Lukla. From there, it’s the same route as the trek to the Everest Base Camp up until Dingboche. After Dingboche, a trek to Chukkhung for the practice summit of the rocky Chukkhung RI at the height of 5550 meters. After arrival at the Island Peak Base Camp, a day is kept aside for pre-climbing training. The start of peak climbing starts somewhat early at 12-1 am due to the possibility of changes in the weather conditions.
Himalayan Scenery Treks offers you the full board package to the summit of the Island Peak/Imja-Tse. From arrival to Kathmandu, and getting a permit from NMA to your departure, you don’t have to worry about anything. We will likewise provide you with all the necessary things during your climbing period along with an experienced and professional trekking and climbing guide who will assist you on the trek as well as at the summit and the peak.
These 20 days of Island Peak Climbing (Imja-Tse) with Everest Base Camp Trek have been adjusted under your prerequisites – don’t hesitate to get in touch with us whenever for recommendations and counsel. We’d be upbeat to take you on this adventurous journey.
Itinerary
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As per your flight plan, we will be at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu to stretch out a warm welcome to you in our wonderful nation for the lovely outing. As you fly towards the International Terminal of Tribhuvan International Airport on a clear sunny day, you can see the breathtaking views of snow-capped mountain peaks spread in the distance.
Once you land, a representative from Himalayan Scenery Treks will escort you to your hotel. The day is complete leisure. You can either choose to rest in your hotel room and remove jet lag or take a short walk around the ancient valley of Kathmandu.
On the second day of your arrival, we will be taking you on the historical and cultural sightseeing tour around Kathmandu Valley. We will take a tour around Kathmandu Durbar Square, Monkey Temple- Swoyambhunath Stupa – the oldest monument in Kathmandu valley, Pashupatinath Temple – the biggest Hindu Shrine and Bouddhanath- a massive Buddhist Shrine. All these historical monuments are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage site. You will be accompanied by a professional licensed guide during your city tour around the beautiful city of Temples.
Once you complete the day tour, you will be escorted to the Himalayan Scenery Treks office. In the office, you will meet up with the climbing leader who will brief you about the nature of the expedition's required equipment, and the team formation. After the briefing is over, you will have time to do last-minute shopping for the personal items that you need. In the afternoon, before we take a flight, the team leader will check everyone’s equipment, to make sure that everything is right.
After the gathering of our packs in the earlier night, our trek begins today with a short drive to the main international air terminal of Nepal. From the airport, we will take an early morning flight to a standout amongst the riskiest air terminals on the planet, the Tenzing Hilary Airport. This early morning flight provides a breathtaking aerial view of the Himalayas and allows ample time for the trek to Phakding. During the flight, you will have a chance to appreciate a considerable measure of perspectives of the Himalayas from your plane seats.
After our landing at the Lukla airstrip, let the porters carry all of our trekking equipment and hardware as we deal with things. From here, we will start our trek to the town of Phakding. With easy ups and down the trail along the Dudh Koshi stream, we will arrive at our first place of accommodation.
Waking up to the beautiful sunrise over the royal snow-capped peaks, we will begin our second day at Namche Bazar Today. After having breakfast with the serene sound of flowing Dudh Koshi, the morning walks begin with an uphill climb, which gradually becomes steep as we move up. Crossing the several suspensions on the trail, and prayer wheel we reach the Sagarmatha National Park Entrance at the small village of Monjo.
Once we check into Sagarmatha National Park Entrance, we take an uphill trail until we reach the Sherpa Village. Continuing our walk from the popular trading village, towards the prosperous trading town in the Everest Region, Namche Bazaar. This beautiful city showcases some spectacular views of mountains like Thamserku (66232m) and Kongde Ri (6,187 m) to its west.
We will take a day off today at Namche Bazaar for acclimatization. As we are already at a high altitude (3440 m), taking a day off to rest will help you to adjust to the high altitude. As this day is for acclimatization, we will hike a trip to the Everest viewpoint right above the Namche Bazaar. From this viewpoint, you can observe the outstanding views of spectacular mountains including Mt. Everest. The viewpoint with its landscape views will also come out as an inspiration to never back down until we get to our destination.
After spending a relaxing time at the viewpoint, we will hike back to Namche Bazaar, to have lunch and then explore the town going from one end to another.
The hike today will take us to the village of the old monastery of Nepal, Tengboche. Once we have our bellies full, we climb out of the Namche Bazaar and hike through the forest of pine and rhododendrons to arrive at the village of Kenjuma. The village boasts a great view of the Amadablam Peak.
From here the trail goes up and down for a while and then a steep uphill climb reaches Tengboche. From this village, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the glorious peaks like Tawache, Nuptse, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam including Everest. We will take a short evening walk to explore the Tengboche Monastery -one of the biggest Buddhist monasteries.
After breakfast with the panoramic view of a mountain hanging in the distance, we will set off for the trekking journey towards Dingboche. Following the downhill trail towards Dudh Koshi River, we arrive at Deboche and passing it reach Pangboache village.
Moving ahead of Pangboache, we leave the route to Pheriche and take an uphill trail through the green lush forest of rhododendrons and pine to finally make it up to our destination, Dingboche. Once you are at Dingboche you can have outstanding views of the Himalayan peaks.
Another day off to rest for acclimatization. As we are at an elevation of 4,410 meters, taking a day off to acclimatize will help you adjust to the high-altitude climate here and above. Although this is a rest day, we will not be staying idle. Rather we will hike around the region exploring the culture and tradition.
Today is the first day where we will be able to feel the cold mountain air along the glacial moraines and ridges. Walking up the thick icy rocks and narrow slippery path to arrive at the village of Dughla. Dughla also known as Thukla consists of several memorial shrines for the brave mountaineers who lost their lives during the climbing expedition.
As we ascend uphill at a slow pace, we will have wonderful views of the mountains to our site which will help us to forget all the strenuous effort we are taking up in the impressive mountain landscape. Moving ahead in the rugged Everest Trekking Trail takes us to the small settlement of Lobuche. Lobuche offers 360-degree views of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, and several other peaks. By preparing ourselves for the hike to the Everest Base Camp tomorrow, we close our eyes.
Today is the day we will reach the Everest Base Camp. We will wake up early morning today to climb up the cold trail. With a slow and tiring walk, we ascend uphill through a glacial moraine and reach the foothills of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest (8848 meters), surrounded by other majestic peaks. We will rest for a while in the base camp, where many climbers spend days and nights training, preparing, and attempting the summit of the glorious Everest.
After a good rest at the foothill of the world’s highest peak, we will move ahead towards Gorakshep for the overnight stay. Gorakshep is a small settlement on the lakebed in the Everest region. This village is the last human settlement and also the highest overnight stopover for the trip.
Waking up within the outstanding surroundings of Gorakshep, we will hike up to Kalapatthar. Once we reach the Kalapatthar, we will get to enjoy the breathtaking view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and other Himalayan panoramas. You will also witness the heavenly sunrise over the mighty peak. Standing up close to the planet's highest peak and never seen before sunrise over the glorious Himalayas will spellbind us and allure us to stay here forever.
Once we have a good time in the foothills of the mightiest Himalayas on the planet, we will retrace our path to Gorekshep for breakfast. After breakfast, we will hike on a downhill trail to a beautiful settlement in the Khumbu region, i.e. Pheriche. Passing the village, we will easily descend the trail to Dingboche for an overnight stay.
Today is comparatively a short walking day. Four hours of hike from Dingboche will take us to the small settlement of Chhukung. This place is an overnight stay for the trekkers and climbers before we reach the Island Peak Base Camp.
Leaving the Dingboche behind, we will hike to the Chhukung at a slow pace and with a lot of breaks. As we are at a high altitude taking a sufficient break will help us to acclimatize well so that we can climb the 6,189 m Island Peak, a renowned trekking peak accessible for travelers looking for shorter climbs close to Mount Everest Base Camp.
The hike today will take us to an elevation of over 5000 m, where Island Peak Base Camp is located. At the beginning of the hike, we will climb quite steeply to the south and then follow the moraine east along the main valley. Following the glacial stream trail of Imja Glacier, we eventually reach Island Peak Base Camp for lunch.
After we arrive at the base camp of Island Peak, we will set up the camp and relax. In the afternoon, we will have a detailed orientation session about the climbing adventure lying just ahead of us. At the base camp, we will also prepare for a climbing adventure that starts the next day, including establishing a high camp for the summit attempt.
The most awaited and exciting part of our journey has finally arrived. Today we will be climbing the summit. We will begin our summit push to the Island Peak before dawn i.e. at around 2 AM. The main reason for starting our climb so early is because in the afternoon strong winds blow in the highland which becomes the barrier to the successful summit. So, we must climb Island Peak before noon.
We will start our journey to summit the Island peak with a slow ascend uphill covering several hundred meters beyond base camp. Once we reach the steep hillside, we will follow the rocky trail which leads us further high to the ridgeline covered in snow. As we ascend uphill, the slope further narrows and enters the steep rock channel. As we struggle to climb the ridgeline, the daylight slowly dawns upon us, bringing breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. Crossing the rocky trail reaches the exhilarating and exposed traverse onto the snout of the summit glacier. Along the trail, you will encounter the three to four-meter newly formed crevasses. We will cross the crevasses using a ladder and fixed lines for safety.
Moving ahead, we will come across the last ridge which is a bit difficult to climb. We will use the rope to make it top to the ridge. Furthermore, struggling to climb from the difficult ridge, we eventually reach the summit of the glorious Island Peak, from where we can enjoy the out-of-the-world scene of the mighty Himalayan Peaks. We will spend an hour enjoying the views of the exhilarating view of the mountains and capturing the memories into the lenses of our cameras.
After a while of enjoying the summit view, we will leave the summit and descend towards the base camp where another crew member awaits us. Once, we reach the base camp, we will rest for a while and then pack our bags and then retrace our path back to Chhukung for the overnight stay. This marks the end of our successful Island Peak climb, and we will celebrate our achievement at the base camp before heading back.
One extra day is needed here in case of any delay on the summit push because of the weather conditions and any other circumstances.
Today we will be returning to the Pangboche. We will be retracing the trail along the Imja Khola and crossing it over a suspension bridge. Once we are on another side of Imja Khola we will ascend towards Pangboche. The path from here mostly involves steep uphill until we reach Pangboche. We will visit the Monastery in Pangboche and explore the culture and traditions around Pangboche. Overnight at Pangboche.
Waking up early in the beautiful village of Pangboache, we retrace our path back to Namche Bazaar. Leaving the Pangboche, we hike on the descent downhill trail via Tengboche and reach the famous town of the Khumbu region, Namche Bazaar. The trek to the old Namche Bazaar will take us around 4 hours. Once you reach Namche Bazaar, you can enjoy the day wandering around town. We will stay at the local lodge for an overnight stay.
Today is the last day of our trekking journey. Once we have our morning breakfast, we will begin our trek to Lukla. As the elevation decreases, we will go further away from the iconic views of Everest. However, we are carrying the beautiful memories of being in the foothills of the world's highest peak.
Continuing our walk, we will cross the suspension bridge walk through the wonderful village of Phakding and advance towards Lukla. Reaching the Lukla we celebrate the successful summit of Island Peak. In the meantime, we duly thank other crew members along with supporting crew members for making our trip comfortable.
Enjoying the view for one last time we will board a morning flight from the Lukla airstrip. Leaving the mighty mountains behind us we will fly to the ancient city of Kathmandu.
You will have a full day to rest and acclimatize or explore the valley before we join you for the farewell dinner. Walking around the streets of Kathmandu; souvenir shopping; finding a massage or relaxing at the hotel can be easy ways to spend time.
On the last day of our trip, a representative of Himalayan Scenery Treks will drive you to the airport according to your flight schedule back home or onward destination.
Meeting you has been such a wonderful experience, and we do hope our relationship will keep going long.
We hope that you enjoyed the Island Peak Climbing and hope to see you for another adventure soon.
3-star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
Teahouse accommodation during the trek
Tented accommodation during the climb
All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) during the trek and climb
All ground transportation on a comfortable private vehicle as per the itinerary
English speaking, trained, and experienced trekking guide(leader), climbing guide (leader), and assistant guides
Porter service (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, domestic airfare, food, and accommodation
Down jacket (to be returned after trip completion)
Himalayan Scenery’s trekking bag/duffel bag, t-shirt, and trekking maps
All necessary paperwork; trekking permits and Peak climbing permit
Good quality tents and kitchen utensils for camping
Group mountaineering (climbing) equipment
Medical kit (carried by your guide)
All government and local taxes
Excluded
Nepalese visa fee
International airfare to and from Kathmandu
Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 15 kg of luggage, a cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, or early return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
Altitude chamber (PAC) or oxygen
Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu (and also in the case of early return from the mountain than the scheduled itinerary)
Travel and rescue insurance
Personal expenses (phone calls, internet, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.)
Personal climbing equipment
Personal climbing guide if requested
Optional trips and sightseeing if extended
Tips for guides and porters
Single Trekker Supplement Fee- $800
Useful Info
Photo By: SIHASAKPRACHUM
InHimalayan Scenery Treks and Expedition, your safety precedes every other thing. As this adventure entrails travelling in the remote mountainous region, we are always at the mercy of nature. During the trip, factors such as weather, natural disasters, or a multitude of other factors which are beyond our control can subsequently bring changes to the itinerary.
Although all the itinerary we provide to you is guided and standard; please note that your team leader has the authority to alter or even drop the planned itinerary of any part if it is necessary due to safety concerns. All the alternations or changes to the standard itinerary are made by the leader by taking into consideration the best interest of the whole group. We give our best effort to stick with the above-mentioned itinerary; however, in case of any unpredicted event which is beyond our control, you need to be flexible and follow the guidelines as instructed by your leader.
Note that the company won’t be responsible for any result of alterations to itineraries or any delays due to unforeseen circumstances.
Photo By: Vojtech Flidr
Flight Delay in Kathmandu and Lukla
Tenzing Hillary Airport, also known as Lukla Airport, is the small but busiest airport situated in a wonderful valley fenced by high mountains. This airport has been carved into a mountain ridge and sites by a perilous three-kilometre drop. Because of the high location, the weather around here is erratic and is likely to be changed every few hours resulting in flight delays and cancellations.
Twin Otter and Dornier planes are the only modes of transportation to and from Lukla Airstrip. However, because of the unpredictable weather of the high mountains reason, there is always the risk of flight cancellation or delays. In some cases, the flights are delayed or cancelled for 2 or more days. The long delays in the flight schedule may hinder your trip. However, we Himalayan Scenery Treks and Expedition, help you Charter a helicopter to or from the Lukla Airstrip, in case of flight cancellation or delays due to harsh and unpredictable mountain weather conditions. We will provide you with the best service to make sure that you are on schedule for your trip and international flight connection.
To charter a helicopter to or from the Lukla Airstrip, you will be charged approximately 2500 USD to 4,000 USD per Helicopter. The helicopter conveys 4 to 5 passengers at a time, so the aggregate chartered fee can be shared amongst the passengers (USD 500 to USD 3000 is applicable per person). The cost of this service is payable directly to our office, and later this can be submitted to the travel insurance company for reimbursement. Our company will provide you with all the required documentation for the claim.
Photo By: Yongyut Kumsri
Team Composition
Team composition is important to ensure the safety and comfort of the climbers. We observe high safety standards, therefore, for 2 International Climbers, we assign:
HST Accredited Climbing Leader
High Altitudes Assistance Sherpa
Cook
Base Camp Assistance and other necessary trek crew such as Porters, Yaks, and Yak man
Because of our high safety standards, team members would be added as per the number of international climbers.
Photo By: Yongyut Kumsri
Hotel and Accommodation on Island Peak Climbing
Trek to the Himalayas is one of the favourite destinations for travel enthusiasts and adventure seekers all around the globe. Although the Himalayan region of Nepal is the most popular trekking destination in the world; there are a lot of things people don’t have a clue about. While trekking to the high mountain region, you will not find the hotels and accommodations you see in the city areas. The hotels and accommodations around the high Himalayan have fewer services and facilities. The hot shower may turn out to be simply a bucket of lukewarm water and the toilet may be a latrine behind the hotel. The private room can be a wooden cell with no furniture except a bed, mattress, and curtain in place of the door. So, while trekking to the mountainous region of Nepal, you need to be ready to stay in the less fancy and minimum facilitated hotels.
On the expedition Journey to Mt. Island Peak, we provide you with a 2 to 3-star standard hotel while you are in Kathmandu (i.e. for 3 Nights). During your journey to the Base Camp of Mt. Island Peak, we provide you with the basic lodges and tea houses for your accommodation. The rooms of these lodges and tea houses are less fancier with just a bed, a pillow, and a blanket. The lodges on the trail to Island Peak are always crowded and in some cases, you may have to share a room with other trekkers or may have to sleep in the dining room. We put us every effort to make your trek as cosy as possible. However, you need to stay flexible in some cases. We will accommodate the groups in local lodges available each day. We send the porters ahead of us to pre-book the room for the next day (rooms cannot be pre-booked in all places).
In Kathmandu besides the 2 / 3 star hotel, some 4 / 5 - star luxury accommodation is also available. If you want to change the accommodation plan for the luxury, please do let us know so that we can arrange and book the hotel for you for your Kathmandu stay.
Photo By: Hellen888
Food and Beverages
All the food and Beverages included on the package to Island Peak Climbing are provided by the company itself. The food is provided in the tea houses or lodges on the trail. We will have breakfast and dinner at the lodge where we stay overnight. On the everyday trek, our guide will decide the available place and stop for lunch. We highly recommend you bring water purification pills, to cleanse the water and drink during the trek. During the trek, there are options for buying bottled water and boiled water as well.
Upon your arrival at Kathmandu after the successful expedition, we will provide a farewell dinner consisting of authentic Nepalese cuisine.
Transportation
We at Himalayan Scenery Treks and Expedition provide all the necessary transportation facilities for your trip. We provide private vehicles for airport pick-up and sightseeing tours around Kathmandu. We likewise provide the flight to and from Lukla Airstrip for the Island Peak Climbing.
Photo By: Jason Maehl
Luggage and Backpack
Your main luggage will be carried by your porters during the trek. For your things, we highly recommend you, carry a small handbag containing water bottles, cameras, sunscreen, and other things which you require daily during the trip. Making the backpack small and lighter will unquestionably assist you in enjoying the trip to its fullest. You should simply convey the thing which is basic for your outing and the rest of the garments and different things can be left in the locker room/safe store of hotels. The hotels provide the locker room / safe deposit for free. So, don’t hesitate to leave redundant things. While making the backpack or luggage for your trip ensure that the luggage doesn’t exceed more than 15 Kg. The weight allowance at Nepal’s domestic airlines is 15 Kg including your handbag. Excess weight is chargeable of USD 1.5 or more which will be the additional cost of our trip.
Photo By: SIHASAKPRACHUM
Guide and Porters on Trek
We provide you with a well-trained and experienced guide and porter for your trek. Our guide will assist you in every possible way to make your trips remarkable and memorable. Talking about the porter, we provide one porter for 2 trekkers each. The porters carry 20 Kg of total luggage (10 Kg from each trekker). We provide one guide for the smaller groups and if the group size surpasses 10 individuals; we will provide an additional guide for your trip.
Leaders and Staff Management
Climbing Leader and Staff Management are some of the most critical parts of the Expedition journey determining the success, enjoyability, and memorability of the trip. A highly experienced, skilled, and courteous climbing leader will make the expedition journey smooth and easy. At Himalayan Scenery Treks and Expedition, all the expedition crew members along with the climbing leader are carefully selected based on their appropriate leadership skills and personal aptitude. To sustain local communities, Himalayan Scenery Treks and Expedition only employ local staff who have adequate knowledge about the culture, ecosystem, flora, fauna, geography, and history of their local region(s). The trek and expedition leaders have undergone the following training:
Intensive Wilderness First Aid
Trekking Guide Training
Eco Trekking Workshop and Adventure Meet
English Language
Conservation and Biodiversity
Rock climbing, Ice Climbing, and Mountaineering (for expedition leaders)
Personnel Expenses
Personnel Expenses are largely influenced by your habit of expenditure. We provide you with all the necessary food and accommodation facilities inside the cost of your Island Peak Climbing. So, you only need money to pay for your drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages) and snacks while strolling on the trail. You will get a significant number of smaller shops on the trail to buy drinks and snacks.
Likewise, you can also use the money to buy souvenirs for the trip, entrance tickets, hot showers, tips, and many more. Note that, tips and gratuities are not mandatory, but it is fine if you wish to. If you feel like the service provided to you is excellent, then you can tip directly to the staff. Of course, there is no obligation to tip if you are disappointed with the service you receive. As a suggestion, we advise you to allocate an amount of 5 - 10%of the total package price for tips. The amount you give depends on your budget and appreciation of their work.
Additional Information
Our website contains as much information as possible about this trip. However, if you wish to discuss any aspect of this trip or your suitability for it please contact us by email. If you want to talk to us directly feel free to call us at +977 – 9851083619. We are available on Viber and WhatsApp.
Was very delighted with the service provided by Trip Advisor. Everything was as expected with no problems arising during our trip. Had an amazing time with friends and trip advisor.
S
Sejal KFrom: Denmark,February 09, 2024
THE VERY BEST TREKKING COMPANY IN NEPAL
Oct 2022
I have just returned to UK from my 4th trip to Nepal. If you want to have the very best trekking experience in Nepal, go to Hymalayan Scenary and Treks, you will not be disappointed. Santosh is the man who will discuss and arrange all aspects of your trip and, if you get the chance, insist on my friend Bhaktar as your guide, he is the very best guide to be found in Nepal. I have travelled several times with these guys and they always come up with the very best trips at very competetive prices. They are flexible, accommodating and extremely professional. When things go wrong, as they frequently do in Nepal, these guys have all the answers and know how to fix things. I have been to EBC, Annapurna Base Camp, the Annapurna Circuit, Langtang, Gosainkunda, the Three High Passes and Island Peak so I know how it all works. Accommodation in Kathmandu is in the companies own hotel, an excellent oasis of calm and good food within the chaos of the city, run by Ram the CEO and his team. Look at their website, send these guys an email, tell them what you want or ask them to suggest a trip, as I said before, you will not disappointed.
