Island Peak Climbing - 14 Days

As you land in Nepal, our representative will meet you on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer you to your hotel. You can either rest at your hotel or explore the beautiful Kathmandu city, probably Thamel or the Kathmandu Durbar Square, just near your hotel. In the evening, there will be a meet and greet program organized by Mountain Treks Nepal. 

Briefing on trekking preparations in the evening sets you up psychologically for what to expect for your adventure in the mountains. This day also allows you to explore some of the nearby attractions, like the busy streets of Thamel or the quiet Garden of Dreams. 

Overnight stay in the hotel provides a more comfortable start for the whole immersion in adventure.

The second day of the Island Peak Climbing 14 Days starts with a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla; this flight. Upon landing at Tenzing Norgay Airport in Lukla, the trek begins, following the Dudh Koshi River, passing beautiful little villages. The trail to Phakding is short, beautiful, and relatively easy which passes through several Sherpa settlements, including Nurning and Chheplung.

Phakding is a Sherpa village lying at an altitude of 2652 meters. The prayer flags, mani walls, and chortens will give you insights into the practice of Tibetan Buddhism. Overnight at a tea house in Phakding.

Today, you hike from Phakding to Namche, passing through Monjo and Bengkar villages. The climb is gentle, and you can feel the ambiance of Buddhism as the suspension bridges are covered with prayer flags. First, you’ll reach the Monjo village, where you can purchase permits like the Sagarmatha National Park Entry License. Along the route, you will enter Sagarmatha National Park, where the views of the peaks like Thamserku and Kongde Ri open up. A steep last climb then leads to the Namche Bazaar, the buzzing Sherpa town.

Namche Bazaar sits at 3440 meters, offering some of the most spectacular views of surrounding peaks, along with cafes, shops, and an array of local colourful markets. Overnight stay at Namche Bazaar.

Today is set for the acclimatization at Namche and and visiting some of the nearby places. Since you have already been over 3400 meters above sea level, acclimatization is important to adapt yourself to the altitude. You can hike a short way to the Everest View Hotel, from where you can enjoy the view of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and many more magnificent peaks. 

Namche also has much to offer culturally, such as the Sherpa Museum and Everest Photo Gallery. The combination of a busy market and culturally rich places will make your day worth it.

On the fifth day of the Island Peak Climbing, we will start our day with a warm breakfast at Namche Bazaar. Then, we will head towards Tengboche Village. This trek climbs through incredible rhododendron and Dudh Koshi riverside terrain then opens to breathtaking views of Everest, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. It takes you past the lovely village of Phunki Thenga and on to a brief straight climb into Tengboche, home to the greatest monastery in the region.

Tengboche Monastery, 3860 meters up, is the highlight, both spiritually and scenically. Built in 1916 by Lama Gulu, this is the biggest Gompa in the Khumbu Region, carrying great significance for Tibetan Buddhism. Overnight stay at Tengboche.

Today, the hike to Dingboche from Tengboche Village calls you. The uphill trail stretches from this Sherpa village, passing through the settlement of Pangboche over the Imja River. Then, the trail climbs slowly into Dingboche, a lovely little community hidden in stone-walled pastures and grasslands at altitude. 

Dingboche stands at a fantastic altitude of 4410 meters featuring a mesmerizing view of Ama Dablam, Island Peak and Lhotse. Undoubtedly, it is one of the ideal places for acclimatization before Island Peak Climbing or Everest Base Camp Trek. Overnight stay at Dingboche.

Dingboche is the perfect spot for acclimatization, which we will do on the seventh day of our journey. Dingboche is a high-altitude location with clear views of Mount Makalu, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Since air gets thinner at high altitudes, making trekkers more prone to altitude sickness, you must acclimatize in Dingboche.

In the meantime, you can explore the village itself, including the stone-walled fields, which represent a different way of trying to protect crops in this high-altitude region. Overnight stay at Dingboche.

The eighth day of the Island Peak Climbing brings you to another Sherpa Village, Chhukung. The trek is much shorter today, which drives one deeper into the Imja Valley. The panoramic views of the rocky areas with high-altitude meadows are enhanced by the dramatic mountains soaring all over, like Island Peak and Ama Dablam.

Chhukung is a small village at an altitude of 4,730 meters under the peak and the glaciers. It also serves as the base for the climbers going up toward Island Peak and other expeditions. Overnight at Chhukung.

Continuing onwards from Chhukung, the trail climbs through moraines and rocky paths to bring you to the foot of Island Peak. On the way, you will cross glacial falls, icefalls, and the crevasses that follow up from Mount Lhotse and Ama Dablam. The trekking becomes tougher as you approach the base camp. 

Island Peak Base Camp, at an altitude of 5,240 m, is under great glacial scenery. Here your group camp will make the preparations for climbing you will spend the day at this place. Your guide and porters will help you set up a tent for an overnight stay.

The tenth day of the Island Peak Climbing is a summit day. The day begins early in the morning, usually around 1 a.m. which ascends through the rocky ridges and snowy slopes. Here, the use of technical equipment such as ropes and crampons comes in use, so make sure that you practice basic climbing skills with your guides. As you reach the summit of the Island Peak, you will be greeted with views over Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and other peaks. 

You have conquered the summit of Island Peak (6,165 m), and now you will return to the base camp. From base camp, you will descend to Dingboche. Since your exhaustion level will be high, you will have a warm dinner at a tea house and stay overnight at Dingboche early.

On day 11, you will retrace your journey and descend to Namche Bazaar via Pangboche, Debuche, and Tengboche. The trail leads you back through monasteries and lively rhododendron forests. The descent becomes much easier than ascending.

At Namche Bazaar, you will check into your hotel and rest or will just go on exploring the town. This Sherpa town is full of bakeries, cafes, and markets, making it a welcome relief after the challenging ascent. You can explore the town and enjoy your night at a hotel.

This trek will bring you from Namche Bazaar to Lukla, passing through Monjo, Phakding, and some more beautiful places. The rhododendron forests and suspension bridges will accompany you over the Dudh Koshi River as you descend to Lukla.

You will reach Lukla, which signifies the end of your expedition. Overnight in Lukla.

On the 13th day, you will board a flight from Lukla to Kathmandu, which takes around 35 minutes. Upon arriving in Kathmandu, you will check into your hotel. You will have two options: either stay and rest in a hotel or explore the remaining landmarks of Kathmandu, such as the Garden of Dreams, Clock Tower, Dharahara, and Rani Pokhari.

As this marks the last day of the Island Peak Climbing, our representative will escort you to Tribhuvan International Airport from where you bid us farewell and return to your home country.