Island Peak

Day 01: Arrival Kathmandu
Upon our arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, a representative
from Himalayan Guides Nepal will pick us up and take us to hotel. After checking in, we visit
Himalayan Guides office for our trip preparation and also to meet our crew. In the evening there
will be a welcome dinner where we will be able to enjoy authentic Nepali cuisine. Overnight in
Kathmandu. Maximum Altitude 1,350m/4,429ft

Day 02: Fly to Lukla then trek to Phakding
After breakfast, we take an early morning flight to Lukla. After flying above the breathtaking
green and white mountains, we reach Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. This is one of the most
beautiful air routes in the world culminating in a landing on a hillside surrounded by high
mountains. Upon our arrival at Lukla, we meet the rest of our crew members.  Next, we begin
our trek through the prosperous village of Lukla to Phakding. To assist in acclimatization, we
only have a short hike today. However, if interested in additional activities, we can take a side
trip to a nearby monastery. Overnight in Phakding. Flight:  40 min, Hiking:  3-4 hrs Maximum
Altitude: 2,800m/9,187ft

Day 03: Phakding to Namche Bazaar
After breakfast we walk through beautiful pine forests and then along Dudh Koshi River ending
our nature-filled journey at Namche Bazaar. After walking for almost over an hour, we come
across the glistening Mt. Thamserku (6,608m) on our right and also experience the serenity of
pine, fir and juniper forests throughout our journey. If the weather is clear, we may even catch a
glimpse of Mt. Everest peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. We continue walking until we
reach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, Namche Bazaar, the gateway to Mt. Everest and
main trading centre of this region. This day we cross five suspension bridges, the last one also
known as the Hillary Bridge being the highest. It is an uphill walk from Hillary Bridge to
Namche Bazaar. Overnight in Namche Bazaar. Hiking:  5-6 hrs, Maximum Altitude,
3,438m/11,280ft

Day 04: Namche Bazaar : Acclimatization Day
Today is set aside for acclimatization. Health experts recommend that instead of being idle we
stay active and move around even during the rest day. We can either stroll around Namche’s
quaint villages and get acquainted with the Sherpas and their rich culture, or we can hike up to
the Everest View Hotel and enjoy an up-close view of the mighty Everest. While in the Namche
village or upon returning from the hike to the Everest View Hotel, trekkers may also visit the
local museum containing exhibits displaying the area’s native flora and fauna as well as the
history of the Mount Everest region.
For trekkers who want to hike for a little longer, a hike to Khumjung village (5-6 hours) may
also be an option. In the village we can visit the Edmund Hillary School and Khumjung
Monastery (a monastery famous for housing the head of the Yeti!). Overnight in Namche Bazaar.
Maximum Altitude 3,438m/11,280ft

Day 05: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche
After breakfast, we trek towards Tengboche. It is an easy walk from Namche to Phunki. Upon
reaching Phunki, we ascend towards Tengboche, a village that houses the very famous
Tengboche monastery which is the largest monastery of the Everest region. Located amidst the
Sagarmatha National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site of “outstanding universal value”), it
is draped with the panoramic 360-degree view of the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, Nuptse,
Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku and is also the  biggest  monastery in the Khumbu region.
We visit the monastery the same day at around 3 p.m. to witness a religious ceremony. Overnight
in Tengboche. Hiking:  5-6 hrs, Maximum Altitude 3,870m/12,697ft

Day 06: Tengboche to Dingboche
With the Himalayas as its backdrop, the monastery in Tengboche is in a perfect location to enjoy
the beautiful Himalayan landscape. We visit the monastery in the morning and take pictures of
the amazing landscape. Then we begin our trek by walking through lush forests of birch, conifers
and rhododendrons on an easy path. This picturesque trail then dips down to Debuche, crossing
the Imja River before climbing up to Pangboche (We can either walk in the upper or lower
Pangboche trails). We are most likely to choose the upper Pangboche trails as it provides more
pristine view of the Himalayas. We also visit the Pangboche monastery. From here onwards, the
walk is fairly moderate as we enter the Imja Valley. The valley gradually unfolds as we approach
the confluence of the Lobuche River. We descend into the river and begin the climb up to
Dingboche. On arrival at Dingboche, we are greeted by a beautiful array of fields enclosed by
stone walls to protect barley, buckwheat and potatoes from the cold wind and grazing animals.
Overnight in Dingboche Hiking:  5-6 hrs, Maximum Altitude 4,360m/14,305ft

Day 07: Dingboche to Chhukung
Dingboche is a summer settlement and here the great peaks of Ama Dablam, the ridge of Nuptse-
Lhotse, Tawache and Chalotse surround us. We begin today’s trek to Chhukung by walking
through stone-walled fields, Imja Khola valley before walking in glacier moraines. On our walk,
we will be surrounded by Lhotse and Ama Dablam mountains. Later, beyond Bibre village we
see Island Peak soaring above us. The trail ahead is intersected by icy streams. We reach
Chhukung, a small settlement in about half an hour from Bibre. From here, directly across the
valley is the fantastic Ama Dablam and the Amphu Labsa mountains. Overnight in Chhukung.
Hiking:  3-4 hrs, Maximum Altitude 4,730m/15,519ft

Day 08: Acclimatization: Climb Chhukung Ri and trek back to Chhukung
Today is another day set aside for acclimatization. Climbing Chhukung Ri should help our body
adjust to the high altitude. Chhukung Ri is a peak located directly above the Chhukung village.
The climb to Chhukung Ri involves some easy scrambling near the summit. From the top, we
can look directly across the valley for a fantastic view of Ama Dablam and Amphu Labsa peaks.
We descend back to Chhukung to spend the night. Hiking:  3-4 hrs, Maximum Altitude
5,546m/18,196ft

Day 09: Chhukung to Island Peak Base camp

The trek to Island Peak Base Camp is on a fairly steep trail. First, we climb south then turn east
to the main line of the valley. We then walk on a winding path below the southern flank of the
moraine from the Lhotse Glacier. Next, we continue walking on a pleasant trail along a
streamside. The route to the Amphu Lapcha lies to the southeast. A crisscross route through the
Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines leads to a wide valley flanking the SW side of Island Peak.
Overnight at Island Peak Base Camp. Hiking:  3-4 hrs, Maximum Altitude: 5,200m/17,061ft

Day 10: Pre-Climb training on Island Peak Base Camp
We begin our pre-climb training today after breakfast. Our guides will provide training on peak
climbing techniques and the proper ways of using climbing gears such as the ice axe, climbing
boots and crampons, harness, ascender, etc. The training will also include using ropes to go up
and down. Although it is not mandatory to have prior training for Island Peak climbing, we
strongly believe that some training experience will boost your confidence and climbing skills to
increase the chances of scaling the summit as well as to fully enjoy the experience. Usually we
will be climbing on rock surface for up to around 5770m. After that, we climb on ice and use
ropes when necessary. However, the use of the rope and the length depends upon the season and
the crevasses. We can spend the rest of the day hiking to high camp and back or resting for the
next day’s climb. Overnight at the base camp. Maximum Altitude 5,200m/17,061ft,

Day 11: Island Peak Base Camp to Island Peak Summit, back to base camp
We wake up early today at around 12 to 1 am and have our breakfast before beginning our climb.
It is important we reach the summit before noon because in the afternoon the strong winds in the
highlands might become a barrier for a successful summit. The trail moves up beyond the base
camp for several hundred meters before striking off the steep hillside. Initially sandy, the path
soon turns to grass before becoming boulder strewn. As we climb up the hill, we will see that the
slope narrows and the trail enters a steep rock channel. We climb the rock gully. This is not
difficult, but there are several short rock steps to climb before we emerge on the right side of the
gully. The route then follows a ridgeline, which leads to an exhilarating and exposed traverse
onto the snout of the summit glacier. The guides will fix a rope when required. A steep snow
slope leads us onto the summit ridge. Both fixed rope and man rope will be used during the
climb for safety. We use fix rope after successfully climbing on rock. The length of the rope will
usually be of 350m. However, the length depends on the time of the season and the crevasses
There are two newly formed crevasses which are approximately 3 and 4 meters long. We will be
using ladders to cross them. After enjoying the summit views, and taking pictures, we descend
all the way to Island Peak Base Camp where some of our crew is waiting for us. We celebrate on
our successful Island Peak climb. Hiking: 10-12 hrs, Maximum Altitude 6,189m/20,306ft

Day 12: Island Peak Base Camp to Pangboche
Today’s walk will be a much easier as we descend to the lower altitudes. Following the same
route back through the wide valley of Khumbu Khola, we pass through the beautiful Sherpa
villages Orsho and Shomare. We can also take a different trail to visit the Gompa in Upper
Pangboche, which is believed to be the oldest in the Khumbu region or take the regular trail to
reach Pangboche. Pangboche is a scenic village surrounded by Everest to its north, Ama Dablam,

Thamserku, and Kangtaiga to the east, the Kongde range to the south and the Imja Tse River
flowing through the wide fertile valley. Hiking:  5-6 hrs, Maximum Altitude: 3,985m/13,075ft

Day 13: Pangboche to Namche Bazaar
From Pangboche we retrace our steps down to the Imja Khola and up through the forest to
Tengboche. If interested, we can also visit nuns at the Tengboche monastery. After lunch at
Tengboche, we continue through the hillside blanketed by rhododendron and juniper trees. After
crossing the bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, our trail follows the Dudh Koshi gorge
descending rapidly through the pine forests before reaching Sansa. We keep a lookout for
wildlife such as mountain goats, snow leopards, colorful pheasants, etc., while passing through
the forest. After passing a chorten, we reach the army camp at Namche Bazaar.  Overnight in
Namche Bazaar. Hiking:  4-5 hrs Maximum Altitude 3,438m/11,280ft

Day 14: Namche Bazaar to Lukla
The trail descends steeply downward so we need to walk cautiously as our shaky legs
continuously battle the rocky terrain. After crossing the suspension bridges over the fast flowing
Dudh Koshi and its tributaries, the trail becomes more level and natural. After our arrival in
Lukla, we stretch those sore legs and recall the experiences of the last couple of weeks.
Overnight in Lukla. Hiking:  6-7 hrs Maximum Altitude 2,800m/9,187ft

Day 15: Fly to Kathmandu
We catch an early morning flight to Kathmandu after our long mountain journey. After reaching
Kathmandu, we can take a rest or do some souvenir shopping. If we want to explore any other
areas of Kathmandu, we may do that today. Our guides can help you with both souvenirs
shopping or sightseeing. There will be a farewell dinner in the evening to celebrate the climbers’
successful summit of the Island peak. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 16: Final departure
Your adventure in Nepal comes to an end today! There is nothing to do but trade emails with
your travel companions and organize your photos. A representative from Himalayan Guides will
take you to the airport, approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight. On your way home
you’ll have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.