Island Peak Trek & Climb

On arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuwan International Airport received by our staff and guide with warm welcome and greetings and then transfer to your hotels in the heart of Kathmandu city. After checking into your rooms getting refreshed from Jet-Lag, a quiet environment after getting refreshed join at main hall or in lobby where our guide will provide briefing on treks-hotels with necessary information. Evening includes group dinner in a typical Nepali restaurant with folk culture program with various dances of Nepal while having your authentic Nepalese dinner with local entertainment.

Early morning transfer to Kathmandu domestic airport for super short flight to land at Lukla, the gateway to many adventures around Khumbu region, where walk starts on gradual winding path past several Sherpa farm villages with views of Kongde and Kusum-Khanguru to reach overnight stop at Phakding, located by the glacial Dudh Kosi River.

Today walk leads to Namche Bazaar gaining altitude as walk progress, morning walk starts following the river and crossing several times to reach at Monjo village near Sagarmatha National Park entrance, from here walking on river valley and gorge covered within nice woodland of tall rhododendron-pines and fir trees. After crossing a high last bridge with few hours climb to Namche Bazaar with stunning views of Everest-Lhotse and Kongde peaks. Namche Bazaar at 4,440 m high an ideal place for rest day to acclimatize, the main town / village of Khumbu where colorful and exciting Saturday market takes place once a week.

Rest day for acclimatization before heading higher terrain, morning after breakfast with options for hike to Everest View Hotel or walk on top of Namche, where you can catch super landscapes scenery with Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam with series of high peaks, here enjoy visiting National Park Museum provides you with much information of Khumbu region, Sherpa history-culture-flora and fauna including detail on mountaineering.

Morning walk starts on gradual path to reach above of main trail near Sanasa village then with steep climb for an hour to reach at Mong Danda (ridge) offering grandeur views of mountains with Everest and majestic Ama Dablam, from here on downhill to reach at Phortse Tenga by the Dudh Kosi River. Afternoon walk leads up into cool shade of forest of rhododendron-pines and oaks trees to reach at Dole for overnight stop, a nice small spot with few good lodges facing north side of Khumbila peak.

As our adventure progress gaining high elevation, where walk leads to a slow start to reach at Machherma of 3-4 hours of good scenic walks, as morning starts with climb to a ridge and then walking on pleasant winding path for some hours facing views of Mt. Cho-Oyu (world’s 6th highest peak at 8,201 m / 26,906 ft). From the high ridge descend to a valley where Machherma a small settlement located with number of nice lodges to stay with time in the afternoon for short walks.

Today walks leads to our main destination at Gokyo Lake as our route follows high with a climb leaving the tree lines behind with more views of mountains at close distance reaching at first lake and second then entering by the third lake of Gokyo our final destination. Gokyo Lake also known as Dudh kund considered as holy by Hindu and Buddhist, here after checking into a fine lodge with time to marvel the views of surrounding mountains with Mt. Cho-Oyu.

Morning a climb of few hours to reach our highest point of the adventure on top scenic Gokyo Ri at 5,357 m high offering tremendous panorama from Mt. Cho-Oyu, Mt. Everest, Lhotse and of Mt. Makalu covering four world highest mountains at one glance with series of smaller peaks. Enjoying the views head down to Gokyo for lunch with easy short afternoon walks to Thagnag a small settlement located beneath massive Ngozumba Glacier and Tsho (Cho) - La Pass, our next morning high traverse towards Everest base camp.

Starting early morning at the break of dawn heading for a long climb to reach on top of Tsho-la pass (pronounced as Cho-la) over rocky moraine, in snow condition this will be tough to find the right path in snow and ice, walking on rubble of moraine reaching at the top enclosed by Cholatse, Nirekha and Taboche peaks, after a tough and vigorous climb on top of Tsho-la, and then descend with care to a small valley at Dzong-la for overnight halt.

From Dongzla our route leads closer to Everest as walk climbs to a ridge, then walking on nice gradual uphill facing marvelous scenery to reach at Lobuche a small place near Khumbu glaciers with several nice lodges with views of Nuptse and Lobuche peaks.

Today a great walk towards our next highlight and final destinations to reach Everest Base Camp, as morning walk leads on open wide valley with slow climb to reach above Khumbu glaciers, walking past moraine dunes reaching at Gorakshep, a place with few lodges on the junction of Everest base camp and Kalapatthar route. Gorakshep an earlier Everest base camp since 1950’s to late 1970’s before the route further about 4-6 k.m. From Gorakshep few hours walk over moraine and glacier to reach our ultimate destination at base camp with sweeping views of giant peaks of Nuptse-Lo la, Nuptse with notorious huge Khumbu Ice Falls and glaciers. In high mountaineering season this place will be active with climbers and crews with many camps set on top of moraine and glaciers. After a grand time then head back to Gorakshep for highest overnight stop of the adventure with fantastic memories of the day walks to Everest base camp.

Morning climb to scenic hill top at Kalapatthar above 5,545 m, the highest point of the trek offering incredible panorama of mountains with Everest at stone throw distance. With amazing time on top head back to Gorakshep for breakfast and continue trek downhill past Lobuche and Thugla, Then descend to Dingboche village for overnight stop.

Ready for Island Peak summit as morning leads towards Dingboche to enter into Imja-Tse valley, a beautiful and scenic place enclosed within high mountains of Lhotse-Nuptse-North Face of Ama Dablam with Island peak, where name Island comes as its located in the middle of beautiful Imja-Tse valley. Island peak is also known as Imjatse peak as listed on NMA (Nepal Mountaineering Association), as walk progress on leaving Dingboche with pleasant walk of few hours heading east to reach at Chhukung with last comfort staying in lodge before the climb of Island peak

After last overnight in the comfort of nice cozy lodge at Chhukung, morning walk leads towards south of the valley from Chhukung towards our main highlight and aim of the adventure reaching at Island Peak base camp, located on a scenic spot called as Parshya Gyab, here pitching our first overnight nights camps. Afternoon with time for last and final briefing from our veteran and expert guides will inform you about the time to leave the camp for the final ascent, as well with safety measures and precaution required during the safe and successful climb.

Our true and final adventure starts early morning at the break of dawn heading higher above 5,400 m climbing over moraine to reach an open gully, located between two well defined ridges to reach a possible high camp beneath a small hanging glacier at 5, 280 m high. The climb of Island peak at above 6,160 m / 20,328 ft high graded as PD + used from French and Swiss Alpine Climbing System, climb continues following snow-covered glacier, avoiding serac and crevasses climbing northwards over snow covered scree in the margin between a glaciers facing a top ridge. Adventure carries on across a gully with some stone and icefall dangers, a steep snow and ice ramp leads you above 100 meters (300ft) to the main summit, on reaching on top where adventure of a lifetime experience reaches you at the main summit with successful climb. From the summit enjoy panorama of Mt. Lhotse 8,501 m, Mt. Ama Dablam 6,856 m, Mt. Makalu 8, 463 m, Chamlang and Baruntse peaks, after a great climb feeling in high spirit descend on same route towards base camp.

After completing an adventure of a lifetime on top Island and Imjatse peak, walk leads towards Chhukung and then on the trail to Pangboche and beyond past Dingboche, as walk leads on the same route with downhill to Imjatse River and then climb to Thyangboche Monastery back into green vegetation and tree lines, a beautiful surrounding offering grand panorama of mountains with Everest and Ama Dablam at close distance, here with time for tour into monastery and witness monks and priest on prayer. Thyangboche also holds a colorful festival ‘Mani-Rimdu’ monks with mask dancing wading evil spirits which falls in the month of October as per Buddhist lunar calendar. With time here with scenic views, head downhill to Phunki Tenga and climb for an hour to reach a small place at Kyanjinma for overnight stop, which is on route Namche, a pleasant spot facing views of Everest-Ama Dablam and Tharmasarku with other range of peaks. Here chances of spotting some wild-life like musk deer, herd of Himalayan Thar and pheasant Danfe (national bird of Nepal).

After a lovely morning with superb views of Everest and adjoining peaks, a nice wonderful walk leads you at Namche Bazaar with time for lunch break and browse around its stores and shops, then downhill to Dudh Kosi River to reach at Monjo village for overnight stop before Lukla.

Morning with last day trek of this marvelous adventure leads on same scenic trail to Phakding following Dudh Kosi River downstream, from here a pleasant walk with few short ups and down to Choplung village, where an hour climb brings you back at Lukla for lunch and overnight stop. In Lukla celebrate last night dinner among fellow trekkers, guides and porters after a fantastic time on top Island Peak with Gokyo Lake and Everest base camp trekking.

Morning transfer to Luka air terminal known as Tenzing-Hillary airport, tribute to late legendry mountaineers the first two to conquer on top Mt. Everest. As per the flight time board in small aircraft (Dornier or Twin Otter) a scenic 35 minutes flight brings you to hustle and bustle city life of Kathmandu. On reaching Kathmandu transfer to your respective hotels with afternoon free at leisure.

Last day in the country of high beautiful Himalayas as per your international flight transfer to Kathmandu international airport for homeward bound or to next port of call after a wonderful and mesmerizing adventure on Island Peak Climb including Gokyo Lake and Everest Base Camp trekking, with great service of Tramping Himalaya Adventures.