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Conquer the Heights: Island Peak Expedition in Nepal's Everest Region Island Peak climbing, also known as Imja Tse, is one of the most popular trekking peaks in the Everest region of Nepal. Standing at an elevation of 6,189 meters (20,305 feet), it also offers an exhilarating climbing experience combined with breathtaking views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks. Island Peak climbing expedition typically starts with a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, followed by a trek through the beautiful Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trek also takes you through picturesque Sherpa villages, dense forests, and across suspension…
Island Peak climbing, also known as Imja Tse, is one of the most popular trekking peaks in the Everest region of Nepal. Standing at an elevation of 6,189 meters (20,305 feet), it also offers an exhilarating climbing experience combined with breathtaking views of the surrounding Himalayan peaks.
Island Peak climbing expedition typically starts with a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, followed by a trek through the beautiful Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trek also takes you through picturesque Sherpa villages, dense forests, and across suspension bridges over roaring rivers. As you ascend, you will also acclimatize and soak in the stunning mountain vistas, including iconic peaks like Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam.
Reaching Island Peak Base Camp is an important milestone, where you’ll receive comprehensive training on climbing techniques, rope handling, and the use of climbing equipment. The ascent itself also involves traversing glaciers, navigating crevasses, and ascending steep snow and ice slopes. Moreover, It requires physical endurance, technical skills, and the guidance of experienced Sherpa climbers.
The highlight of Island Peak climbing is the summit day. Starting early in the morning, you’ll make your way up the icy slopes, using fixed ropes for safety. As you reach the summit, a sense of achievement and awe sweeps over you, surrounded by panoramic views of towering peaks stretching to the horizon. The feeling of standing atop Island Peak is truly exhilarating and rewarding.
Island Peak climbing is suitable for climbers with prior mountaineering experience and a good level of fitness. It offers an excellent opportunity to gain high-altitude climbing experience and can serve as a stepping stone for aspiring mountaineers who have their sights set on bigger Himalayan peaks.
The best time to climb Island Peak is during the spring (April-May) and autumn (September-November) seasons when the weather is relatively stable and favorable for climbing. However, proper preparation and acclimatization are crucial to ensure a safe and successful ascent.
Your first day of the Island Peak Climbing Itinerary starts off with your arrival in Kathmandu city at the Tribhuvan International Airport. Almost all the treks and mountain climbing expeditions start from this destination in Nepal.
As soon as you arrive in Nepal, your first priority and necessity are the Nepali Tourist Visa. You can get the Nepal entry visa on arrival. You can also fill in the on-arrival visa form online and get your form ready with you for the processing.
If you do not have the form already filled out, you can get a form and fill it out instantly on arrival at one of the electronic booths at the airport. You will get your Visa very soon within a few hours. You will need to be well prepared for your Visa with your required documents like the original passport with 6 months of validity and passport photos for the form. Also, you should have the money for the visa preparation charge.
The cost of your visa is based on the number of days you will be staying in Nepal. As the Island Peak Climbing Itinerary takes 15 days of your time, you should get a month’s tourist visa as an extension of visa costs more.
After you have successfully acquired your Visa, you can get to your hotel and rest up. You will be picked up at the airport by Nepal Challenge Trek’ private vehicle and be transferred to your hotel in Kathmandu. You can rest up and get rid of your jetlag and get ready to welcome a beautiful and interesting day filled with adventures tomorrow.
Meals: BB Plan + Welcome Dinner
Now that you are rested up and refreshed from your trip to Kathmandu, why not take a short tour? Get to know Kathmandu better with some short sightseeing trips in Kathmandu for the day.
Your Island Peak Climb starts from tomorrow with lots of climbs and long walks, so why not enjoy yourselves a little for the day. So what can you do in Kathmandu, you ask? Many things. Being one of the major destinations for cultural tours, you can take a short cultural heritage tour today if you want. With many culturally valued World heritage sites listed under UNESCO, you will have plenty of things to see here.
If you are not much of a cultural person, why not try the exotic fusion food in Kathmandu? With various diverse cultures in Kathmandu, you can enjoy a wide variety of food. Fusion food is the best and most popular in Kathmandu. Street foods will cleanse your palate from all the unpleasant foods you have ever tried. Once you are done with the food hunt, there is still so much you can do here.
You can also try experiencing the shopping district with street shopping stalls everywhere in Thamel. You can always find yourself or your loved ones a souvenir from one of the unique products in the street stalls.
With all these things to do, you can enjoy your day in Kathmandu as you wish. You shall end the day back at hotel and prepare for your adventure tomorrow.
Meals: BB Plan
Today we shall finally begin our trip to summit Island Peak. Our third day is filled with immense beauty and adventure. As we head out of Kathmandu to start our 15 days Island Peak Climbing expedition, we get to experience the beautiful view from the scenic flight to Lukla.
The flight to Lukla from Kathmandu takes around 40 minutes and provides you with the best views of the city along with the mountains on the north side. Imagine the beauty that awaits you in the upcoming days if the start itself is this mesmerizing.
As soon as you reach Lukla, you will require the Local Area Permit for further exploration. This is the entry to Khumbu Region which is a protected area. You will require the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Entry Permit to go any further. This entry permit has now replaced the Trekkers Information Management System card. The entry charge is used for the development of the Rural Municipality.
After successfully entering the Khumbu Region with the permit, your climbing trip officially starts with your trek to Phakding. As the climbing Island Peak Itinerary follows the Everest Base Camp trek routes halfway, we shall head towards Phakding from Lukla. Enjoying the beautiful views passing through the Dush Koshi River settlement and many waterfalls, we shall reach Phakding in around 2-3 hours. Reaching Phakding, we shall rest for the day in a tea house and spend the night here with a tasty dinner arrangement.
Meals: All meals – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (B , L, D)
Max Altitude: 2860 m
Flight duration: 40 minutes
Trek distance: 6.2 km
Trek Duration: 4-5 hours
As per our Itinerary, we shall head towards the infamous destination of the Everest Region i.e, Namche Bazaar. Leaving in the morning after breakfast, we will head uphill to Namche from Phakding.
From Phakding, the beautiful trail to Namche Bazaar is filled with beautiful landscapes and unique vegetation and biodiversity. You will come across many mesmerizing waterfalls and will have to cross many suspension bridges along the way to Namche Bazaar.
Within a few hours of trekking, you will reach the gateway to Sagarmatha National Park. At Monjo, you will have to get your Sagarmatha National Park Entry permits to go further on your Island Peak Climbing expedition. The permit will require a certain charge along with your passport photos and passport. As you have chosen us as your traveling agency, we shall take care of all these procedures beforehand so you can freely enjoy the journey.
You will be able to see even more exotic flora and fauna as you enter the protected area. However, you must abode by the rules and regulations of the protected area. Soon, you will cross the longest suspension bridge throughout your trip, the Hillary Suspension Bridge which is a thrilling adventure. As soon as you cross the bridge, you will get to Namche Bazaar. Your stay for the night will be at a tea house in Namche Bazaar with a well-prepared dinner waiting for you.
Meals: (B, L, D)
Maximum Altitude: 3445 m
Trek distance: 9.4 km
Trek duration: 6-7 hours
Today marks an important stop point in our trip. As per our Itinerary, we shall have an acclimatization day today. This means today we shall let our bodies rest and adjust to the changing high altitude. Today we will not gain any more altitude.
Acclimatization does not mean we will stay in Namche Bazaar all day. We can’t waste this day lazing around when there is so much to see and do. Today we shall spend our day with a short and beautiful hike to the Syangboche viewpoint.
Syangboche airstrip is an hour’s hike away from the Namche Bazaar settlement. Officially closed for commercial business, Syangboche airstrip now works as an emergency helicopter rescue spot. However, it is more popular as a viewpoint to the trekkers who pass by Namche Bazaar. The view from the Syangboche Airstrip is incomparable to the normal trails. You can enjoy the magnificent mountains in their full glory from this viewpoint.
After admiring the beautiful views from the Syangboche airstrip, we shall return back to Namche Bazaar. The hike to Syangboche will take around 3 hours. After having lunch, you will still have a lot of free time in your hands. Why not explore Namche Bazaar during this time? You have so much to do in Namche Bazaar.
You can visit the 900-year-old monastery in Namche Bazaar. Or you can also enjoy the cultural diversity Namche Bazaar has to provide you. Apart from this, you can interact with the locals and also click pictures in the cultural dresses of the region. You can make memories that will last a lifetime here.
Tonight we shall rest in the tea house and make our departure early in the morning.
Meals: (B, L, D)
Maximum Altitude: 3445 m
Trek distance: 1-2 km
Trek duration: 3-4 hours
Another day begins and so does a new journey for us. Today, we shall leave Namche Bazaar and head towards Thyangboche. Thyangboche, also known as Tengboche, is a popular cultural site among trekkers. It’s a beautiful village with a popular Sherpa monastery which provides you with the best views.
The trail from Namche to Tengboche is a beautiful one with a few steep climbs. On the way from Namche to Tengboche, you will see many small stupas and chortens and monasteries. The route is a rather religious and cultural one.
However, the route may start easy and short uphills, but the trail takes you to the Mong La Pass at 3975 meters. The pass provides you with great views of the mountains like Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Aba Dablam. However, it is a rocky climb so mind your step.
After crossing the Mong La Pass, you will reach Tengboche at an altitude of 3867 meters. The way to Tengboche from the pass will be covered in Buddhist prayer flags and religious vibes. With the monastery being the main attraction of the village, the whole village is livelier with religious and cultural vibes from the monastery.
Today we shall spend the night at a tea house in the Tengboche settlement.
Meals: (B, L, D)
Maximum Altitude: 3975 m
Trek distance: 9.2 km
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
Today we shall start our day with a magnificent view. Early morning as the sun shines upon the land of Nepal, we shall admire the view of the mountains gloriously shining from the sun rays. The beautiful sunrise view from the Tengboche monastery is a sight worth seeing. After taking in this unrealistically beautiful view of the mountains in the early sunrise, we shall now have our breakfast and head towards our next destination.
Today we have a long way to go. We shall set our foot above the altitude of 4000 meters today. As we head towards our next destination, Dingboche, we shall maintain a nice and slow pace to avoid altitude sickness.
Enjoying the beautiful views of the mountains surrounding us, we will head towards the beautiful settlement at Dingboche. Crossing the Imja Khola, we will head towards Pangboche. You can offer your prayers at the Pangboche monastery on your way to Dingboche.
After walking for around 5-6 hours, we will reach Dingboche village. The village ahead of you is a beautiful village with magnificent scenes. With its unique landscape and pastureland with the lack of trees soothes your heart. The green pasture with animals grazing and the rest of the land being farmed with potato and barley is a beautiful sight to see.
As we enjoy the beautiful views of the mountains and the landscapes, we shall spend the night in a tea house in Dingboche.
Meals: (B, L, D)
Maximum Altitude: 4360 m
Trek distance: 9 km
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
Today we shall take a step close to our destination. After spending the night at the beautiful village in Dingboche, we shall now head towards the more rough terrain trails to Island Peak Base camp. This takes us a step closer to our main destination of summiting the Island Peak.
Continuing on the trail to the higher parts of Imja valley with a gradual ascend, we shall enjoy the beautiful views of the mountains like Lhotse, Island Peak, Nuptse, etc. today we shall head towards the Island Peak Base Camp at the altitude of 5087 meters. This means today we shall spend the night in a remote land with no tea houses or other accommodations.
We shall reach Island Peak Base Camp through the beautiful views of the landscapes and the mountains in around 6-7 hours. Today we shall set up camp in the base camp and spend the night in our tents. You will be provided with cooks and cooking utensils to provide you with a healthy meal even in the midst of the cold base camp.
Make sure to stay warm as the nights are colder, as closest you get to the peak. Also, there is a lake known as Imja Lake which is a beautiful and popular lake. This also causes the night to be colder so stay warm.
Meals: (B, L, D)
Maximum Altitude: 5087 meters
Trek distance: 5 km
Trek duration: 6-7 hours
Today is another important acclimatization day of our 15 days Island Peak Climbing expedition. As we have now successfully crossed the 5000 meters altitude mark, there are chances of getting altitude sickness. So the responsible thing to do is take an acclimatization break and let your bodies get the rest it needs. We shall let our bodies adapt to the high altitude today.
Our professional guides will check with you to keep yourselves in the best condition for the climb that is ahead. We shall summit Island Peak tomorrow, so today is also a preparation day.
You can explore the base camp today. There is a lake nearby which you can explore for the day. Imja Lake is a beautiful lake with great views of the mountains nearby. You can admire this beautiful site for the day and rest up for the adventure awaiting you the next day.
Meals: (B, L, D)
Maximum Altitude: 5087 meters
Today is the big day. We shall summit today. After resting up ourselves on the acclimatization day, we shall now head towards the climbing part of our Island Peak Climbing expedition.
The strong winds blowing after midday might make climbing difficult. So we shall start our summit expedition early and try to reach the top before noon. The climb is a bit difficult due to the steep and rough terrain. But fear not, we shall make sure you are fully comfortable and safe during the whole climb.
There are some technical portions in our climb today. With the help of our professional Sherpa guides, you can easily get over the technical sections. The guides will help you get used to the technical portions and the gears and make sure they are all failsafe. They will support you throughout your climb and make sure you reach to the summit without any problems.
After a lengthy period of time pushing and pulling, you will finally reach the Island Peak Summit and enjoy the beautiful views of the mountains and the joy of having successfully completed the climb. Admiring and enjoying the breathtaking adventure and the views, you will spend quite a few time on the summit and then head back down to the base camp.
The way down is just as challenging so take your time and rely on your guides. After a safe descent back to the base camp, we shall spend another night in the tented camps on the base camp and rest up ourselves. Today would be the longest yet most satisfying day of our trip as we will be climbing and trekking for around 9-10 hours today. So rest yourselves.
Maximum Altitude: 6189 meters
Trek duration: 9-10 hours
Now that we have accomplished the main goal of our Island Peak Climb by reaching the Island Peak Summit, also known as Imja Tse, we shall make our way back. Today we shall retrace our steps and head back to the civilization from this remote area.
Heading back to Dingboche from Island Peak BC includes a great descent. As you were making the ascend before, you must have had a hard time getting up there. However, now that you are making a descent, you can get back down there in a short interval of time. Within 5-6 hours, you will be in Dingboche enjoying with the locals and having a good time.
As the trail we took to get to the Island Peak Base camp, the trail down will be just as beautiful and adventurous. You will feel the air pressure changing and the altitude change as well. The beautiful views of the mountains surrounding you and one of them being the peak you just summited. Doesn’t it feel gratifying knowing that you have reached the top of the mountains you are seeing as the tall ice sculptures from the trails?
You will reach the settlement at Dingboche in 5-6 hours. Finally, you can rest in the warm comfortable rooms of the tea house at Dingboche with the locals enjoying their lives in the village.
Meals: (B, L, D)
Maximum Altitude: 5087 meters
Trek distance: 5 km
Trek duration: 5-6 hours
As we make our way back from the beautiful village of Dingboche, we shall head towards Namche Bazaar yet once again. You shall once again witness the beautiful trails from Dingboche to Namche Bazaar.
As you make your descent from Dingboche to Namche Bazaar, you will make it past through the beautiful monastery and the village of Tengboche. With the Buddhist prayer flags rustling through the winds, you will be mesmerized once again with the beautiful views of the mountains and the beautiful village.
Heading down from Tengboche, we shall now head towards the marketplace on Namche Bazaar, popular among trekkers and tourists. With the diverse culture and traditions, Namche Bazaar will be just as mesmerizing and exciting as the first time.
Today we shall spend the night at a tea house in the village of Namche and head out early in the morning.
Meals: (B, L, D)
Maximum Altitude: 4410 meters
Trek distance: 14.9 km
Trek duration: 8-9 hours
Today we have a long journey ahead of us. Our Climbing expedition is coming to an end soon. Today will be our longest and the last trek as per our Island Peak Climbing Itinerary.
We will leave Namche Bazaar early morning and head towards Lukla today. The trail from Namche Bazaar to Lukla is a long and beautiful journey. As soon as we leave Namche Bazaar, we can see many waterfalls and suspension bridges along the way.
The trekking trail takes you downhill which can be a bit scary so take your time. You will pass through making beautiful villages like the ones at Monjo, Phakding, and many other small settlements along the day. After a long downhill walk from Namche Bazaar enjoying the beautiful views of the mountains and the villages, we shall finally reach Lukla. You can witness the beautiful and sacred Dudh Koshi River with the suspension bridges which will finally lead youtube to the beautiful village at Lukla.
You shall spend the night here for the day after a fulfilling dinner.
Meals: (B, L, D)
Maximum Altitude: 3440 m
Trek distance: 13.5 km
Trek Duration: 9-10 hours
Today is almost the last day of our adventurous Island Peak Climbing expedition. Now that we have reached Lukla, we shall make our way back to Kathmandu via the scenic flight from Lukla.
We shall board the flight to Kathmandu from Lukla after breakfast. Returning to Kathmandu admiring the beautiful views of the mountains even the ones we saw up close is an astoundingly satisfying sight to see.
We will reach Kathmandu in a matter of 40 minutes through the beautiful views of the landscapes and the mountains. You will have a lot of time in Kathmandu after the flight ends. You can enjoy your time in Kathmandu just strolling around your hotel area or go on a short sightseeing journey of your own as well.
Tonight you will spend the night in a nice comfortable hotel and replenish your energy as you reminisce about the beautiful memories you made on the trip.
Meals: BB Plan + Farewell Dinner
Maximum Altitude: 2860 m
Flight distance: 138 km
Flight Duration: 30 minutes
Today is finally the last day of the Island Peak Climbing itinerary. As soon as you board your international flight back to your own country, our journey together will end but the memories remain. We hope we can make similar memories yet again in the future. I hope you have a safe flight back.
Meals: Breakfast
1. International Airfares,
2. Travel/Trekking Insurance,
3. Excess baggage charges More than 16kg and hand bag more than 5 kg in
domestic flights.
4. Visa fees.
5. Airport Departure Taxes.
6. Drinks (Cold and Alcoholic) Rescue charge.
7. Tips for The staffs.
8. Expenses of Personnel nature and Permit and Liaison officer fee (where Applicable.
9. Meals during stay in the Kathmandu
Our 15 days Island Peak Climbing itinerary takes you through an interesting journey on the beautiful routes. We first start our expedition with a scenic flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. The beauty of the region is clearly reflected during the flight. Now it’s time to admire the beauty up close.
We shall follow the Everest Base Camp Trek routes till Dingboche. Trekking from Lukla to Tengboche, we will pass many small villages and stops like Phakding, Namche Bazaar, etc. We will enjoy and experience the cultural diversity and their lifestyle every stop we make and learn from them while making great memories.
After acclimatization in Namche Bazaar, we shall head to the monastery in Tengboche also known as the Dawa Choling Gompa, and make our prayers. Soon, we will leave for Dingboche as per our itinerary.
Dingboche is our last stop in a village as we will spend our next night in a camp in the Island Peak Base Camp. This is where our climbing expedition starts. We shall rest and prepare for the climb for a day. The next day with the help of our professional skilled guides, we shall make our climb and summit Island Peak at the altitude of 6189 meters.
As we have achieved our goal, we shall now make our descent back to Lukla. Our first stop from Island Peak Base Camp is back to Dingboche. From Dingboche, we shall head back to Namche through the beautiful Tengboche village. The trail then leads us back to Lukla. The trail from Namche to Lukla is the longest and the last trek of our expedition. From Lukla, we shall board our flight back to Kathmandu and end our Island Peak Climbing expedition with you boarding your flight back to your country.
As compared to the other peak climbs in the Everest Region, Island Peak is considered a relatively easier climb. However, it is a technical climb at some point, making it difficult. So how difficult is climbing the Island peak?
Well, it is not an easy climb to be attempted by all beginners. It can be achieved by advanced beginners as they are more knowledgeable of the gears and equipment. So it is easy enough to be achieved by beginners but only the advanced ones due to the technical part of the climb.
Apart from the technical part, there are some other difficulties during the expedition. Some of the major Island Peak Climbing difficulties are mentioned below:
Reaching a thrilling altitude of 6189 meters at the summit of the Island Peak, there are definitely chances of you getting altitude sickness. As altitude sickness is caused due to the body not being able to adjust itself to the changing altitude, you should take better care of the altitude gain.
There are two acclimatization days in the 15 days itinerary, so the chances of altitude sickness are lowered. However, due to the gain in altitude and climb in a single day, there are still chances of you getting sick due to the altitude change.
Other than the altitude change affecting your body physically, the weather may be another difficulty you may face during your climb. The weather at higher altitudes is sudden and uncertain. Climbing the peak before noon is the best time to get the climb done due to strong winds. These strong winds also act as difficulty during our trip.
Being a relatively easy climb compared to the other peaks in the region, you must be thinking it is a simple hike. To be honest, it is not suitable for extreme beginners. This climbing expedition is for the advanced beginner climbers with some knowledge of the gears as the climb includes some technical sections. There will be professional guides helping you get through the technical portions but it can still be difficult for beginners.
As we follow the Everest Base Camp Trek routes, you will know that the average trekking hours per day is 7-8 hours. There are days when you will have to walk for 9-10 hours straight. The trekking routes are mostly beautiful roads but as we head off from the Everest Base Camp Trekking routes, the trail goes off-road and is rough and high uphill climbs. The Everest Base Camp Trek with Island climbing trek is just the same.
Knowing the best time for any trip is very important to prepare for the trip accordingly and to make better memories. Going to a peak climbing in the Himalayas in the extreme freezing winter would be a dumb thing to do. So learning the best time is the best way to get the best out of the trip.
As for the best time for Island Peak Climbing, you should choose a time when there won’t be any physical disturbances during your climb. For example, with the monsoon and summer season coinciding in Nepal, climbing during summer would not be advisable due to the muddy and slippery roads.
Also, being in the Everest Region, mountain climbing in the middle of winter would mean having high chances of freezing, frostbites and other cold weather-related issues. So avoiding climbing during the middle of extreme winter would be best.
So, when do you summit Island Peak? The best time for Island Peak Climbing is during Autumn and Spring Season. During the months of September to November and March to May, the weather is mostly clear with no rainfall destroying your trekking and climbing routes. Also, with the clear weather, you get the best views. The temperature of the region during this time is also favorable for mountain climbing and trekking. The sun is not too strong and the wind is not as cold. So, enjoy your next climb during the best time making the best memories.
The 15 days Island Peak Climbing Itinerary shows you the diverse location of our trip. This climbing expedition takes you to various remote places with their own unique culture and lifestyle. So, you must be wondering about the kind of place you will be staying or what you will be eating.
Since the area is remote and away from the city, you won’t be getting high-quality hotel rooms for your stay as you are in the countryside. However, that does not mean you will have to compromise in dirty small rooms. You will be staying in tea houses in the beautiful villages with twin sharing rooms. The room will have an attached bathroom with great hygiene.
You will be sharing the room with another trekker. You can opt for a single room but you will have to prebook and the chances of it being available are extremely low.
However, during your climb, you will be staying in tented camps on the Island Peak Base Camp along with your group. You will stay there for two days and come back to the village after summiting the Island Peak.
As for the food, you will get a wide variety of food in Kathmandu and up to some parts of the trek. As your altitude rises, your food choices will be limited. Your food choices will be limited to the local food and Dalbhat in the higher regions.
No matter the location, you will be provided with the best nutritional food for your safe journey ahead by our staff.
Nepal Challenge Trek will set you ready for peak climbing expedition just before the Island Peak Climbing Package begins. The climbing experts and guides from Nepal Challenge Trek will prepare you to withstand and overcome various obstacles while technical climbing and moving to challenge sections on the way to the summit. Island Peak Tour will offer you an enhanced experience witnessing the world’s exquisite terrain. We will have a descent to Lukla following the same trek route.
Our airport representative from Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition will be available 24 hours with your name card/ our company name card who will take you to your respective hotel.
You can get your Nepal tourist visa on arrival at the airport after filling the form and providing the right documents. The Visa charge will depend on the number of days you will be spending in the country.
For South Asian countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, gratis visa for 30 days is available for the first visit in one visa year.
Indian Tourist does not require visa to enter in Nepal. To know more about Visa Information visit: Nepal Immigration
