Island Peak Climb with Everest Base Camp Trek

Breakfast at hotel, today is the day more like preparation of EBC and Island peak climbing trip. Upon your request, a sightseeing tour around the Kathmandu valley can be organized instantly. Overnight at the hotel. 

Early in the morning (about 5 AM), your guide will come to the hotel and take you to Kathmandu airport for an amazing and 35-minute scenic flight to Tenzing and Hillary Airport at Lukla (2,804m). On arrival at the airport, the guide will brief you and introduce our porter before we begin our trek towards Phakding (2,610m). After landing we have time to explore the village while our porter sorts and load our trekking bag-pack. Then we begin our trek by descending towards the Dudh Kosi River where we join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, located just above Chaunrikharka (2,713m). The walking is easy and after passing through the small village of Ghat (2,550m) it is a short walk to Phakding - a beautiful mountain village. Overnight at a guesthouse.   

After a hot breakfast, we continue trekking along the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing the majestic river many times on exciting suspension bridges laden with prayer flags. After entering the Sagamartha National Park, the trail climbs steeply with breathtaking views. Namche Bazaar (considered the Gateway to Everest) is home to many quality restaurants, hotels, lodges, shops, money exchange services, internet cafes, and bakeries. Namche is the biggest town along the Everest trail. Overnight at a guesthouse. 

We will spend a day in Namche Bazaar in order to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning air. We will trek a short distance to a museum that is celebrated for its exhibits of the traditional customs of the Sherpa people. We also hike up the Syangboche Airport near the Everest View Hotel. From this point, we can see rewarding views of the Himalayas with a stunning sunrise and sunset over the panorama of Khumbu peaks. Overnight at a guesthouse.      

The trek continues along the rushing glacial waters of the Dudh Kosi with magnificent views of the mountains. We'll have trekked to an altitude of 3,860m upon reaching the Tengboche Monastery. Inside the monastery are incredibly ornate wall hangings, a 20-foot sculpture of Buddha, and the musical instruments and robes of the Lamas. You will be taken to observe a prayer ceremony either in the evening or in the morning depending on how the trekking goes this day. Overnight at a guesthouse.

We descend for half an hour to the riverside through forests and cross the river. Trekking up towards the opposite side of the hill, the land starts to become drier and desert-like. We will cross a traditional and cultural Sherpa village Panboche where we can observe the daily activities of the Sherpas. After this, we make a gradual climb towards a small hill then leading to a wide mountain valley called Dingboche located on a riverside. Overnight at a guesthouse.

This is another day for acclimatization. We will have a trip to Dingboche Ri to get a marvelous view of the surrounding mountains, especially Lhotse’s massive south wall, then return to Dingboche in the evening. Overnight at a guesthouse. 

The trail passes along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and by stone memorials for climbers who have perished on nearby summits. We continue to climb as we are heading to the altitude of 4,910m at Lobuche which appears dwarfed at the foot of the giant Lobuche peak. Some breathing problems may arise today due to the altitude, we walk slowly, drink more liquid, and eat more energy-giving food. Overnight at a guesthouse.

This is another big and difficult day walk along the Khumbu Glacier and up to Everest Base Camp at 5365 meters, the closest you can get to Mt. Everest without mountaineering equipment. There will likely be a team about to attempt the summit. The view of the Khumbu Icefall from Base Camp is spectacular. We return back to Gorak Shep for the night. Overnight at a guesthouse. 

This will be one of the most difficult yet rewarding days of the trek. Most of the morning in this day is spent climbing Mt. Kala Patthar, a small peak (by Himalayan standards) at 5555meters. The ascent is demanding but the climber gets the most magnificent mountain panorama: Everest, the highest point on the planet at 29028 ft, 8848 meters, towers directly ahead and on all sides loom the other giants, Nuptse, Pumori, Chagatse, Lhotse and countless others. We make a quick descent to Gorak Shep, a tiny hamlet at 5180 meters then trek down to Periche. Overnight at a guesthouse.

From Pheriche we take a slightly different route down to Dingboche, then we ascend to the Chukkung Valley. Overnight at a guesthouse. 

From Chukkung we make a leisurely start following the Imja Valley with great views of Ama Dablam dominating the skyline and follow the moraines that flow from Lhotse (8,501m) towards the sand flats at Pareshaya Gyab. It is only a short distance from here to the Base Camp, which we will reach in the mid-afternoon. We walk 4 hours today as we are becoming acclimatized to the thin air. From this day, accommodation will be in a tented camp for the next two days and you will be having camp food cooked by our professional camping team. Overnight at tented camp. 

We have allowed two days to climb the Island Peak, although we will probably not require more than one if weather conditions are fine. The strategy for the climb will be decided by our trek leader at the time, taking into account the group's acclimatization, weather, snow conditions and other factors. Our climbing sherpa/guide will provide you a pre-ice climbing training to make you skillful in using climbing gears such as ropes, ice pick, harness, crampons, etc. Generally, we rest in the morning and after lunch ascend from the Base Camp to the High Camp (5,700m), a steep, two-hour climb up grassy slopes on a well-defined trail. The site of the camp is just below the permanent snowline. The following morning we leave very early for the final climb to the summit. This may take between four to six hours, depending on snow and weather conditions. We will fix a rope on the summit headwall for safety on both the ascent and descent. Although it is not a technically difficult climb, the snow slopes are crevassed, the headwall is reasonably steep and a head for heights is useful. To reach the summit, willpower and stamina are required, but the incredible feeling of achievement atop this 6,000m giant will remain a lifetime memory. The view from the summit is utterly fantastic! Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Makalu and Baruntse are the dominant giants rising above a sea of smaller peaks. Given good conditions, we should be able to descend back to Chhukhung from our summit attempt. Overnight at a guesthouse or Tented Camp (The stay depends upon the day you complete your climbing.

Leaving the mountains behind us, our descent takes us through various towns of Dingboche, Orsho, Shomare and Lower Pangboche to reach the suspension bridge over the Imja Khola River to ascend gradually through Debuche and then to Tengboche at 3,800m. Overnight at a guesthouse. 

From Tengboche, we descend steeply through beautiful forests of juniper, rhododendron and fir to Phunkitenga. After a welcome break and a cup of tea, we cross the Dudh Kosi River and climb to Trashinga. From here the trail contours high above the valley through to Shanasa, where we have the option of visiting Kunde and Khumjung villages before returning to Namche Bazaar - our stop for the night. Overnight at a guesthouse. 

This is our last day of trekking as we return to Lukla. We descend on a steep trail so it is important that we 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. After reaching Lukla, we stretch those sore legs and recall the experiences of the last couple of weeks. Overnight at a guesthouse.

Breakfast, on your flight back to Kathmandu as you leave Lukla, you can enjoy some last-minute glimpses of the mountains you just recently visited. The guide will arrange a transfer from the airport to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the international airport for your flight back home. We wish you have a safe and sound flight and see you again in the future.