Island Peak Climbing

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.

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.

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.

In the early morning, we will be visiting different monasteries nearby before moving down through forest of birch, juniper, fir and Rhododendron to the nunnery at Deboche. The trail involves stable climbs but because of the altitudes, we need to pace ourselves steadily throughout the day. After we pass Imja Khola, we will be reaching the village of Pangboche where we will be stopping by for our lunch viewing the beautiful peak of Ama Dablam. In the afternoon, at the first place, our route will be the climb through the open alpine hillsides and at the second.

Keep on trek along the moraine of the glacier; with the views of kala Patthar (5,545m) and Mt. Pumori (7,165m) we hike today high above the Pheriche village. Pretty normal day today takes about 4 hours walking. Important day also for accommodation, Rest of the day we may take simple hike around.

Today, the walk towards Everest is along the Khumbu Glacier. You will reach the small village of Gorakhshep, where you will be able to have lunch. After having your lunch the trail will lead you to the Mt. Everest base camp at an altitude of 5400 meters. Everest base camp gives you an unforgettable view of Khubutse, Mt. Pumori, Changtse and Khumbu ice fall instead of Mt. Everest.

Hiking up the Kalapatthar, we will make a vertical climb which allows us to view the Everest Peak continuously. Not only this, we can also view other mountains like Pumori (7,145m), lingtren (6,697m) and Khumbutse (6,623m). These mountains divide us from Tibet and just over the Lho La Pass, we can observe the large face of Changtse (7,750m). After that, we head back to Lobuche. From Lobuche, we hike towards Chhukung Valley. Chhukung Valley is located unwaveringly under an incredible rock wall which links Nuptse with Lhotse. From here, we will be having fabulous views of Amadablam (6,856m) which is also titled the most photographed mountain in Nepal.

Today we will reach to the base camp after approximately 4 hours of walking. Camping at the lower base camp, preparation of kit, acclimatization. We will spend the day in the Island peak base camp at 4,950m/ 16,240 feet. Today is another acclimatization and training day. We will spend the morning getting our climbing gear sorted. We will rig up a climbing scenario and practice using crampons, Jumars, and and abseiling,, and we will practice until you are comfortable doing all the different techniques. We will rest up and enjoy this amazing mountain setting.

In the early morning, we will begin our climbing to arrive at the summit. Ascending from the base camp we will reach to the Island Peak High Camp (5600m). From this point, we can see semicircle view of cliffs that go up in the north to the rocky peaks of Nuptse (7,879m), Lhotse Middle Peak (8,410m), Lhotse (8,501m) and Lhotse Shar (8,383m). To the east, we will view the iced up waves of the Lhotse Shar Glacier above which towers Cho Polu (6,734m) and we will also witness Makalu (8,475m). From the south of the Imja glacier, we will be rewarded by Baruntse (7,720m) and Ama Dablam (6,856m). Our trail will now get complicated once we reach the bed of the pointed icefall beneath the peak. In order to succeed, great caution must be implemented while balancing the barrier to approach out on the rim leading to the summit. After we reach the summit, we will be back to the Base Camp.

Today, we will be trekking around stunning Imja Khola Valley. We first rich Dingboche which is located in a hop hedge of little ground bounded by stone wall defensive crops of potatoes and barley. From Dingboche, we take a little dissimilar means down to Orsho, then moving to Pangboche village. We traverse the Khumbu Khola over a wooden suspension bridge and walk beside the Imja Khola to the village of Pangboche. Here we can see the oldest monastery in the region which contains what is said to be the scalp and skeleton of a ‘Yeti’, or the repulsive snowman.

Leaving mountains behind us, our descent takes us through Tyangboche Monastery at height of 3860 meters before continuing back to the town of Namche Bazaar at 3441meters. We arrive back at Namche Bazaar in the afternoon.

After having our breakfast, go back over the major road down to Dhudh Koshi retracing to Phakding. Following the track, we arrive at Lukla scaling different Sherpa villages crossing a suspension bridge above Thado Koshi. For about 45 minutes, we go up to accomplish the whole trail and we reconfirm flight ticket and see off to local porters. MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After traveling for 30 minutes, we fly back to Kathmandu from Lukla in the morning and move back to the hotel. The rest of the day we can lighten up.