Island Peak Climbing

Welcome to Nepal! Upon your landing, our team representative will pick you up from the airport and take you to your respective hotel. After freshening up, you will be invited to our office where you can meet the Desire Adventures Team and also your guide. We will discuss further about the tour. If you have time you can stroll around the city late afternoon. 

Attractions: Beautiful scenario before landing, introduction to Kathmandu valley and the Nepali culture.

Today after breakfast, we will visit some of the famous heritage sites listed under UNESCO. These include Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath Temple, Boudhanath and Kathmandu Durbar Square. During the tour, your team leader will give you plenty information on these temples, stupas and shrine. After the fruitful day around the city, you will retun to your hotel to freshen up. If you did not get a chance to meet your guides earlier, you will do so today. Night will be spent at a tourist standard hotel in Kathmandu.

Meals: Breakfast

Attractions: Exploring Pashupatinath; a historic temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the banks of the Bagmati River, Swayambhunath; a brilliant Stupa with the eyes of the Buddha in its four corners overlooking the entire Kathmandu valley from atop a hill, Boudhanath; a Stupa located towards the east of the valley with Tibetan settlements and Basantapur Durbar Square; the royal palace constructed during the Lichhavi period showcasing magnificent Nepali architecture.

Your Island Peak trek officially starts today. You will catch the morning flight to Lukla from Tribhuvan International Airport and reach the destination in about 30-40 minutes. The rest of the crew will be waiting for us on Lukla (Tenzing Hillary Airport). After introduction, we start our trek for the day towards Phakding. Since Phakding lies at a lower altitude than Lukla, we began descending towards Cheplung, Nuring and finally Phakding. Night will be spent at Phakding.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Attractions: Aerial view of the mountains and hills from the plane, Introduce one of the most dangerous airports in the world, familiarization to the Khumbu valley. Mani, prayer flag and chorten along the trail.

After spending the night in Phakding, we start our trail to Namche. We cross few suspension bridges and settlements filled with stone walls and houses. We can see that the culture is heavily influenced by Tibetan culture. After walking for decent hour, we reach the village of Monjo. Here, your guide will pay the fees to Sagarmatha National Park Entrance while you enjoy the serene beauty around you. After crossing Larja Dobhan, you will get to view your first glimpse of Everest, standing tall and proud amidst the snow and clouds. We finally reach Namche and settle for the night in a teahouse.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

Attractions: Old manis, teahouses along the way, rough and small trail, Kongde face with sharp face glistening above, settlements like Zapute, Toktok, Benkar, Chumoa and Monju,entrance to  Sagarmatha National Park.

It is important to acclimatize in few sections during the trek due to constant high altitude. Thus, on our 5th day during the trek, we take time off from the daily destinations and uphill walk and stay back in Namche to acclimatize. Although it is regarded as a rest day, we will still visit the nearby sites to make our body used to the altitude. We will hike to a beautiful Sherpa village called Thame. We can also visit some nearby villages i.e. Kunde or Khumjung. The rest of the day can be spent exploring Namche or spending the day reading with a cup of coffee at the many cafes and restaurants there. Overnight at Namche.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

Attractions: Thame-an old Sherpa village, Khumjung/Khunde/Khongde, National Park Head office, Museum, monasteries, cafes, bakeries, shops, restaurants, post office)

From Namche, we move north east along the glacier water of Dudh Koshi. Walking a bit further from the tensing Norgey Memorial Stupa, we come across our first view of Ama Dablam, Lotse Shar Taboche, Kangtega and Thamserku. We talk some steep ascent which will eventually lead us to Tengboche.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

Attractions: Traverse trail, big carved mani stones, extensive panorama along the way, spot Himalayan Thar, Danphe, The Dudh Khoshi River, spectacular view of Mt. Everest, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam and Mt. Themserku, Rhododendron forest, animals and birds like musk deer, multi-colored pheasant and Thar, and Tengboche – the largest Gompa in the Khumbu region.

From Tengboche, we will ascend towards the east and reach Somare. Crossing the suspension bridge we head towards Orso. From here, we follow the Imj Khola and take the bridge take takes us towards Dingboche. Overnight at Dingboche.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Dinner

Attractions: Pleasant forest, icy long trail with snowfall depending on the season, more chortens and mani walls as we ascend higher, scenario covered with steep foreset, steep climb

Acclimatization is important to us since we will be climbing a peak at 6189m. Thus, our second acclimatization will be at Dingboche. We will be visiting nearby villages and doing short hikes to make our body used to the altitude.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Highlights: Summer settlement at Dingboche, view of Mt. Lhotse and Mt Amadablam and Imja River from the ridge on the north of the village, Stone walls covering the Imja valley.

From Dingboche, we walk along the Imja Khola and take the trail that leads us to Chhukung. Upon reaching Chhukung, we settle down and start discussing about the climband check our necessary climbing gears.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Highlights: Stoned walled fields, Imja Khola valley, Chhukung valley, rocky trail, view of Lhotse and Ama Dablam, hills and upper fences, view of

Imjatse/ Island Pea, sheer rocks and steep snow face along the way, magnificient view of Chukkung from Dusum.

Our destination for today is the island Peak base Camp. Walking along the Island Peak Trek Trail along the stream and huge rocks, we enter the Island Peak territory. Along the path, the rocky terrain turns into icy glacier as we cross the Lotse and Imja moraine. The route to Amphu Lapcha lies on the South East. We will also go through an hour long training course for our climb tomorrow. Night will be spent at a tent in the base camp.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Highlights: Zigzag yak routes, steep and dry stream along the way, Rocky and glacial trail, glacier moraines (Imja and Lhotse), a night in a tented camp, and southwestern face of Island peak.

We will set out for High Camp from the base Camp today. After going through narrow slopes for 2-3 hours, we finally reach the high camp. We will set the tent and furthermore discuss on the gears, equipments and trainings and get ready to summit the peak tomorrow. The night will be spent at a tent in the high camp.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Highlights: Adventurous path along the rocky and glacial trail surrounded by glacier moraines (Imja and Lhotse), a night in a tented camp, and southwestern face of Island peak

We will come across short rock steps, crevasses and steep slopes before summiting the Island peak. Today is the day we will finally summit the peak. In the morning we set out from High camp to climb the summit while fixing ropes whenever necessary. Although the climb is not very difficult, our climbing guide will help us whenever necessary. Finally after crossing asteep snow slope along the summit ridge we reach the summit. After enjoying some time in the summit we head down towards Chukkung. Today will be the longest walk we will be doing throughout the trek so we need t be mentally prepared for it.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Highlights: Island peak summit experience, crevasses, icy slopes, view of surrounding peaks like Lhotse, Lhotse Middle, Lhotse Shar, Nuptse in the north, Makalu in the east, and Baruntse and Amadablam in the south.

The trek to Khumjung from Chukkung will be for 5-6 hours. Walking downhill crossing settlements like Dingboche, Pangboche and Tengboche we finally reach the village of Khumjung. We will also come across the biggest mani wall of Khumbu here in Khumjung. This will the first night in a while when we will be sleeping in a hotel so you can take a shower or even rest in your comfortable bed.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Highlights: Long descend path along the trail, various valleys and settlements like Pangboche, Tengboche, crossing of suspension bridge, rhododendrons and pine forests.

We will set off towards Namche from Khumjung today. After breakfast we descend towards the trail that leads to Namche. The trail is a fair 4-5 hours walk with a magnificent view of Ama Dablam, Lotse, Taboche and Thamserku. Upon reaching Namche, we will have facilities of bakery and communication thus you can spend your time resting in café or simply strolling around the area.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Highlights: Descend further down to the valley, Museum, monasteries, cafes, bakeries, shops, restaurants, post office, hospital, government health post, 24 hour electricity and water supply and high speed internet access in Namche, time to relax and wander around this area.

We will be trekking to Lukla from Namche today. We will cross settlements like Larja Dobhan descend down to Monjo, cross the suspension bridges of the Dudh Koshi River , arrive at Phadking and crossing the stone walls, Manis and Chortens we finally reach Lukla. The night will be spent at a tourist standard lodge in Lukla.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Highlights: Colorful Lukla village, ‘Mani’ prayer rocks, Phakding village and ‘Gompas’ monasteries, flat trail small settlements like Zapute, Toktok, Benkar, Chumoa and Monju, Sagarmatha National Park, small tea houses and shops, suspension bridges, steep trail, Namche Bazaar and the very first view of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Mt. Kusum Khangru.

Today we will depart for Kathmandu early morning. Our Sherpas will carry your luggage to the airport and fill out the official formalities. While on the airplane, you can enjoy the mountain ranges from above the cloud which is truly alluring. The 35 minute scenic flight will be one of the last adventures you will have while traveling to the capital from Khumbu. Upon reaching Kathmandu, you will be picked up by your private transportation to drop you off in your hotel. Later we will host a dinner for you as a farewell to the wonderful trekking experience you had in Nepal. We can also discuss and talk about your journey in the Himalayas. 

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Highlights: Drop off to the Airport, Magnificent aerial view of the Himalayas from the airplane

On the final day of your departure, we will drop you off at the airport in your private vehicle. Nevertheless, if you have time before your departure, you can spend the day shopping for souvenirs for your friends and family. We wish you a safe journey.

*Note: Let us know if we are lucky enough to celebrate your birthday with us so that we can make it a memorable one amidst the mountains.

Desire Adventures also provides extended and customized trip to our beloved guests. Let us know if you want to plan your next trip or extend your trip further and we will give our best to provide you a once in a lifetime adventure!