Island Peak Climbing
Trip Overview
Trip Facts
- Country: Nepal
- Trip grade: Strenuous
- Destination: Island Peak
- Activities: Trekking and Climbing
- Accommodation: Hotel, Guesthouse & Camping
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
- Maximum altitude: 6189 meter
- Group size: 1+
- Best Season: Spring & Autumn
Are you looking forward to going for a peak climbing adventure sooner or later? You will absolutely love the Island Peak Climbing Adventure in the Everest region in the Himalaya. Climbing to the top of Island Peak, also Imja Tse, is an incredibly beautiful adventure.
The beautiful peak stands at 6189 meters above sea level amidst other high soaring mountains in the Everest region. A trekking adventure from Lukla towards Chhukung via Namche Bazar takes you for the climbing adventure. You can also combine this climbing adventure with Everest Base Camp Trek. But if you are short of time to go for a longer adventure, you can head straight to Island Peak Base Camp and go for climbing.
What you see during Island Peak Climbing Adventure
If you combine the climbing adventure with the trekking to Everest base camp, it will take you longer. But it allows you enough time to acclimatize for the summit climb on the mountain. Once you start the trek from Lukla up towards Namche Bazar, you can enjoy beautiful nature and mountain surroundings along the trail in the Dudh Koshi river valley.
In addition, the Sherpa cultural riches in the region make the adventure even more interesting. The beautiful villages of Namche, Tengboche, and Dingboche will give you a wonderful immersion in the mountain lifestyle in the region. You can also explore monasteries that determine the socio-cultural life of the people living in the region. You will also learn more about the Sherpa people, the community of mountain climbers.
The climbing adventure itself is just a single day. You can reach the summit from the base camp and return back in a day. Although it is a climbing adventure, it is not highly technical as mountaineering like Ama Dablam Expedition or Everest Expedition.
During the adventure, you will enjoy magnificent views of mountains like Thamserku, Ama Dablam, Everest, Lhotse, Tawache, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, etc. While you stand at the summit of Island Peak, you will have an overwhelming view of the vast range of mountains in the surroundings.
Reasons this trip becomes an Experience
Nepal Climbing Adventure always strives to offer an adventure traveling experience that you can cherish. While the Island Peak Climbing Adventure is beautiful in its all essence, your experience of trekking there becomes even more beautiful with us.
By the time we take you to the base camp and bring you back, we take one step ahead to offer you a beautiful experience. We keep your safety and happiness is our top priority and you will experience the same during the trip.
Trekking and climbing Island Peak with us is traveling in safe hands. Learn some facts about the adventure here.
Detail Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (1400m)
Normally, your arrival in Kathmandu is the day one of this trip. We will come to pick you up at the airport as per your flight time and transfer you to the hotel. There are no activities today apart from a trip briefing meeting. The information about the meeting time will be available upon your arrival at the hotel.
You have time to relax and go for any last-minute preparation for the trip. Welcome to Kathmandu!
Accommodation: Hotel
Day 02: Kathmnadu – Phakding (2,680m)
We will start our trekking adventure towards the Island Peak today for the climbing adventure. Early in the morning, we will take a flight to Lukla. The adventurous flight of about forty minutes takes us to Lukla to enter the Everest trekking region. Once we land in Lukla airstrip, we will get ready to start the walk of the day.
We start the trek to Phakding as our overnight destination today. It is about 4 hours of an easy trek on a gentle and gradual downhill trail to Phakding on the bank of a river called Dudh Koshi. It will be an amazingly peaceful day on the trail to Everest base camp.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 03: Phakding – Namche Bazar (3,440m) – B.L.D
We continue the walk on the Everest base camp trail after breakfast. Our destination for the day is the beautiful mountain town of Namche Bazar. The trail takes us through a winding trail up the mountains. As we continue the walk towards the destination, we cross several suspension bridges on the trail. After checking into the Sagarmatha national park at Monjo, we continue the walk to Namche for the day.
Once we reach Namche Bazar, a prosperous mountain trading town in the Everest region, we will check into a guest house and relax. A nicely settled town in the terraced slope, Namche Bazar brings you the spectacular views of mountains like Thamserku (6,6232m) and Kongde Ri (6,187m) to its west.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 04: Acclimatization Day – B.L.D
We are already above 3000 meters above sea level so we need to take an extra day at Namche to acclimatize. On this extra day at Namche Bazar, we will go for a hike and explore the surroundings.
We will have the latter half of the day to rest and relax once we are back from the hike.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 05: Namche – Tengboche (3,860m) – B.L.D
After the acclimatization day at Namche, we are now ready to trek further higher. We will continue our trek after breakfast and head towards Tengboche as our destination for the day. The trek passes through a forested trail and on the ridge. After about 6 hours of uphill walk, we reach Tengboche village. Once we reach Tengboche village, we can enjoy Mountain View of the peaks like Tawache, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam including Everest.
Once we settle into our accommodation, we can set out on an exploration of Tengboche Monastery, the biggest Buddhist monastery in the region where Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, the first man to summit Mt. Everest along with Sir Edmund Hilary, was sent to be a monk once. The galore magnificence of the monastery is simply overwhelming.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 06: Tengboche – Dingboche (4,410m) – B.L.D
Dingboche is the destination for today. After we finish our breakfast with a view, we set off on the trekking journey for the day. We follow the downhill trail towards Diboche and past it, we reach Pangboche village. We will take some time to explore the village and an ancient and beautiful monastery. Pangboche is a beautiful and the biggest Sherpa settlement in the region. After starting ahead from Pangboche village, we head towards Dingboche leaving the route to Pheriche. After spending about six hours on the trail past forest, villages, and beautiful sights to see, we reach Dingboche village where a breathtaking view of the Himalayan peaks awaits us.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 07: Dingboche - Chhukung (4,730m)
Today we trek to Chhukung by walking through stone walled fields leading to glacier rocks. The trail provides excellent views of Lhotse and Ama Dablam mountains. The trail also has us view of Island Peak above us before reaching Bibre village. We reach Chhukung after a short walk from Bibre village. We spend overnight in Chhukung.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 08: Acclimatization Day at Chhukung
Today is acclimatization in Chhukung. To adjust ourselves for higher altitude we will be climbing Chhukung Ri located just above Chhukung village. From the summit views of Ama Dablam and Amphu Labsa peaks can be viewed. We return back to Chhukung for overnight stay.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 09: Chhukung - Island Peak Base Camp (5,087m)
The trail to Island Peak Base Camp heads south and climbs east towards the main line of valley. The trail follows along a stream with a view of Amphu Labsa on the southeast. We walk past Imja and Lhotse glacier moraine before reaching Island Peak Base Camp on the south west side of Island Peak. In the afternoon, we perform our pre-climb training in Base camp. We learn about peak climbing techniques and familiarize ourselves with gears and equipment required for our ascent. We practice our climbing techniques on a rock surface and hike around the base camp.
Accommodation: Camping
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 10: Base Camp - Island Peak Summit (6189m) - Chhukung (4,730m)
We begin our climb early in the morning to avoid the afternoon strong winds. The first touch of sunlight over the snowcapped mountains provides a mesmerizing delight. The trail starts from the base camp and gradually ascends on the grass filled hill before being filled with boulders. The trail becomes narrow and rocky before leading to the summit glacier where the path is filled with snow. As we go across crevasses the summit begins from here.
At the summit we reward ourselves with the glorious view that surrounds us. After spending quality time, we descend back to the Base Camp and Chhukung following the same path.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11: Contingency day
In case the summit does not happen according to plan due to bad weather or other unfavorable conditions we spare this day as a reserve day. If everything goes as smoothly as planned, we treat ourselves today as leisure day.
Accommodation: Camping
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 12: Chhukung - Pangboche (3,985m)
The route back to Pangboche descends down the same path as before. The trail passes through Orsho and Shomare village. We can also visit the oldest Gompa in Khumbu region along the way before reaching Pangboche village. Here Pangboche looks up to various mountains ranges like Everest, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, etc.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 13: Pangboche - Namche Bazaar (3,440m)
We follow down Imja Khola and through forest filled with Rhododendron and Pine to reach Tengboche. The trek continues as we cross Dudh Koshi River and descend to Sansa. A short walk from Sansa and we reach Namche Bazaar where we spend overnight at a local lodge.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 14: Namche - Lukla (2,860m)
The trek from Namche Bazaar follows through Monjo to Lukla. The trail is of short climbs and across Bhote-Koshi River. The last uphill climb brings us to Lukla where we spend overnight.
Accommodation: Guesthouse
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 15: Lukla - Kathmandu (1,400m)
In the morning after breakfast, we take a brief flight of about 30 minutes to Kathmandu. You will be transferred to your hotel where you can get your much needed rest. Upon your will, you can visit around Thamel area or other nearby places. In the evening, you will be served with farewell dinner which basically includes delicious Nepali cuisine.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast
Day 16: Reserve Day
Today is a reserve day in case your Lukla - Kathmandu flight gets delayed or canceled due to bad weather conditions or other reason.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meal: Breakfast
Day 17: Departure Day
After a nearly one and half month of adventurous and successful time, you will finally leave Nepal with full of lifelong memories. Our airport representatives will drop you off in the Tribhuvan International Airport and bid you farewell and best wishes for your future.
Meal: Breakfast
Cost Details
What is included?
- All types of organizational requirements
- All trekking and climbing paper works and permits
- All airport and hotel transfers
- Welcome and farewell dinner
- Accommodation and meals during the whole of the expedition
- Flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and back
- Government and local taxes
- Reference notes to plan your trip
- An experienced English speaking climbing guide, assistant climbing guide, Sherpa porters including their salary, insurance, food, lodging and all equipment
- A comprehensive medical kit
- Facilities of Email and satellite phones in base camp
- Necessary oxygen bottles
- Written and photo internet dispatches to send your progress to your family
What is not included?
- Nepal Visa fee(bring small denomination cash USD and two passport photographs)
- International airfare
- Excess baggage charges
- Extra night accommodation apart from the schedule due to any reasons
- Lunch and evening meals in case of early return than the scheduled itinerary
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Charges of Email and satellite phones
- Charge for extra Sherpa porter (if required)
- Personal expenses
- Tips for climbing guide and Sherpa
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions - Trekking in Nepal
Are you a licensed trekking agency?
Do the guides speak English and have first aid training?
How big are the groups?
Are permits included in the price of the trek?
Do you arrange private treks?
Do you provide any equipment while trekking?
How difficult are the treks?
How long do we walk each day?
What is exactly 'teahouse' trekking?
What do we mean by FOT trek?
What is security like during trekking?
Security for our clients is always a foremost priority for us. All our guides and other support crew are carefully chosen for your trips. Our guides hold licenses issued by the Nepal Government. They are very honest and reliable. But we would also advise you to take care of your own personal belongings. If you are on ‘camping treks’ please do not leave your bags unattended at any time for your own safety. Take your main bag inside the tent once you reach the campsite. At night, all bags and belongings are kept in the middle of the tent. Your guide assigns a Sherpa on a rotation basis to guard the campsite throughout the night. If you are on a ‘Tea house or GAP trek’ arrangement, you will be sleeping in local teahouses. You need to take sensible precautions yourself at all times. Never leave your baggage unattended and keep your lodge room locked when you go out.
What happens if I fall ill during the trek?
What type of food is served during a trek?
Do I need to carry my own gear?
How much could porters carry?
What is the overnight accommodation like?
Can we change the itinerary?
Depending on the prevailing situation, you can modify it to some extent after consulting with your senior guide. However, the date of trek completion should always coincide with the original itinerary. You should keep in mind that this is an adventure trip into some of the most remote regions in the world, where many unforeseen circumstances may contribute to the need for a change in itinerary. In such cases, we or your guide will suggest the best alternative similar to your original itinerary.
Is tipping included and if not, how much should I budget?

An amazing trip!
Very happy to have Chris organise our trek. He was on call 24/7 to take care of everything. Highly recommended.
Rick Reynolds, Australia
Island peak & Everest Base Camp
I highly recommend this company , the services where perfect , the staff , the hotel , the guide for the trek , the food , everything was more than expected, thank you!!!!! Namaste!!!
Jinan, Hadat
An Amazing Experience!
I fully enjoyed my tour with Chris' company. Everyone was very friendly and super flexible when I had wishes that were not on my "standard" booking. I highly recommend to anyone who wants to experience an exceptional once in a lifetime adventure!
Rudolf Moos
Mera Peak Climbing
I had a amazing trip with Nepal Climbing adventure to Island Peak climbing. Kris is very flexible with the itinerary and very friendly. And our guide Mingma, is very professional and friendly. I’m looking forward for the next trip on the next time! Kudos for Nepal Climbing Adventure!
Mario Teguh Nugraha, Indonesia