Island Peak Climbing
Island Peak Climbing
Island Peak Climbing
Island Peak Climbing

About Island Peak Climbing

Island Peak Climbing is one of the very famous climbing peaks in Nepal. The stunning beauty of the peak attracts many aspiring climbers and mountaineers every year. The peak does not involve any sort of technical climbing, which also makes it perfect for someone looking to step in the climbing world of Himalayas. Likewise, many climbers climb Island Peak to prepare their body before pushing towards high mountains.

Island Peak was first climbed in 1956 by a team who was preparing to climb Mt. Everest. The fascinating view of the peak like an actual island in between the sea of ice has made an uncountable number of travelers fall in love. Overall, Island Peak Climbing is an adventurous and life-changing journey that will offer you an outstanding view of the Himalayas, rich culture, and unique lifestyle of the locals. Himalayan Mountains like Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516 m), Mt. Makalu (8,481 m), Mt. Nuptse (7,861 m), Mt. Ama Dablam (6,812 m), Mt. Pumori (7,161 m), Mt. Thamserku (6,623 m), Mt. Kondge (6,187 m), and many others can be seen.

Highlights of Island Peak Climbing

  • Scenic flight to Lukla
  • Trek through Sagarmatha National Park
  • Explore the unique lifestyle of Sherpa in Namche Bazar
  • Trek through picturesque villages
  • Visit the oldest and the biggest monastery of the region, Tengboche monastery
  • Experience rich culture and tradition of the Sherpa people
  • See fantastic landscape views
  • Reach the summit of stunning Island Peak
  • Witness several Himalayan mountains like Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Makalu, Pumori, Kongde, etc

Itinerary

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Land at the Tribhuvan International Airport and complete your visa process. You will meet with one of our team members at the terminal gate. He will guide you to the hotel and help you check-in. Get refreshed and explore the streets of Thamel. Later, you will meet with other team members on a traditional dinner. 

  • Hotel
  • Welcome dinner

Today, a short and scenic flight from Kathmandu/Ramechhap will take you to Lukla. Here, you will meet with porters who will accompany you on the journey. The trail from Lukla descends to Phakding through a forested path following a stream. 

  • Lodge
  • BLD

Have a warm breakfast, and begin walking along Dudh Koshi River. The trail takes you to Monjo. From here, Sagarmatha National Park begins and trail passes through the park. On the way, you will cross many streams, bridges, dense forests, and small villages. It is going to be a little tough day as most part of the trail is steep. 

  • Lodge
  • BLD

Today, you will spend a day in Namche Bazar acclimatizing your body and exploring around. You will visit nearby viewpoints like Syangboche airstrip, Everest View Hotel, or Khumjung village. All of these presents wonderful views of the Himalayan mountains and stunning scenery. Moreover, in Khumjung, you get to see the head of the Yeti in one monastery. 

  • Lodge
  • BLD

From Namche Bazar, the trail descends to Dudh Kosi Valley and takes you to Phungki Thanka. From here, the trail ascends to the right flank of Dudh Koshi valley and leads you to Tengboche. Here, you will visit the oldest and the biggest monastery of the Khumbu region, the Tengboche monastery. Likewise, you will also get to see wonderful views of the Himalayas from here. 

  • Lodge
  • BLD

Descending through lush forests, you will cross the Imja Khola and pass through Pangboche village. The trail presents superb views of Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam, and a few other mountains. Passing through small villages and mani stones, you reach Dingboche. This village is also called the Summer Valley of the Khumbu region.

  • Lodge
  • BLD

The trail ascends to Chhukung. You trek through dense forests and small villages. On the way, you get to see superb views of snow-capped mountains. 

  • Lodge
  • BLD

This is a rest day at Chhukung. You explore the village and spend some time with locals knowing them. You will also go on a hike to Chhukung Ri from where you can see stunning views of the Himalayan mountains. After spending some time here you return to Chhukung for night stay.

  • Lodge
  • BLD

The trail gradually ascends to Island Peak Base Camp. You will follow Imja Valley enjoying excellent views of Lhotse and Ama Dablam. Upon reaching the Island Peak Base Camp, you set up the camps along with other team members. It is a short trekking day, therefore you will have enough time to rest.

  • Camp
  • BLD

It is an acclimatization day at the base camp. You will spend the day going on short excursions. Your guide also teaches you about basic climbing skills and proper use of gears. 

  • Camp
  • BLD

You wake up early in the morning, or we can say around midnight, 1 am, and push towards the summit of Island Peak. The trail ascends over rock ravine, and further, following rock steps, you reach a ridgeline. From here, you will pass glaciers using ropes. Your guide will fix the rope for you. Enjoying heavenly views, you reach the top of Island Peak. Spend some time and descend back to the base camp for night stay. 

  • Camp
  • BLD

Retracing the same path, you descend to Pangboche. The trail passes through small villages and lush forests and takes you to Pangboche. 

  • Lodge
  • BLD

Trek through lush forests and pass by villages like Debuche and Tengboche. Enjoying wonderful views of snow-capped peaks and trekking through dense forests, you reach Namche Bazar. 

  • Lodge
  • BLD

Today is the last day of the trek. You will leave Namche Bazaar and descend on the same trail you came by. The descent will be easier than ascend. From Phakding, the trail ascends along a stream and takes to Lukla.

  • Lodge
  • BLD

After a warm breakfast, you fly back to Kathmandu/Ramechhap. The flight offers an aerial view of snow-capped mountains, scattered settlements, and lush green hills. Upon landing, you move to the hotel.

  • Hotel
  • Breakfast & farewell dinner

With hundreds of memories, you fly back to your home. One of our members will guide you to the Airport accordingly your flight departure time. 

    Good to Know

    Why go on Island Peak Climbing with us?

    Climbing Island Peak with us allows you to be in a safe hand and climb with strong support. We provide highly experienced Sherpa guides who will assist you during the climbing. We have climbed Island Peak several times and led many groups successfully, which makes us a perfect travel partner.

    How long does it take to climb Island Peak?

    To climb to the summit of Island Peak from the base of the peak, it will take around 4 to 5 hours, depending upon your speed and strength. Overall the entire Island Peak Climbing journey can take around 16 to 18 days. You can also customize the itinerary as per your time as well. Get in touch with us to design your dream journey, we will give you full support and great service at an affordable price.

    Island Peak Climbing itinerary

    A short thrilling flight will take you to the starting point of the trek, Lukla from where you will begin trekking towards Namche Bazar. The trail follows stream and goes through dense forests crossing many streams. From Namche Bazar, you begin climbing through the lush forest of rhododendron and passes through villages like Tengboche, Dingboche, and Chhukung. The trail ascends to Island Peak Base Camp and moves up to the summit of Island Peak.

    Best time to go Island Peak Climbing

    You can do Island Peak Climbing in spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November). These are the peak months to do climbing in the Himalayas. Stable weather, moderate climate, and clear views make the journey joyous. In the spring, the trail gets bloomed up with beautiful flowers, and spring makes the region warm with beautiful colors.

    Island Peak Climbing difficulty

    Climbing Island Peak or any peak is difficult. You have to deal with high altitude, low oxygen level, steep snowy slopes, and exposure to cold & direct sunlight. Even though Island Peak Climbing is not challenging in terms of technical climbing, yet you have to walk 6 to 7 hours per day on mixed terrain. You have to be in good physical condition and have strong will-power to go on this adventurous trip. Previous trekking experience is needed to go on Island Peak Climbing.

    Altitude Sickness Symptoms & Prevention

    Altitude sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness is the major issue that travelers have to overcome during high altitude journey. If your body did not get acclimatized with the elevation then the chances of getting altitude sickness become high. Therefore, it is very important to add enough rest days in between the trek.

    Below you can read about symptoms and prevention of altitude sickness:

    Symptoms of altitude sickness:-

    • headache
    • nausea and vomiting
    • dizziness
    • tiredness
    • loss of appetite
    • shortness of breath

    Prevention of altitude sickness:-

    • Include an adequate number of rest days during the trek/climbing
    • Avoid climbing more than 300-500 meters a day
    • Make sure you're drinking enough water
    • Eat a light but high-calorie diet
    • Avoid alcohol
    • Avoid smoking
    • Inform your guide immediately so that he can take proper action on time
    • Drop down to lower altitude and rest for a few days until symptoms getaway

    Food & Water during Island Peak Climbing

    On Island Peak Climbing, you will get meals as per the menu of the lodge. You have the option to choose from Nepali, Indian, Tibetan, and Continental dishes. Rice, curries, soup, porridge, egg, pudding, momo, sandwiches, pasta, chapati, bread, meat, thukpa, etc can be seen on the menu. Likewise, you will also have a good option for confectionery items.

    While climbing, you will all the meals will be cooked by our team members who are professionally trained in cooking. We offer a wide range of dishes for camping as well. We also make sure you are getting all the required calories to maintain your energy to climb. Drinking water is available everywhere. Make sure to carry a water purification tablet to double purify water. During camping, we will provide you pure drinking water.

    Accommodation during Island Peak Climbing

    In the villages, you stay overnight in the lodge, which is run by locals. While staying in the lodge, you will find a similar experience like locals living style. The rooms are generally small and have to be shared with a fellow trekker. A single room is not available most of the time, and if you insist on a single room, then the price will get double. Usually, lodges have both common and private washrooms. We do recommend you to carry a nice sleeping bag with you to keep yourself warm.

    During climbing, you stay overnight in a tent. We offer a high-quality single sleeping tent to all the team members, whereas dining tent, kitchen tent, and washroom tent are used on a sharing basis. We carry all the equipment that is needed to survive while staying in camp.

    Island Peak Climbing cost

    You can find little difference in the cost of the Island Peak Climbing package in every travel company. It is because of the services that the company is providing during climbing. We have professionally designed our Island Peak Climbing itinerary and are also open to the tailor-made itinerary. With us, you will get the most comprehensive cost for the package. To know more about the price, get in touch with us anytime. Also, check our cost includes and excludes section for detailed information.

    Environmental Practices

    We practice several measures to not damage the environment during our trips. We have planned our trip adopting the best sustainable equipment that we can use for the long term. While returning from the camps, we collect all the garbage and encourage our guests to not leave any waste on the base camps. Likewise, we also suggest our guests use reusable containers for water or any other things. We also work closely with the locals of every region and help them providing earning opportunities.

    Island Peak Climbing Packing List

    We want you to know that you can rent or buy all the gears in Kathmandu. There are several options from medium range brands to high-end brands for all budget types.

    • Clothing
    • Sun hat/scarf
    • Fleece jacket with wind-Stopper
    • Waterproof shell jacket
    • Down vest and/or jacket
    • Lightweight gloves/Heavyweight gloves or mittens with a waterproof shell outer
    • Light and expedition weight thermal bottoms
    • Fleece/wool pants
    • Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell pants
    • Thick, warm wool hiking socks
    • Hiking boots with spare laces
    • Sunglasses with UV protection

    Accessories

    • Sleeping bag rated to zero degrees Fahrenheit
    • Trekking poles
    • Headlamp
    • Trek bag-pack
    • Basic First Aid Kit
    • Daypack
    • Thermo-rest sleeping pad
    • Water bottles

    Climbing Gears

    • Climbing harness
    • Ice ax
    • crampons
    • Mountaineering boots
    • AscenderDescender/Abseil device
    • Rope
    • Snow bar
    • Ice hammer
    • Helmet (optional)

    Toiletries

    • Quick-drying towel/Small wash towel
    • Soap (biodegradable)
    • Toothbrush/paste biodegradable)
    • Deodorants
    • Face and body moisturizer
    • Nail clippers
    • Small mirror
    • Tissue paper/toilet roll
    • Anti-bacterial Hand wash

    Extra

    • Trail Map/Guide book
    • Binocular
    • Reading book
    • Journal & Pen
    • Pencils and small notebooks
    • Camera with extra batteries