Island Peak Climbing | EBC Treks With Island Peak Summit

For an early morning flight to Lukla, we travel to RameChhap Airport. You will touch down at the Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla following a scenic 40-minute flight. We set out on our journey from the affluent village of Lukla to Phakding. The trek today will be brief and enjoyable because you'll also be adjusting to the altitude. If you have some free time, you can explore the nearby monasteries in Phakding and get ready for the strenuous hike the following day.

We start our hike along the Dudh Kosi's banks, crossing its tributaries on thrilling suspension bridges decorated with prayer flags. As you continue on the trail through Sagamartha National Park, you'll see breathtaking views. A number of fine restaurants, hotels, lodges, internet cafes, shops, and a bakery can be found in Namche Bazaar, also referred to as the "Gateway to Everest." A major town along the Everest trail is Namche (3440 m).

To acclimatize to the high altitude, we will spend a day in Namche. To honour the Sherpa people's customs, you must visit the Sherpa Museum. The Syangboche Airport and the Everest View Hotel are further destinations for our hike. At the Everest View Hotel, guests can take in breathtaking sunrises, sunsets, and sweeping panoramas of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest.

We will begin our hike by ascending, then continue downhill to cross the Dudh Koshi River. Before arriving at a small community called Phunki Thenga, you will pass through a significant area of alpine forests. After climbing through a rhododendron forest from Phunki Thenga, you will reach Tengboche. Tengboche Monastery, the largest Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu Region, is located in Tengboche.

The Tengboche monastery is in a great location, with the Himalayas as its backdrop. The monastery is where we go when we first arrive, and we love to take pictures of it and its breathtaking surroundings. Before crossing a river, we descend through a forest for about 30 minutes. Then we hike uphill, noticing that the terrain gets drier as we ascend higher. Before arriving in Pheriche, a lovely village on the riverside, we walk past the traditional Sherpa village of Pangboche. We can also see a small helipad nearby, which is used for emergency helicopter rescues. In the medical center at Pheriche, we might even take a class from a mountain expert.

We set out on a short stroll in the direction of Dugla after breakfast. Next, we hike up the Khumbu Glacier's steep terminal moraine, then pass through boulder-strewn slopes as we ascend Chupki Lhara, where we find a number of stones with prayer flags used as memorials to American mountaineer Scott Fischer and 10-time Everest climber Babu Chiri Sherpa, who died while attempting to ascend Everest. The trail then continues to the Khumbu Glacier moraine, where we come face to face with Khumbutse, Lingtren, Pumori, and Mahalangur Himal, among other impressive peaks.

We travel through Gorak Shep on our way to Everest Base Camp. We must carefully follow our lead sherpa because the path from here can be difficult. The high altitude and thin air make the walk difficult. Before arriving at Everest Base Camp, we traverse rocky dunes, moraines, and streams. The colorful tents of the mountaineers greet us when we get to the Everest Base Camp, which stands out sharply against the dull, grey surroundings (especially in the spring). From the base camp, we can see the mountains Nuptse, Khumbuste, and Pumori. We return to Gorak Shep so we can rest well that night.

In the predawn darkness and below-freezing (-10 to -14 C) temperatures, we get ready for an early morning departure. Additionally, the possibility of chilly winds, which are quite common, is always present. Lingtren, Khumbutse, and Changtse, as well as other well-known peaks, tower to the east as Everest starts to emerge. But it's not until we get to Kala Patthar that we get to experience the 360-degree, up-close, and imposing views of Mount Everest.  After snapping photos and taking in the breathtaking mountain view, we head back to Lobuche for the night.

After an early breakfast, we hike to Kongma La Base Camp (5,000 m/16,404 ft) via the Khumbu Glacier. We must bring a packed lunch because there are no tea shops or restaurants along the route. The hardest part of our trek today is the ascent to Kongma La Pass. We can see prayer flag-draped cairns marking the Kongma La Pass. Then we gradually descend to the Imja Khola Valley and continue to descend to the small summer settlement of Chhukung. In order to prepare for our ultimate climb, we will inspect our equipment once we arrive in Chhukung.

A moderately difficult trail leads to Island Peak Base Camp. To reach the main line of the valley, we first climb south and then turn east. Then, we proceed along a winding path that runs beneath the Lhotse Glacier's southern moraine flank. We then proceed on a pleasant trail that follows a stream. Southeast is the direction that leads to the Amphu Labtsa. A broad valley that flanks Island Peak's southwest side can be reached via a winding path that passes through the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines.

Today, after breakfast, we start our pre-climb preparation. You will receive instruction from our guides on how to use all of your climbing gear, including the ice axe, harnesses, ascenders, boots, and crampons. Ropes will also be used during the training to ascend and descend. Island Peak Climbing does not require any prior climbing experience. We are confident that doing so will advance your climbing skills and self-confidence, increase your chances of summiting, and let you fully experience. The remainder of the day can be spent either relaxing or hiking to High Camp and back.

To avoid the afternoon wind, we set out early in the morning and aim to reach the summit of Island Peak before noon. Our knowledgeable Sherpa leaders will lead the way. Before getting to the base of the glacier, we must first climb the rocky ridge. After that, we ascend the glacier with the aid of ropes until we reach the south ridge, which we then follow to the summit. Great views of Lhotse (27,890 feet), Makalu (27,805 feet), Island Peak (22,493 feet), and Baruntse (25,328 feet) can be seen from the summit of Island Peak. You will return to base camp after enjoying some of your best moments there and stay there for the night.

As we descend to lower elevations, the hike we'll be taking today will be much simpler. As We pass through the picturesque Sherpa villages of Orsho and Shomare as we return through the Khumbu Khola valley. The oldest gompa in the Khumbu region, Upper Pangboche Gompa, is reachable from Pangboche via a different trail. A picturesque village, Pangboche is surrounded by the Everest mountain range on the north, the Ama Dablam range on the east, the Thamserku range on the south, and the Kongde range on the west.

We go backwards from Pangboche to the Imja Khola and then climb through the forest to Tengboche. Nuns at the Tengboche monastery are also available for visits if you're interested. We continue through the hillside covered in rhododendron and juniper trees. Our trail follows the Dudh Koshi gorge, rapidly descending through the pine forests before arriving at Sansa, after crossing the bridge over the Dudh Koshi River. As we move through the forest, we keep a close eye out for wildlife like mountain goats, snow leopards, and various coloured pheasants. We arrive at the army camp in Namche Bazaar after passing several chortens.

As we head back to the Dudh Koshi Valley, our final day of hiking trails will be rewarding. From the Kusum stream, it is generally a gentle climb back up to Lukla. The trail quickly ascends to the west before descending to Lukla. After the initial ascent, the path arrives at a small village, where we turn left and climb upward through the trees. It will be entirely different in the Dudh Koshi Valley. You will eventually arrive in the sizable town of Lukla, from which you will take a flight back to Kathmandu the next day.

After our exhausting climb up the mountains, we board an early morning flight to Kathmandu. We can rest or go shopping for souvenirs once we arrive in Kathmandu. We have today to explore any additional parts of Kathmandu that we might be interested in. In honor of the climbers' successful ascent of the island peak, there will be a farewell dinner that night.

This is the extra day, so we can use it whenever we need it, either in the mountains or in the city.

Today marked the end of your wonderful adventure in Nepal with the summits of Everest Base Camp and Island Peak. We will drive you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight. There are many gorgeous sites to explore besides this magnificent excursion. We invite you to return and enjoy these unique experiences.