Island Peak Climbing

Upon arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport, a representative from Himalayan Dream Team will greet you and guide you to your hotel. Once you reach the hotel, you can check in, freshen up, and take some time to relax. In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner hosted by Himalayan Dream Team.

Today, our adventure for Island Peak begins at Kathmandu Domestic Airport, where we will take an early morning 45-minute flight to Lukla. The flight offers stunning views of the fertile middle hills, scattered villages, terraced fields, and the majestic high Himalayas in the background. Upon arrival in Lukla, we meet the rest of our trekking team, take a break for tea or coffee, and commence our trek to Phakding. The trail initially descends gradually to Cheplung village, providing us with a glimpse of Mt. Khumbila, a sacred mountain that remains unclimbed.

Note: During peak season, flights to Lukla may operate from Ramechap airport to avoid delays and air traffic. Ramechap, 130 km east of Kathmandu, requires a 4-hour drive. If departing from Ramechap, expect an early start at 2 am and a brief 12-15 minute flight to Lukla.

After breakfast from Phakding the trail continues north up the Dudh Kosi valley, staying 100m above the river on its west bank. The trail leads us to Jorsale (2810m) where we enter the Sagarmatha National Park, and submit our trekking permits for checking. From here we continue on an ever-steepening trail to Namche Bazaar (3440m), known simply as Namche. En route we cross the spectacular suspension bridge high above the confluence of the Bhote Kosi and the Dudh Kosi, and shortly after glimpse our first view of Everest, way off to the north-east. The trail to Namche is steep and long, but eventually we reach the remarkable Sherpa capital perched high on the hillside and dominated to the east by the immense bulk of Kwangde

We spend another night in Namche to acclimatize to the high altitude. Nestled in a vast, protected hollow, Namche is a thriving village. Post-breakfast, you have several activity options. You could hike to the Everest View Hotel (3880M), explore the villages of Khumjung and Khunde, trek towards Thame above the stunning Bhote Khola river valley, or visit the National Park Headquarters to learn about Sherpa culture, mountaineering history, and local wildlife. Your guides will provide guidance and accompany you on any chosen excursions.

Tengboche (or Thyangboche) is a village in Khumjung. The trek to PhunkiThanga is an easy walk. From there, we ascend to Tengboche village, home to the famous Tengboche Monastery, the largest in the Everest region. It sits within Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery offers stunning views of the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. The monastery opens at 3:00 pm, so arriving by then allows us to witness a Buddhist religious ceremony.

From Phorse Village we trek down the narrow trail through a monastery. We continue our trek through lush alpine forests until we reach large village of Upper Pangboche, where we will get astonished by the dramatic views. We then continue through the villages of Shomare, Orsho, and Tsuro Wog. The trek goes further up through the Khumbu Khola Valley to the ridge top from where we witness spectacular views of the soaring mountains of Taboche, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, Nuptse, Lotse, Cholatse, etc. We even can observe the beautiful Imja Khola valley to the east. Thereafter, we see sprawling fields and the settlement of Dingboche overlooked with Chortens and prayer flags as we gently ascend down to the Dingboche village.

Today's journey to Chhukung starts from the seasonal settlement of Dingboche, encircled by majestic peaks such as Ama Dablam, the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge, Tawache, and Chalotse. Our trek progresses through stone-lined fields and along the Imja Khola valley before traversing glacier moraines. The presence of the Lhotse and Ama Dablam mountains looms large as we continue. After passing the village of Bibre, the striking silhouette of Island Peak comes into view. The trail crisscrosses through icy streams, leading us to Chhukung—a cozy hamlet reached within half an hour from Bibre. From Chhukung, the remarkable views of Ama Dablam and the Amphu Labsa mountains stand impressively across the valley.

Today is dedicated to acclimatization, with a climb to Chhukung Ri planned to help us adjust to the altitude. Chhukung Ri, a peak just above Chhukung village, offers a straightforward climb, though it requires some light scrambling as we approach the summit. From the peak, we'll enjoy spectacular views across the valley, including the stunning Ama Dablam and Amphu Labsa peaks. After soaking in the scenery, we'll descend to Chhukung, where we'll spend the night.

From Chhukung, we'll head north, following the valley alongside the moraine from the Lhotse glacier to the east. A brief walk by the river brings us to a large rock, and from there, a 40-minute climb takes us to Island Peak Base Camp. Once we've set up our tents, you'll receive a brief training session on peak climbing techniques. This will cover how to use essential equipment like ice axes, climbing boots, crampons, harnesses, and ropes.

Today, after breakfast, we start our pre-climb training. Our guides will teach you peak climbing techniques and how to properly use climbing gear such as ice axes, climbing boots, crampons, harnesses, and ascenders. You'll also learn how to use ropes for ascending and descending. While prior training isn't mandatory for climbing Island Peak, it can significantly boost your confidence and enhance your skills, improving your chances of reaching the summit and enjoying the experience. The initial climb will be on a rock surface up to an altitude of around 5,770 meters, after which we will switch to ice and use ropes as necessary, depending on the season and crevasse conditions. The remainder of the day can be spent either hiking to high camp and back or resting in preparation for tomorrow's climb.

Today, we start our climb early, waking up between 12 to 1 am for breakfast. It's crucial to reach the summit before noon to avoid the strong afternoon winds that can hinder our success. The trail begins just beyond the base camp, initially sandy then turning to grass and finally becoming strewn with boulders. As we ascend, the path narrows and enters a steep rock channel where we'll climb several short rock steps before reaching a ridgeline. This leads to an exposed traverse onto the summit glacier, where we'll use fixed ropes as needed. A steep snow slope then brings us onto the summit ridge, using both fixed and man ropes for safety.

After reaching the summit, where we'll pause for photos and enjoy the views, we'll descend back to Island Peak Base Camp. Here, we'll be greeted by some of our crew and celebrate our successful climb. Along the way, we'll cross two new crevasses, approximately 3 and 4 meters long, using ladders.

Today, our descent to lower altitudes offers a much easier walk. Following the same path back through the wide Khumbu Khola valley, we'll pass through the picturesque Sherpa villages of Orsho and Shomare. Alternatively, we can take a different route to visit the ancient Gompa in Upper Pangboche, considered the oldest in the Khumbu region, or continue on the regular trail to Pangboche. This scenic village is encircled by Everest to the north, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kangtaiga to the east, the Kongde range to the south, and the Imja Tse River flowing through the fertile valley.

Today, we head back from Pangboche, descending to the Imja Khola river and then climbing through the forest to Tengboche. Here, we can choose to visit the nuns at Tengboche Monastery. After lunch in Tengboche, our journey continues through hillsides dotted with rhododendron and juniper trees. We'll cross a bridge over the Dudh Koshi River and follow the gorge downhill, passing rapidly through pine forests towards Sansa. During this trek, keep an eye out for local wildlife such as mountain goats, snow leopards, and colorful pheasants. After passing a chorten, our path leads us to the army camp at Namche Bazaar.

The trail descends steeply, requiring careful steps as we navigate the rocky terrain with tired legs. After crossing several suspension bridges over the swiftly flowing Dudh Koshi River and its tributaries, the path evens out. Once we reach Lukla, we'll have a chance to stretch our sore legs and reflect on the adventures of the past few weeks.

After our mountain expedition, we'll take an early morning flight back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival, you can relax, shop for souvenirs, or explore more of the city with help from our guides. In the evening, we'll gather for a farewell dinner to celebrate the successful summit of Island Peak.

In case there is no flight from Lukla to Kathmandu due to bad weather, we plan to stay one extra day in kathmandu .

After breakfast or lunch, depending on your flight time, we will transfer you to the international airport or if you leave by evening you can put your luggage at the Hotel and enjoy the city one final day.