Island Peak Climbing(6,189m) – 17 Days

A full preparation day in Kathmandu. We process your Island Peak climbing permit, Sagarmatha National Park entry permit, and TIMS card. In the morning, you will meet your climbing team for a detailed pre-trip briefing covering the route, safety procedures, and what to expect on summit day. The afternoon is reserved for last-minute gear shopping in Thamel's many outdoor shops, and for checking technical equipment (crampons, harness, ice axe, ascender). If you need to rent anything, our guide will help you find quality gear at fair prices. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Flight: 35 min | Trek: 3–4 hrs An early morning transfer to the domestic airport for one of the world's most spectacular mountain flights — a 35-minute flight to Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla, often called the gateway to Everest. After landing, we meet our porters and begin the trek, descending gently through pine and rhododendron forests alongside the Dudh Kosi River. We pass small Sherpa settlements and cross several suspension bridges strung with prayer flags before reaching Phakding for the night.

Trek: 6–7 hrs A challenging and spectacular day. We follow the Dudh Kosi upstream, crossing it several times on high suspension bridges — including the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge near Benkar. The trail climbs steeply through pine forest, and as we near Namche, the first breathtaking views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Thamserku, and Kusum Kanguru appear through the trees. We enter Sagarmatha National Park at Jorsalle (checkpoint) before the final steep pull up to Namche Bazaar, the bustling Sherpa trading hub of the Khumbu.

A crucial acclimatization day following the golden rule of high-altitude trekking: "climb high, sleep low." After breakfast, we hike up to the Everest View Point above Namche and visit the traditional Sherpa village of Khumjung (3,790m), home to the Hillary School and Khumjung Gompa (where the legendary Yeti scalp is kept). We also stop at the Syangboche viewpoint and the Everest View Hotel for stunning panoramas of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and other giants. We return to Namche in the afternoon for rest and hydration.

Trek: 5–6 hrs The trail descends gently to the Dudh Kosi before climbing steadily through beautiful rhododendron, pine, and fir forests. We pass through the villages of Kenjoma and Sanasa, with ever-improving views of Ama Dablam, Everest, Lhotse, and Thamserku. We reach Tengboche in time to visit the famous Tengboche Monastery, the largest in the Khumbu and a spiritual center of the region. If we arrive before the afternoon puja (ceremony), we can watch the monks' chanting. Overnight in Tengboche.

Trek: 5–6 hrs We descend past mani walls and prayer flags to Deboche (3,630m), cross the Imja Khola, and ascend gradually through Pangboche village — the oldest Sherpa village in the Khumbu, with its ancient monastery. The trail enters higher alpine terrain with fewer trees, following the Imja Khola upstream with Ama Dablam towering directly ahead. We arrive at Dingboche, a stone-walled village surrounded by stone-walled fields, where we'll spend two nights to aid acclimatization.

Another vital acclimatization day. We take a day hike to Chhukung Ri (5,550m) or Nagarzhang Peak (5,083m) above Dingboche, climbing high to stimulate red blood cell production, then returning to Dingboche to sleep. The hike up Chhukung Ri rewards with spectacular close-up views of Lhotse's south face, Makalu, Ama Dablam, Imja Tse (Island Peak), and Baruntse. The rest of the day is reserved for fluids, carbohydrates, and rest. We also conduct a briefing on the upcoming climbing section and review equipment.

Trek: 2–3 hrs A short but beautiful day in the heart of the Imja Valley. We leave Dingboche's stone-walled fields and follow the trail east, climbing gently through summer grazing pastures with Ama Dablam behind us and the bulk of Island Peak and Lhotse's south face growing ahead. We reach Chhukung (4,730m), a small climbers' settlement surrounded by dramatic peaks, by early afternoon — from here we get our first clear view of Island Peak (Imja Tse) rising at the head of the Imja Glacier. The afternoon is reserved for rest; for those feeling strong, a short walk up the lower slopes of Chhukung Ri offers even more commanding views. Your climbing guide will then conduct a gear check and a briefing about the next few days of climbing.

Our final preparation day. We do a short acclimatization hike up the flanks of Chhukung Ri to further boost acclimatization, then conduct hands-on mountaineering training. Your climbing guide will teach and practice with you:

• Proper fitting and use of crampons
• Ice axe self-arrest technique
• Use of ascender (jumar) on fixed rope
• Rappelling / abseiling technique
• Walking roped-up on a glacier
• Crevasse awareness and safety

In the afternoon, we pack summit-day packs, organize climbing hardware, and rest. A full briefing covers the summit plan, timing, and safety protocols.

Trek: 3–4 hrs A short but spectacular day. We leave Chhukung after breakfast and follow the Imja Khola up-valley, traversing moraine and rocky terrain with constant views of Lhotse's south face, Ama Dablam, and the growing bulk of Island Peak ahead. We reach Island Peak Base Camp (locally called Pareshaya Gyab, 5,087m) set on a rocky plateau beside the Lhotse Glacier. Our Sherpa crew will have tents set up. We enjoy an early dinner and get to bed well before dark, as summit day starts well before midnight.

Climb/Trek: 10–12 hrs Summit day — the culmination of your adventure. We wake around 1:00–2:00 AM for a hot drink and light breakfast before setting off by headlamp. We climb onto the Imja Glacier, rope up as a team, and begin the gradual glacier walk (crampons on) with our climbing Sherpas leading the way through the crevassed terrain. As dawn breaks, we reach the base of the headwall — a steep 100–200m snow and ice slope at roughly 45–55 degrees, which we climb on fixed lines using ascenders. Above the headwall, we follow the dramatic summit ridge (exposed in places) to the top of Imja Tse (6,189m). From the summit, a breathtaking 360° panorama unfolds: Mount Everest (8,848m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,485m), Cho Oyu (8,188m), Ama Dablam (6,812m), Nuptse (7,861m), Baruntse (7,129m), and countless other peaks across the Khumbu and Makalu regions. After time for photos and celebration on the summit, we carefully descend, rappelling the headwall and retracing our steps across the glacier to Base Camp for a brief rest, then continue the descent down to Chhukung for a well-earned night's sleep at a lodge.

A built-in buffer day. This day provides a safety cushion in case bad weather, high winds, or route conditions force a delay in our summit attempt. If we have already summited successfully on Day 12, this becomes a welcome rest day in Chhukung — you may choose to take a short walk for different views of Ama Dablam and Lhotse, or simply enjoy the lodge and recover before the descent. If weather prevented a summit on Day 12, we use this day to move to Base Camp and attempt the summit.

Trek: 6–7 hrs (optionally pushed to Namche) We begin our return trek, descending from Chhukung back through the Imja Valley to Pangboche, past mani walls and prayer flags, through the conifer and rhododendron forests to Tengboche. Depending on the group's pace, we may stop at Tengboche or continue down to Namche Bazaar for the night. Our Sherpa crew will celebrate with us in the evening — sharing chang or soft drinks and stories from the climb.

Trek: 6–7 hrs We descend all the way back through the Dudh Kosi valley, passing familiar villages and the many suspension bridges that mark the Everest trail. We retrace our steps via Jorsalle and Monjo, exiting Sagarmatha National Park, and arrive in Lukla by afternoon — a fitting end to a great adventure. Celebration dinner tonight with the trekking and climbing team, with stories and laughter.

Flight: 35 min Morning flight back to Kathmandu (subject to weather; the contingency day on Day 13 also helps buffer against Lukla flight delays). Check into your hotel, then enjoy a long hot shower and a well-deserved rest. In the evening, we host a farewell dinner at a nice restaurant in Thamel, where we will present you with a summit certificate and toast your achievement. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight. If your flight departs later in the day, there is time for some last-minute souvenir shopping in Thamel or a visit to Boudhanath Stupa. We wish you safe travels and hope you will return to the Himalayas again soon.