Island Peak Climb and Everest Base Camp

Al Moren and gang on summit of Island peak (Photo: Al Morena)

Island Peak climb and Everest Base Camp (24 days, 23 nights)

Island Peak was named by Eric Shipton, British mountaineer and explorer, who described it as an Island in a sea of ice. Island Peak, known to the Sherpas as Imja Tse, is the ideal first Himalayan climb and a wonderful experience to climb over 20,000 ft. Basic mountaineering experience such as glacier travel, ice-axe arrest, use of ascender and rapelling are REQUIRED for participation. Mountaineering skills will be revised by our climbing Sherpas prior to your climb.

Towering Himalayan peaks from Everest to Amadablam, from Lhotse to Thamserku - on this trip you will be surrounded by some of the highest mountains in the world. After a day of exploring the temples, stupas and palaces of Kathmandu, you will take a 25-minute flight to Lukla. Trek through Sherpa villages of Namche and Pangboche to the Everest Base Camp. The first challenge is the climb of Kala Pathar (literally, black rock) at 18,195 ft. Then descend to the Imja Valley, establish base camp and high camp, and attempt to summit Imja Tse. Return to Lukla via Khumjung, one of the largest Sherpa villages and site of the famous Khunde Hospital and the Khumjung school, both legacies of Sir Edmund Hillary.

Itinerary

Day 01 - Kathmandu

Arrive Kathmandu. You will be met on arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport. Transfer to Hotel. Day Free. Enjoy welcome dinner. Briefing during dinner. (Dinner)

Day 02 - Kathmandu

Bodhnath Stupa (Photo: Claudine)

Full day sightseeing in Kathmandu. You will be accompanied by our in-house city guide. In the morning, visit Bodhanath, the Stupa of a million dew drops, to watch monks and devotees circumambulate the largest stupa in Nepal. Then visit Pashupatinath, Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, with its two-tiered golden roof and silver door. Drive to Patan for lunch in the garden of the Patan Museum Café. After lunch, visit the well-maintained Patan Museum. Drive back to Kathmandu. (Breakfast and Lunch)

Day 03 - Kathmandu to Phakding (8,700 ft.)

Early morning flight to Lukla. The short flight is around 25 minutes long. At Lukla, you will meet your porters and other trek staff. After a quick breakfast at a lodge, begin trekking. Today’s trek to Phakding is fairly level. Overnight local lodge. (All meals)

Day 04 - Phakding to Namche (11,270 ft.)

Today you will enter the Sagarmatha National Park at Monju. A little past Jorsalle, begins the grueling climb to the largest Sherpa village of Namche. Overnight lodge. (All meals)

Day 05 - Namche (11,270 ft.)

Today is an acclimatization day. You are free to visit the National Park Museum or wonder around Namche town. Overnight lodge. (All meals)

Day 06 - Namche to Tengboche (12,900 ft.)

Tenboche Monastery (Photo: Werner Kurz)

Descend to Phunki Tenga. After lunch, it is all uphill to Tenboche monastery. Overnight local lodge. (All meals)

Day 07 - Tengboche to Feriche (13,950 ft.)

From today, you will start to notice the change in the landscape. Forests give way to arid landscape with shrubs. Overnight local lodge. (All meals)

Day 08 - Feriche (13,950 ft.)

Rest day for acclimatization. Free to go for a day hike or to just relax. Overnight local lodge. (All meals)

Day 09 - Feriche to Lobuche (16,200 ft.)

Today is a long day involving a steep ascent to Dughla and a more gradual ascent to Lobuche. Climb directly up the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier into an area dedicated to climbers who have perished on Khumbu's mountains. Overnight lodge. (All meals)

Day 10 - Lobuche to Gorakshep (17,500 ft.)

A short hike to Gorakshep. Begin the climb today by ascending gently through high altitude meadows. Then cross several steep moraines while also walking on an active glacier. Gorakshep is situated on a sandy flat that served as base camp for the 1952 Swiss Everest expedition. Optional hike to the Everest Base camp. Return to lodge at Gorakshep. Overnight lodge. (All meals)

Day 11 - Gorakshep to Lobuche (16,200 ft.)

Trek to Kalapathar (18,195 ft.). This is the final high altitude climb of the trek as a result of which you will perhaps achieve the highest reward of your perseverance. The steep ascent to the top of Kalapathar can take up to 3 hours or more but the view from here is one you are unlikely to forget. Overnight lodge. (All meals)

Day 12 - Lobuche to Chukkung (15,100 ft.)

Descend to Dughla and and take the high route over Feriche to Chukkung. Overnight lodge. (All meals)

Day 13 - Chukkung (15,100 ft.)

Another rest day. Optionally you may climb Chukkung Ri . (All meals)

Day 14 - Island Peak Base Camp (16,200 ft.)

Short two-hour hike to Island Peak Base Camp. From today, we will be sleeping in tents for the ascent of Imja Tse. Overnight tents. (All meals)

Day 15 - Island Peak High Camp (17,100 ft.)

Climbers on a fixed line (Photo: Kipa)

Two to three hour hike to high camp. Overnight tents. (All meals)

Day 16 - Summit Island Peak (20,300 ft.)

Summit Island Peak and return to Base Camp. Overnight tents. (All meals)

Day 17 - Contingency day

Contingency day for bad weather. Overnight tents. (All meals)

Day 18 - Pangboche (15,200 ft.)

Descend to Pangboche . Overnight lodge. (All meals)

Day 19 - Pangboche to Khumjung (15, 500 ft.)

Descend to Khumjung . Overnight lodge. (All meals)

Day 20 - Khumjung to Monjo (9,300 ft.)

Descend to Monjo. Overnight Lodge. (All meals)

Day 21 - Monjo to Lukla (9,300 ft.)

Trek to Lukla. Overnight Hotel Tibet. (Breakfast)

Day 22 - Lukla to Kathmandu

Fly Lukla to Kathmandu. Day free. Overnight Hotel Tibet. (Breakfast)

Day 23 - Kathmandu

Sightseeing in Kathmandu. Visit Swayambhunath, the monkey temple, and Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Overnight Hotel Tibet. (All meals)

Day 24 - Depart for home

Final departure

Climbers on a fixed line (Photo: Al Morena)

Price includes:

Expert pre-trip advice and detailed information
Motivated staff; adequate equipment for staff and staff insurance (Read about our “redefining staff care ” initiative)
All airport transfers; two full days sightseeing in Kathmandu as indicated in the itinerary and entrance fees to monuments.
4 nights twin sharing hotel accommodation at Hotel Tibet in Kathmandu.
Airfare: Kathmandu – Lukla – Kathmandu
Meals as indicated in the itinerary; Lodge/tent accommodations on the trek
Sagarmatha National Park Fee
Gamow Bag (High altitude pressure chamber)
Peak Permit
Group climbing gear (main rope, fixed rope, ice screws, snow pickets)
Licensed climbing Sherpa (1:3 ratio)

Price does not include:

Your international airfare
Nepal Visa
Meals not indicated in the itinerary
Tips and Gratuities
Personal equipment (a suggested list will be mailed to you)
Your travel insurance (Required)
And other expenses of a personal nature

TO BOOK THIS TRIP:

To book the trip, please download and complete the reservation form and send it to us either as an email attachment.

Email: info@crystalmountaintreks.com

A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required at the time of booking this trip. Deposit must be paid by wire transfer. Details will be provided. We will reimburse up to $30 to cover wire expenses. Balance payment is required after arrival in Kathmandu.

Download reservation form (Word)»

North American clients:

Please book this trip with our US based sister company - Grand Asian Journeys. (Separate booking and cancellation policy applies.)

Grand Asian Journeys
PO Box 608
Indianola, WA 98342
Toll Free: 1-888-586-7750
Email: info@grandasianjourneys.com

Video from past Island Peak trip

Videos from the summit of Island Peak - courtesy of Matthew Hobby

Altitude sickness

This trek does involve sleeping and hiking at high altitude. We will, as we do for all high-altitude treks, provide a GAMOW bag for this trip. A GAMOW bag is a portable hyperbaric chamber that looks like an inflatable extra-large sleeping bag. The effective altitude inside the inflated GAMOW bag is about 5000 feet lower than the altitude you are at; it has been very effective in the past in relieving headaches and other symptoms of altitude sickness.

TREK RATING:

This trek is rated strenuous and involves trekking at high altitude; highest altitude reached is the summit of Island Peak at 20,300 ft. Highest overnight elevation is 17,100 ft at High Camp. The entire trip involves a lot of up and down (there could be an elevation change of up to 3,000 ft in a day) and involves at least one day of walking for up to 10 hours. A Gamow Bag will also be provided.

Participants must be fairly strong hikers to participate on this trek/climb. Basic technical climbing experience is required - Ice axe arrest, walking on crampons, use of ascenders and descenders etc. skills are required on this climb.

REFERENCES:

Crystal Mountain Treks organizes treks and tours in Nepal, India, Bhutan and Tibet for hundreds of satisfied travelers every year. Our previous trekking clients have included travellers from the USA, UK, Australia, France, Germany and Russia. Feel free to ask us for references who can tell you about their experience with us. We may be able to get you in touch with a previous client from your native country.

WHY BOOK WITH CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN?:

There are over 500 and counting trekking companies in Nepal plus numerous adventure companies based outside of Nepal selling treks in Nepal. We are aware that you have lots of options. But, we believe there are reasons we stand out from our competitors. Our most compelling argument is that we provide the BEST VALUE. When you book with us, cost of all your meals on your trek are included. You may choose anything or any amount from the menu. A lot of trekking companies have hidden costs - cost of meals while on the trek are not included. Or if they are included, you can only order one/two items. Prices at lodges in the Everest region are highly inflated and each meal can cost GBP 5 per person on average meaning an additional GBP 150 per person on the full Everest Base Camp Trek. Also, we provide boiled water for your water bottles at breakfast, lunch and dinner. With other companies, this would be extra (GBP 2 - GBP 6 at Gorakshep - for two liters of water). All these costs add up very quickly. With us, you also see and experience more than the average trekker. All our guides and managers are passionate about our work and our country. We enjoy showing and sharing our country with you. Just ask our previous clients who've all become our friends. We've listed more reasons why we are different here...

OTHER TREKS IN THE EVEREST REGION:

EQUIPMENT:

No technical climbing equipment is required for participation on the Everest Base Camp trek. A clothing list will be provided to you. We are also happy to provide duffel bags, down jackets and sleeping jackets for our clients for no charge. We do only have a limited stock and will provide these on a first-come, first-served basis.

FLYING TO NEPAL:

Flying from the UK:
Most economical options are either flying through Abi Dhabi (Etihad Airlines) or through Delhi (Jet Airways and Air India). Other options include flying through Bahrain on Gulf Air and through Doha on Qatar Airlines.

Flying from Australia:
Your best options are either flying through Bangkok (Thai Airways), through Singapore (Singapore Airlines), or through Delhi (Jet Airways).

Check out the following sites to compare prices for flights to Nepal:

www.kayak.com
www.sidestep.com
www.cheapoair.com

NEPAL TREK PREPARATION:

Click on the link for useful information that should help you better plan/prepare for your trekking journey in Nepal. This page will be continually updated based on client feedback/experience: NEPAL TREK PREPARATION

QUESTIONS: