Island Peak Climbing - 16 Days

An early morning scenic flight from Kathmandu takes you to Lukla to begin the trek officially to the quaint village of Phakding, which takes 3-4 hours to reach. The trek will be adventurous along the Dudh Koshi River, passing several settlements and crossing suspension bridges with panoramic vistas of the Himalayas. You have a fantastic night in Phakding with warm hospitality.

Today’s trek starts with a beautiful walk along the Dudh Koshi River. After passing through villages like Jarsell and walking into Sagarmatha National Park, the ascending trail leads you to Namche Bazaar, a serene Sherpa town. You can enjoy magnificent views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam on the way. In the evening, you can explore the unique culture and traditions of local people and enjoy local dishes with warm hospitality.

Namche Bazar assists you as a perfect point for an acclimatization day to help your body adjust to the altitude. You can rest and prepare for further sections of the trek. If you want to stretch your legs, you can take a short hike to Syangboche, the Everest View Hotel, or the Mountaineering Museum. It’s a great opportunity to communicate with the inhabitants of this Sherpa town and immerse yourself in their culture to have an authentic Himalayan cultural experience.

After having a delicious breakfast, the journey begins through forested trails adorned with rhododendrons and pines. After passing Kyangzuma and Sansa, you eventually arrive at Phunki Thenga, which takes you uphill to a lush forest. From here, you can witness stunning scenes of towering mountains such as Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and Lhotse. You will visit Tengboche Monastery as you reach your destination for the night stay.

The trek from Tengboche to Dengboche is a short but exciting journey with a gradual gain in elevation through alpine meadows and more rugged terrain that offers striking panoramas of Island Peak, Ama Dablam, and Lhotse. The peaceful atmosphere of Dengboche awaits you as you pass villages such as Phortse and Pangboche, which have some descents and ascents.

The trek to Chhukung is a short but exciting journey with a scenic trail that follows the Imza Khola Valley and takes 3 to 4 hours to reach. After leaving Dingboche, the path gradually ascends through rocky terrain and grassy meadows, offering jaw-dropping views of snow-clad peaks such as Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, etc. Before reaching Chhukung, you traverse the village of Bibre, a camp for yak herders, and cross some rivers. Chhukung is a famous stop for acclimatization before heading to higher points in the Everest region.

It’s crucial to pause at Chhukng for acclimatization to adjust your body to the thin air and reduce the chances of developing altitude sickness. On this day, you can ascend Chhukung Ri (5545 m), which helps Island Peak Climbing. It’s a rocky peak, similar to Kala Patthar, that rewards striking panoramas of the encompassing peaks, including Makalu, Ama Dblam, and Nuptse. Conquering Chhukung Ri is challenging but offers a serene atmosphere, making the effort worthwhile. After spending valuable time on the top of Peak, you descend to Chhukung for a night's stay.

Today’s destination is Island Peak Base Camp, which will be a breathtaking and fulfilling journey. Leaving Chhukung, you walk for 3-4 hours to reach your destination, located beneath the gigantic mountains of Makalu, Ama Dablam, and Lhotse, passing through tough landscapes, traversing rocky debris, and streams fed by glaciers. On the way, you can see prayer flags and Buddhist monasteries while passing Sherpa villages. As you reach the base camp, the panoramic vistas of Island Peak welcome you, which stands at 6,189 meters. You set up the camp for an overnight stay underneath the starry sky.

To avoid harsh weather conditions, an exciting and challenging journey typically begins early in the morning, around 2 to 3 a.m. After leaving the base camp, walking through steep and rocky terrain gives you an extraordinary experience that requires crampons and ice axes. The final section of the expedition is tougher and needs focus and stamina. Following the final effort, you can enjoy marvelous panoramas of the Everest region and snow-covered peaks such as Ama Dablam, Makalu, Lhotse, etc. After celebrating a triumph, you begin descending back to the base camp.

The trek to Pangboche from Island Base Camp is easier with more descending trails through picturesque landmarks, including rocky terrains and alpine meadows. After passing through the villages of Orsho and Shomare, that leads to the Imja Khola Valley. Then you eventually reach Pangboche, walking through forests filled with rhododendrons and pines. Pangboche is renowned for the ancient monastery Pangboche, which makes the trek worthwhile. You have a wonderful night in the serene atmosphere of a village with warm hospitality.

Today’s journey will be an exhilarating one that involves both downhill and uphill trekking that begins with a descent through lush forests of pines and rhododendrons, following the Imja Khola River. After passing Phunki Theng and Benkar, the ascending trail takes you to Namche Bazaar. You can enjoy stunning views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam on the way. After reaching Namche Bazar, you can take full advantage of the vibrant environment where local shops and cafes are available.

You conclude your trek officially in the Everest region after reaching Lukla. The trek to Lukla from Sherpa town takes 6-7 hours and furnishes easier and more scenic paths with gradual descents via lush forests filled with rhododendrons and pines. The route provides stunning panoramas of several snow-clad peaks while traversing several quaint settlements such as Monjo and Phakding. From here, following the Dudh Koshi River, you enter Lukla after crossing some suspension bridges. Lukla is the perfect hub to stop for relaxing and preparing to get back to Kathmandu.

A thrilling flight from Lukla over rough mountainous terrains, steep valleys, and snow-clad areas takes you to Kathmandu, offering magnificent skyline views of the Himalayas. Then, after arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport, our representative will drop you off at your hotel to unwind.

Kathmandu is a vibrant city where people from every corner of Nepal come to fulfill their dreams, as it is a perfect platform to rise. It does not only resemble modernity but it has several features of ancient traditions. If you explore the city, you can see a considerable number of people still conserving their traditions. This way, you can visit previous royal palaces and Durbar Squares to witness ancient architecture and sculptures. While walking through Bazar, you can also buy souvenirs for your lovely family.

There are several historical temples, monasteries, and pagodas that stand as timeless sentinels to Nepal’s rich cultural heritage. You can visit places like Soyambhunath, Boudhanath, Durbar Squares, Changu Narayan Temple, and Pashupatinath. Besides these, you can explore other places such as Chandragiri Hill, the Kathmandu Fun Park, Shiva Puri National Park, the Garden of Dreams, etc. Thamel, Lagankhel, Asan, and Durbar Square areas are markets for buying different souvenirs.

It’s your final day in the country of the Himalayas, and our official will shift you to the airport 3-4 hours earlier than your scheduled flight. By taking incredible memories in the Everest region, you will wave goodbye to us and leave for your homeland.