On your 16-day Island Peak Expedition, you will not only reach the summit of the magnificent Island Peak but also experience trekking in the most coveted Everest region. Island Peak also called Imja Tse by the Nepalese is a popular choice among novice climbers who wish to begin their mountaineering journey by summiting Island Peak and then move on to other peaks. The mountain was named “Island Peak” in 1952 A.D due to its striking location in the middle of the Chhukung valley, like an island on a sea of ice. Island Peak has an impressive, highly glaciated west face that rises from the Lhotse Glacier which is a bit tough to do; however, the magnificent views from the summit are certainly a fitting reward for your efforts.
Highlights of Island Peak Expedition are:
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Welcome to Kathmandu Nepal.
Asian Heritage Treks & Travel Representative welcome you at the Airport with your nameplate. After Arrival at Nepal airport transfer you to the hotel. On the way Airport to Hotel, you will pass by the Open cremation Place (Pashupatinath temple), Royal Palace Museum i.e. Narayanhity, Garden Of Dream and reach the Thamel. Your hotel will be in downtown of Touristic Hub. Our representative will facilitate you and discuss your travel itinerary. There will be enough time to stroll through the street of Thamel.
Accommodation: Overnight in Yatri Suites & Spa or similar
You will take a flight from TIA to Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla in Solukhumbu. The flight takes you over the Himalayas giving you a breathtaking panoramic view of the higher mountains, including the famous Mt. Everest, standing there with the snow-covered peak in all its glory. On arrival at the airport, Sherpa crew will unload our trekking equipment and our guide will brief you and introduce our porters before our trek begins towards Phakding.
Accommodation: Overnight in the best available local lodge
After breakfast, you walk through beautiful pine forests and then along Dudh Koshi River ending your nature-filled journey at Namche Bazaar. After walking for almost over an hour, you come across the glistening Mt.Thamserku (6,608 m) on your right and also experience the serenity of pine, fir and juniper forests throughout your journey. If the weather is clear, you may even catch a glimpse of Mt. Everest peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. Continue walking until you reach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, Namche Bazaar, the gateway to Mt. Everest and the main trading center of this region. On that day you cross five suspension bridges, the last one also known as the Hillary Bridge being the highest. It is an uphill walk from Hillary Bridge to Namche Bazaar.
Accommodation: Overnight in the available local lodge.
Namche Bazaar is also known as the Sherpa Capital. You can use your time to acclimatize, relax and explore the surrounding places. Most of the trekkers prefer to get up before sunrise to view the magnificent views of Mount Everest, Thamserku, Amadablam and other glorious peaks from the Sagarmatha National Park. One can get a chance to observe the shadow of the mountains being projected onto the clouds above and truly appreciate their magnitude. As an energy supplier, one should try salt-butter tea and Champa – a kind of barley often consume by the Sherpas in the region.
Accommodation: Overnight in the available local lodge
On the sixth day of your Everest Base Camp trek, you’ll make your way from the village of Namche Bazaar to Tengboche. Although it will be one of the most challenging days of the trek in terms of elevation gain (around 4,000 feet/1,200 meters), it will also be the most rewarding as you get to take in the breathtaking views of the Everest Mountain Range.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning we visit the Tengboche monastery. Through the coniferous forest, the trail then descends to Debuche, crossing Imja River before climbing up to Pangboche. Also, we visit the Pangboche monastery. Then we descend into the river and start a climb up to Dingboche.
Accommodation: Overnight in the best available local lodge
We will spend a day here to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning of the air pressure. We will have a trip to Chhukung valley via the Imja Khola valley to get a marvellous view of the surrounding mountains, especially Lhotse’s massive south wall, then return to Dingboche in the evening.
Accommodation: Overnight in the best available local lodge
This day is for acclimatization. You will get used to the high altitude mountain settlement and scenarios. You can roam around and know more about this place.
Accommodation: Overnight in the best available local lodge
The trek to Island Peak Base Camp is quite steep. First, we climb south then walk on a winding path. Next, we continue walking along a streamside. A crisscross route through Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines leads to Island Peak.
Accommodation: Overnight at camp
After breakfast, you will be trained in peak climbing techniques and the use of climbing gears such as the ice-ax, climbing boots, and crampons, harness, ascend-er, etc. Though it’s not mandatory, the training would be quite helpful.
Accommodation: Overnight at the camp
We wake up early around midnight and have our breakfast before starting our climb. It is required to reach the summit before noon due to the probability of high winds. After enjoying the summit views we descend to Island Peak Base camp.
Accommodation: Overnight at the camp
We will be descending to the lower altitude this day through the beautiful Sherpa villages, Orsho and Shomare to reach Pangboche – a beautiful village surrounded by Everest to its north, Amadablam, Thamserku, and Kangtaiga to the east, the Kongde range to the south and the Imja Tse River flowing through the valley.
Accommodation: Overnight in the best available local lodge
From Pangboche we retrace our steps down to the Imja Khola and up through the forest to Tengboche and after our lunch there we continue till we reach the army camp at Namche Bazaar.
Accommodation: Overnight in the available local lodge
After Breakfast you will continue the trek through the Chumoa village- a beautiful village to have lunch. After lunch, you will walk along the riverside to Phakding and then head towards Lukla. After a few hours walk, you will reach Lukla where you can relax and dip yourself into the local culture and lifestyle. On reaching Lukla, we will reflect on the time spent as a group and the personal achievement of all those who took part in the trek.
Accommodation: Overnight in the available local lodge
Enjoy your last glimpse of the mountains you have recently visited for one last time. The flight to Kathmandu leaves before 10:00 am. Sometimes, it differs according to weather conditions. On arrival at Kathmandu, you will be transferred to the hotel.
Accommodation: Overnight in Yatri Suites & Spa or similar
Our representative will pick you up and drive you to Kathmandu. You will be advised and assisted with your onward travel arrangements and transfer to Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport by our private van around 3 hours before your flight schedule and flight back to your home/other travel destination.
Have a safe journey onward.
Words are hard to describe the experience of hiking in the Himalayas and having had the privilege the stand on one of it peaks. Wonderful, for sure! Also, only positive and kind feedback towards the company who was behind this experience.: professional, trustworthy and reliable and excellent guide (Shiva) and porter service. Thanks for your much valued contribution to a magnificent journey
Asian Heritage Treks and Expedition had planned a great acclimatization hike to bring us to Island Peak basecamp in the best shape. Thanks to this we kept our oxygen levels real high. Unfortunately the weather was against us and high winds an too much snow made summiting too dangerous, and we followed the advice of the expert sherpas provided by the company. For sure I will go and try again in 2020 and without doubt again with Asian Heritage and with their excellent guide Shiva.