Island Peak Climbing
Island Peak is also known as the Imja Tse Peak which is also one of major attraction of Nepal for climbing. Island peak (6,189) is situated in Khumbu region above the Imja Tse khola, hence is it also called as Imja Tse peak. The peak is surrounded by the three glacier i.e. Imja, Lhotse and Lhotse Shar glaciers.
Island peak climbing is not technically so hard but it offers a worthwhile challenge to the experienced winter mountaineer, competent in using ice axe and crampons, being technically straight forward, the most difficult section being a mixed rock and ice wall at a slope of around 45 degrees leading to the narrow summit ridge, approximately Scottish Winter Grade 2.
Island Peak was first climbed by a British Team in 1953 as a training exercise in preparation for Mount Everest. Tenzing Norgay was one of the members of this first ascent team. Island Peak climbing is one of the most trekking peak and climbing is only supported by Nepalese climbing guide. Islana Peak climbing grade is alpine PD+
Detail Itinerary for Island Peak Climbing
Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu:
We pick you from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu and transfer to the Hotel. During this period our staff will guide you a brief orientation of the package and Nepal. You will serve with Breakfast at Hotel or other local restaurant.
Day 02: Kathmandu Valley Sight Seeing:
Kathmandu Sightseeing program starts on day 2, you will be well informed about this on arrival. This will be half day sightseeing of the place of attraction in Kathmandu, guided by our staff. Rest of the time, you can use for walking around Thamel and shopping for required equipment and other necessary stuffs.
Place of Attraction: Monkey Temple, Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Baudha
Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla & trek to Phakding (Approx: 30 minutes flight to Lukla 2,840m 9-10km (2 1/2 -3hr walk) to Phakding at 2,800m):
On arrival at Lukla you will be received by our trekking guides. In Lukla you will have time to wander around, while the Sherpa crew sort and divide the load, lunch depending upon the time of arrival at Lukla either in Lukla or few walks further down on route to Phakding. The first village after Lukla is Chheplung and further down the trail, you will past through Ghat and Phakding.
Place of attraction: view of Kusum-Kangru 6,369m crossing a short suspension bridge, Ghat village, Dudh-Kosi river.
Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar 3,440m (approx. 5-6 hrs):
From Phakding after crossing the suspension bridge over the Dudh-Kosi the walk is pleasant with few short uphill and downhill and re-crossing the same river again, with magnificent view of Thermasarkhu 6,608m, then reaching a small village of Monjo after the last 20 minutes climb from the stream, after Monjo, comes to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, from here a short descend with a gradual walk to the Jorsaleand village is reached, the last village and the only place to shop till Namche Bazaar is reached, a second bridge is reached over the same river, the walk is pleasant on the river bed till the last bridge over the Imjatse river is reached, from here the walk is along the winding uphill path all the way to Namche Bazaar, with magnificent view of Kwangde peak, Kusum kangru Mt.Everest- Nuptse wall, Lhotse and the closer view of Taweche peak can be seen all the way up, from here another 1-2 hour walk up brings to the famed Namche Bazaar, the colourful houses are situated in an amphitheatre U shaped bowl. In addition, you are now heading into a high altitude area, so take it easy. Even the fittest people are prone to altitude sickness.
Place of attraction: view of Thermasarkhu, Kwangde peak, Kusum kangru Mt.Everest- Nuptse wall, Lhotse, Taweche peak, Jorsaleand, bridge, Imjatse river, colorful horses.
Day 05: Rest Day at Namche Bazaar:
Suggested activities a short walk uphill to the Sagarmatha National Park Headquarter, a magnificent spot perched on top of Namche Bazaar with breathtaking view of the surrounding snow capped giants and the valleys way down, with an interesting museum with all kinds of information regarding the history of the Himalayas, geographic, culture, mountaineering history and existing information on flora and fauna of this region, afternoon at leisure.
Place of Attraction: view of the Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Mt. Ama Dablam, Museum, Flora and fauna, Sherpa’s Life Standard.
Day 06: Trek to Thyangboche 3,867m (Approx: 5 hours):
The walk is fairly easy for the first half, after a 20 minutes climb to the top ridge of Namche Bazaar. Once at the top walk follows on the gradual trail with few short up and downs overlooking magnificent view of the great giant snow peaks from Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thermasharkhu and Kwangde-ri peak after a pleasant walk of two to three hours coming at Phungitenga 3,250m, a small settlement with couple of teahouses and a small Nepalese Army barrack serving as park wardens in the midst of the alpine woods of mostly silver fir blue pines, rhododendron and some few magnolia and birch trees. Walk from here is strenuous for an hour or two on the winding trail through the shade of woods till Thyangboche Monastery or Ghompa, is reached for the overnight stop. This beautiful spot offers views of the majestic beautiful peak Ama Dablam with Everest looming above the Nuptse wall in the north with Mt. Lhotse and Lhotse Shar towards north east.
Place of attraction: Phungitenga, Nepalese Army Barrack, Tyangboche Monastery, Panoramic views of Mountains.
Day 07: Trek to Dingboche 4,358m (Approx. 5-6 hour):
After a wonderful time at Thyangboche, the trail descend through a forest of birch, fir, juniper and rhododendron and coming to lovely spot at Deoboche 3,650 m with magnificent view of Mt Ama Dablam, Mt.Everest, Nuptse and Lhotse, from Deoboche walking past the long prayer mani wall, the path is gradual till you reach a small bridge over the narrow gorge of Imja-Tse river. From here the walk is gradual uphill most of the way, as you come to a large mani wall gate, a little farther from here the route leads to Pangboche at 3,900m from here a short climb to Shomare for lunch a small settlement with fantastic close-up view of Ama-Dablam. After a pleasant break journey continues gradually towards east, after an hour walk, before a small wooden bridge the road splits into two ways, the north going to Pheriche and our trail leading towards east beneath towering north face of Ama Dablam, from here onwards Ama Dablam looks completely different, from the bridge the trails climbs slowly winding above the Imja tse river to a big mani Stupa, from here onwards the walk is fairly moderate as you enter the Imja tse Valley beneath the mighty peaks of Ama Dablam, Nuptse and Lhotse with view of the eastern snow capped mountains including the Island peak or Imja tse 6,189m, which is a popular peak amongst all the trekking peaks in Nepal.
Dingboche is a beautiful patchwork of field enclosed by stone walls, protecting the crops of barley, buckwheat and potatoes from the cold winds and grazing animals. Dingboche has about more than ten teahouses and it is also the gateway to Chhukhung and farther beyond for the most challenging traverses towards Makalu area and Hinko Valley via Sherpani col 6,100m and Amphu Labtsa 5,780m.
Place of Attraction: Imja-Tse River, Mani Wall gate, Shomare, Pangboche, Pheriche, Mani Stupa, Sherpani.
Day 08: Rest Day at Dingboche:
A leisure day for short hike around, at Dingboche there are places where one go for a short walk. Trek to Chhukhung 4,730m.is worthwhile which takes approx. 3-4 hours from Dingboche, towards east within the Imja tse Valley, although the trek is gradual, however you can feel the thin air as the altitude gains slowly coming towards Chhukhung. At Chhukhung, there are about five teahouses overlooking superb view of the snow capped peaks and glaciers of Lhotse, Ama-Dablam and Imja glacier, Chhukhung the last settlement in eastern Khumbu.
Place of Attraction: Chhukhung, Imja-Tse Valley
Day 09: Trek to Chhukung (4730 m):
From Dingboche, the trail gradually ascends up to the Chhukung. On the way, you can see summer huts made especially for keeping the livestock’s in summer time. Stay overnight at lodge in Chhukung.
Day 10: Trek to Island Peak Base Camp (5087 m):
You trek through gradual ascent path all the way to Base Camp. On the way you can enjoy the panoramic views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Island Peak and many others. Camp for the night.
Day 11: Climb to Island Peak (6189 m):
Crossing the gully above the camp the trail makes a climb for another hour to a narrow ridge, leading on to the glacier. Here, it is time to rope up and put on our crampons as the most interesting part of the climb begins with the glacier crossing. This is followed by the steep snow slope that leads onto the summit ridge. This ridge is wonderfully airy and on reaching the summit we have stunning close-up views of the south face of Lhotse looming over us whilst in the other direction, there are more dramatic mountain views. We descend along the same route, down to base camp.
Day 12: Trek from Island Peak Base Camp to Chhukung:
We return back to the Chhukung and stay overnight here.
Day 13: Trek from Chhukung to Thyangboche (approx. 4 hrs):
From Pheriche a short walk brings you to the bridge, after the bridge it is nearly downhill all the way with few ups in between to Pangboche and Thyangboche, on reaching the bridge back to the woodlands and vegetation with an hour up hill to Thyangboche for the overnight stop.
Day 14: Trek to Monjo. 2,835m (Approx: 5-6 hrs):
Retrace the journey back to Shanasha, from Shanasha where the trail from Khumjung, Gokyo and to Namche meets. From here the route follows on the main busy path, the walk winds all the way to Namche Bazaar on the downhill and gradual path. On reaching Namche Bazaar retrace the journey all the way to Monjo for the overnight camp at Monjo, located just near the Sagarmatha National Park entrance and exit.
Day 15: Trek to Lukla (5 hrs walk):
Last day of this great trek will be one of the good walk to Lukla, you can walk at on your own normal pace, leisurely and enjoying the lush green scenery around. Apart from few short uphill the only long climb will be just before Lukla which will take about 45 minutes from a place called Choplung or from the old big oak tree. On reaching Lukla, prepare for the last day great dinner and a party with the fellow Sherpa crew, porters and trekking members.
Day 16: Fly Lukla-Kathmandu:
The flight time to Kathmandu, are schedule for morning normally, because of the wind in the afternoon, sometime the flight time can be delayed due to bad weather and other reason. Depending upon the flight time this scenic flight from Lukla takes about 30 minutes to Kathmandu, a panoramic view of the snow capped peaks can be seen during the flight. At Kathmandu domestic terminal, our staff will receive and escort you back to the Hotel.
Day 17: Free day at leisure:
A free day in Kathmandu, please inform our staff if you would like to go on another short tour in and around Kathmandu Valley.
Day 18: Transfer to Airport for the International departure.
Today as per your international flight time, keep your confirmed air ticket, and your passport handy. Our staff will take you to the airport for your final departure from this amazing country, Nepal.
