Island Peak Climb

Island Peak Climb - One of the best climbing experience in Nepal. Island peak /Imja Tse 6189m is the most popular trekking peak to climb in Everest region. It is located on top of the Chukung glacier between Ama Dablam and Lhotse Mountains, the most sought after trekking destination because of its challenging geographical conditions. This mountain was named "Island Peak" in 1952 AD, by a climbing team of Eric Shipton, due to its striking location in the middle of the Chhukung valley, like an Island on a sea of ice. Island peak was first ascended in 1953 by a British team as preparation for climbing Everest.

Island Peak climbing trip fulfills the dream of every amateur and serious climbers, who have been seeking the thrill of adventure and wish to take adventure climbing trips beyond simply trekking in Everest. Island peak is the most popular trekking peak in Nepal. The summit is interesting and attractive with a highly glaciated west face rising from the Lhotse Glacier. The mountain itself is the extension of the South Ridge of Lhotse Shar separated by a small col.

A physically fit and acclimatized person is well qualified to make an ascent over this amazing peak.

Day 01 Arrive in Kathmandu (1350m/4428ft)
Meals Plan: Welcome Dinner
Accommadation: Hotel in Kathmandu

Welcome to the Land of Himalayas! At your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Advancced Adventures Nepal representative pick up you from airport, then transfer to your hotel in Kathmandu. Free time for the day. Evening, we meet for trip briefing, meet other travelers and guide team. We host welcome dinner at one of the typical nepalese restaurant in town- eating lcoal food with cultural perfermance. O/N Kathmandu.


Day 02 Kathmandu- Lukla Flight ( 35 Min Flight) & Trek to Phakding (2652m/8698ft)- 4 Hours Walking
Meals Plan: Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee)
Overnight at Mt. Lodge in Phakding

We drive to airport early in the morning to take our flight to Lukla (35 min flight) and meet our other assistance trekking crew there and start our trek. (Flight to Lukla itself is amazing, very interesting and full of excitement while landing to this little mountain airstrip.) After a short break of tea and coffee (Guide would load the baggage to the porter at the same time)-{Enjoy taking a great picture of flight landing and taking off.}, then, you will take an easy walk passing through local Sherpa villages, crossing through the several suspension bridges, the trail mostly follow the river bank of Dudhkoshi River till reaching to Phakding where we will have our first overnight stay in mountain. Today is a wonderful walking at full of natural surroundings, passing through many local Sherpa villages, crossing through the Buddhist monasteries, several up hills and down hills and involves of crossing a several suspension bridges.
As this day hike is mostly about 3 to 4 hours only, which is relatively short then others days of walking thus you would also have time to relax and little acclimatize at Phakding itself. Simply relax or visit to the local Sherpa village surroundings of Phakding. O/N at Mt. Lodge at Phakding.


Day 03 Phakding - Namche Bazaar(3440m/11283ft)- 5-6 Hours Walk (Approx. 10-12 Kms) 
Meals Plan: Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee) 
Overnight: Mt. Lodge in Namche Bazaar

Morning breakfast at Lodge at Phakding then start walking for a slightly longer day to Namche. At first, the trail crosses Dudhkoshi River over a long suspension bridge, then walking through beautiful pine forest. After about 2 hours of leisurely walk, we will reach to Monjo and soon thereafter, we will be at the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, where we will check our permit (make permit), then short descent to the Dudh Kosi River again passing lots of Mani stones and in scripts and shortly reach to Jorsale, the last stop before heading up hill to Namche. Since no tea house is available from Jorsale to Namche portion, we will have to have our lunch here. From Jorsale, across the river again with long suspension bridge, then short walking through the riverbank brings you to another deep suspension bridge which is known as a HILLARY SUNSPENSION BRIDGE. Crossing this bridge connects you to the big hill which required a tough walk (almost 2 to 3 hours) all the way up to Namche Bazaar.

Day 04 Namche Bazaar: Acclimatization Day (3440m/11283ft)
Meals Plan: Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee) 
Overnight: Mt. Lodge in Namche Bazaar

Today, we will spend a day in Namche Bazaar, resting and allowing our bodies to become acclimatized to the altitude of (3,440m/11,283ft).  The best acclimatization hike we could recommend for this day is to Everest View point Hotel (3880m/12,726ft), which is approx. of 2 hours uphill, the great view of Mt. Everest and Khumbu Himalayan panorama. Afternoon, you may just explore Namche, visit its Sherpa museum- a great place to learn Sherpa culture and history of mountaineering and if this happens to be Saturday, you would have a wonderful local market Hatt market at Namche it is interesting and a wonderful experience about how the locals do exchange their goods or buying their requires stuff for the market itself. Namche itself is a prosperous town, tourist-shopping hub with all the required trekking and mountaineering clothing and equipment. O/N at Namche at Mt. lodge.

Day 05 Namche Bazaar- Tengboche ( 3870m/12696ft)- 5-6 Hours Walk ( 10-12 Kms)
Meals Plan: Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee)
Overnight: Mt. Lodge in Tengboche

Today, we start our trek towards Tengboche. We take a smooth walk along the mountain side and walk down to riverside for lunch. And from here we start walking up gradually through pine forest for 2 more hours to reach Tenboche. Tengboche is a very great place to view close views of Ama-Dablam. And it has a biggest Buddhist Monastery all over in Khumbu region. Overnight at Lodge.


Day 06 Tengboche – Dingboche 4410m/14464 ft
Distance of walking: Approx- 10-11 Kms- 5-6 hours
Meals: Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee)
Overnight: Mt. Lodge in Dingboche

Breakfast at Tyangboche, then will start walking of this day. The trail descends down winding through the rhododendron forest to Deboche and crossing a bridge over the raging Imja Khol River. Hug the valley wall, and then traverse the plains to Pangboche Village (3985m/13070ft) which is probably the biggest settlement village of Sherpa peoples, it has a great chance to see the typical Sherpa peoples, culture and traditions. If you interested, you may plan to have lunch here and while the lunch is preparing (takes approx of 20-25 minute), take a short hike to the Pangboche Gumba over to hill- Probably the oldest Gumba of Khumbu.


Walking onward to Dingboche from here is mostly gradual uphill (another 2 to 3 hours), walking is mostly via the mountain ridge and the vegetation got changed thus we are now likely to see the dry and deserted mountains areas after now. Dingboche is on the bottom of the starting of Imja Valley and it along the side of the Chhukung Vilalge and main get way to the Island Peak (Imja Tse), to Amphu Laptse pass which connect this valley to Makalu Barun National park. 

Day 07 Rest Day in Dingboche
Altitude: 4410m/14464 ft
Meals: Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee)
Overnight: Mt. Lodge in Dingboche

Today, we will have another rest day in Dingboche. Proper acclimatization while climbing the peak above 6000m is very necessary. Hence, one more day rest in Dingboche that allows us to hike to higher altitude around the village and hike back to the village, which is relatively at lower altitude gives us an opportunity to acclimatize well, before we head towards Chhukung and simultaneously to the top of Island Peak.

Day 08 Dingboche- Chhukung 4750m/15583 ft
Distance of walking- 1 and half hours
Meals: Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee)
Overnight: Mt. Lodge in Chhukung

This is short day, only approx. of hour and half walking to Chhukung Valley. Afternoon, meet our climbing leader, equipment checking, climbing discussion etc. Free time for leisure. O/N at Chhukung.

Day 09 Chhukung- Island Peak Base Camp 5,200m/17,060 ft
Distance of walking: 4-5 hours walk
Meals: Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee)
Overnight: Tented Camp

Morning while having breakfast, continue walking onward to the steep way climbing southern part then turning east to the main line of the valley. Continue short pleasant walking along a streamside leads to the Big –rock and the route to the Amphu Lapcha lies to the southeast from here. A mid difficult cross route through the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines leads you to a wide valley flanking of Island peak where we will set up our base camp for overnight at tented camp.

Day 10 Island Peak High Camp 5,600m/18,372 ft
Distance of walking: 2-3 hours walk
Meals: Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee)
Overnight: Tented Camp

This morning we packed our camping stuff and we'll head on to the High camp from where we start our climb. As you climb the hill, you will see that the slope narrows and the path enter a steep rock channel nearby where we'll overnight at camp. This is where our guide will fix crampons on your climbing boots and re-check the entire climbing group and personal equipment once again for better safety. If required, you may learn last minute climbing technique with our climbing Sherpa at this stage. If possible, you will be also taken for the ice/rock climbing nearby but subject to the availability. Overnight at High Camp.

Day 11 Island Peak Summit & Return to Chhukung  6,189m/20,305ft at summit
Distance of walking: 8-10 hours walk
Overnight: Mt. Lodge in Chhukung
Meals: Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee)

Island Peak Ascent (6,189m/20,305ft) starts early this morning via climb to the rock gully. This is not difficult but there are several short rock steps to climb before you emerge on the right side of the gully. The route then follows a ridgeline, which leads to an exhilarating and exposed traverse onto the snout of the summit glacier. You will need to rope up for the glacier as it contains several crevasses but it leads without difficulty, to a 100m(330ft) snow and ice slope (40-45 Degree) on which the guides will fix a rope. From the top of this slope, 3 rope lengths along a sharp summit ridge lead to the top. After enjoying the summit views you will descend all the way to Chhukung for overnight.

Day 12 Chhukung to Tyangboche- Namche 
Distance of walking: 5-6- hrs
Overnight: Mt. Lodge in Tyangboche
Meals:Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee)

The trek comes down from Chukkung following towards Panboche. After this, we take a same trail back which is used to trek up. The trail comes all the way down to river. We cross the river and take an hour walk up through the forest to reach Tyangboche. Lunch. Further descend through forest till to the riverside for approx of 2 hours, across the river and take a walk up towards a big hill for two hours and will have a nice pleasant walk till to Namche. Overnight at Namche

Day 13 Namche –Lukla 2,800m/9,186 ft
Distance of walking: 6-7 hrs walk
Overnight: Mt. Lodge in Lukla
Meals: Full Board of Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee)

After breakfast, we hike down a trail steeply descends to the Hillary Suspension Bridge and then continues on an easy walk all the way back to Lukla. Refreshed up; your guide will re-confirm your flight of next day morning. You will have time to stroll around. Evening enjoy the last celebration dinner with your trek crew member and overnight at Hotel.

Day 14 Lukla – Kathmandu 
Meals: Breakfast & Farewell Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Kathmandu

Your flight to Kathmandu is at morning. Today is a well-earned day to put up your weary feet and gratefully rediscover all of civilization's perks. You may do some city site excursion if interested and we will assist you for this with your request. Evening we will have trek completion dinner together, comments about your trip with us. Overnight at Kathmandu

Day 15 Final Departure 
Meals: Breakfast

Today the journey comes to an end. There's nothing to do but trade emails with your new friends, organize all your photos and finally depart from Nepal. As per your flight departing, we will transfer group to airport and the trip over.

Cost Includes:

• Airport picks up and transfers to hotel
• Twin sharing accommodation in Kathmandu at Hotel Apsara Boutique on BB plan
• Welcome at one of the typical Nepalese restaurant & Farewell Dinner at finest restaurant in town.
• Kathmandu- Lukla- Kathmandu flight, airport taxes and transfer
• 11 Nights/ 12 Days Island Peak Climbing (2 Nights on Climbing Excursion with Tented Camp), full board of meals (B, L, D & Tea Coffee)
• All the mountain accommodation in best available Mt. Lodge and Tea House- Comfortable and net and clean room- Few nights of attached bath, shower
• Everest National Park Permit/ Trekking & TIMS Cards
• Island Peak Special Climbing Permit & Garbage Deposit Fees
• Necessary Group Climbing gears such as climbing rope/s, ice crew, snow bar, rock piton etc.
• One AA Climbing guide for Climbing Section (3 Days) & One Advanced Adventures Trek Leader for trekking Section (Both leaders are English speaking, first aid trained, Climbing leader is trained & Licensed from Nepal Mountaineering Association- Rock climbing and mountaineering trained), the cost of camping porters and trekkers crew/ insurance
• Required assistance climbing guides/ assistance trekking leader, and all of their payment
• Advanced Adventure Duffle Bag & T- shirt/s, Trekking Map & Adventure Certificate
• Medical Kit Bags
• All necessary Gov. Taxes and Local service charges
• Departure transfer to airport

Cost not Includes:

• Nepal Visa fees, intl. airfare in/out Nepal
• Cost of Lunch in Kathmandu
• Personal Climbing equipment (Ice Axe, Crampons, Harness, Zoomer, Descender, Carbines & Climbing boots, Helmets, etc.- They all are possible to hire in Kathmandu or in Chhukung)
• Travel Insurance (Must cover trip cancelation, medical expenses & emergency air ambulance)
• Personal Nature Expenses- such as Phone calls, laundry, bar bills, cold beverages etc.
• Personal tipping to guide/s & porter/s,
• Cost of any extending trips

Important Trip Notes & Activities
Pleased acknowledge that you are joining us for this adventure trip in remote Himalayan region, where weather conditions, health and fitness of the member or unexpected natural disaster can compel us to change the itinerary and if so you have to understand it but we would try our best to keep the suggested itinerary as per the original schedule.

Your safety and satisfaction of the trip is our prime concern while travelling with us and we ensure you our best team, logistics, professional services to make sure that you would have an amazing trip of lifetime with us. Also note that our trip leader deserved the final decision if the trip has to amend, change the route or cancel due to the extreme conditions for the safety precaution. However, he will try his best to ensure that the trip runs as according to the stated plan but be prepared for flexibility if necessary.

Passport & Visa Information
Nepal visa is the easiest visa to obtain; you may buy your Nepal visa at your nearest Nepalese Embassy/ Consulate or Mission offices abroad or buy this upon on arrival to Kathmandu international airport as per your convenient. You have to have 2 passport size photographs, Visa fees in US cash & valid passport at least for 6 months valid at the starting of the trip.

Nationals of SAARC countries and China do not need visa when visiting Nepal. As per this rule, Indian nationals do not require visa.

Transit visa is provided for foreign nationality for 3 days. Visa must be obtained for staying over the initial period of three days. Currently, foreign national can obtain Nepalese visa from the following border.

• Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu
• Kakarvitta, Jhapa (Eastern Nepal)
• Birganj, Parsa (Central Nepal)
• Kodari, Sindhupalchowk (Northern Border)
• Belhiya, Bhairahawa (Rupandehi, Western Nepal)
• Jamuna, Nepalgunj (Banke, Mid Western Nepal)
• Mohana, Dhangadhi (Kailali, Far Western Nepal)
• Gaddachauki, Mahendranagar (Kanchanpur, Far Western Nepal)

Tourist Visa Fees: 3 days transit visa - Free of Cost
Multiple entry 15 days - US$ 30 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry 30 days - US$ 50 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry 90 days - US$ 125 or equivalent convertible currency

(For further information, please, contact Department of Immigration, Maitighar, Impact Building, Kathmandu, and Tel: 00977-1-4221996 / 4223590 / 4222453,

Download visa form-: www.nepalimmigration.gov.np

Group Size
In this Island Peak Climbing trip, the minimum group size would be 2 and maximum group size is 8. We can also organize private trip to solo person with single supplement cost. Else, join our estimated group departure dates available online or ask us with your personal dates, we will open group date on the same date.

Our Guides, trip and safety
Because this hikes/Climbing to Island Peak takes you on the remote high Himalayan region, it is very essential that you are accompanied with the very experienced and qualified & equipped leader for the safe and successful trip. We Advanced Adventure employee the local trek guide and stuff who are trained and qualified on the trip we worked on. Our guides are trained and licensed from Nepal Gov, certify from TAAN & Nepal Mountaineering Association. All of our leading Trekking and Climbing Guide are experience from last 8 to 10 years. We have train them specially for your trip, to cater the flexible needs of our peoples in the group joining from different countries, this double assure you that your trip is at the right and professional hands.

At every trip, there would be our one Trek leader/ Climbing Leader and one assistance leader on each additional 2 peoples on the trek/Climbing- this arrangement would ensure that even if any of our guide/ assistance guides get sick or if any travelers gets sick and need to be back or delay the days of walking, it would still works smoothly and there would not be any impact on our original trek plan. Also each two trekker would have one Sherpa helper for carrying your trekking bags.

Meals and Accommodations
While in Kathmandu and any other cities, your accommodation is at tourist standard hotels ( Attached Bath, A/C, 24 hours running hot/cold shower) similar of 2 to 3 star standard hotel and while in trek, your accommodation is at Mt. Lodge and local tea houses, they are clean and comfortable.

While Island Peak Climbing Excursion, your accommodation is on tented camp

Our entire accommodation is at twin share unless stated but single supplement accommodation is also available on personal request at the additional cost of US$- 200.

In city, only breakfast is included on the offered trip itinerary but while in trek full board of meals is included (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, and Tea- Coffee). We provide you food from the local tea- house/ Mt. Lodge from en route. Breakfast and dinner is to be provided from the same tea- house/ guest house we would overnight but lunch would be en route in between.

Foods provided are depends on the availability of the Mt. lodges we would be staying but in general, you can have Nepalese foods (Dal Bhat), Tibetan fried bread, various soups, Momo’s (steamed dumplings), potatoes, pastas and even a version of pizza! So, over all you have a different choice of food on trek.

While in Climbing Excursion, you would be provided a freshly cooked hygienic food from our cook who would be accompany your climbing days. During climbing, we do also provide you boiled drinking water-3 lts each person/ per day.

(Upgrade hotel to 4 stars or 5 stars is possible in Kathmandu, please write us if you interested)

Climbing Seasons
We do have two best seasons to attempt this trek/climbing to Island Peak. As this trip is a big trip to you, we always suggest you to come at the right time of the year as far as possible.

Spring: - (March, April, May) - Best warmest time to attempt Island Peak. Rhododendron flowers in bloom- excellent trails and clear skies, best visibility. Good Temperature, warmest weather of the year.

Autumn:- (Mid September, October and November) - Excellent trails, clear blue skies, best visibility. Best Recommended time to attempt this Island Peak Climbing

Winter Months: - (December, January and February) are also good, but it’s obviously colder. You have to be prepared for this. Summit to the Top is Pretty Cold.

Summer: - Monsoon, so rain and visibility can be a big issue (from Mid June, July and August). We do not suggest you this time for the climbing at this time.

Vaccination
Vaccination is required to plan to your trip to Nepal but it is not a must to have thing to come, but highly suggested. Your doctor will have the information of vaccination you would require to the country you will be travelling.

Hepatitis A, Japanese Encephalitis, Polio, Rabies, Tetanus, Typhoid and Malaria etc. are the recommended vaccination for travel Nepal.

Caring Porter
Our porter are fully equipped and insured for each trip they are undertaking with us. As you know that we are very sincere with the porter issues and their situation while on trek thus we make sure that our porter are fully prepared for the trip. We are closely working with International Porter Progress Association for the welfare and befit for the touristic porters.

The maximum load carried by our porter is 20 to 25 KG maximum so be sure that your trekking bag so not load more than 12 KG.

Communication facilities on this Trek/Climb
These days, there are enough communication facilities on this trek, most of the local villages has local telephone booth phone thus if required, you can easily communicate with your friends and family however the cost is slightly expensive, 2 to 3 dlr per minute. Nowadays, during the clear days, reception of Nepalese cell phones is on throughout the trail, your guide will have Cell phone on the trip.

At Lukla & Namche, there are internet facilities so if required you can use email and internet at these villages.

To Book
Once you would choose which trip you would like to book with us, write us with the information or phone us on our phone number for the trip booking confirmation. We have online trip booking option, you may go on that link, choose your trip and date and follow the instruction with information required and summit us.

Once your trip booking request would be received, we would suggest you the final trip booking procedure with advance payment of the trip. Non-refundable deposit of 20% (per person) is required to confirm a place on your selected adventure.
 

Please don't hesitate to contact us in relation to any questions you may have regarding our trip booking Process.