Ang Gelje Sherpa (Managing Director)
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Island Peak Climbing with EBC

ISLAND PEAK CLIMBING WITH EBC

  • Trip Style
    Peak Climbing
  • Activity Levels
    Moderate
  • Duration
    19 Days
  • Price (USD)
    per person
  • Group Size
    2 pax
  • Elevation (m)

Overview

Island Peak (6,169m): also known as Imja Tse is one of the popular trekking peaks of Nepal for climbing on the Himalayas. Along with the most enjoyable climbing experience, Island Peak presents some of the most spectacular scenery of leading mountains in the Khumbu region. From Dingboche, the view of this peak gives an impression of an island in a sea of ice. The semi-circular panorama of Everest (8,848m), Nuptse (7,879m) and Lhotse (8,516m) to the north, Makalu (8,463m) to the east and Ama Dablam (6,812m) to the south adds more charm in climbing the peak. For many mountaineers, Island peak be the beginning of climbing for bigger mountain expeditions. For some Island, peak stands for the purpose of acclimatizing before heading to higher elevation climbing. And for Island peak climbing, Kala Patthar or Everest Base Camp Trekking is most suitable to fit your body and mind.

Itinerary

DAY 01 : Arrival in Kathmandu

Upon your arrival in the Kathmandu airport, you will be greeted by a representative from Sherpa guide Services (SGS). After completing your custom formalities (Visa, etc) pick up your luggage and look for our representative with Sherpa Guide Services display board at the arrival gate. You will be then transferred to your hotel nearby Thamel as per your requirement. Thamel has great food from all over the world, fabulous shopping and Durbar square with its several temples and markets are nearby Thamel. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 02 : Preparation for trek, meeting with guide and full day sightseeing of Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath&Pasupatinath - Hotel

After breakfast, your day will start for sightseeing of three Popular UNESCO Heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley with your professional tour guide. Our first destination for sightseeing will be at Buddhanath (the biggest & Largest Buddhist Stupa in the World). Stupa of Bouddhanath epitomizes Buddhism. In this Area, you will visit a Buddhist Monastery and stop for a lunch. If the weather is clear you will get glimpses of the mountain ranges close to Kathmandu, particularly Mt Ganesh Himal from the restaurant location. Your guide will enlighten you with detailed historical and cultural information about the place. After Lunch, we will visit Hindus temple Pasupatinath, one of the holiest temple for Hindu religion people. After this you will visit Living goddess home and Kathmandu Durbar square. Locally, this old royal palace area is called Basantapur Area or Hanuman dhoka Durbar Square. It normally takes 5 hours’ tour to visit all these 3 monuments within Kathmandu city. - Entrance fee for these UNESCO site should be paid in Nepali currency. We suggest you to carry some Nepali money while sightseeing. - Please cover your shoulders and while sightseeing - To show gratitude and respect, use both of your hands rather than one when giving or receiving something, even money. It seen as a gesture of respect. - Remove your shoes when entering a home, temple or monastery (and leather items in Hindu temples) - Remember not to point with a single finger but use a flat extended hand specially to indicate a sacred object or place. Meeting time at 3pm in your hotel with our office representative and he/she will help you to meet with your trekking guide. Your trekking guide will help you for shopping and collecting remaining equipment for the trek.

DAY 03 : Short flight to Lukla (2840 m /9320 ft) – Trek to Phakding (2610 m / 8560 ft.)

We take a breathtaking fly from Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) on a twin-engine Otter to the Tenzing-Hillary Airport, to the Sherpa village of Lukla (2840 m), where we begin our trek into the Khumbu region. Throughout the flight, dramatic views of terraced hills and the distant Himalayan range will come into view. After lunch we will hike for around three hours to reach Phakding (2610 m). During the three-hour hike to Phakding you will pass Mani stone walls, sacred for Buddhist, made from hundreds of stone tablets and giant carved boulders, brilliantly decorated colored paints. - You are going to land at the height of 2840 m from 1350 m (Kathmandu), so we suggest you to stay in Lukla for at least one hour to acclimatize - Lukla (2840 m) will be windy and cold so we suggest you to keep fleece and warm hat handy though it feel hot in Kathmandu (1350 m)

DAY 04-05 : Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m/11290ft) -Acclimatization

From Phakding, we continue hiking for around five hours along the banks of the Dudh Koshi, through stands of pine and oak trees, crossing this majestic river many times on exciting suspension bridges loaded with prayer flags. Trail starts to rise and rhododendron, magnolia and giant fir trees prevail, with breathtaking view of Namche Bazar (3440 m) – the gateway to the Everest region or the Sherpa Capital. Namche Bazar is a colorful village with many wonderful and interesting shops and vendors, fabulous food, and stunning views of the surrounding mountains. We will take extra day for rest and acclimatization. During acclimatization day, an early hike above town, before the clouds move in, reward climbers with a spectacular Himalayan sunrise and views of Mt. Everest (8848.86 m / 29038 ft.), Lhotse (8516m/ 27939 ft) (the 4th highest peak in the world), and the beautiful Ama Dablam (6856m / 22493ft). On the way down, we can visit the Sherpa Museum that houses an exhibit on traditional Sherpa lifestyle and a fabulous photography display by a local Nepalese naturalist. One room highlights the Sherpa traditions and in another presents Sherpa high altitude climbers’.

DAY 06 : Trek to Debuche (3860m/12660ft)

After leaving Namche Bazaar the trek takes five to six hours continues along the rushing glacial waters of the DudhKoshi with magnificent views of the mountains that becomes more dramatic as you approach the holy place of Tengboche (3860 m). A traditional site with its wonderful Gompa (monastery) is a spiritual center of the Khumbu region where the Rimpoche (Lama Re-incarnate) exists. The monastery is made of decorated with wall hangings, a twenty feet sculpture of Buddha and the musical instruments of robes of the Lamas. If you are lucky enough you will see the monks performing their rituals and hear the divine chanting and music. Thyangboche known as the best place where panoramic view of Kwangde(6011m/ 19236 ft), Nuptse ( 7879m / 25850 ft ), Lhotse ( 8516m/ 27939 ft), Kangtega (6782m / 22251 ft) , AmaDablam (6856m / 22493ft) and Everest emerge. Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Accommodation

DAY 07 : Trek to Dingboche (4360m/14300ft)

Hiking from Debuche, the trail crosses another exciting suspension bridge on the Imja Khola and climbs to Pangboche among thousands of Mani stones holding ‘Yeti Scalp’ in its Gompa. Our uphill trek continues, taking us to the picturesque traditional Sherpa village of Dingboche just under AmaDablam with its lovely views of Lhotse (8516 m / 27939 ft), Island Peak (6189m / 20305 ft) and AmaDablam.( 6856 m / 22493 ft) Agriculture is only barely possible in such high altitude places and the lives of the local Sherpa’s are simple by any standards. Much of the walking during this five to six-hour trip to reach the altitude of 4100 m is over comparatively gentle gradients, although you proceed at a leisurely pace because of the elevation.

DAY 08 : Acclimatization day Alternative hike:Chukkung village or Nangkartshang view point.

You can discuss with your trekking guide about the alternative hike you prefer.

DAY 09 : Trek to Lobuche (4940m/16207ft)

Lobuche can be reached by foot and you can continue hiking past frozen rivers where stone houses sit in an icy wilderness of stunning beauty. We can view the Khumbu Ice fall, Pumori (‎7,161 m / 23,494 ft) and many smaller peaks from ridge tops on the track.

DAY 10 : Trek to Everest Base Camp (5300m/17400ft)-back to Gorakshep after short visit (5170m/16961ft).

After leaving Lobuche, the trail to Gorakshep is one of the most beautiful. Trail is mix of stony path and melting glacier surface though we don’t need specific equipment. After 4 hours of walking with spectacular view of Himalayas we reach Gorakshep for overnight. After lunch we trek to Everest Base Camp with our light bagpack. A reasonably difficult day walking along the Khumbu glacier and upto Everest Base Camp at an elevation of 5365 m. Everest Base camp it the closest place to reach Mount Everest without mountaineering equipment. You might see group of people attempting to climb massive Mount Everest. Then we hike back to GorakShep. - EBC is side trip, so we suggest you to carry only light backpack (water, chocolate and valuable things)

DAY 11 : Hike up to Kalapattar (5545m/18192ft). Then trek to Dingboche (4360m/14300ft)

Another difficult but rewarding day of our Everest Base Camp Trek. We wake up early in the morning and start our hike to Kala Pattar at the elevation of 5555 m. The climb is challenging but the trekker gets the most superb mountain scenery: Everest, the highest point on the planet at 8848 m (29028 feet), towers directly ahead and on all sides emerge the other giants, Nuptse (7879m / 25850 ft), Pumori(‎7,161 m / 23,494 ft), Cholatse (6440 m/ 20608 ft), Lhotse ( 8516m / 27939 ft) and countless others. Afterwards we make a quick plunge to GorakShep, a tiny village at 5180 m and then trek down to Periche.

DAY 12 : Trek to Chhukung: 4 hours and acclimatize

From here we have a short walking day as it is very important to avoid getting affected by the thinning of the air and get acclimatization to climb Island peak. Our guide will give important and useful information about the situation on climbing Island peak and about next day’s activities. Overnight at guesthouse (4710 meters).

DAY 13 : Trek to Island peak base camp:

The path from Chhukung leads fairly steep way climbing south then turning east to the main line of the valley. It then winds along or below the southern flank of the moraine from the Lhotse Glacier. Continue short pleasant walking along a stream-side leads to what we call Big-rock. The route to the AmphuLapcha lies to the southeast. A crisis cross route through the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines leads to a wide valley flanking the SW side of Island peak.

DAY 14 : Summit to Island peak (6187meters) and return to base camp/ Chhukung (4750meters)

Island Peak Ascent (6,189m/20,305ft), from early in the morning will have to climb 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 ridge-line, 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°) 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 15 : Trek to from Chukkung to Tengboche

After difficult but rewarding day of our Island Peak. We walkdown hill to Tengboche via beautiful Pangboche village. On the way down we can enjoy the missing beauty of nature with smooth walk all the way to Tengboche.

DAY 16 : Trek to Namche Bazzar

Walk down to the valley from where the trail is shallower through alpine meadows. Followed by climb gradually up to Tengboche (3,870m/12,697ft) where the biggest monastery lies in the whole of Khumbu. The rear of monastery and continue down until you reach Phunki Tenga. Climb up gradually through a forest. Once you are out of the forest, you will be walking along a ridge from where you can see down on your left some of the deepest gorges of Nepal. In spring, the rhododendrons will look superb making the valley even more beautiful. Reach Namche Bazaar (3,440m/11,286ft), for overnight

DAY 17 : Trek to Lukla (2804meters)

Trek back to Lukla along the same trail, although it always looks different coming from the opposite direction on arrival in Lukla you will have time to relax and celebrate the completion of your trek. You can have a good time with two local alcoholic beverages 'Chang' or 'Rakshi.' Feel free to dance with your crew-members in the Sherpa way.

DAY 18 : Morning flight to Kathmandu from Lukla

Enjoying your last glimpse of the mountains you have recently visited for one last time on the 35-minute Scenic flight back to Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu we are met and transferred back to our starting hotel. Overnight at hotel.

DAY 19 : Departure

Our team will ensure that you are transferred on time to the airport for your flights if you are departing Nepal.

Service Included

    Transportation

    • All ground transportation on a comfortable private vehicle as per the itinerary
    • Kathmandu to Lukla (both-way) airfare

    Accommodations

    • Three night 3-star accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast according to the itinerary
    • All the tea-house accommodation during the trek
    • Tented accommodation above Chukkung

    Meals

    • All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) without tea/coffee expect breakfast during the trek.
    • Three times meals (Breakfast, lunch, dinner with tea/coffee with biscuits during climbing
    • Farewell dinners with team

    Staffs

    • English speaking, trained and experienced trekking guide(leader) and climbing guide (leader)
    • One porter and his salary, foods, accommodations and insurance.
    • Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, domestic airfare, food and accommodation

    Permits

    • All necessary paper work; trekking permits and Island Peak climbing permit

    Camping equipment

    • Good quality tents and kitchen utensils for camping
    • Group mountaineering (climbing) equipment:Fixing Gear: Fix rope, main rope, snow bar, ice crew, rock pitons

    Personal Climbing Equipment

    • Climbing Boot (though we suggest you have brought your own climbing boot for your comfortless), Crampons, Ice axe/ ice hammer, Harness, Jammers, Karabiners, Finger eight/ATC guide, Tap sling, Fix rope, snow bar, ice crew, rock pitons, Willkie Talkies

    Extra facility

    • Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 15 kg of luggage, a cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
    • Free storage at office
    • Medical kit (carried by your guide)

Service Not Included

    • Nepalese visa fee
    • International airfare to and from Kathmandu
    • Personal trekking equipment
    • Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
    • Altitude chamber (PAC) or oxygen
    • Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu (and also in the case of early return from the mountain than the scheduled itinerary)
    • Travel and rescue insurance
    • Salary of personal porter if you need (extra porter)
    • Personal expenses (phone calls, internet, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.)
    • Personal climbing guide if requested
    • Optional trips and sightseeing if extended
    • Tips for guides and porters

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  • 21 Days

Activity Levels
Moderate