Island Peak Climbing

Island Peak Climbing

Background

Just like its name, the stunning Island Peak climbing (6,189m) looks like an island set adrift amidst a sea of ice. Detached from its neighbors, the majestic Himalaya is well known for its exquisite beauty and mesmerizing Himalayan panorama. More of a technical climb, the mountain does well to bridge the gap between the trekking peaks and Himalayan expeditions, making it a go-to peak
for mountaineering training.

Even though the journey itself requires little technical know-how, learning more about the mountaineering equipment will certainly aid you in your travels. In addition to the thrill of conquering the Himalayas, the journey takes us to vibrant hamlets in and around the Everest region adorned with stunning culture and a unique way of life. The journey is adorned with hints of the Himalayas like Everest (8,848m), Nuptse (7,861m), Changtse (7,543m), Lhotse (8,516m), and Ama Dablam (6,812m).

It is a physically demanding journey. Nevertheless, this Himalayan adventure will take you to the foothills of the world's tallest Himalayas and beyond. Beginning our Himalayan adventure with a scenic flight to the hamlet of Lukla, we begin our trail setting off to Phakding for our first night on the go. Following the banks of the stunning Dudh Koshi River, the journey takes us to the stunning Sagarmatha National Park ascending through the lush green forests to reach Namche. Taking a day off at Namche for acclimatization, we once again set off on the hilly trail heading past the tree lines and into the hamlet of Tengboche.

Taking some time off to explore the stunning Dawa Choling Monastery, we ascend to the summer valley of Dingboche. We make our way to Chhukung before heading to Island Base Camp and arrive at High Camp (5,700m). Summiting the majestic Island Peak (6,189m) the next day, we make our way back to the hamlet of Namche Bazaar. The final stretch of the trek takes us to Lukla.

A scenic flight back to Kathmandu brings our adventure to a close. We here at Narba Treks have been accompanying trekkers and adventurers for over a decade, fine-tuning ourselves to meet the demand of a varied clientele. With services to meet your expectations, we assure you of a stunning Himalayan adventure.

Trip Facts

ï‚· Geography: Mountain, Forests, Hills
ï‚· Location: Solukhumbu district, Everest region
ï‚· Level of Difficulty: Challenging
ï‚· Duration of Trek: 14 days
ï‚· Max Altitude: 6,189m
ï‚· Religions: Buddhism
ï‚· Ethnic People: Sherpa

Trip Highlights:

ï‚· Journey to the stunning Everest Region
ï‚· Enjoy mesmerizing views of the majestic Himalayas including the world's tallest Mt.
Everest (8,848m)
ï‚· Conquer the majestic Island Peak (6,189m)
ï‚· Journey through vibrant hamlets depicting a cultural way of life

Day 01: Arrival Kathmandu transfer to hotel

Touching down at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be welcomed by the representatives from our office who will guide you directly to the hotel. Freshening up from the day’s adventure, you will be further introduced to other staff members of the trek, including your guides for the trek. Following a short briefing session, you are free to head down to the local region, enjoying the pleasant evening.

Day 02: Rest Kathmandu for official formalities

This day, your guide will prepare the necessary permits needed for the trek on your behalf. You need to provide the required documents for the climb and TIMS Card. Meanwhile, you can choose to indulge in a sightseeing tour of the various UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can visit the historical landmarks of Kathmandu like Swayambhunath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Day 03: Flight Lukla trek to Phakding (2780m)

An early start to the day, we begin our Himalayan adventure with a scenic flight to the picturesque town of Lukla. Flying over the lush green valleys, the 30-minute flight takes us to the Himalayas before experiencing the thrill of landing at Lukla airstrip. Taking a brief rest at the stunning town, we begin our journey to the hamlet of Phakding. Exiting Lukla, the trail ascends through the lush green forests following the Dudh Koshi past the quaint hamlets of Chheplung and Nachipang. The final stretch of the trek takes us past the hamlet of Ghat ascending to Phakding for the night.

Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m)

One of the pleasant days of the trek today, we make our way over to the Himalayan town of Namche. Exiting Phakding, the trail once again follows the Dudh Koshi River, gradually ascending to the hamlet of Benkar crossing Thulo Gumela en route. Past the hamlet of Monjo and Jorsale, we officially enter the Sagarmatha National Park, which is also one of the 10 UNESCO world heritage sites. Accompanied by the majestic Kusum Kanguru (6,367m), the next stretch of the journey is an enjoyable one breaking into Namche just in time to enjoy the stunning Himalayan views.

Day 05: Rest Namche for acclimatization

On the first of our acclimatization days today, we take the day off at Namche, enjoying the stunning town while also making sure our bodies are accustomed to the increasing altitudes. Namche is also the final place where you can purchase all the required equipment for your journey at a reasonable price. Making rounds of the stunning town, we set off for our acclimatization hike heading towards the Everest View Hotel, which like its namesake, offers us our very first look at the majestic Mt. Everest (8,848m) alongside the other Himalayas.

Day 06: Trek to Tengboche monastery (3900m)

An early start to the day today, we make our way to the hamlet of Tengboche, which, in addition to the stunning Himalayan views, hosts the Dawa Choling Monastery often regarded as the oldest monastery in the region. Exiting Namche, the journey once again climbs through the lush green forests heading past several Chortens to reach the hamlet of Sanasa.

Enjoying the picturesque views, we head past the hamlets of Lawi Schyasa and Tashinga once again, meeting the banks of the stunning Dudh Koshi River. Past the hamlet of Phungi Thenga, we reach the picturesque hamlet of Tengboche enjoying the pleasant Himalayan views. Taking some time off, we also explore the Dawa Choling Monastery, which houses ancient art and architecture dating back centuries. Overnights stay at Tengboche.

Day 07: Trek to Dingboche (4200m)

High above the tree lines, we make our way out of Tengboche following the Himalayan wilderness while enjoying the stunning views of the Himalayas. Past Tengboche, the trail drops to the hamlet of Milingo before following the banks of the Imja Tse River to reach the hamlets of Shomare and Worshyo. The journey takes us through a quieter section of the trail heading towards the hamlet of Dingboche for the night.

Day 08: Trek to Chhukung (4730m)

On one of the shorter days of the trek today, we make our way over to the hamlet of Chhukung, enjoying the stunning Himalayan scenery. Exiting Dingboche, the trail steadily climbs to the hamlet of Syalko, navigating past glacial moraines to reach the hamlet of Chhukung. The large sections of the trek take us through uninhabited lands giving a real example of Himalayan wilderness, all while enjoying the majestic views of Lhotse (8,516m), Lhotse Shar (8,383m), Makalu (8,463m), Baruntse (7,220m) and Ama Dablam (6,814m). Overnights stay at Chhukung.

Day 09: Trek to Island BC (4900m)

An early start to the day, we make our way out of Chhukung. The base camp is situated at an altitude of 4900mand is surrounded by majestic rock faces making it a perfect place to shelter from the strong winds around the Himalayas. Heading past the glacial moraines, the journey takes us to the Imja Tse and Nuptse glacier crossing past glacial moraines to reach the Island base camp.

Day 10: Trek to High camp (5700m)

Today, we make an ascent to the High Camp at 5700 meters. At this altitude, we will be able to target the summit a bit easier for the next morning. Throughout the climb, you will feel every inch of the ascent. Your porters will be helping you carry food and water as well as necessary equipment for the camp tonight.

Day 11: Summit peak (6184m) back to BC (4900m)

The day we have been waiting for today, we climb over to the summit of Island Peak (6,189m), conquering the majestic Himalayas. Navigating through the rough Himalayan terrain, we slowly make our way past the glacial moraines making our way to the summit. Mid-way through the journey, we are treated to a stunning Himalayan sunrise as the warm golden rays of the sun illuminate the snowy peaks of the majestic Himalayas.

Reaching the summit, we are treated to a stunning Himalayan panorama comprising of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Changtse, Lhotse, and Amadablamamongst others. Taking some time to enjoy the stunning beauty, we make our way back to the base camp for the night.

Day 12: Trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m)

We make our way back and exit the base camp. We begin our steady descent heading past the glacial moraines to reach the hamlet of Chhukung, and head past Syalko. The journey takes us through the Himalayan wilderness to reach Dingboche beyond which lies the hamlet of Pangboche.

The trail takes us back to the banks of the stunning Imja Tse River before reaching Tengboche. Entering the lush green forests once again, we descend to the hamlet of Phungi Thenga, meeting the banks of the stunning Dudh Koshi River. The next stretch of the journey takes us through vibrant hamlets, including Lawi Schyasa and Tashinga, before reaching Sanasa from where we begin our ascending journey to Namche.

Day 13: Trek to Lukla (2835m)

On the final day of our trek today, we head back to the picturesque town of Lukla, bidding goodbye to the stunning Everest Region. Exiting the town of Namche, the trail slowly descends alongside the Dudh Koshi River with the majestic Himalayas to our backs. Exiting the Sagarmatha National Park at Jorsale, we once again head to Monjo before reaching the hamlet of Phakding. The final stretch of the trail is a descending one as we continue our journey alongside the river to reach Lukla for the night.

Day 14: Fly back to Kathmandu

An early start to the day, we once again relive the thrill of the Lukla airstrip before departing to Kathmandu. Enjoying the stunning Himalayan landscape from up above, we reach the capital city heading directly to our hotels. For the rest of the day, you are free to do as you wish, and while heading over to the local regions may be tempting, recuperating from the days of traveling is not a bad idea either.