Island Peak Climbing with Everest Base Camp - 19 Days

Our guide will come to the hotel to pick you up and transfer to the airport to catch the flight to Lukla. The mountain flight into Lukla is spectacular and the landing an exciting beginning to the trek – one end of the runway is 60 meters higher than the other. Heading through pine and cedar woods along the Dudh Kosi to Phakding you will encounter your first yak caravans carrying trekking and equipment and supplies – including yours – towards base camp. These wonderful beasts creating mobile roadblocks, or virtual avalanches on downhill stretches, are a feature of all treks in the Everest region.

With a slight climb to Jorsalle, pass a waterfall along this part of the trail villages enjoying magnificent forest of Rhododendron, Magnolia, and Giant Firs then walk up to Namche Bazaar. Namche Bazaar is the administrative capital of the region, historically it was the staging point for trading expeditions to Tibet and its Saturday market remains an important event bringing traders from villages a week’s walk away.

An acclimatization day allows for an excursion to Thame. Intricately carved mani stones mark the path to this large valley with a picturesque gompa on the hillside overlooking the valley.

From Namche, the trail contours on to the side of the valley, high above the Dudh Kosi. We get our first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu including Mt Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, we descend steeply to a bridge over the river at Phunki Tenga. The village is an ideal stopover for lunch. Here we can rest before making the steep climb to Tengboche. Although the hike up the zigzag path is tiring, it presents us with many beautiful sights of rhododendron bushes with beautiful birds and superb mountain scenery. Tengboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in the Khumbu. A spectacular panorama of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam rising in the horizon can be seen from the campsite.

We descend downhill through a forest, cross the Imja Khola and climb steadily to the village of Pangboche. This village is directly opposite Ama Dablam [6,856 m], and has exceptional views of the mountain, with the gompa, mani walls and scattered pine trees in the foreground. A further two hours walk brings us to Pheriche.

A day for rest and acclimatization. We also get to wander up the valley to look at a lake, the Tshola Tsho and the perpendicular walls of Cholatse and Tawache. We can climb up onto the ridge overlooking Dingboche for the view of the Imja Valley and the incredible south face of Mt. Lhotse.

We continue up the wide valley beneath the impressive peaks of Cholatse and Tawache on the left. We then turn right and take a steep climb towards the foot of the Khumbu Glacier. The tea house at Duglha is a good spot to have lunch. The trail zigzags up through the boulders of the glacier’s terminal moraine. At the top of this climb, there are many stone cairns, built as memorials to the many Sherpas who have died while climbing Mt Everest. The path then climbs gently along the glacier, to eventually reach the cluster of houses at Lobuche.

This trail provides a wonderful view of Pumori. This section of the trek provides good views of the Everest from Gorakshep and Kalapatthar. Especially Kalapatthar offers the closest view of Mt. Everest and as well as hundreds of other beautiful peaks including that of Tibet.

This trail provides a wonderful view of Pumori. This section of the trek provides good views of the Everest Group from Gorakshep and Kalapatthar. Especially Kalapattar offers a closest view of Mt. Everest and as well as hundreds of other beautiful peaks including that of Tibet.

The route to base camp follows the Khumbu Glacier with its intriguing 15-meter-high seracs of ice, a feature unique to Himalayan glaciers. Everest Base Camp is the main camp for the Mountaineers as you have all the beautiful snowy mountains around and they really make it a lifetime memory in your travel history. Late afternoon, return to Gorakshep for an overnight stay.

The descent back to Dingboche is not difficult, but altitude induced lethargy can make the many uphill sections below Gorakshep seem endless.

Again easy way hike down the Imja Khola to Chhukung, a small summer settlement from where the views of Island Peak (6189), Lhotse, Ama Dablam and the fluted ice walls flanking the Amphu Lapcha pass are one of the highlights of the entire trek.

Here, we have to check climbing gear and equipment to prepare to climb Island (Imja tse) peak next day and little rest to gain energy.

Above Chhukung the trail follows moraine and glacial streams to Island Peak Base Camp on a dried lakebed between the Lhotse and Imja Glaciers. From here the route skirts southeast between the moraine and the mountain before climbing steep grassy slopes and small rocky steps to high camp.

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 Chhukung.

An easy way down to Tengboche. Tengboche offers a beautiful glance of Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Cholatse, Thamserku and Amadablam. One can also visit Tengboche Monastery, the most important Buddhist center of this region.

Continue to walk down to Phunki Tenga from where you ascend uphill till Khumjung. It is one of the largest Sherpa villages of this region. You will have a great view of Amadablam and make side excursion through the local Sherpa village to Hillary hospital and Hillary school.

Easy ways walk down to Phakding village via Namche Bazaar.

Trek an easy way to Lukla, the last destination of your memorial trek. Our guide will make re-confirm your next day flight to Kathmandu in the afternoon.

Early morning after breakfast our guide takes you to the airport to board on the flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, you will be transferred to the hotel.