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Overview
Overview
Island Peak Climbing is one of the most beautiful trekking and peak climbing centers in the Himalayas. Located in the Everest/Khumbu region of Eastern Nepal, Island Peak Climbing is perfect for you if you are an adventure lover and enthusiast of energetic and challenging treks. The 19 days journey takes you through some of the surreal landscapes of the Everest/Khumbu Region until you conquer the top of magical Island Peak.
Island Peak, also known as Imja Tse, stands at 6189 meters (20305ft) above sea level. It stands in the picturesque Imja Valley in the Everest region, only a few miles from Mount Everest (8848m). The peak looks like an island from a distance, amidst the icy waters guarded by silver mountains.
Your enthralling journey gets underway with an adventurous flight to Tenzing–Hillary Airport, Lukla, from the capital city. You will enjoy seeing magnificent views from the top before landing amidst the high hills in one of the world’s most extreme airports.
After an enticing flight, you will commence the trek that takes you through some of the beautiful trails. From exploring the gateway of Mount Everest: Namche Bazar to visiting the historical Tengboche monastery, you will get lost in the tranquility of the beautiful nature. Moreover, the expedition presents you the chance to stroll around the Everest Base Camp, from where the dreams of many climbing enthusiasts of conquering the great Mount Everest begins.
The summit of Island Peak gets underway once you reach the Island Peak Base Camp. From there, you will climb towards the High Camp and acclimatize your body properly before the ultimate summit. Our Sherpa guides will involve you in some drills and physical exercises before you begin the most fun part of the expedition.
Ascending the Island Peak is not that challenging; however, you have to face some physical difficulties before reaching the top. Nevertheless, your efforts won’t go in vain as the summit offers you some bone-chilling views of Lhotse (8516m), Mount Pumori (7161m), Mera Peak, Mt. Barunste and other surrounding peaks.
You can climb Island Peak during two seasons on either side of the monsoon, spring (mid-March to May) and autumn (mid-September to November). Likewise, it is possible to climb the peak during the winter, but cold temperatures will create additional difficulties.
We are here to make sure that you achieve your quest to conquer the top of Island Peak without any difficulties. We have a team of expert climbers, who have the experience of completing any kind of climbs with minimal or no risks. Besides, they will provide you the necessary assistance even during the grueling scenarios.
This Island Peak Climbing trip offers you an opportunity to explore the Everest/Khumbu region of Nepal from its core.
Short History of Island Peak
Located on top of the Chhukung glacier between Lhotse (8383m) and Ama Dablam (6856m) mountains, the Island Peak was first summitted by the Swiss team in 1956. The team was training and preparing for the Everest Expedition. Since then, a handful of climbers have successfully climbed this peak as it is not too challenging and doesn’t necessarily require any previous climbing experience.
Why You Will Love Island Peak Climbing
- You will enjoy a 19 days-long exploration around the scenic landscapes of the Everest/Khumbu region of Nepal.
- Bone-chilling flight from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu to Tenzing–Hillary Airport, Lukla — one of the most extreme airports in the world
- You will walk through the amazing forests filled with rhododendron and juniper trees.
- A chance to learn Sherpa culture, values, and traditions
- You will visit the infamous and historical Tengboche Monastery.
- Enjoy the adventurous hike to Kala Patthar and Everest Base Camp.
- Ascending and Descending the snow-capped Island Peak.
- Mouthwatering views of Mount Everest (8848m), Nuptse (7879m), Lhotse (8383m), Ama Dablam (6856m), Thamserku (6608m), Mount Cho Oyu (8201m), Mount Pumori (7161m), and other surrounding peaks
Is This Island Peak Climbing Right For You?
- The weather can be inconstant in the higher altitudes as it can also affect your expedition and put it to a halt. You need to make sure that you consider the time of the year you wish to take on this climbing adventure as the scenery and conditions vary between seasons.
- For about a week or more, you will have to walk for 5 to 7 hours, excluding the climbing of the Island Peak itself. So, make sure that you can take the challenge. It will be helpful if you have been practicing some kind of mountaineering exercise prior to the journey.
- Our skillfully planned itinerary gives you even more sightseeing of the youngest mountains in the world, holding an ample amount of time aside for adaptation and acclimatization.
- The tea houses that you will be staying throughout the trekking period are simple with some basic facilities. Access to electricity for charging your electronic devices will cost you extra. Wi-Fi is available at a few locations, but connections could be weak. However, you can get all the advanced facilities when you are staying in the hotel at Kathmandu.
- The most important part of the expedition includes the scaling of Island Peak. The climb is moderately challenging, so keep in check that you have some climbing experience before taking on this expedition.
- The expedition includes several days of camping over 3000 meters, where there is the risk of being struck by Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). You may notice shortness of breath and mild headaches, but your guide will make sure you walk gently to let your body adapt to the thinning air.
Our Sherpa guides are well trained in first-aid. They will be carrying emergency medicines to assist you in the time of difficulty. In extreme cases, we will rescue you using a helicopter. If you are uncertain about your physical ability, you need to inquire about some medical advice before booking this campaign.
Island Peak Climbing – Outline Itinerary
| Day | Itinerary | Altitude | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival and Pick Up at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, and Transfer to the Hotel | 1350m | - |
| 2 | Sightseeing Around Kathmandu Valley and Preparation for the Expedition | 1350m | - |
| 3 | Flight from Kathmandu to Tenzing–Hillary Airport, Lukla and Trek to Phakding | 2840m (Lukla) 2650m (Phakding) | 40 minutes (flight) 4 hours (trek) |
| 4 | Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar | 3440m | 4 hours |
| 5 | Acclimatization Day at Namche Bazaar and Khumjung Valley Excursion | 3440m (Namche Bazaar) 3790m (Khumbu Valley) | 3 hours |
| 6 | Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tengboche | 3850m | 6 hours |
| 7 | Trek from Tengboche to Pherichhe | 4270m | 5 hours |
| 8 | Trek from Pherichhe to Lobuche | 4910m | 4 hours |
| 9 | Trek from Lobuche to Gorakshep Hike to Everest Base Camp | 5160m (Gorakshep) 5364m (Everest Base Camp) | 5 hours |
| 10 | Trek from Gorakshep to Kalapatthar to Dingboche | 5554m (Kalapatthar) 4350m (Dingboche) | 6 hours |
| 11 | Trek from Dingboche to Chhukung | 4700m | 3 hours |
| 12 | Trek from Chhukung to Island Peak Base Camp | 5087m | 5 hours |
| 13 | Trek from Island Peak Base Camp to High Camp | 5500m | 3 hours |
| 14 | Summit of Island Peak and Trek to Chhukung | 6165m (Island Peak) 4700m (Chhukung) | 6 hours |
| 15 | Trek from Chhukung to Tengboche | 3850m | 4 hours |
| 16 | Trek from Tengboche to Namche Bazaar | 3440m | 5 hours |
| 17 | Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla | 2840m | 6 hours |
| 18 | Flight from Tenzing–Hillary Airport, Lukla to Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu and Farewell Dinner Celebration | 1350m | 40 minutes |
| 19 | Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for Final Departure | 1350m | 0.5 hours |
Important Notes
- You will begin this expedition early in Kathmandu. You will have an extra day other than the arrival day to explore the natural and cultural heritages around the Kathmandu valley. As a result, you will get enough time to prepare and become familiar with the expedition.
- The royalty fee that you need to pay for ascending the Island Peak in the spring season is 250USD. Besides, the charges in autumn and winter/summer seasons are 125USD and 70USD, respectively.
- Your guide may decide to delay or stop the ascent based on your medical conditions and AMS symptoms to ensure your safety and help on the climb.
- You may also be obliged to carry some passport size photographs to complete your expedition permit.
- Please note that you can obtain visas upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.
- We suggest allowing a few extra days in Kathmandu at the end of your expedition in case your flight back from Lukla is delayed due to bad weather conditions.
Safety and Precautions During the Expedition
When you are climbing to higher altitudes, there is always a risk of altitude sickness. Although vulnerability varies from person to person, we want to ensure that you all are well informed to prevent any unwanted difficulties. To prevent anything serious from happening while you are in your expedition, we have detailed some of the major symptoms of altitude sickness as well as preventive measures.
Symptoms of Altitude Sickness
Here are some of the common symptoms of altitude sickness:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Difficulty in breathing
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Rapid pulse
Preventive Measures for Altitude Sickness
Follow these preventive measures to avoid altitude sickness:
- Allow your body to acclimatize properly to the high elevation and air pressure. Do not carry out hard climbs without resting now and then.
- Make sure you take several days when climbing to high altitudes.
- Keep yourself well-hydrated throughout the climb. Always carry the purified water to remain safe from any kind of hazards.
- Ensure that you stop to rest every 600 to 800 meters even if you don’t feel the strain.
- Alcohol and smoking tend to worsen altitude sickness, so try to avoid them.
Treating Altitude Sickness
If you experience any of the above symptoms of altitude sickness, we recommend the following:
- Immediately stop your climbing session and take some rest.
- Alert your guide so he can get the first aid kit.
- Garlic and Sichuan peppers are well-known home remedies to prevent altitude sickness.
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