Island Peak Climbing

Trip Highlights

  • Destination:Nepal
  • Total Duration:15 Days
  • Trip Grade:Moderate

Trip Highlights

  • Panoramic views of Mt.Everest, Mt.Lhotse, Nuptse, Mt.Cho Oyu, Makalu, Ama Dablam and many more.
  • Suitable for those who have basic peak climbing knowledge.
  • Exploration around Tengboche, Pangboche and many smaller monasteries of this region.
  • Sightseeing Tour around Kathmandu Valley.
  • Walking around Sagarmatha National Park.
  • Crossing high suspension bridges over Imja and Dudh Kosi river.
  • Walking on the glacier.
  • Warm hearted Sherpa people.
  • Views from Everest View Hotel.

Tour Overview

Island Peak is also widely known as Imja Tse that is one of the peaks of the Himalayas. This peak was named by the British Everest Expeditions Team during 1953; as the peak resembles an island floating on the ocean of ice. This peak has been gaining popularity as a training peak for Everest Expeditions. Imja Tse Climbing does not require technical climbing experiences; trekkers with basic knowledge of climbing gears and physically fit can have this. Thus, Island Peak Climbing in Nepal is an incredible mountain expedition journey to Island Peak; which doesn’t faces attitude problems like Everest.

Our expedition to Island Peak Climbing is a mixture of high altitude climbing; along with a long day of trekking in the Everest region. That is enough to give thrills and adventure to amateur and experienced alpinist. You can have  Imja Tse Climbing journey with popular Everest Base Camp Trek.

Journey to Imja Tse starts from a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Then the trails move crossing multiple suspension bridges; and beautiful villages of Phakding, Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, Chhukung and many more.

Passing through these ethnic villages showcase their unique culture, tradition, and lifestyle of the mountainous region of Nepal. Entering to Sagarmatha National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site) displays the wildlife ecosystem of this region. You can view rare flora and fauna such as snow leopard, red panda, mountain goats and many more. This expedition to Island Peak takes you to the land of the largest monastery of the Khumbu region, Tengboche Monastery. From the village of Dingboche, your routes to Island Peak separates from Everest Base Camp Trek routes.

From Island Peak Summit you can view the 360° view of Makalu, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Cho Polu.

Detail Itinerary

After arriving at Kathmandu International Airport, our agency representative will meet you there and drop you to your hotel at Thamel. Later in the evening, we will have a short meeting on climbing Island Peak together with tomorrow’s sightseeing tour. You can enjoy the musical nights at Thamel’s cafes and restaurants. Overnight at Thamel resort.

Island Peak Climbing from Chhukung requires permits to climb as well as entering the Everest Region. We will handle this for you while you can have a wonderful Kathmandu Day Tour. Our guide will pick you up from your hotel and take you on a day tour journey around historical, cultural and religious sites of Kathmandu. All these sites are included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today you will be exploring around Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath Temple, and Kathmandu or Patan Durbar Square. This tour ends at 3 or 4 P.M in the meantime you can prepare for tomorrow’s trip. Overnight at Thamel resort.

Duration: 30 minutes flight and 3 hours trek.

Having breakfast at Thamel, we take the first flight from Kathmandu to Lukla which is half hour flight. If the weather is clear, you can have wonderful aerial views of the forest, green hills, rivers, villages, etc. With a first step on the land of Lukla, you can have your first encounter with the world's highest mountain, Mt.Everest (8,848m). After meeting with porters and other helpers, you start hiking along the carved rocks and Dudh Kosi river. With decent up and down passing by small remote villages, you reach Phakding village. Overnight at Phakding Hotel.

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Duration: 5-6 hours.

Our day starts off with an early breakfast and starts walking towards the Khumbu’s Capital, Namche Bazaar. Trails begin walking across the deep forest, crossing the suspension bridge over Dudh Kosi; until you reach the UNESCO World Heritage site, Sagarmatha National Park. Entering here requires permits after taking permits you can explore the natural and wildlife aspects of this region. If you are lucky enough you can see rare animals and birds of this region. Crossing the national park, you descend towards the suspension bridge. From here, the trails go steeper along the rhododendron, oaks and pines woods until you reach Namche Bazaar. Overnight at Namche Lodge.

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Namche lies at an altitude of 3,440 m which is enough to give altitude sickness to beginners. Thus, this day is for taking some rest and adjusting to higher altitudes. Throughout the day, you can explore local markets, bakeries, cafes, and restaurants of Namche. Namche is famous for Tibetan Handicraft items, apple pie, chocolate cakes, and teas.

Besides that, you can have a short hike to Nepal’s highest-altitude hotel, Everest View Hotel. You can have lunch here enjoying the spectacular views of Everest along with Cho Oyu, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam. This hotel is part of the popular Everest View Trek. You can have a visit Khumjung village where you explore around Edmund Hillary School. Return to Namche for overnight stay.

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Duration: 5 hours.

Leaving Namche Bazaar with some breakfast, you now head towards the religious village of Tengboche. Trails start off with light ups and downs while taking rest at Sanasa teahouses. A few more walking there comes a junction from where routes to Gokyo valley Trek and popular Everest Base Camp Trek divides.

After crossing the suspension bridge over Dudh Kosi and Imja river, you take a steep walk through the rhododendrons, oaks, pines, and junipers you arrive at the Tengboche village. This village is the land of the largest monastery of the Khumbu region, Tengboche monastery.  This monastery provides shelter to hundreds of Buddhist monks who perform religious rituals and prayings on a daily basis. Overnight at Tengboche lodge.

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Duration: 5-6 hours.

Departing from the religious land of Tengboche, you head towards Dingboche village. You move across the rhododendron forest to Deboche then cross the Imja Khola bridge with a slight ascend you reach the Pangboche village. This village is home to Nepal's oldest monastery which also resides the evidence of Yeti existence in the form of Yeti’s skull. Passing through the rocky valley you arrive the vast land of Dingboche. Dingboche village was a popular village for pasturing Yaks during the summer season. From Dingboche, Imja Tse Climbing separates from Everest Base Camp Trek. For more adventures, you can have Island Peak Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek as it offers trek to Everest Base Camp along with climbing to Imja Tse. Overnight at Dingboche Lodge.

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Duration: 3 hours.

From Dingboche, you start walking to Chukkung village that resides on Chhukung valley surrounded by Lho and Nup glacier in the south, Imja Glacier in the west, Ama Dablam and Chhukung glacier in the north. Today's walk goes along the rocky and snowy glacier walk until you the Chhukung village. This village is famous for serving trekkers who came for Island Peak Climbing from Chhukung. It is a famous village among sherpas for pasturelands.

Overnight at Chhukung lodge.

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Duration: 3-4 hours.

Today you will take a gradual uphill walk with switchbacks walking along the Lhotse glacier in the south. Then you cross the moraine of Lhotse and Imja glacier that leads you to wide land of Island Peak. We set up tents at Island Base Camp near the Imja Tsho or Imja Lake. From here, you can have an extraordinary picture of Choplu, Amphu Lapcha, and Baruntse. Our guides and climbers will check the climbing gear for tomorrow's climbing. Overnight at Island Base Camp.

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Duration: 10-12 hours climb.

The ultimate day has arrived for Island Peak climbing. You start off climbing early around 12 or 1 A.M in the morning so you can reach the summit before noon; as weather afternoon becomes very unpredictable followed with strong winds which hamper the climbing process. You start off hiking to High Camp from there you walk from dusty, grasslands to a rocky and snowy pathway. As you move higher the trails become narrow, steep and rough.

From here, you need to remember the climbing techniques you learned from our Sherpa guides. Way to the summit, there are numerous crevasses that require ladder and ropes to cross these crevasses carefully. After a long day of hardship, you reach the Island Peak Summit where you are rewarded with breathtaking views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Adoring the heavenly views and atmosphere from the summit, you descend back to the Island base camp for overnight.

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Duration: 3-4 hours.

Taking some breakfast, you leave towards the Chhukung village following the same routes you take for Peak climbing. Trails move through a decent walk along the glacier until you reach the Chhukung village for overnight.

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Duration: 5-6 hours.

Departing early in the morning from Chhukung, you take an easy descend towards the Namche Bazaar following the up and downhill walk, crossing bridges and forest of rhododendrons until you reach the streets of Namche. Overnight at Namche Bazaar Hotels.

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Duration: 6-7 hours.

Today, trek to Lukla is our final day at the Everest region. You take steep descend to the suspension bridge over the Dudh Kosi river until you reach the Sagarmatha National Park. Crossing the multiple bridges and forest along the Dudh Kosi river, you reach the gateway of Everest i.e. Lukla. Overnight at Lukla.

Meals include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Duration: 30 minutes of flight.

With an early morning breakfast at Lukla, you take a scenic flight to Kathmandu valley. Capture every bit of Everest into your eyes before leaving this extremely beautiful place. After landing, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight at Thamel hotel.

Based on your flight schedule, our agency representative will escort you to Kathmandu International Airport with wishing you a safe flight back home.

Cost and Dates

You need to have permits for climbing Island Peak also trekking in the Everest Region. After paying fees, you can get permits for this trip which you can get from Kathmandu before starting this journey. Following permits are required;

Sagarmatha National Park Entry Fees - $30 USD + 13% VAT.

TIMS Card - $20 USD

Find Dates
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Additional Info

Island Peak Climbing Difficulty

Well, climbing Island Peak is moderate peak climbing in Nepal as compared to Everest Expeditions. But the final half to the summit of Imja Tse is steep with high walls and crevasses; which makes difficult while climbing. With proper climbing gear knowledge, you can overcome these difficulties. Besides that, this Island Peak climbing is a combination of both long days of walking and high altitude climbing. Thus, climbers with basic mountaineering knowledge with physical and mental fitness can do this thrilling peak climbing. Recommended taking some physical, mental and climbing training before starting the actual trip.

Best Time for Island Peak Climbing

Except for Monsoon season, there is no restriction on climbing Island Peak. Peak climbing is done throughout the year. But choosing the best season to climb Island Peak offers a safe and successful climb along with remarkable views and scenery of the great Himalayas.

From September-November and March-May is the best season of the year for climbing and trekking in the Everest Region. Throughout these months, the weather is clear and moderate which is suitable for climbing, trekking and observing mountain peaks. Beautiful flowers of rhododendrons and magnolias bloom and fill the entire trekking routes with bright colors and fragrance. 

December-February is the season of extreme cold in Nepal. Climbing Island Peak in winter leads to thick snow-covered trek routes followed with snowfall and strong cold winds. The fogs can blur out the vision of apex touching mountain peaks.

Thus we recommend choosing the right time to climb Imja Tse.