ISLAND PEAK CLIMBING

After arriving at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will receive warm hospitality and be transferred to your hotel for a refreshing sleep to beat the post-flight exhaustion and to relax a little so as to visit around on your own or have lunch. In the evening, meet with your climbing guide and team for orientation of the expedition trip along with getting yourselves organized. You can revise and go through your check-up list and rent any of the missing equipment.

A spectacular, scenic ride will whisk us all off to Lukla for a ride of a lifetime amongst the snowy peaks of the Himalayan range. As we land at the mountain airport, our support crew members along with our Sherpas and porters join our group. After getting ourselves organized we commence our treks on the banks of the Dudh Koshi River, surrounded by lush green hills, traditional Sherpa hamlets, prayer wheel and carved mani stone. While crossing over various suspension bridges we arrive at the peaceful village of Phakding after which we'll be spending our first night in this lovely cosy local teahouse.

Leaving Phakding you head upriver, under the towering and sweet-smelling pines and rhododendron trees. Along the way you'll traverse huge and rather precariously swinging suspension bridges, including the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge. Shortly after entering Sagarmatha National Park, the path from Monjo transforms into a steep but non-stop ascent towards what is now known as the Sherpa capital. In fact, as you ascend towards Namche Bazaar, views will open and you will get a first, teasing view of the giant, Everest appearing in the distance above other ridges.

Once reaching the amphitheatre carved out by the surrounding mountains, you will reach a bustling village with its friendly array of shops and tea shops. There check in into your place to stay, it's then time for a potter round the market or you can duck into a cafe for a freshly made coffee.

Today is our rest day, dedicated to the most important aspects of altitude adaptation; it helps your body to take a necessary break in order to acclimatize itself to thinning air at altitude. Following our morning tea, we’ll hike up to the Everest View Hotel for an excellent panoramic view of Everest and neighboring mountains such as Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku. From this highest point we can observe awesome views of the Everest panorama. Along the way you’ll also visit the Sherpa culture museum and two very interesting Sherpa villages, Khumjung and Khunde, where you'll have the opportunity to observe the traditional Tibetan way of life, and discover details about the life of the Sherpa. Enjoy the afternoon with leisure time strolling around the colorful local markets of Namche, relax in popular Namche-based cafe houses, or enjoy a peaceful stay in your teahouse. Getting a good rest today for a great hike on the higher days to come will be quite beneficial.

Leaving Namche, the trekking trail is a pleasant and level walk high up the valley walls with superb vistas of Ama Dablam as you make your way towards your destination of the day. We will descend to the river valley at Phunki Thenga for our lunch, after which the path gently begins its ascent up through dense rhododendron and fir forests. The trail takes you up to what is perhaps the spiritually most important place in the entire region of Khumbu, Tengboche. Situated on some high terrain, in the shadows of Ama Dablam and Everest in the background, Tengboche houses the largest monastery in the Everest area. This afternoon you have an option to walk into Tengboche monastery and see some monks attending prayer.

Passing along the side of alpine trees from the ridge top to the valley of Imja Khola by suspension bridge, we ascend to the valley upwards to Pangboche. Hiking up the valley, from above the tree line, the plants become dry and thin. Following many more mani walls and chortens up the valley from the river, you can see sheer, tremendous cliffs of Ama Dablam up close. Deeper into the high Himalayas, the village of Dingboche is the last major hub. Set high and known as the "Summer Valley," this is where most trekkers will take some time to allow for adequate acclimatization.

This gives us another crucial acclimatization day by going through a process by means of which the body adapts itself at high altitudes exceeding the elevation over 5000 meters. You will leave on the day before in the morning for a very steep climb that is consistent going all the way up to the top of Nangkartshang (5083 m) for a remarkable vista of Makalu, Lhotse, Cholatse, Taboche, and the Imja Valley. Going up for extended hours at high altitude helps to build the amount of blood cells, thereby helping your body adapt to high altitude. Once you are satisfied with the photo opportunities at the top of there, you can also descend back towards Dingboche to warm yourself with dinner, with enough comfort and enough rest for the tougher days that await you.

The path climbs up on a high ridge which overlooks the Pheriche valley. Crossing a wide rocky wind blown field, we reach the first of several hamlets on our way towards Dughla. This is followed by crossing a glacier river and then beginning a strenuous ascent along the terminal moraine of the Khumbu glacier. At the top of the pass, where stones are heaped into a vast array of chortens commemorating climbers who died at the high altitudes, the Everest Memorial stands at our pass before the trekking route turns north, following the lateral moraine of the Khumbu glacier to Lobuche. The air is very thin now, and we have reached an arid mountain, and high peaks above 6,000 meters dominate the area around us.

Rise early for the day’s early start and our climb up to Khumbu Glacier's rocky moraine where we come to the ultimate tea house of this trekking region, Gorak Shep. Once we leave our heavy rucksack, we get short breaks and quick bites and then hike ahead towards Everest Base Camp. After walking along the loose stone, debris, and ridge of glacial ice, we reach the famous site, Everest Base Camp, from where you can view up close the Khumbu icefall with a number of the towering peak summits. We take snaps, celebrate our achievement, and return back over glacial moraine to Gorak Shep to get food and good sleep.

Starting early before dawn, we will go towards our next destination "Kala Patthar" which lies at an altitude of 5,550 meters above sea level for viewing the golden Himalaya sunrise from here.

Also, when the day starts getting bright, you can get the premier close up view of the world's tallest mountain "Everest," along with other icy giants i.e., Nuptse, Changtse and many more. Then after that, you will be back at Gorak Shep for your warm breakfast then you will be back in collecting all your gears to trek down the valley trekking along the famous Khumbu Glacier for an overnight stay at Lobuche after the success of your great trekking to the world’s highest mountain base camp “Everest Base Camp”.

You cross one quite demanding high pass, starting the day by setting out from Lobuche very early, crossing ice and rubble of the Khumbu Glacier until you climb up the ridge on steep rock to reach this pass at 5,535 metres. Prayer flags fly at the top, and you enjoy a spectacular view of Lhotse, Pokalde, Imja valley etc. Descending steeply down on the eastern side is full of scree fields thus be careful on every step. You descend down to the valley, trekking flat area till Chhukung village and rest for the day.

The route continues from Chhukung heading east on the southern side of the Imja Glacier with incredible views of the towering southern wall of Lhotse. Walk around the valley floors which are full of gravelly terrain as you get amazing views of the Island Peak directly.

You'll reach Island Peak Base Camp today where we will stay at our newly established tented camps. Afternoon will be used for gear and safety briefing by your climbing guide team. Also you can use this time to learn how to operate fixed rope, harnesses, ascenders and crampons for tomorrow's summit push.

You begin the ascent attempt sometime after midnight, traversing into narrow ridges and rocky ravines under starry night skies. At the crampon point of the snow line, you'll get outfitted with hardware, tie into your roped team and navigate across the crevassed glacier. Next, using special ascenders, you will climb the steep headwall fixed ropes and finally arrive at the narrow summit ridge where you can take in the breathtaking view from Island Peak Summit (6,189m). At that point, you have worked hard enough during this day's climbing journey such that you should get an extraordinarily beautiful panoramic 360° view of mountains including Lhotse, Makalu, Ama Dablam and Baruntse. After enjoying the celebration time, you come back to Base Camp after being cautious while descending because after spending one day's climbing journey in altitude, you need to relax properly. Finally, after resting here, we continue our descent towards Chhukung for an overnight stay.

After summit success, now trek down to the valley. You will trek further on from Chhukung, passing through the Imja and valley sides as well as Dingboche, to reach your destination, Pangboche. Pass through the rhododendron and birch forest, cross the bridge above Imja, and come back to the Tengboche Monastery. Following a steep descent you continue trekking to Phunki Tenga and reach the climb-back high trail to Namche Bazaar. In Namche you should treat yourself to a shower, a hot meal and celebration together in the nice environment of a less high mountain altitude area with your climbing team.

The trekking on your last day begins from the busy village of Namche Bazaar where you begin with a fast descent back towards the Hillary Suspension Bridge. Your trek follows the path through which you originally came to the valley. Keeping the roar of the Dudh Koshi River by your side you trek along the beautiful valleys passing through Monjo and Phakding and several other beautiful Sherpa villages to finally arrive at Lukla with a short steep up and easy trek. There, after a successful journey, you will celebrate your ending trip by relaxing and reminiscing on your adventures with guides and porters in the Sherpa way on your farewell evening party.

In the morning, take a smooth and quick mountain flight out of Lukla to Kathmandu and have one last glorious view of Mount Himalaya while on a flight. Then there will be a transfer from the airport to your hotel. You have a full leisure day to relax and revive, get a massage and go shopping for souvenirs around Thamel or just another step in a walk through Kathmandu's monuments like Kathmandu Durbar Square or Swayambhunath Stupa.

Your adventure in the beautiful mountains of Himalayas concludes today. If time allows, before taking your luggage and putting it into your vehicle, enjoy some last minute shopping. A tour representative will drive you from your hotel to the Tribhuvan International Airport and you will arrive well in advance of your international flight. As you leave the aircraft, you will say goodbye to Nepal knowing that you have many wonderful memories, a bunch of new friends and also have an unforgettable feeling of standing on a mountain - Island Peak.