EBC And Island Peak Leisurely Climb - 24 Days - 24 Days

This professionally designed Island peak climbing itinerary takes us to the acclimatization hike to the most popular trekking destination of Everest Base Camp (5340m/17521ft) and Kala Patthar (5545m/18193ft) first for the close up views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu and more before scaling the challenging 6189m peak crossing through the little used Cho La pass (5420m/17783ft) and Kongma La Pass (5535m/18160ft).

Island Peak at 6189m is one of the most challenging three days ascent using ice axes and crampons for which you will be given a practical rock climbing course in Kathmandu before we take an exciting mountain flight to Lukla and trek up the Dudh Kosi Valley starting our trek through Solu Khumbu, the capital of Sherpas. A full day rest will follow at the Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar. On that day, a hike for acclimatization is possible to Thame and back. We continue trek to Gokyo and climb the Gokyo Peak for the wonderful views of Himalayas and then follow a high pass of Cho La (5368m/17611ft). Ascending the glacial valley and we continue up to reach Gorak Shep and hike to Everest Base Camp (5340m/17521ft) and Kala Patthar (5545m /18193ft) after which the trail descends and we take a shortcut through Kongma La (5535m/18160ft) to Chhukung. After a day of walking from Chhukung we reach the Base Camp to prepare for the challenge. It may take an additional day or two to scale the peak depending on weather conditions. We endeavor the summit (6189m/20306ft) after one night at the High Camp perched on the South West Ridge where magnificent vistas of the Khumbu can be seen from the top

Day 1 Arrival KATHMANDU (1300m/4265ft)
Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport where you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and check in to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to explore this historic and vibrant city. Overnight at hotel. Meals: Welcome Dinner

Day 2 ROCK CLIMBING COURSE or SIGHTSEEING
An expedition trip to Nepal involves slightly more preparation than average trips abroad. We take care that you should not be ill equipped, exhausted and unable to cope with the thought of climbing all the way. So we take you to Balaju, a natural rock climbing spot on a 3kms drive where you will be given the climbing course to provide you the opportunities to learn to use rope, harness, ice axe, crampons, although there is no snow. We return to Kathmandu for the night stay. Or you can opt for sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley if you feel you don’t need the course. Overnight at hotel. Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 Fly to LUKLA (2800m/9187ft); trek to PHAKDING (2610m/8563ft) 2-3 hours trek; 200m descent, 50m ascent
Early morning flight from Kathmandu International Airport to Lukla Airport and trek to Phakding for 3 hours. Descending above farmlands we pass through Sherpa villages of Chheplung, Ghat and Sano and Thulo Gumela and shrines and monasteries of Drangdrak Gompa and Pema Choling Gompa with breathtaking views of sacred mountain Kumbila and sister summits Kusum Kanguru peaks. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 Trek to NAMCHE (3420m/11221ft) 5-6 hours/1000m ascent, 100m descent
Heading for the Namche Bazar, we cross through the hamlet of Zamphute and Tok Tok to see dazzling Thamserku glistening in the sun that stays all the way with us in most of our trek. Passing through the scenic Sherpa villages of Benkar, Chumoa and Monjo, we reach Utche Choling Gompa on a bluff abutting the Dudhkoshi river and further we make our way between the bluff to the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO declared world heritage site. Completing halfway to Namche Bazar, we head for the second half of the march that would likely to take more time due to steep climb at the end. Crossing through the last village of Jorsale, a steep stepped path leads us to an amazing high bridge over the Dudhkoshi River gorge and just before this bridge the Dudhkoshi is met by its tributary, the BhoteKoshi. Beginning the final steps uphill slowly we reach heights of Namche from where we can have first look at Mt. Everest, peering over the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge and finally after about 1.5km/0.9mile) we reach Namche Bazar. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 Acclimatize at NAMCHE
We have an acclimatization day at Namche Bazar. To help our body better adapt to the high altitude, we can take short walks or climb few hundred feet during the day to have a look in the villages, houses, terraced fields and snowy mountains of Kwangde, Khumbu peak, Thamserku, Kusum Kanguru and the village’s big weekly event, the Saturday market to have fun mingling with the crowds and watching men and women in traditional attire. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 Trek DOLE (4090m/13419ft)
From Namche Bazaar we walk flat a little further, and turn left to climb stairs and then walk through the forest of birch and junipers. After Mongla we trek down to Phortse Tenga and walk further along to the village of Dole. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 Trek MACHHERMO (4410m/14469ft) 1-2 hours; 320m ascent
It’s a short trek of only 1-2 hours to limit the rate of ascent. From Dole it’s a steep climb out of the forest to an increasingly barren hillside. We pass through many summer settlements which are used when yaks are taken to these pastures to graze in the summer months. Continuing past the village of Lhabarma the trail climbs gently past a large chorten to Luza and the trail continues to climb to reach a chorten and fluttering prayer flags on the outskirts of Machhermo tucked into a wide flat bottomed valley below the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa glacier. Locals of Machhermo claim that a yeti killed three yaks and attacked a Sherpa woman here in 1974. At the north end of the village is the International Porter Protection Group. It’s a rescue post as well as provides emergency treatment to trekkers and porters and educates them about the dangers of AMS. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 Trek GOKYO (4750m/15585ft) 3-4 hours; 350m ascent
Climbing steeply up a scrubby slope to a collection of chortens on the hilltop and passing through the good views of Kantega and Cho Oyu we soon reach a tiny settlement of Pangka village at the end of the Ngozumpa glacier. Wedged between the mountain wall and the crumbling mound of sand and gravel are the six sacred lakes which reflect the peaks in their calm mirrored surfaces. Immediately after crossing the bridge we reach the first lake and crossing through the barren landscapes pass through the second lake and finally we reach the village of Gokyo on the shores of the third lake known as Dudh Pokhari. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 Trek GOKYO RI (5360m/17586ft); back to GOKYO 4 hours return; 570m ascent, 570m descent
Gokyo Ri, the 5357m high hill on the north side of Dudh Pokhari is the highlight of the Gokyo trip. Starting up the mountain early in the morning, the path to the peak crosses the stream at the north end of the village and climbs for two hours to the top of the hill for the panoramic views of Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cholatse and Taboche, with the Ngozumpa glacier cutting across in front like a massive tear in the landscape. We notice that Everest truly towers over all the surrounding peaks. From Gokyo Ri we descend back to Gokyo for the night stay.Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 Trek THANGNAK (4700m/15421ft)
Descending down steeply crossing the third lake, Dudh Pokhari alongside of surging stream that links the two lakes, we reach the second lake, Tajung Tsho. Now the trail brings us to the edge of Ngozumpa glacier that is among the longest in Nepal and covered with debris. At places beneath is exposed and large melt water ponds are formed. We reach a settlement of Thangnak crossing through the fabulous mountain views of Phari Lapche more distant and higher peak of Kyajo Ri and great icy wall of Cho Oyu. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 Trek DZONGLA (4830m/15847ft)
It’s a 7-9 hours climb of steep rocky incline full of boulders with a stunning view of Ama Dablam gracefully presiding over a wild tangle of snowy mountains that leads to a summit of Cho La Pass (5420m). On the pass itself there is usually little snow; prayer flags strung across cairns flap in the strong wind. Over on the other side, a line of peaks can be seen, the most prominent of which is Kyajo Ri (6186m). Also visible are the distant summits of Tengkangpoche, Kwangde, Karyolung, Tangi Ragi Tau and Kanchung. One can also view a flat glacier plateau to east and west from the top. Later we descend the snow covered glacier to beautiful Dzongla. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12 Trek LOBUCHE (4930m/16175ft)
After yesterday’s long demanding walk today looks like it will be a lot easier. Rounding the ridge when we move southward, the vast Chola Lake sprawls below while Cholatse peak rises beyond it. The view is stunning; the lake stays with us over a long stretch as we walk down over it. We walk towards Ama Dablam but then, following the contour of the hill, we veer off towards the North and eventually descend into the valley (it’s really the end of the Khumbu glacier) and reach the settlement of Lobuche a bit later. We have now rejoined the main trail to Everest Base Camp so there is a little bit more traffic. Overnight at guest house.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 Trek GORAK SHEP (5160m/16930 ft)
The first stage of the trek from Lobuche to Gorek Shep is mostly easy walking (other than the fact that we are approaching (5160m/16930 ft) of elevation). We start below the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and gradually ascend. Now the Changri Shar and Changri Nup Glaciers descend from the two sides of Changri Mountain down to the Khumbu Glacier. At first there is a steep section of switchbacks up onto the glacier and then a series of rocky and occasionally icy ups and downs. We finally pass across and then a short descent brings us to Gorak Shep. It is extremely cold here (night temperatures almost always well below freezing) and often windy but the place is very scenic with snow capped mountains looming all around. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14 Trek EBC (5340m/17521ft); back to GORAK SHEP
Starting early from Gorak Shep we move towards EBC to be amidst of mountains, not to see them from afar as EBC is not a viewpoint. Walking by the shallow blue waters of Gorak Shep Lake, the Changtse peak in Tibet and the Lho La depression can be seen straight ahead. Crossing through several of the glaciers, icefalls, frozen pools of melt water, exposed icy walls and large boulders we finally reach EBC from where trekking ends and mountaineering begins. We descend back to Gorak Shep for the night stay. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 15 Trek KALA PATTHAR (5545m/18193ft); return trek to LOBUCHE
This is our date with the highest mountain of the world, Mount Everest. We start after an early breakfast without hurry. Crossing through the wide sandy bed of the dried up lake and steep zigzags we ascend about 100m to have the great view of Lingtren, Khumbutse and Changtse. As the climb begins again, we get a grand view of Khumbu glacier and Nuptse massif and finally we climb to the rocky viewpoint of Kala Patthar. It’s a slow tough climb but every meter ascended is rewarded by a bit more of Everest and finally we find ourselves sitting on the Kala Patthar rocks in middle of unbelievable Himalayan Panorama. Now we return downhill which takes much less time. Retracing the way we came up we pass through Gorak Shep and onwards to Lobuche making our way along Khumbu Khola, for the night stay while being back. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 16 Trek to CHHUKUNG (4730m/15519ft) via KONGMA LA (5535m/18160ft) 6-7 hours
After breakfast trekking via Khumbu Glacier to Kongma La Base Camp continues ascending to Kongma La pass then descending a gradual walk up the Imja Khola Valley to Chhukung, a small summer settlement nestling among ridges of moraine. It is here where we make final preparation for the challenge. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 17 Climb to ISLAND PEAK BASE CAMP (4970m/16307ft) 3-4 hours
The path from Chhukung leads fairly steep way climbing south then turning east to the main line of the valley. It then winds along or below the southern flank of the moraine from the Lhotse Glacier. Continue short pleasant walking along a streamside leads to what we call Big-rock. The route to the Amphu Lapcha lies to the southeast. A crisis cross route through the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines leads to a wide valley flanking the SW side of Island peak. Stay over night in Island Peak Base Camp. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 18 Climb to ISLAND PEAK HIGH CAMP (5600m/18372ft) 2-3 hours
The path leads up beyond base camp for several hundred meters before striking off left up the steep hillside. Initially sandy, the path soon turns to grass before becoming boulder strewn. As we climb the hill, we will see that the slope narrows and the path enter a steep rock channel. Stay overnight in Island Peak High Camp. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 19 Climb to SUMMIT BASE CAMP (6189m/20306ft); Back to CHHUKUNG 8-10 hours
We start the climb to rocky gully early in the morning which is not much difficult but there are several short rock steps to climb before we emerge on the right side of the gully. The route then follows a ridgeline which leads to an exhilarating and exposed traverse onto the snout of the summit glacier. We need to rope up for the glacier as it contains several crevasses but it leads without difficulty, to a 100m (330ft) snow and ice slope (40-45°) on which the guides will fix a rope. From the top of this slope, 3 rope lengths along a sharp summit ridge lead to the top. After enjoying the summit views we descend all the way to Chhukung for the night stay. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 20 Trek TENGBOCHE (3870m/12697ft) 5-6 hours
The trail makes a gradual descent through scrub junipers and around mani stones as it follows the hillside. The trail passes many mani walls in deep rhododendron forests where crossing after the Imja Khola, the trail climbs many carved mani stones to Pangboche. Pangboche Gompa is the oldest in Khumbu; a visit will be well worth. Walk down to the valley from where the trail is shallower through alpine meadows. Followed by climb gradually up to Tengboche where the biggest monastery lies in the whole of Khumbu. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 21 Trek back NAMCHE BAZAR
From Tengboche we move towards Phunki Tenga and now descend to Sanasa and Kyangjuma and then finally to Namche Bazar. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 22 Trek back LUKLA
Our final day’s trekking follows the Dudh Kosi down to Lukla retracing the way we came up. Overnight at guest house. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 23 Fly back KATHMANDU
From Lukla Airport we fly back to Kathmandu and are dropped to the hotel. This is a leisure day which can be utilized buying gifts and souvenirs for your friends and family. In the evening you will be invited to join FAREWELL reviewing great photos and share experiences of the trip. Overnight at hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

Day 24 Fly back HOME or extend your HOLIDAYS
If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult us for short tours such as game drive at National parks, rafting, mountain biking, Tibet, India or Bhutan tours etc. Meals: Breakfast

Cost Include

Airport pickups and drops in a private vehicle
3-star hotel accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast
Teahouse accommodation during the trek
Tented accommodation during the climb
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek and climb
Welcome and farewell dinners
All ground transportation on a comfortable private vehicle as per the itinerary
Domestic flights (Kathmandu- Lukla -Kathmandu)
English speaking, trained and experienced trekking guide(leader), climbing guide (leader) and assistant guides
Porter service (2 trekkers: 1 porter)
Staff costs including their salary, insurance, equipment, domestic airfare, food and accommodation
Down jacket (to be returned after trip completion)
Alpine Club of HImaloaya’s trekking bag/duffel bag, t-shirt and trekking map are yours to take
All necessary paper work; trekking permits and Island Peak climbing permit
Good quality tents and kitchen utensils for camping
Group mountaineering (climbing) equipments
Medical kit (carried by your guide)
All government and local taxes

Cost Exclude

Nepalese visa fee (bring accurate USD cash and two passport photographs)
International airfare to and from Kathmandu
Excess baggage charges (if you have more than 15 kg luggage, cargo charge is around $1.5 per kg)
Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, early return from mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
Altitude chamber (PAC) or oxygen
Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu (and also in the case of early return from mountain than the scheduled itinerary)
Travel and rescue insurance
Personal expenses (phone calls, internet, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.)
Personal climbing equipment
Personal climbing guide if requested
Optional trips and sightseeing if extended
Tips for guides and porters
Services not listed in the ‘What Is Included’ section