Island Peak Climbing (6,189m) – Everest Region
A 19-day trekking peak expedition to the summit of Island Peak (Imja Tse) in the Everest region, combining the classic trek to Everest Base Camp with a non-technical but strenuous climb to a stunning 6,000m Himalayan summit.
- Duration 19 Days
- Difficulty Challenging
- Group Size 12 People
- Max Altitude 6189m
- Region Everest
Overview
Island Peak, known locally as Imja Tse (6,165m), is the most popular climbing peak in Nepal, drawing both first-time mountaineers and experienced trekkers looking to add a summit to their Khumbu journey. The mountain was named by Eric Shipton's 1951 expedition, who thought it resembled an island rising from a surrounding sea of ice when viewed from Dingboche; it was first climbed in 1953 by members of the British Everest expedition as training ahead of their Everest attempt.
The approach follows the classic Everest region trail through Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, and Dingboche before branching off at Chhukung toward Island Peak Base Camp. While the trekking sections require no technical skill, the final summit push involves fixed ropes, a glacier crossing, and a steep snow headwall, making Island Peak a genuine introduction to high-altitude mountaineering rather than simply a strenuous walk.
At 6,165m, Island Peak sits below the altitude where extended, multi-week acclimatization is typically needed, which is part of why it has become the standard first climbing peak for those preparing for bigger 7,000m and 8,000m objectives in the years ahead.
Itinerary
-
Day 1 Arrival in Kathmandu
Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to a 5-star hotel.
-
Day 2 Preparation in Kathmandu
A day for briefings, equipment shopping, and last-minute formalities ahead of the climb.
-
Day 3 Fly to Lukla & Trek to Phakding
Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla (35 minutes), or in peak months drive to Manthali/Ramechhap and take a shorter flight, then trek down to Phakding.
-
Day 4 Trek to Namche Bazaar
Trek along the Dudh Koshi River and through Sagarmatha National Park to Namche Bazaar.
-
Day 5 Acclimatization Day at Namche & Hike to Everest View Hotel
Rest day with a hike to the famous Everest View Hotel for a first glimpse of Everest, plus time to explore the Hillary and Sherpa museums in Namche.
-
Day 6 Trek to Tengboche
Trek to Tengboche and visit its Buddhist monastery, the most active in the Everest region.
-
Day 7 Trek to Dingboche
Trek to Dingboche, with views of Ama Dablam and Lhotse along the way.
-
Day 8 Acclimatization Day at Dingboche & Hike to Chhukung Ri
Rest day with an optional hike toward Chhukung Ri for extra altitude adaptation and views.
-
Day 9 Trek to Chhukung
A short trekking day to Chhukung, the last village before Island Peak Base Camp.
-
Day 10 Trek to Island Peak Base Camp
Trek to Island Peak Base Camp, the staging point for the summit push.
-
Day 11 – 12 Climb Island Peak
An early start for the summit push, crossing the glacier and climbing the fixed-rope headwall to the summit of Island Peak (6,165m), before returning to Base Camp.
-
Day 13 Trek to Pangboche
Descend from Island Peak Base Camp back toward Pangboche.
-
Day 14 Trek to Namche Bazaar
Continue the descent back to Namche Bazaar.
-
Day 15 Trek to Lukla
A final trekking day back down the Dudh Koshi valley to Lukla.
-
Day 16 Fly to Kathmandu
A short, scenic flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu.
-
Day 17 Leisure Day & Farewell Dinner
A leisure day for shopping in Kathmandu, followed by a farewell celebration dinner with a cultural program in the evening.
-
Day 18 Final Departure
Transfer to the airport for departure.
Cost Details
What’s Included
- Farewell dinner at a standard restaurant in Kathmandu with Nepalese staff
- North Face tents at Base Camp, foam mattresses, dining/kitchen/toilet/store tents, hot showers, tables, chairs, and cooking gear
- Kathmandu–Lukla round-trip domestic flight
- Comprehensive Base Camp services
- Base camp staff, including a base camp cook and kitchen helper
- 4 nights 5-star hotel in Kathmandu on a Bed & Breakfast plan
- Base camp lighting
- Air cargo clearance for personal luggage of members and payment of government taxes
- 30 kg personal baggage allowance per member
- Daily wages, equipment, food, and clothing for all Nepali staff and porters
- Porters per member up to Base Camp and their return journey
- Medical and emergency rescue insurance for all staff
- Oxygen cylinders, masks, and regulators, plus satellite phones or walkie-talkies as needed
- Island Peak (Imja Tse) Climbing Permit
- Three meals a day during trekking and at Base Camp, for both members and staff
What’s Excluded
- International airfare and visa fee
- Personal insurance
- Tips for staff and climbing guide
Highlights
- Tengboche Monastery: The Everest region's most active Buddhist monastery, visited en route.
- Views of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse: Summit panoramas across some of the world's highest peaks, plus the Khumbu Icefall from the approach.
- Nepal's most popular trekking peak: A genuine glacier summit at 6,165m, accessible to fit trekkers with basic climbing instruction.
- Chhukung Ri optional side hike: An additional acclimatization hike above Dingboche for extra high-altitude views.
- Full climbing support: A dedicated climbing guide, base camp services, and comprehensive equipment support.
- A genuine technical introduction: Fixed ropes, crampons, and glacier travel on the summit push — real mountaineering, not just a long trek.
Essential Information
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are the two climbing windows for Island Peak, offering the most stable weather for both the trekking approach and the summit push.
Island Peak is widely regarded as an accessible introduction to Himalayan mountaineering, requiring good fitness but no prior technical climbing experience — pre-climb training on crampons, ice axe, jumar, and fixed ropes is provided. That said, the summit day itself is genuinely technical, involving a glacier crossing and a steep, roped snow/ice headwall just below the summit ridge, and typically runs 10–15 hours round trip from high camp.
5-star hotel in Kathmandu on a bed & breakfast basis. Teahouse/lodge accommodation along the standard Everest trekking route as far as Chhukung, with tented camping at Island Peak Base Camp and High Camp.
Full board meals included throughout — breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the trek and at Base Camp for both members and staff, with breakfast only on Kathmandu transit days.
- Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit: Required to enter the national park, checked at the Monjo gate
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality Entry Permit: Local government permit, obtained in Lukla or Monjo
- Island Peak (Imja Tse) Climbing Permit: NMA trekking-peak permit, priced by season, per climber
- Personal kit: Personal medicines, altitude medication as advised by a doctor, sunscreen, and toiletries
- Headlamp: Essential for the pre-dawn summit push
- Mountaineering boots: Insulated, crampon-compatible boots for the summit push
- Trekking poles: Recommended for the approach trek
- Sleeping bag: Cold-rated bag for base camp and high camp
- Down jacket: Insulated jacket plus thermal base layers and warm gloves
- Climbing hardware: Harness, crampons, ice axe, ascender, and carabiners, typically rentable in Kathmandu or Namche
Island Peak's summit at 6,165m still requires proper acclimatization, built into this itinerary via rest days at Namche and Dingboche plus an optional Chhukung Ri hike. Watch for headache, nausea, and dizziness as early symptoms of altitude sickness, and take altitude medication only as advised by a doctor.
