On reaching Kathmandu International Airport received by our guide and staff and then transfer to your hotel in the hub of Kathmandu.
After checking your rooms then join with the group for Imjatse Himal-Island Peak Climb briefing with other related information required during your stay with us, briefing provided by our expert guides or company staff.
Evening includes welcome dinner in a nice Nepalese restaurant with folk culture program along with the dinner.
Morning join in our sightseeing tour around world heritage sites of great interest where our city guides will provide you with important information, afternoon free preparation for the trek and climb of Island Peak.
Early morning transfer to Kathmandu domestic Airport for short scenic flight to Lukla, the door to various adventures around Khumbu and Everest region.
Lukla, in early days was a goat and sheep grazing pasture, hence the name ‘Luk’ means Sheep and La as respect to the areas in Sherpa of Tibetan origin language.
The name still exists, as the airport came into existence (built with the help of Hillary) then main flow of visitors began to pour in, making at present Lukla one of the major town of Khumbu after Namche Bazaar.
Walk begins with pleasant winding path following past Sherpa farm villages with views of Kongde and Kusum-Khanguru to reach our first overnight stop at Phakding, located by the Dudh Kosi Rivers.
Today walks takes you to famous Namche Bazaar where altitude gains as walk progress slowly. Morning starts following Dudh Kosi River crossing several times the same river to reach Monjo village close to Sagarmatha National Park entrance.
(Sagarmatha for Everest in Nepalese and Sherpa calls Chomolungma meaning Great Mother in both languages). Sagarmatha National Park added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.
From here walk on river valley and gorge covered within nice woodland of tall rhododendron-pines and fir trees.
After crossing last high bridge few hour climb to reach at Namche Bazaar facing views of Everest-Lhotse and Kongde peaks, Namche Bazaar at an altitude 4,440 m high a perfect spot for rest day and acclimatization.
Namche Bazaar a main town and a large village of Khumbu area, where colorful busy Saturday market takes place once a week.
At Namche at leisure with rest day for necessary acclimatization before heading higher elevation, morning after breakfast options for hike to Everest View Hotel or walk to the hill top of Namche.
Where you can catch superb views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, and Amadablam with range of peaks, here visit Museum provides you with information of Khumbu region, Sherpa history-culture-flora and fauna including detail on mountaineering.
Namche Bazaar situated on an ancient Trans Himalayan Salt and Caravan route of Nepal and Tibet, which is towards west of Namche past Thame village unto near Renjo-la, where further north leads to high Nangpa-la pass that joins Nepal and Tibet border.
At present the trade still exists but in smaller scale than it used to be in earlier days, where you can witness Tibetans people sometimes on trade at Namche Bazaar.
After a pleasant stop at Namche, morning walk heading with scenic and gradual walks overlooking views of Everest and adjoining peaks, as route leads downhill to Imjatse River at Phunki Tenga, a small place with few lodges.
Here with refreshing break or lunch stop and then climb for few hours into cool shade of lovely woodland covered within rhododendron, oaks, magnolia, juniper and pine trees.
After a great scenic and climb reaching at Thyangboche with time to visit its interesting monastery, where colorful festival ‘Mani-Rimdu’ monks with mask dancing wading evil spirits takes place in the month of October as per Buddhist lunar calendar, overnight in Thyangboche with rooms facing views of peaks.
Morning catching views of Everest and magnificent Amadablam, as route descends within forested areas to reach a bridge, from here a slow climb coming across mani (prayer) walls to Pangboche village.
Pangboche, the last permanent village before Everest base camp, other places on route treks are temporary settlements, with lodges to cater the needs of trekkers.
Pangboche hails one of the oldest monasteries of the area, where it use to treasure a Yeti scalp and skeleton of Yeti hand, which was lost and stolen in late 1990’s never recovered it back.
Walk continues heading higher into barren and arid country as tree lines disappears for small juniper and dwarf rhododendron bushes (azalea).
Finally reaching a wide glacial valley of Pheriche facing spectacular views of Amadablam, North Face, Cholatse and Taboche peaks, a nice lovely spot with many good lodges
In early days Pheriche and across the hill at Dingboche was Yak grazing pasture country as commercial trekking started this area at present developing into a flourishing permanent village rather than temporary settlement. Pheriche once a summer yak grazing fields slowly turning into a nice village with well established lodges and resorts, also houses HRA post (Himalayan Rescue Association) with temporary and volunteering medical aid and doctors.
We have reserved another rest day to support you with good acclimatization before heading towards Everest Base Camp and Kalapathar which is above 5,364 m and 5,545 m high as well for the climb of Island peak.
At Pheriche with options of side walk with climb to Dingboche and to Nakarjung hill for better views of surrounding peaks and of scenic Imjatse valley with Island Peak, afternoon at leisure and enjoy the panorama of surrounding mountains at ease.
After Pheriche walk leads closer to Everest base camp as morning leads on a near flat valley floor for an hour and then our route climbs to a small place at Thugla.
Thugla, where Khumbu glaciers melts into a torrential river, a perfect place for rest and lunch stop, and then our adventure leads to a short steep climb on top Thugla ridge a place with memorials of unfortunate climbers.
Rest of the walk from here is easy but with gain in altitude making pace slower to reach at Lobuche for overnight stop, a place with several nice lodges with views of Nuptse and Lobuche peaks.
Morning walk leads towards Everest Base Camp, starting on wide valley with short climb then reaching a place where Glass Pyramid located, a joint venture (Italian and Nepal government) metrological station. Options of short visit to the glass pyramid to learn more of the area and movement of the glaciers and mountains.
From this peaceful place walk continues above Khumbu glaciers, walking past moraine to reach at Gorakshep.
A small place with few lodges on the junction of Everest base camp and Kalapathar route. Gorakshep was an earlier Everest base camp from 1950’s to late 1970’s before it extended further east.
After Gorakshep with refreshing break walk for few hours reaching towards Everest Base Camp, as walk proceeds over moraine and glacier to reach our final destination at Everest base camp offering glorious views of giant peaks Nuptse-Lo la, with massive Khumbu Ice Falls and glaciers.
In peak expedition season this place will be flooded and active with climbers and camps, after a wonderful time then walk back to Gorakshep for overnight stop.
With options where one can climb to the top of Kalapatthar located 5,545 m high, this will be the highest spot of the walks before Island Peak climb, from the top offers fantastic panorama of mountains with Everest at close distance.
Standing on top facing alluring views descend back to Gorakshep for breakfast and continue walk downhill through Lobuche and to Thugla, as our new route leads high above Pheriche valley to reach at Imjatse valley with Dingboche settlement, and then our route leads further east with slow gradual walks to reach at isolate corner at Chukung for overnight in a nice cozy lodge.
Big Day! For the climb on top Imjatse Himal- Island peak rises above 6,160 m / 20,328 ft high with grade as PD + (taken from French and Swiss Alpine Climbing Systems).
Starting early morning before dawn and then following our guide to cross over a broad open gully, and then on snow-covered glacier, avoiding serac and crevasses climbing northwards over snow covered scree in the margin between a glaciers facing a top ridge.
Climb continues crossing a gully with some stone and icefall dangers, a steep snow and ice ramp takes you above 100 meters (300ft) to the main summit, on reaching the top where your adventure of a lifetime experience with great dreams accomplished into a successful climb with amazing panorama of Mt. Everest 8,848 m, Lhotse 8,501 m, Mt. Amadablam 6,856 m, Mt. Makalu 8, 463 m, Chamlang and Baruntse peaks, after a great climb feeling high spirit descend on the same route towards base camp.
Today rest day with time for climbing preparation, gathering all climbing gears from the porters and Yaks sorting out the right equipments and planning with some practices before the final climb on top Island Peak or Imjatse Himal.
Our adventure begins heading higher to set high camp above 5,400 m high, in making climb much easier and accessible, morning after leaving base camp towards high camp as walk leads above moraine towards an open gully, in between well defined ridges to reach at high camp beneath a small hanging glacier at 5, 280 m high, here with time in the afternoon for final preparations for the big climb next early morning.
Big Day! For the climb on top Imjatse Himal- Island peak rises above 6,160 m / 20,328 ft high with grade as PD + (taken from French and Swiss Alpine Climbing Systems).
Starting early morning before dawn and then following our guide to cross over a broad open gully, and then on snow-covered glacier, avoiding serac and crevasses climbing northwards over snow covered scree in the margin between a glaciers facing a top ridge.
Climb continues crossing a gully with some stone and icefall dangers, a steep snow and ice ramp takes you above 100 meters (300ft) to the main summit, on reaching the top where your adventure of a lifetime experience with great dreams accomplished into a successful climb with amazing panorama of Mt. Everest 8,848 m, Lhotse 8,501 m, Mt. Amadablam 6,856 m, Mt. Makalu 8, 463 m, Chamlang and Baruntse peaks, after a great climb feeling high spirit descend on the same route towards base camp.
We have allowed spare day as contingency just in case of unfavorable bad weather, if all goes well according to our standard itinerary, this spare day can be used with slow and scenic walk back to Lukla having some short day on route, where you can enjoy the views and local culture during the trek.
Morning transfer to Tenzing-Hillary airport at Lukla, where scenic short flight brings you back at hustle and bustle city life of Kathmandu, and then transfer to your respective hotels, with afternoon free at leisure for individual activities’.
Himalayan Gateway Treks reserves this spare day as contingency in case of flight delay and cancellation at Lukla, which often occurs due to bad weather.
If all goes well according to our itinerary program with flights as scheduled where you can have options of sightseeing tours at places of interest or just relax with memories of the adventure.
Last day in amazing Nepal Himalaya, as per your flight homeward bound or to next respective connecting countries, depart from the hotel for Kathmandu international airport with fond memories of great marvelous adventure on Imjatse Himal - Island Peak climb with Everest Base Camp.
