Island Peak Climbing (Imja Tse) – 20 Days – one of best mountain climb

Welcome to Kathmandu, an ancient city rich in cultural heritages, vibrant and full of diversity in every sense of the word. Our guide will receive you at the gate of Tribhuvan International Airport(TIA) with your name on the board. He/she will brief you about your schedule and information you might need the most while driving towards hotel room. We make sure your are comfortable and leave the rest of the day to yourself to relax.

We start the day by a visiting one of the most revered, ancient and believed to have self-emerged atop green hillock west of Kathmandu, the great stupa of Swayambhunath, a site over 2,500 years old. The pilgrim’s approach to the shrine is through a wooded park up a steep flight of 300 stone steps, lined with stone sculpture of animals and birds, vehicle of gods. Our guide will brief you while exploring the sites.

Afterwards, we drive towards east of Kathmandu valley to one of the important World Heritage Sites “Pashupatinath”, a renowned Hindu temple. The main deity is Lord Shiva, both destroyer and creator of the world according to Hindu belief system. Throughout the year, Shiva is worshipped at Pashupatinath as a lingum(phallus) in his incarnation as the Lord Pashupati. The Bagmati River is lined with many dharmsalas and cremation ghats. There is usually cremation in progress on one of the platforms of the river. The ashes will be scattered in the river, regarded as holy as it flows into the sacred Ganges.

At the end of the day we return back to the hotel and go through pre-briefing about next schedule. Our guide will assist you to prepare your necessary gears as per the need of upcoming trek.

Our early morning flight by Twin Otter aircraft rushes us to Lukla, the most popular as well as notorious mountain airstrip in the world. It was originally conceived by Sir Edmund Hillary’s Himalayan Trust as an runway to transport materials for building schools and hospitals. Lukla is now one of busiest runway in Nepal. On the flight we may witness the magnificent bird eye views of highest mountains peak of the world including Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Makalu (the world’s 3rd,4th,5th highest respectively). On arrival, we meet our Sherpa guide and we pick up our trail after cup of tea. Surprisingly, the high altitude trek begins by descending to the river at Phakding. Further on and we choose one of several good lodge in wooded area at Chumoa, close to the entrance of the Sagarmatha National Park.

The early start of our hike will allow us to ascend the Namche hill first thing in the morning. At about half-way up the hill, the gap between the woods will allow us to get glimpse Mount Everest for the first time. If the weather is clear at the top, the South-West face will be visible behind the long Lhotse-Nuptse ridge.

Namche is the most prosperous and active hub of Khumbu region. A bazzar is held every Friday and Saturday. The wares on display include meat, grains and vegetables, shoes, hand woven aprons, trekking gears with your choice of cafeteria for coffee, bakeries and also pub to hang out for some drinks. Thamserku (6648 m), Kwangde Ri (6187 m) and Khumbila (5707 m) surround the natural bowl that Namche sits in.

We take the day off to allow our bodies to adjust to the rarefied atmosphere before ascending to higher altitudes. The secret to safe acclimatization is to ‘climb high, sleep low’. So, it is safe for the more energetic amongst us to hike up the hill behind the Namche to the airstrip at Syangbouche to Khunde, Khumjung village, or stroll across to the museum behind the police post. Others may prefer to ‘Chill out’ and visit one of the lodges for a freshly-baked cinnamon roll. Namche is busy and bustling trading place and there is always plenty going on.

We start our hike early in the morning and the trail follows one of the most beautiful wide path used by the travelers, locals and made by the initiative of single man named Passang Sherpa. There are spectacular views of Ama Dablam (6696m), Khangtega (6779 m), Mount Lhotse wall and Mount Everest( 8848 m). Keep a look-out too for pheasant in the undergrowth and Himalayan Tahr in the high cliff. We cross the Dudhkoshi River at Phungi Thanga and climb through the afternoon amongst the rhododendron forest to the saddle at the top of the hill. Surprisingly, in front of us is Tengbouche, the principal monastery of the Khumbu area, the views from here are unforgettable.

We follow the path down from Tengbouche through the rhodhodendron forest to Deboche and cross an exciting bridge with the roaring Imja Khola beneath our feet. A gradual climb takes us to the village of Lower Pangboche. We now are in the heart of Khumbu, with beautiful views across to Ama Dablam. The afternoon stroll takes us along a path that hugs the valley wall and then across wide plains to a split in the valley. The Khumbu breaks left, up to Pheriche, but we take a detour right to the hamlet at Dingboche at the start of the Imja Tse valley.

This morning will be different than rest of the days. We have one extra day to enjoy the exhilarating sceneries and adjust our body to this elevation. We keep the backpack unpacked and carry our day bag with essential water and energy bars while hiking up to Nagarjung peak (5083 m). The hike to the peak is 3/4 hours uphill. The higher the better, as we can have the best view of Himalayas around us and also our body gains much of the altitude to be familiar with. Those of you who would not prefer uphill at all can take a easy gradual hike to Chukhung valley, where the Imja Tse river starts and you will be closer to one of the most famous peak ‘Island Peak’.

We climb up to the ridge behind Periche and stay high, mesmerized by the views of Tawoche and Cholatse, until we reach the tea houses at Dughla. A steep, stiff ascent to the terminal moraine of the Khumbu glacier is now tackled. The top of the climb is marked by a series of stone monuments to commemorate some of the climbers that have not returned from expeditions to this region. A rough but obvious trail cuts across left, away from the glacier, to our camp site at Loboje, a windswept collection of huts tucked in a narrow meadow between the glacier and the Loboje peak (6156m). The Lhotse ridge is simply awesome from this angle.

A long day and early start. We trek along the rough path along the side of the Khumbu glacier to the tea shacks at Gorak Shep. You leave behind some grazing land and few tea-houses as you proceed towards Everest Base Camp from Gorak Shep. The more you head towards the Base Camp the scenery get more barren and the trail becomes more craggy and difficult to walk. Stone landmarks erected along the trail has to be following while passing glaciers or when the trail is covered by snow to avoid crevices, which can be fatal sometimes. Though it is only three hours walk from Gorak Shep, it most physically demanding. The best suggestion would be to walk slowly and carefully and take your guide's help or advise whenever you are doubtful about your physical ability.

Behind rises the attractive 7000m peak of Mount Pumori which dwarfs our trek’s summit of Kala Pattar. The route up is straightforward and takes most people between 90 minutes and 2 hours. All the peaks- Everest, Lhostse, Lingtren, Nuptse, Changtse, Ama Dablam and scores of other lesser peaks can be seen from this wonderful vantage point. We descend back down to Pheriche valley following the same trail until we cross Dugla village, we head left down to our day trip destination.

The most adventurous part of the trip awaits as we step closer by heading to Chukhung for our camp today. Our first climb above Pheriche hill leads us to Dingboche. We walk in the deep valley beside Imja river on the lap of Nagarzang peak and other several mountains.

Chukung is an Yak pasture land, which now serves bed and breakfast. It is the last settlement village for the comfort home services.

We begin our journey ahead to the base camp of our destination. We pass the river streams, grass land to glacial area of Island peak and Lhotse. We set our tent and get ready with the needed equipment for our summit with technical ideas.

Today we ascend 2-3 hours through the narrow slopes and rigid path to the high camp. Likewise, our staff member will arrange the sleeping tents, kitchen for our overnight. The gears and equipment will be rechecked, your boots will be fitted with crampons and rest for tomorrow’s climb.

We push our ascend early morning before sunlight. Our guide will lead ahead the rock steps and the crevasses slowly. The 45 degree slopes, snout of summit glacier and finally we will get the glimpse of the summit. After short break on the top, we descend down safely to the high camp. We collect our remaining gears and walk all the way to Chhukung valley.

Congratulations! You did it! We stay overnight in Hotel room.

We gradually descend all morning down to Dingboche and stop at upper Pangbouche for our lunch.We trek high on the west bank of Imja River all the way to popular Sherpa home village, Phortse. A village of mountain climbers, where each household man has been to summit for the living. The village is atop of the hill, across the valley from Tengboche and lower to the southern flank of Tawoche.

We start our day after breakfast down to the Dudh Khosi river, after we cross the river, the other side is Phortse tenga, a small riverside village of guest houses. Ahead lies an uphill to reach Mong La, which takes around 2 hours. We take our lunch with overall view from vantage Mong -La. Continue our trek down to Monjo via Kenjuma and Namche downhill.

Today will be the last day of trek. We leave behind all the beauties of the Himalaya and take only the memories with pictures to finally climb to Lukla. Our camp is located in good location for a good rest and leisure. Tonight, we may have to bid farewell to our support team. This will be the end of their services.

Another chance to experience the domestic flight of Lukla. Please note that the weather of Lukla and Kathmandu can cause delay either fog-bound or wind, be reassured that our staff in Lukla and Kathmandu will be doing everything possible to minimized the inconvenience caused if this happens. Your understanding and patience during the such situation will be greatly appreciated.

Our guide will drive you to Tribhuvan International Airport(TIA). Airport check-in and flight to onward destination. We end our services here.

This itinerary is only a guideline, and is occasionally subject to change to suit local conditions, particularly on this trek where lot of time is spent above 4000m.