About Island Peak Expedition
Country
Nepal
Duration
31 Days
Difficulty
Extreme
Activity
Expedition
Best season
Apr–May, Sep–Oct
Accommodation
Tented camp and lodge
Meals
Included
Start/End point
Kathmandu
Island Peak, also known as Imja Tse in Nepal, is a popular choice for novice climbers who want to start their mountaineering adventure by summiting Island Peak and then moving on to other peaks.
We call it the "Island Peak" because of its stunning location in the center of the Chhukung valley. That looks like an island in an ice sea. Island Peak has an impressive, highly glaciated west face that climbs from the Lhotse Glacier; yet, the beautiful views from the top are a suitable reward for your efforts.
Several skills in safe mountain travel at high altitudes, such as glacier travel, scrambling, and moving on mixed snow and ice terrain, are taught and practiced throughout the trip. This trip requires good alpine abilities, and if you can't master them before joining us, you'll have plenty of time to study and practice them before reaching Island Peak. On the summit day on Island Peak, we will use a climbing rope to cross the crevassed glacier. Also, we will navigate ladders over them, ascend a fixed-line, and descend.
Highlights of Island Peak Expedition
Trekking
160 km
Stay
20 nights in tents, the rest in lodges
Mountains visible
Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Nuptse
Altitude gain
2,610–6,089 m (8,563–19,977 ft)
Destinations
Ministry of Tourism, Phakding, Namche Bazaar, Namche -Acclimatization, Thyanboche - Dingboche
Activities
Glacier travel and rope work, Acclimatisation rotations, Camp life with a Sherpa team
Seasonality for Island Peak Expedition
The best months to go are shown in green and the months to avoid in red. Weather in the mountains can change at any time of year, so ask us about your dates.
- Jan (unfavourable)
- Feb (unfavourable)
- Mar
- Apr (best)
- May (best)
- Jun (unfavourable)
- Jul (unfavourable)
- Aug (unfavourable)
- Sep (best)
- Oct (best)
- Nov
- Dec (unfavourable)
Best seasons: Apr–May, Sep–Oct (shown in green color)
Unfavourable seasons: Jan–Feb, Jun–Aug, Dec (shown in red color)
Altitude Profile of Island Peak Expedition
Detailed Itinerary of Island Peak Expedition
A representative from Creative Adventure Nepal will meet you at the Tribhuwan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu and transport you to your accommodation. There will be a welcome supper in the evening when we can sample authentic Nepali food. In Kathmandu, spend the night.
You can use this day to explore Kathmandu or rest and prepare for your expedition. If you are interested in roaming the streets of Kathmandu, then we can set up a city tour guide for you.
On this day, you will meet with our guide and help you prepare for the Island Peak expedition. You can also shop around for essentials and other tools you might need for the journey. Also, we have to visit the Ministry of Tourism for our Island Peak expedition briefing.
Following breakfast, we board an early morning flight to Lukla. We arrive at Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla after flying above the stunning green and white mountains. It is one of the world's most picturesque flying routes, culminating in a landing on a hillside surrounded by towering mountains. Also, we meet the rest of our crew members when we get to Lukla. Following that, we continue our journey to Phakding through the wealthy settlement of Lukla. We just have a short hike today to help with acclimatization. If you want to do anything else, we can take a side journey to a local monastery. Overnight stay at a camp or lodge.
We will trek through lovely pine trees before continuing down the Dudh Koshi River to Namche Bazaar. After nearly an hour of trekking, we come across the gleaming Mt. Thamserku (6,608m) on our right and the alluring beauty of pine, fir, and juniper woods. Moreover, we even catch a peek of Mt. Everest, looking over the Lhotse-Nuptse range if the weather is clear. Our trek continues until we reach Namche Bazaar's entrance, the gateway to Mt. Everest and the region's primary trade center. On this day, we will cross five suspension bridges, the tallest known as the Hillary Bridge. The hike from Hillary Bridge to Namche is steep.

Today is an acclimatization day. We can go to Namche's charming villages and get to know the Sherpas and their rich culture. Or, we can trek up to the Everest Glimpse Hotel and get a close-up view of Mount Everest. Trekkers may also visit the local museum, which contains exhibits displaying the area's native flora and fauna and the history of the Mount Everest region, while in Namche village or on their way back from the hike to the hike Everest View Hotel.
After breakfast, we set off for Tengboche. Namche to Phunki is a short walk. We travel from Phunki to Tengboche, a town home to the world-famous Tengboche monastery, the largest monastery in the Everest area. It is the largest monastery in the Khumbu area and is in the Sagarmatha National Park. You can see a panoramic 360-degree view of the Himalayas, including Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and Thamserku.
The monastery at Tengboche is ideal for experiencing the stunning Himalayan environment, with the Himalayas as a backdrop. We go to the monastery and photograph the breathtaking scenery in the morning. Then we continue our journey on an easy road through lush forests of birch, conifers, and rhododendrons. This scenic path then descends to Debuche, crossing the Imja River before ascending to Pangboche (We can either walk on the upper or lower Pangboche trails). We will most likely take the upper Pangboche routes since they provide a more pure perspective of the Himalayas. In addition, we go to the Pangboche monastery. The walking becomes more moderate as we approach the Imja Valley. When we reach the Lobuche River confluence, the valley gradually opens. We enter the river and begin the ascent to Dingboche.
The route leading to Island Peak Base Camp is pretty steep. We rise south first, then east to the valley's main line. Then we take a twisting trail from the Lhotse Glacier below the southern slope of the moraine. We then continue walking along a nice streamside route. The Amphu Lapcha is in the southeast. A crisscross path goes to a broad valley surrounding the SW side of Island Peak via the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines.
We start our trek towards the Island Peak High Camp from the base camp at 5600m. The trail begins off sandy, then transitions to grass before becoming boulder-strewn. Also, the route ascends many hundred meters beyond the base camp before cutting off the steep mountainside.

As we progress up the hill, the slope narrows, and the track becomes a steep rock channel. We scale the rock creek. It isn't tough, although there are a few small rock steps to climb before reaching the right side of the trench. The path traverses a ridgeline, leading to a thrilling and exposed trek onto the top glacier's snout. When a rope is needed, the guides will fix it. We reach the top ridge through a steep snow slope. We will utilize both fixed and man ropes during the climb for safety. After successfully ascending the rock, we used a fixed rope. There are two new crevasses, measuring around 3 and 4 meters. We'll descend to Island Peak Base Camp, where some of our staff await us after enjoying the summit views and snapping photos. We celebrate our ascent of Island Peak and move toward Chukkung.
Today's hike to Chhukung begins with a stroll through stone-walled pastures and the Imja Khola valley, followed by a walk across glacier moraines. From here, we will continue our journey towards Dingboche. After resting in Dingboche for a while, we begin our trek towards the Ama Dablam base camp. As you get closer to base camp, the path will start to gain elevation at a more consistent rate. As you progress up the route and have a better view of the entire mountain, Ama Dablam will become more and more apparent.
Today's hike will be considerably more straightforward as we drop to lower heights. We take the same path back down the Khumbu Khola valley, passing past the lovely Sherpa settlements of Orsho and Shomare. We proceed through the rhododendron and juniper-covered mountainside. Our path follows the Dudh Koshi canyon, dropping quickly through the pine trees until reaching Sansa, after passing the Dudh Koshi River bridge. While traveling through the forest, we keep an eye out for animals such as mountain goats, snow leopards, and colorful pheasants. We arrive at Namche Bazaar's army camp after going through a chorten.
The journey from Namche to Phakding is still ongoing. Take in the soul-calming vistas and fresh air throughout your rest intervals.
Because the route dips sharply, we must go with caution as our weak legs battle the rough terrain. After passing the suspension bridges across the fast-flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries, the trail becomes more level and natural. After arriving in Lukla, we stretch our tired legs and reminisce over the previous several weeks.

After our successful Island Peak expedition, we board an early morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. You can either rest or do souvenir shopping after we get to Kathmandu.
If you want to, you can explore other sections of Kathmandu today. Our tour guides can help you with both souvenir shopping and sightseeing. Also, we will host a farewell feast in the evening to mark the climbers' successful summit of the Island peak.
Today marks the end of your adventure. A Creative Adventure Nepal employee will bring you to the airport around 3 hours before your scheduled flight. You'll have plenty of time on the way back to plan your future adventure in Nepal's gorgeous country.
What's included and excluded
What's included
- Airport pick-up and drop-off by private vehicle
- Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast
- Climbing permits and government royalties
- Experienced climbing Sherpa and base camp staff
- Full-board meals during the expedition
- Tents, kitchen and group climbing equipment
- Yak and porter transport of equipment to base camp
- Communication and first-aid kit
What's excluded
- Personal climbing gear and supplementary summit oxygen unless listed
- Summit bonus for climbing Sherpa
- Helicopter evacuation costs
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry and phone calls
- Tips for guides, drivers and staff
- Meals not mentioned in the program
- Any costs caused by weather, strikes or other events beyond our control
Equipment and things you need
Clothing
- Down jacket (warm enough for below -10 °C)
- Waterproof shell jacket and trousers
- Base layers and a fleece
- Warm hat, sun hat, gloves and buff
Footwear
- Broken-in waterproof trekking boots
- Spare socks (wool or synthetic)
- Light shoes or sandals for the lodge
Gear
- Sleeping bag rated for the altitude
- Trekking poles
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Sunglasses with UV protection and sun cream
- Refillable water bottle and purification tablets
Health and papers
- Personal first-aid kit and your regular medication
- Travel and rescue insurance covering your maximum altitude
- Passport, spare photos and copies of your documents
Climbing
- Mountaineering boots, harness, crampons and ice axe (we can advise on what to bring or hire)
- Supplementary oxygen and a regulator are arranged for the summit push; confirm the details with us for your expedition
Frequently asked questions
You should be comfortable walking for several hours a day on uneven ground, with some steep climbs. Regular cardio and hill walking in the weeks before you travel makes a big difference. Ask us if you are unsure about a route.
Most mountain routes need permits and park or area entry fees. We arrange the ones your route needs; the quote lists what is covered.
Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and sleep lower than the highest point you reached that day. The itinerary includes acclimatisation time where the route needs it. Tell your guide straight away about headache, nausea or dizziness. If symptoms get worse, the safe response is to descend.
See the equipment list on this page for the essentials. We can also advise on what to hire in Kathmandu.
Yes. We build itineraries around your interests, dates and budget. Tell us what you would like to change and we will send a revised plan with the price.
Yes. Your trip is led by licensed guides. Chinese, Hindi, Spanish and English-speaking guides are available on request, so tell us your language when you enquire.
A booking amount (30% of the total) secures your trip and the balance is settled before departure. The full terms are in our Booking and Cancellation Policy. Read the policy
Pick any start date when you request a booking. We confirm availability for those dates before taking a payment.
Customer reviews
Tripadvisor
5.054 reviews · 5.0 rating
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Creative Adventure Nepal provides excellent service and truly professional support in the tourism industry. Their team is friendly, knowledgeable, and well-organized, making every trip smooth, safe, and memorable. From planning to execution, everything is handled with care and passion. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an amazing travel experience in Nepal!
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- Anil GuptaOct 03, 2024
Service is very good
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Awesome experience with the group. Thank you Creative Adventure team.
- Shyamala Narayanan (Shammu)Jun 02, 2024
It was an excellent and memorable trip arranged by creative adventure. We were 15 family members planned for pilgrimage trip but later combined adventures too for the sake of our kids. From the arrival and till departure, Ramesh Ji ‘s support was excellent. He was able to reach even at night for some emergencies. Excellent vehicles were provided and especially kind and experienced drivers were arranged. Because of the change in climatic conditions , our flight got cancelled and we were supposed to do road travel. We afraid a lot but the drivers were really experienced and helped us a lot in all aspects. Food arranged in hotels were really good. ( Only concern was they could have separated veg n non veg in different places n not on the same counters). Especially chef in landmark Kathmandu was so kind n prepared food specially for us. Cultural village in Janakpur also provided homely n decent food. We had a great n enjoyable trip all over. Thanks Ramesh Ji for arranging everything. We definitely recommend Creative adventure to everyone.
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