Everest Base Camp Trek With Island Peak Climbing

When you will  arrive at the Kathmandu Airport, one of the member of Nepal Trekking Routes welcomes you and  transfer to the hotel. You can rest at the hotel or can visit the surroundings.

As this is Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing tour, the tour guide of NTR takes you around the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. You can visit four of the eight such socio-cultural sites around Kathmandu. Swayambhunath Stupa (the Monkey Temple) gives you beautiful scenery of the entire Kathmandu Valley surrounded by green forests. Also, Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple and Bouddhanath Stupa are other sites you are going to walk around. In the evening, the climbing guide gives you all the information about Island Peak climbing itinerary.

After having breakfast, a private jeep  or taxi transfers you to the Kathmandu Airport. Using a domestic flight, you fly from Kathmandu to Lukla, Tenzing Hillary Airport. While in flight for 30 minutes, you can have the aerial view of snowcapped peaks, dense forests, lush  valleys and high altitude villages. The snow-clad peaks of Manaslu (8,163m), Ganesh Himal, Langtang and Everest regions make your voyage more memorable.

After landing at Lukla, a small Sherpa town and also the gateway to Everest region trekking, you move further towards Phakding. For the first few minutes the trail descends along the banks of the Dudh Koshi River. Then, walking past some Sherpa villages and mani walls having attractive paintings, you reach Phakding for the night stay.

Following the well-defined trail that goes along the oak and rhododendron forests of Sagarmatha National Park, you continue the journey. You have to cross the Hillary Suspension Bridge and Jorsalle Village to reach Namche Bazaar. On the dense forests, you might sight some animal species like deer and birds as well. Namche Bazaar is the main trading centre of the entire Khumbu region. It provides you all the modern amenities like ATM booths, banks, quality hotels and many more.

You have multiple options to do while acclimatization day at Namche Bazaar. You can hike to  Everest View Hotel, the highest placed hotel in the world inside Sagarmatha National Park. From the hotel, you can have the stunning scene of Mt. Everest and other snowy peaks around it. In the same way, you can visit Khumjung Village where lies Khumjung Monastery. In the monastery, you can have a look at the Yeti Scalp.

You can also visit the Sherpa Museum that gives you all information about Shepa lifestyle, culture and tradition. The Hall of Fame is the gallery that preserves the photos of the 1953 Everest Expedition made by Hillary and Tenzing. Or you can travel around the Sagarmatha National Park Office to know about the biodiversity preserved here.

Following the easy trail by enjoying the stunning Great Himalayas, you move forward. Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Ama Dablam, Mt. Thamserku and many others come into your sight. In the forests, you might see some Pheasants, Nepal’s national bird and animals like Himalayan thar, musk deer, etc. Finally, you reach Tengboche, a Sherpa Village of Solukhumbu region famous for the largest monastery in it. Tengboche Monastery shows you the amazing Mt. Ama Dablam and Mt. Everest smiling at you.

The trekking trail goes along the thick forests of rhododendron, pine and oak trees showing the splendid mountains. Then, you cross a suspension bridge nearby Pangboche Village, which is famous for the oldest monastery of entire Everest region. Heading further, you walk past a few mountain villages to reach Dingboche for the night rest.

After breakfast, you begin today’s journey along the ridges of the KhumbuRiver Valley. Enjoying the gorgeous panorama of Mt. Ama Dablam, Lobuche Peak, Mt Nuptse and Mt. Pumori, you move ahead. Then, you walk past Thokla Village and then the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. Finally, crossing Thokla Pass (also Dughla Pass: 4,620m), you reach Lobuche for night station.

By walking along the left bank of the Khumbu Glacier, you move forward. For the first few hours, the trail is straight and easy but later, it goes along the ridge. Then, you come to see Mt. Pumori having dome-like peak and Mt. Nuptse with its spiral summit. The highest peak, Mt. Everest (8,848m) is winking at you from the left side. After a while, you reach Gorakshep, the last settlement area close to Everest Base Camp.

By keeping your backpack at the hotel, you move ahead along the Gorakshep Lake. Following the steep rocky trail, you reach the base camp of the world’s highest mountain. At a glance, the colourful tents in the peak season make the base camp surrounding like a hidden fair of the Shangri-La. Spend the time as much as you can by observing the snowcapped peaks like Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Nuptse, Ama Dablam and many more. However, you can’t have a look at Mount Everest itself from here. Then, you descend towards Gorakshep for the night stay.

Today is one of the most fabulous day of Everest Base Camp Island Peak climbing itinerary. As you are going to reach the best vantage point of the entire Khumbu region, Kala Patthar (Black Stone). You begin the journey after midnight to capture the sunrise view of the Great Himalayas including Mt. Everest Summit. Despite the difficult trekking trail, the rewards of the hard working keep boosting your confidence further. Once you are on the elevation of 5,550m, you can have the 360-degree panoramic view of Mt. Everest Summit and other peaks cherishing your success. Take as many snaps as your battery backup sustains by keeping Mt. Everest on the backdrop of the photos. By getting the lifetime achievement and lifelong memory, you return Gorakshep. Having breakfast there, you start the retreat journey by following the downhill rocky trail. By crossing the Changri Glacier, you reach Dingboche for the night station.

After breakfast, you move towards northeast by leaving the main trekking trail of Everest Base Camp trek. As the track is well marked and easy, you move by taking rest at the regular intervals towards Chhukung Village. Within 4 hours walking through the rugged trail, you reach the destination. You can walk around the village by enjoying the Lho Glacier and the Nup Glacier view. The gurgling Imja Khola flowing through the Chhukung Valley makes the stop more memorable.

You follow the trail going to the southern ridge from Chhukung Village and walk past a moraine rift. Relishing the stunning outlook of the Lhotse Glacier, you move through the Imja Glacier. You can see the mark of the dried up glacial lake below the rocky path before you reach Island Peak Base Camp. Set up the tented camp at the elevation of 4,970 meters. Then, the Sherpa guide gives you some trainings to use the climbing gears like crampons, ice axe, rope and manrope. He also gives you some skills and techniques to successfully climb Island Peak Summit. If you have any confusion, you can share it with the team leader. You should have enough drinking water, hygienic food and sound sleep to keep yourself ready for the final ascent.

This is the main day of the entire Island Peak climbing Package. To reach the Island Peak Summit, you should begin the journey after midnight. The weather in the mornings and daytimes may not be favourable for peak climbing. With the help of the headlamp, you should cross some crevasses to reach the top of Imja Peak. When you reach the Island Peak Summit (6,189m), you can have the sunrise view of the Mountain Giants of the Everest region. Store this lifelong moment in your camera and the mind as long as you remain there. Then, descend towards Chhukung Village for the night stay by walking along the same trail you used previously.

After having breakfast, you begin the journey towards Tengboche Village where you spent a night previously. On the way, you walk past Orsho, Somare and Pangboche Village by enjoying the great scene of the Great Himalayas. Walking along the rugged trail through the lush forests of Sagarmatha National Park, you arrive at Tengboche.

Walking for about 6 hours along the rocky trail running through the forests of rhododendron and oak trees, you gently descend towards Namche Bazaar. You might also see some wild animals and birds in the dense forests while moving downhill. At Namche Bazaar, you can celebrate Everest Base Camp trek and Island Peak climbing in the same package. You can taste the varieties of food items here in this Sherpa town in Everest region.

Walking through the rugged trail along Sagarmatha National Park, you move further towards Lukla. You walk past some small Sherpa settlement areas and suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River. After 7 hours of walking with enough rest, you arrive the gateway to Everest Region trek. This is the last day of trekking and sleeping in the epic Everest region. Enjoy the night at much as you can by tasting the typical food items found there.

After successful Everest Base Camp trek and Island Peak climbing, we have come to the end today. The representative of the agency escorts you up to the Kathmandu Airport as per the flight  schedule