- Length
- 18 days
- Highest point
- 6,189 m
- Difficulty
- Extreme
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Starts
- Lukla (fly from Kathmandu)
- Group size
- 2–8 People
- Sleeping
- Tea House + High Camp
<p>Island Peak (Imja Tse, 6,189m) is Nepal's most popular trekking peak.</p>
- Island Peak summit (6,189 m) — highest success rate with extra acclimatisation
- Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar combined: maximum Khumbu experience before the climb
- Pre-climb Chhukung Ri (5,550 m) acclimatisation peak — excellent summit preparation
- 4 extra acclimatisation days vs 14-day programme — safest possible approach
- Technical mountaineering: fixed ropes, crampon glacier approach, ice axe skills
- Summit panorama: Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Makalu in one astonishing view
- Sagarmatha UNESCO wilderness combined with a genuine 6,000 m summit
The climb, day by day
Day 1Arrive Kathmandu — Welcome Briefing1,400 m
Airport pick-up and transfer to hotel. Evening welcome dinner with your lead guide covering the full expedition plan, gear check, and permit documentation.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- D
- Night
- Hotel
Day 2Fly Kathmandu to Lukla — Trek to Phakding2,652 m
Early morning flight to Lukla (2,860m). Trek down through pine forest alongside the Dudh Koshi River to Phakding.
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 3Phakding to Namche Bazaar3,440 m
Cross suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River and climb steeply through rhododendron forest to Namche Bazaar, the Sherpa capital of the Khumbu. First views of Everest.
- Distance
- 11 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 4Acclimatization Day — Namche Bazaar3,440 m
Rest and acclimatize. Hike up to Everest View Hotel (3,880m) for panoramic views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Visit the Sherpa Culture Museum.
- Distance
- 6 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 5Namche to Tengboche3,867 m
Trek past Khumjung village, descend to the Dudh Koshi valley, then climb to Tengboche Monastery with spectacular views of Ama Dablam and the Everest massif.
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 6Tengboche to Dingboche4,410 m
Descend through rhododendron and juniper forest to Pangboche, cross the Imja Khola, and climb to Dingboche.
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- 5–6 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 7Acclimatization Day — Dingboche4,410 m
Acclimatization hike to Nagarjun Hill (5,083m) for views of Makalu, Lhotse, Island Peak, and Cholatse. Critical altitude adjustment day.
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 8Dingboche to Lobuche4,940 m
Trek up the Khumbu valley past the Thukla memorial cairns dedicated to fallen climbers, to the windswept settlement of Lobuche below the Lobuche glacier.
- Distance
- 11 km
- Walking
- 4–5 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 9Lobuche to Everest Base Camp via Gorak Shep5,364 m
Trek to Gorak Shep (5,164m) and continue across the sandy Khumbu Glacier moraine to Everest Base Camp (5,364m) — the legendary start point for Everest expeditions. Return to Gorak Shep.
- Distance
- 14 km
- Walking
- 6–7 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 10Kala Patthar Sunrise — Trek to Chhukung4,730 m
Pre-dawn hike to Kala Patthar (5,545m) for the iconic Everest sunrise view. Descend to Gorak Shep, then hike across to Chhukung via Dingboche.
- Distance
- 18 km
- Walking
- 7–8 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 11Chhukung to Island Peak Base Camp5,087 m
Trek up the lateral moraine to Island Peak Base Camp. Gear check, crampons fitting, and rope technique briefing with the climbing guide. Early night in preparation for the climb.
- Distance
- 5 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Camping
Day 12Base Camp to High Camp5,600 m
Climb the moraine and cross the lower glacier to High Camp on a rocky platform below the final headwall. Review summit day plan and rest.
- Distance
- 4 km
- Walking
- 3–4 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- High Camp
Day 13Summit Day — Island Peak 6,189m — Descend to Base Camp6,189 m
Pre-dawn start. Cross the glacier, ascend fixed ropes on the headwall, and reach the summit at 6,189m with views of Lhotse, Makalu, and Baruntse. Descend to Base Camp and on to Dingboche.
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- Climb
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 14Dingboche to Namche Bazaar3,440 m
Long descending day through Tengboche forest back to Namche Bazaar. Celebration dinner with your team.
- Distance
- 18 km
- Walking
- 6–7 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 15Namche to Lukla2,860 m
Final Khumbu valley descent following the Dudh Koshi River back to Lukla. Farewell dinner with the local crew.
- Distance
- 19 km
- Walking
- 6–7 hours
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Tea House
Day 16Fly Lukla to Kathmandu — Free Evening1,400 m
Morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel. Free afternoon in Thamel for shopping and celebration.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- Flight
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Hotel
Day 17Kathmandu — Free Day / Optional Sightseeing1,400 m
Optional visit to Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, or Patan Durbar Square. Farewell dinner with the team.
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- B, L, D
- Night
- Hotel
Day 18Departure Day1,400 m
Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight. Congratulations on your Island Peak summit!
- Distance
- –
- Walking
- –
- Meals
- B
- Night
- –
The price includes
- Island Peak climbing permit ($250 spring / $125 autumn)
- Sagarmatha National Park entry permit
- Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit
- Government-certified senior guide + high-altitude climbing Sherpa
- Porter (1 per 2 trekkers)
- Kathmandu–Lukla–Kathmandu round-trip flights
- All teahouse accommodation on approach; base camp and high camp tents
- 3 meals per day throughout
- Altitude illness kit, pulse oximeter, and emergency oxygen
- Climbing equipment rental (harness, crampons, ice axe, jumar)
- All government taxes and service charges
You pay separately
- International airfare to/from Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa fee ($30–$50 on arrival)
- Comprehensive travel insurance with emergency helicopter evacuation (mandatory for climbing)
- Personal climbing gear not listed in included items
- High-altitude medication beyond the included kit
- Tips for guides, climbing Sherpas, and porters (USD 10–15/day for climbing Sherpa)
- Beverages, hot showers, and battery charging at teahouses (payable direct)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
- Costs from extended summit bids, weather delays, or early descent
Island Peak (Imja Tse, 6,189 m) is the Khumbu's most popular technical climbing objective — and with good reason. Approached through the heart of the Everest trekking region via Namche, Tengboche, and Dingboche, Island Peak offers a genuine high-alpine climbing experience on a mountain that rises like an island above the surrounding glaciers (hence the name, coined by Eric Shipton's 1952 expedition). The summit ridge is a knife-edge of ice and snow; the fixed ropes on the upper headwall require crampon work, jumar technique, and commitment. The view from the top — Lhotse's 3,000 m south face filling the north horizon — is extraordinary.
The 18-day itinerary includes the full EBC approach trek (Namche, Tengboche, Dingboche, Chhukung) for acclimatisation, two nights at Island Peak Base Camp (5,087 m), and one high camp night (5,600 m) before the summit bid. The descent returns to Namche via Tengboche for the Lukla flight. This itinerary is designed to maximise acclimatisation time — the difference between a 78% and a 55% summit success rate is almost always adequate preparation time above 4,000 m.
Included in the package: Island Peak climbing permit, Sagarmatha NP permit, Khumbu Rural Municipality permit, Lukla flights, all teahouse accommodation on approach, base camp and high camp tents, -20°C sleeping bag, crampon/harness/ice axe rental, and one climbing Sherpa per two climbers on summit day.
Island Peak vs Mera Peak: Technical Comparison
Mera Peak is higher (6,476 m vs 6,189 m) but more straightforward — a snow walk-up with fixed ropes. Island Peak is lower but more technical — crampon work, jumar ascent on 45-60° headwall, and an exposed summit ridge. For climbers with no prior technical experience, Mera is recommended first. For those who have completed Mera or have alpine climbing background, Island Peak is the natural next step. Both peaks are regularly done by non-professional mountaineers — neither requires professional expedition experience.
Best seasons: October–November and April–May (spring preferred for snow conditions). Max altitude: Island Peak summit 6,189 m.