Island Peak Climbing Overview
Island Peak Climbing (6,189m) lies in the center of the Everest region of Nepal. Also known as Imja Tse, Island Peak Climbing offers an outstanding panorama of the Khumbu area from its summit. It is an excellent way to venture into altitudes above 6000m without great technical difficulty. Island Peak is one of Nepal’s 33 designated trekking peaks, and while climbing this peak, you will discover four valleys, one high pass, and experience one peak climb.
The trek to Island Peak Climbing takes you through the countryside, immersing you in centuries-old Nepalese and Tibetan cultures. Kongmala is one of the high passes you’ll cross. At Kala Patthar (18187 ft / 5545 m), a wonderful location to view and photograph Mt. Everest, you’ll have the opportunity to capture stunning images before visiting Everest Base Camp. Island Peak Climbing offers great Himalayan scenery, including views of Nuptse and Lhotse to the north, Mt. Makalu to the east, and Baruntse and Ama Dablam to the south. The peak was named by Eric Shipton’s expedition team in 1951.
We will begin our 19-day journey in Kathmandu with visits to UNESCO World Heritage sites before heading to one of the most popular trekking peaks in Nepal: the Island Peak Climbing adventure.
Aarohi Holiday Pvt Ltd is always ready to provide information such as itinerary, cost, equipment, and group details, and we strive to make your trip filled with unforgettable memories and a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
Island Peak Climbing Highlights
- Island Peak (6,189m), also known as Imja Tse, is located in the Everest region of Nepal.
- Offers panoramic views of the Khumbu area and surrounding peaks from the summit.
- A great introduction to climbing above 6,000m with minimal technical challenges
- One of Nepal’s 33 designated trekking peaks.
- Experience four valleys, one high-altitude pass (Kongmala), and one peak climb.
- Trek through Nepalese and Tibetan villages with centuries-old cultural heritage.
- Visit Kala Patthar (5,545m), an ideal spot for stunning views of Mt. Everest.
- Explore Everest Base Camp as part of the journey.
- Enjoy views of Nuptse, Lhotse, Mt. Makalu, Baruntse, and Ama Dablam.
- Summit named "Island Peak" by Eric Shipton's expedition team in 1951.
- Start the 19-day journey with a visit to Kathmandu's UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- Organized by Aarohi Holiday Pvt Ltd, offering support with itineraries, costs, equipment, and group details.
- A perfect adventure blending climbing, trekking, culture, and breathtaking scenery.
Island Peak Climbing
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, we offer you pick up facility from the airport and manage your stay at the most comfortable hotel in the city. You get to meet the team of trekkers and together we prepare for the trek.
Today would be the most exhilarating day where you will be introduced to the most pious Hindu and Buddhist religious place that is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage sites and elucidates you to the entire mysticism over its existence Pashupatinath temple, Boudhanath stupa, Patan Durbar Square and Swayambhunath stupa.
We take an early morning flight to Lukla, subject to weather conditions. After breakfast in Lukla, we start trekking, passing through beautiful Buddhist communities and enjoying views of prayer flags, Chorten, and mani. Today's trek to Phakding is relatively easy, lasting 3-4 hours.
We trek through a beautiful pine forest and follow the trail north up the valley of Benkar. Crossing the Dudh Koshi River and passing through villages, we reach Namche Bazaar, the heart of the Khumbu region, where we spend the night.
Today is for acclimatization. We explore nearby villages or hike up to Syangboche Everest View Hotel for stunning views. Namche Bazaar offers various facilities, and our guides will show us around, including Sagarmatha National Park.
Trekking through rhododendron forests, we reach Tengboche. En route, we enjoy views of Mount Everest, Ama Dablam, and other peaks. At Tengboche, we visit the largest monastery in the region.
Descending through forests, we pass by picturesque landscapes and reach Dingboche. The village is known for its barley, buckwheat, and potato fields, surrounded by stone walls.
We start the day with a slight climb to Duglha at the end of the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. From here, we climb up a steep trail to Chupki Lhara, where we find an array of stones with prayer flags used as memorials to mountaineers. We continue our trek to the Khumbu Glacier moraine, eventually reaching Lobuche. Overnight stay at Lobuche.
Trekking through the Khumbu Glacier moraine, we reach Gorakshep and continue to Everest Base Camp. The journey offers breathtaking views of Everest and surrounding peaks. After exploring the base camp, we return to Gorakshep for the night.
An early morning hike to Kala Patthar provides stunning views of Everest and surrounding peaks. After enjoying the sunrise, we trek back to Lobuche. Overnight stay at Lobuche.
Trekking from Lobuche, we pass the Lobuche glacier and reach the Kongma La Pass. The route offers panoramic views of Ama Dablam, Pokalde, Thamserku, and other peaks. We continue our trek to Chhukung, where we stay overnight.
Trekking up the Imja Valley, we reach Island Peak Base Camp, where we enjoy stunning views of Mt. Everest, Ama Dablam, and Lhotse. Overnight stay at Island Peak Base Camp.
Today, we receive orientation on climbing techniques and the use of climbing gear, including harness, ascender, climbing boots, and crampons. This day is crucial for preparing for the summit. Overnight at Island Peak Base Camp.
We begin our climb to Island Peak Summit, a challenging ascent with technical ice sections. At the summit, we enjoy breathtaking views before descending to the base camp. Overnight stay at Island Peak Base Camp.
After summiting Island Peak, we trek back to Pangboche, passing through lush forests and picturesque Sherpa villages. Overnight stay in Pangboche.
Trekking alongside the Dudh Koshi River, we pass suspension bridges, villages, and monasteries before reaching Namche Bazaar, where we rest and reflect on our journey. Overnight stay at Namche Bazaar.
We trek back to Lukla, passing rocky terrains and enjoying the scenic beauty of the region. Upon reaching Lukla, we celebrate the successful completion of our trek. Overnight stay in Lukla.
We take a scenic flight back to Kathmandu, where we enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate our journey's achievements. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.
Your adventure in Nepal concludes today. A representative from Aarohi Holiday Pvt Ltd will escort you to the airport for your departure flight, wishing you safe travels and hoping to see you again for another adventure.
Cost Includes & Excludes
Cost Includes
- Pick up and drop off from and to International airport.
- 3-night hotel in Kathmandu (first two nights and last one night).
- Everest National Park permit.
- Khumbu Entrance Fee.
- Island Peak Climbing permit.
- TIMS Card (Trekkers Information Management System).
- One porter for each two people.
- Accommodation in tea houses twin sharing (private room/ Shared bathroom).
- 3 Meals a day – breakfast, lunch, Dinner during the trek (Anything from the menu).
- Flight ticket (Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu).
- Camping: Tent, mattress, and cooking stuff.
- Climbing equipment: climbing rope, ice screw, snow bar.
- Sightseeing tour car A/C with driver.
- Farewell dinner at Nepalese cultural restaurant after the trek in Kathmandu.
- All taxes and Company service charges.
Cost Excludes
- Nepal Visa fee (bring accurate USD cash and two passport size photographs).
- International airfare to and from Kathmandu.
- Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu.
- Monument sites entrance fees while sightseeing in Kathmandu.
- Excess baggage charges.
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu because of early arrival, late departure, and earlier return from the mountain (due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary.
- Travel and rescue insurance.
- Personal expenses (phone calls, internet / Wi-Fi, laundry, bar bills - tea/coffee, hot chocolate, juice, beer, battery recharge, extra porters, bottled or boiled water, shower etc.).
- Tips for guides
- Tips for porters (Tipping is expected, but not compulsory).
Packing List For Island Peak Climbing
Clothing:
- Insulated jacket (down or synthetic)
- Waterproof and windproof jacket
- Waterproof pants
- Thermal base layers (top and bottom)
- Fleece jacket or sweater
- Trekking trousers
- Trekking shirts (moisture-wicking)
- Warm gloves and inner gloves
- Beanie or thermal hat
- Sunhat or cap
- Gaiters (for snow or mud)
Footwear:
- Trekking boots (waterproof with good ankle support)
- Comfortable camp shoes or sandals
- Trekking socks (wool or synthetic)
Accessories:
- Sunglasses (UV protection)
- Headlamp (with extra batteries)
- Trekking poles
- Water bottles or hydration bladder
- Buff or scarf (for dust and cold protection)
- Power bank
Personal Gear:
- Sleeping bag (rated for -15°C or lower)
- Duffel bag (carried by porters)
- Daypack (for personal items)
Toiletries and First Aid:
- Sunscreen and lip balm (high SPF)
- Personal medications
- Basic first aid kit
- Hand sanitizer
- Wet wipes and tissue paper
Miscellaneous:
- Passport and necessary permits
- Cash (for tips and personal expenses)
- Camera and spare batteries
- Energy bars or snacks
FAQs
Island Peak is located in eastern Nepal, in the Everest region, within Sagarmatha National Park.
Island Peak is one of the easiest peaks to climb in the Himalayas, but it still requires significant physical and mental effort to safely complete the journey.
No, solo climbing is banned for foreign travelers in Nepal. It’s also unsafe to attempt Island Peak without a guide.
The cost of climbing Island Peak ranges from USD 2,500 to USD 4,500, depending on the services included in the package. Aarohi Holiday offers competitive rates with top-notch services.
No, Island Peak is not a technical climb, but basic climbing gear likes crampons and fixed ropes are still required.
Both are popular trekking peaks in the eastern Himalayas. Mera Peak is the highest trekking peak in Nepal, while Island Peak involves steeper climbing with headwalls and challenging sections. Both are non-technical, but Island Peak is slightly more demanding. Choose based on your time, budget, and fitness.
The Island Peak climbing itinerary is 19 days long, including arrival in Kathmandu and departure. The itinerary can be tailored based on your time and fitness level.
Yes, Island Peak is safe to climb, especially with the support of an experienced mountaineer who ensures your safety during both the trekking and climbing stages.
Yes, Island Peak is definitely worth it. The journey combines a trek to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, offering a lifetime experience in one of the most extreme parts of the world. You’ll also learn about the mountain lifestyle and meet Sherpa’s, while pushing your limits for a huge sense of achievement.
Yes, you can see Mt. Everest from the summit of Island Peak, along with other stunning snow-capped mountains, including eight-thousanders like Cho Oyu, Makalu, Lhotse, and Kanchenjunga.
Island Peak is a high-altitude venture that requires both physical and mental strength, even for beginners. Expect days of being off the grid, disconnected from the world. You’ll need to make important decisions about meals, health, and safety. As you climb, the air will become thinner, with lower oxygen levels at higher elevations.
The temperature at the Island Peak summit can drop to -16°C (2°F), with high exposure to sun and wind (12 to 18 mph until noon).
Island Peak is much more doable than an Everest expedition in terms of difficulty, elevation, time, money, and effort. The Everest expedition is a month-long challenge, reserved for experienced mountaineers with significant time, energy, and financial resources.
The trek to Everest Base Camp during Island Peak climbing helps with acclimatization and allows you to get used to the harsh surroundings before summiting the peak.
Yes, you will use fixed ropes during Island Peak climbing. Our guides will secure the climbing route with fixed ropes to ensure safety.
We provide one lead climbing guide for every three to four climbers, depending on the expertise of the climbers, along with a few supporting crew members.
You can store your extra belongings in your hotel’s locker room or at our office free of cost while you are trekking. Ensure that your bags are well-locked and secured.
Essential Info
Physical Fitness
Many people have questions as to what level of physical fitness is required for visiting Nepal, and that is extremely reliant on what activity the visitor is engaging in. With that said, for a standard trek of moderate grading (Everest Base Camp Trek is an example of moderate) the daily activity will be 7-8 hours, and elevation will generally not exceed 5,500 meters. The day’s trekking is sustained and will involve both long steep climbs, and descents with a variety of terrain underfoot from well-trodden paths, to rocks covered with ice or snow. A typical day would include a number of climbs or descents of 500 meters or more, starting after breakfast, resting at lunch, then continuous trekking until arriving at the teahouse.
In preparation for the trek, it is important to begin a training requirement at least 4 months before departing for Nepal. Three to four hours of aerobic exercise like running, walking, swimming, cycling & some gym work per week is the minimum and most will find it beneficial to add some basic strength training to their physical fitness routine. One of the best ways to prepare is to take practice hikes with a daypack roughly the same weight as what you will be taking on the trek. Do this only after a baseline of fitness has been reached. Moving fast is not the end goal, rather endurance is the focus, and will provide a more enjoyable and safe adventure.
Trekking Seasons in Nepal
There are two main seasons in which Nepal sees the most amount of visitors. Fall (September through November) being the most popular, and spring (March to May) coming in close behind. The summer months of June, July and August are the monsoon season and as such the trails are mostly washed out, and roads can sometimes be impassible due to landslide activates. Not to mention the view is non-existent. Still, there are a few places that lie in rain shadow areas and see significantly less rain if any at all, and summer can be a good time to visit these places.
Winter in Nepal is dry, with very cold nights where temperatures can drop to -20°C at the highest altitudes, but the days are pleasant and sunny. Additionally, the trails are much less crowded during this time of year. In Kathmandu, maximum daytime temperatures reach around 20°C.
Fall is the most popular because it’s after the monsoons, and the air is dry, the days are sunny, and everything is green in the lower valleys from the excessive rains. Spring is a popular choice because some rain returns, but the weather is generally warm and dry, and flowers are in bloom in the lower elevations.
Trekking Day
A typical trekking day begins with a cup of tea at around 6 in the morning. It is advised to pack your trekking gears in a duffle bag and essential supplies in your day pack in these early hours. After having breakfast, we begin the trek and head along the trail at around 8 am. The morning walk is designed to be longer as we begin with refreshed bodies and enthusiasm. Following a good morning’s walk, we make stop for lunch at around 11.30 am. The lunch involves group meals enjoying the vicinity around the stop. You can explore the surrounding or use the time according to your own consent. After resting for about an hour or two, we resume our trek to reach teahouse or camp by 3-4 pm. The afternoon walk is relatively shorter and can involve games and side trips as organized by the trekking guides. You also can enjoy breaks during the trek to relax, read or stroll around the area. You can converse with the local people and observe their lifestyle. Dinner is served around 7 in the evening to round off the day.
Meals and Accommodations
During the length of the trek, the accommodation style is commonly referred to as teahouse. These are family-run basic lodges that fill the role of the restaurant, meeting place, and boarding house for tourists. Electricity can be found in the rooms, which means one light bulb, and one or two outlets for charging electronics. The common areas are also lit by electricity. Teahouses may use solar, hydroelectric, or have electrical lines running into the village, so the commonality and availability of electricity may vary.
Most teahouses have private rooms, though if the trek is in a more remote or high altitude place dormitories are the norm. Each room has 1 or 2 single beds with basic bedding, and the bathroom is shared. Expect a mix of western and squat style toilets in the bathrooms.
Breakfast and dinner are taken at the teahouse and these lodges have large family style dining rooms centered on a stove to provide heat. The menu will have Nepali style western foods such as pasta, pizza, pancakes, burgers, and fries. Also on the menu is the traditional Dal Bhat meal. This is a lentil soup with rice and vegetable or meat curry. Most menus will also offer a smattering of local cuisine.
Internal Flight Delays
Nepal is an incredible country of mountains and valleys, rivers and green rolling hills. With this incredible diversity of landscapes, road travel can be extremely time consuming and flights within Nepal to reach popular trekking destinations is a must. Along with this mountainous terrain also comes the possibility of in climate weather. Not to mention the incredibly high number of visitors during peak seasons makes internal flight delays a very real possibility. To manage this possibility, it may be helpful to have a few extras days on either end of your tour. If any cancellations or flight delays do occur (high chances of flight delays from around Kathmandu to Lukla, Everest region), we also provide services to arrange helicopter to help you to be on your schedule on the premises of Civil Aviation Rules in Nepal which state that helicopters can fly if the visibility is 1500m. The cost ranges from USD350 to USD650 according to the number of passengers. The payment can be made either to the helicopter company or to us directly and can be made either by cash or using a credit card. It will also be helpful to purchase and review your insurance as some of the alternative measures for travel may be covered. Flight insurance too may cover changing your international flight if necessary.
Travel Insurance
Many expeditions and tours require that travel insurance is purchased prior to arriving in Nepal, but other treks and tours may not. However, travel insurance is definitely an important consideration. There are a number of reasons to consider insurance. Firstly, it may be required, so check to see what is being asked for by the company. Second, Nepal is a landlocked country, and there are few direct flights. Travel in and out can encounter some disruptions and if purchasing insurance, make sure flight delays and cancellations are included. The next reason to choose insurance is that, though every safeguard is in place during your tour, there are always extenuating circumstances that may result in an accident. Read the fine print of insurance policies to ensure trekking or any other activity you are engaging in is covered, as some policies have stopped covering trekking in certain places. It is impossible to have a relaxing trip without the comfort of good insurance, so do the research and choose carefully.
Nepal Visa Entry Procedure
For entry into Nepal, there are visa requirements everyone (except Indian nationals) must complete before being allowed to pass through immigration. This is for air travel as well as overland transportation. Most visitors may obtain a visa to enter Nepal, however, there are exceptions.
Three options are available for entry
15-day single entry: US $30
30-day single entry: US $50
90-day multiple entries: US $125
Please have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the time of entry, and have cash ready, preferably in US dollars, though there are other currencies Nepal Immigration accepts. If you are entering via overland, you must have US cash and 3 passport photos. For arrival by air, the kiosks at the airport take your picture for you.
For the most up to date list of exceptions for visa on arrival or to obtain the most current visa information, visit the Nepal Department of Immigration website.
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
Acute Mountain Sickness is usually seen in un-acclimatized people shortly after ascent to high altitudes. The condition occurs due to the thinning of air as the altitude increases. The condition, if not taken seriously and treated immediately, can be life-threatening and its symptoms can be seen generally above 3000 meters. Some of the symptoms of AMS are nausea, vomiting, tiredness, shortness of breath and cerebral pain. The treks are designed to properly acclimatize you to the change in high altitude climate and sufficient precautionary measures too are taken to take utmost caution. We also equip our staffs with cell phones and satellite phones in occurrence of any emergency cases. We are greatly driven to keep the safety and security of our clients as our foremost concern.
Drinking Water
Water is essential for life, and clean water is imperative while on holiday. When choosing to visit less developed countries it is a concern that all travelers should consider. A few options are available when trekking or traveling in Nepal that will mitigate any chances of drinking contaminated water which could cause disruption of an otherwise fun adventure. The first consideration to take into account is that tap water should not be ingested. That even means when brushing your teeth. Most will choose to buy bottled water and if doing so make sure the cap has not been opened previously. Plastic bottle refuse is a problem, and with that being said there are other options on the market to assist in making water drinkable. Your local outdoor store can help with choosing what option might be best to use in conjunction with a reusable bottle. Your guide can also steer you to water that has been filtered and purified so ask him or her what is available.
Arrival Instruction
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, our company representatives are stationed to welcome you to the country. We request you to carefully look for your name being held by our representatives following the events upon landing. The representatives are responsible to escort you to your hotel in Kathmandu. You will see men offering you to carry luggage and take you to your destination as you exit the airport. We request you pay no attention to these people and follow the designated representatives and follow their instructions. You will also need to keep an eye on your luggage and belongings to avoid any complications.
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