Island Peak Climbing

Island Peak climbing Highlights: “Exhilarating climb on the summit of Island peak, rich buddhist culture, warm-friendly locals, traditional village, land of world’s heritage, high alpine valley's in the shade of the mighty Number One 'Mt.Everest”.

Island Peak or Imja Tse 6,189m./ 20,305ft.situated at the top of the Imja Khola valley in the Khumbu area, just above the summer settlement of Chhukung, surrounded by the Imja, Lhotse and Lhotse Shar glaciers.   It offers a worthwhile challenge to the experienced winter mountaineer, competent in using ice axe and crampons, being technically straight forward, the most difficult section being a mixed rock and ice wall at a slope of around 45 degrees leading to the narrow summit ridge, approximately Scottish Winter Grade 2. The climb will be undertaken towards the end of the trek when everyone will be fully fit and well acclimatised.

Trek starts from Lukla after a spectacular mountain flight from Kathmandu.  Making the way first to Namche Bazaar and after two nights here, heading into the high valleys with views of Teng Kangpoche and Kwangde, then to Gokyo and the walk upto Gokyo Ri at 18,000ft. for tremendous panoramic views including Cho Oyu, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and Makalu. At Gorak Shep in the Khumbu valley, we walk up to Kala Pattar 5,545m for the classic view of Everest South West Face, then following day walking across the Khumbu glacier to the site of Everest Base Camp at the foot of the Khumbu icefall.   Finally heading for the Imja valley and Island Peak Base Camp, where the camp will be established at the base camp of the Island Peaks South ridge, surrounded by stunning ice scenery beneath the immense Nuptse-Lhotse wall which towers above 3,000m.

From Island Peak base camp then descend along the Imja Khola to Dingboche and head back to Namche Bazaar, passing through Pangboche and at Thyangboche visit the Buddhist monastery, after descending the hill from Namche, following the Dudh Kosi valley to Lukla with a spectacular mountain flight back to Kathmandu.