Day 01: Reach Kathmandu and check in to hotels.
On reaching Kathmandu International Airport , you will be greeted and welcome by the High Five Adventures staff. Then after you are transferred to your hotel and have had enough time to freshen up, you will be joined by other members of Island Peak climb. Here our guide and group leader will inform and brief the whole journey regarding Island Peak trek and climb.
Day 02: Optional Kathmandu tour and preparation for Island Peak climb.
A free day in Kathmandu for necessary preparations where you will be busy packing and purchasing necessary equipment for the climb of Island peak. Before we depart from Kathmandu we will do a final briefing regarding the climb including do’s and don’ts as well as the items required for the trek and climb.
Interested people or those who have come prepared can join in us in the city tour around Kathmandu valley at desired places of interest. Kathmandu valley is full of UNESCO world heritage sites and many modern yet impressive historical and cultural monuments.
Day 03: take off to Lukla Airport 2,886m & trek to Phakding 2,640m - 04 hrs.
Post free day, in the morning we depart for Lukla. The flight alone gives you a teaser to the array of peaks including Mt. Everest. Lukla Airport is better known as Tenzing–Hillary Airport as a tribute to the pioneer climbers.
From Lukla after we settle in and take our rest, we are to get organized and meet the rest of our staff including the guides and porters at several points. The expeditions starts off with a pleasant walk and an overnight stop in Phakding located by the Dudh Kosi River.
Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar 3,440 m - 06 hrs.
Our second day makes us cross Dudh Koshi, after which we reach the entrance of Sagarmatha National Park near Monjo village. All permits are checked on the gate after which we take an easy walk on the river valley for an hour or so and cross the last bridge. A winding uphill trial will be the highlight on your third day, after which we reach Namche Bazaar. We stay two overnights in this prosperous, eminent trading village. ATMs, Cyber cafes, stores, shops, restaurants, banks, fresh bakery and many colourful markets takes place every Saturday but be aware that the prices in Nepal increase with its altitude.
Day 05: Rest day at Namche Bazaar for acclimatization.
Necessary rest day at Namche for acclimatization. On this relaxing day take a short walk up to the park museum and view point for grand views of Everest –Amadablam and adjoining peaks. The park museum offers great range of information from mountaineering. You can explore the flora – fauna, the Sherpa culture and religions, other hiking spots and also a nice preperatory climb to the Everest View Hotel for you guessed it, more grand views of the Everest and its surrounding mountains.
Day 06: Trek to Thyangboche 3,867 m - 05hrs.
After a pleasant time at Namche, the other morning we take some moderate walk amongst the sounds of nature, the shade of pines and rhododendron trees that line with superb views of Amadablam, Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Thamserku and Kwangde peak. There is a downhill to Imjatse river at Phunge Tenga for possible lunch stop but if our clients are robust enough , we trek ahead.
Afternoon leads to a climb for a few more hours into a serene forest to Thyangboche Monastery, a great scenic place on a small plateau with beautiful views of Amadablam, Kangtenga, Thamserku, Kwangde and Mt. Everest. Thyangboche a holy spot where the head lama (Rinpoche) of the monastery resides.
Mountaineers and climbers get blessed from a high lama or main priest for a safe and successful climb. Blessings before any long trip is a Nepalese forte.
Day 07: Trek to Pheriche 4,240 m - 05hrs.
The walk continues downhill into a lovely forest of birch-rhododendron and pines trees, and then our nice pleasant walk to a slow climb to Pangboche village begins; the last permanent village towards Everest Base Camp.
After Pangboche tree lines drops for short rhododendron and juniper bushes, as the meanders to exposed area with superb views of Mt. Amadablam after crossing a last bridge with short climb reaching at beautiful valley at Pheriche for overnight stop.
Pheriche with its views of Amadablam North Face, Nuptse and Lhotse mountains, a little higher climb on the ridge offers views of world’s 5th highest Mt. Makalu. By now our clients should know thye will indulge in million dollar views of the greatest mountain range on the planet.
Day 08: Trek to Lobuche 4,930 m - 05 hrs.
Leaving Pheriche, proceeding onto the nice lovely valley for an hour we shoot up a ridge to reach Thugla ( Dugla) where the trail from Pheriche and Dingboche joins the route to Everest Base Camp. After we take a breather, we climb up to the terminal debris of Khumbu Glacier and continue our walk to Lobuche for an overnight stop.
Day 09: Trek to Gorakshep 5,170 m and Everest Base Camp 5, 364 m - 06 hrs.
The walk today will be strenuous due to the rise in altitude but accompanying you will yet again be the views of Mt. Pumori, Lingtrin, Khumbutse and Mt. Everest. After hours of scenic walk we reach Gorakshep and rest in a couple of nice lodges which is not that far from the Everest Base Camp.
Poat break, we continue walking to Everest Base Camp as the trail becomes more icy as the walk ends to our destination at Everest Base Camp. Clients will get to enjoy the views of the massive! Khumbu Ice Falls and glaciers and return back to Gorakshep for an overnight stop.
Day 10: Hike to Kalapathar 5,545 m trek to Chukung 4,730m - 05 hrs.
Morning climb to the top of Kalapathar at 5,545 meters, the highest point of the whole trek
(before Island peak climb), with panoramic views of mountains and the Everest at close a close distance. After a great time up there, we descend back to Gorakshep for breakfast and continue our trek to Thugla down Imjatse valley at Dingboche all the way to the end of Chukung valley for an overnight stay.
Day 11: Trek to Island / Imjatse Peak Base Camp 4,970m - 04 hrs.
After Chukung we walk to the end of Imjatse valley at Parsya Gyab and to Island Peak Base Camp. The walk has its steep moments towards the south, the moraine along the left bank of Lhotse glacier then follows the glacial streams to the snout of Imja glacier and we cross a dry lake between Lhotse and Imja glaciers to reach the base camp around Pareshaya Gyab.
Day 12: Rest day at Base Camp.
A full rest day for acclimatization, preparation and checking gears before heading off to climb Island peak. Any short hike requests around this beautiful area are welcomed.
Day 13: Trek and Climb to High Camp 5,400m - 03 hrs.
More adventure filled walks further up to the High Camp, this brings us closer to the Island peak summit / Imjatse peak. Normally climbers make it to the summit from and back to the base camp in a day, but we advise that it is better to add one more camp before we aim towards the summit. The morning after leaving base camp, with a short days worth of walking, we are lead to a small ascend to high camp. The walk faces south-east around Island Peak over the moraine, then scrambling up an open gully, in between two well defined ridges and to the high camp below a small hanging glacier at 5, 280m, leavs us enough time in the afternoon to prepare our equipments and tools for the big day ahead.
Day 14: Climb to the summit of Island Peak 6,189m and return to safely to the base camp - 06 hrs.
After our final preparations, starting right before dawn we proceed our journey with a climb across the broad open gully, following a snow-covered glacier above, avoiding crevasses. Qw then move northwards over the snow covered route between glaciers and head towars the base of a checkpoint ridge.
Our climb will make us cross a gully where we need to cautious because there are instances of stone and icefall dangers. A steep snow covered ice ramp takes us upwards for nearly 100 meters (300ft) to the summit. ON reaching the top successfully you will probbaly be out of breath not just becuase of the exhaustion but also overlooking the striking panorama that is the highest of peaks surrounding you right before your very own eyes. The views are unmatched, Mt. Everest 8,848 m, Lhotse 8,501 m, Mt. Amadablam 6,856 m, Mt. Makalu 8, 463 m, Chamlang and Baruntse peaks glisten in the sunlight as the sky opens up to be the bluest of blues. The very day after we celebrate and clean up the trash we make in the sumit, we descend back to the base camp.
Day 15: Reserve and Contingency day in case of bad weather condition.
We have reserved this spare day as contingency, in case of unfavorable weather conditions in this high Himalayan region or any other such calamities that may delay our journey, an extra day has been added in. If all goes well, this day can be spent on the way back to Lukla with short day walks or interactions wiht the locals and exploring some local delicacies.
Day 16: Trek to Dingboche 4,260 m - 05 hrs.
After a great experience climbing the Imjatse peak, return trek to Lukla back into villages, a few uphill’s over moraine, then reaching at Chukhung with views of snowcapped mountains we continue walking towards Dingboche where we come to a halt in the comfort of well facilitated lodges.
Day 17: Trek to Thyangboche 3,867 m - 05 hrs.
Leaving Dingboche with super views of Amadablam, Nuptse wall and Lhotse, we head downhill and back to lower altitude and tree lines. The walk leads past Pangboche and from the bridge, an hour or more of a climb brings you back to the famed Thyangboche Monastery where you would have been blessed before your long journey by the high monk.
Day 18: Trek to Monjo 2,880 m through Namche Bazaar - 06hrs.
Morning walk begins with a descend to Imjatse River at Phunge tenga, here after crossing the bridge a steep uphill for an hour then with gentle winding walk all the way to Namche Bazaar, ( for energetic people can use the route to Namche visiting Everest View Hotel or Khumjung and Khunde village) from Namche on the downhill path to Dudh Kosi River bank, from here with short ups and downs to reach the Sagarmatha National Park entrance and then Monjo village for overnight stop in this quaint nice village.
Day 19: Trek to Lukla - 05 hrs.
On our last day, we will take you back to Lukla on a gentle winding trail through Phakding and Ghat village and then with the last climb set to Lukla for lunch and an overnight stay, an evening with our final dinner around Khumbu area with the staff and all the guides including the very helpful porters.
Day 20: Fly to Kathmandu and transfer to hotel.
Getting up early to catch the early flight back to Kathmandu from Lukla, (sometimes the flight time can get delayed due to bad visibility), as the plane reaches Lukla airstrip, we depart for Kathmandu taking a sweeping scenic flight in a small twin otter or Dornier plane.
Up on arrival in Kathmandu domestic airport a short drive leads you back to the hustle and bustlepf the capital city. Each client will then be transfer back into their respective hotels in and around Thamel area.
Day 21: In Kathmandu for individual activities.
A spare day in case of flight delay at Lukla due to bad weather conditions, or any extra delays from the journey. On this free day you can join in with us in our guided tour of culture and heritage sites within the Kathmandu valley. Since the valley is full of activities to do in leisure, we recommend our clients to go local and visit the local stops of the city on this day and also stack up on those souvenirs that your family and friends are expecting from you.
Day 22: International departure for homeward bound.
Island Peak Trek & Climb with High Five Adventures ends here but the brotherhood and the international bond that will most probabaly develop along the journey is only further strengthened by the distance between us and our clients. We will safely drop you off to the airport for flight back to or to you next set destination.
