Click to see Detailed Itinerary

Island Peak Trek - (Kalapathar)

Day 1: Depart UK

Day 2: Arrive Kathmandu

Day 3: Kathmandu check equipment / sightseeing

Day 4: Flight to Lukla, trek to Phakding (2850m)

The flight to Lukla is about 45 minutes and offers stunning views of the vast Himalayan mountain range. On arrival in Lukla you will have a relaxed couple of hours before beginning the first stage of the trek. You will stay overnight in the village of Phakding, located on the scenic Dudh Kosi River.

Day 5: Namche Bazaar (3440m)

On this second, slightly more challenging day, you will travel deeper into the heart of the Himalayas. Following the trail alongside the Dudh Kosi River, you pass through fragrant forest and have the opportunity to catch a first glimpse of Everest as well as the possibility of spotting a diversity of native plants and wildlife. Your second overnight stop is Namche Bazaar, the heart of the Sherpa community and entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park.

Day 6: Namche Bazaar rest day

This acclimatisation day provides the opportunity to explore the delights of this vibrant, prosperous village. You may want to visit the Sherpa Culture Museum or the Mount Everest Documentation Centre to learn first hand about the unique history of Namche Bazaar and the Himalaya, or simply relax and enjoy the cafes, markets and local shops while soaking up the atmosphere. A walk to the Everest View hotel above the village provides stunning and memorable views of the Khumbu peaks and Everest.

Day 7: Tengboche (3860m)

This pleasant day of trekking encompasses the rich and colourful natural beauty of pine, fir and rhododendron forest as you make your way to the village of Tengboche. The Tengboche monastery is well worth a visit; it is hugely significant to the Buddhist mountain people and represents the culture and spirituality of the Himalaya and its’ people.

Day 8: Dingboche (4343m)

The trek to Dingboche involves some gradual climbs and outstanding mountain views as you make your way through birch, fir, juniper and rhododendron forest as well as some open hillside. Having arrived in Dingboche, Island Peak is visible amongst the numerous and stunning mountains surrounding you.

Day 9: Dingboche

This acclimatisation day is spent resting and taking an optional short walk around this traditional village nestled in the beautiful Imja Khola Valley. The village has a network of small stonewalled fields surrounded by the majestic, beautiful mountains including Lhotse and Island Peak.

Day 10: Loboche (4915m)

This is a more challenging day, beginning with a steep ascent to the top of the ridge above the Pheriche Valley. However the views today are dramatic, including peaks and snowfield located in both Nepal and Tibet. Later in the day, at Tukla, you will pass memorials dedicated to the memory of Sherpa’s who have died on Everest during the past half century.

Day 11: Kalapathar Loboche (5545m)

Today your climb to Kalapathar provides uninterrupted views of Everest, as well as the mountains marking the border with Tibet (Pumori, Lingtren, Khumbutse and Changtse). Kalapathar offers the most wonderful views of Everest that will stay with you. Seeing the enormity and beauty of this famous mountain is an experience of a lifetime. From Kalapathar you will return to Loboche for the night.

Day 12: Chukhung (4730m)

The trek takes you on today via the Imja Khola valley to the small summer settlement of Chukhung. As with almost every destination in this region, the views from here are tremendous. From the village now you are able to see the moraines towards Island Peak.

Day 13: Island Peak Base Camp (5087m)

From Chukhung, the path takes you close to the moraine from the Lhotse Glacier before continuing through the haunting landscape of the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines to our destination - a wide valley on the South West side of Island Peak.

Day 14: High Camp (5600m)

From Base Camp you will follow the path up Island Peak. Although the path starts as sandy underfoot, it soon evolves into a grassy, then boulder strewn, track prior to eventually entering a steep rock channel before reaching High Camp. This is where your Island Peak climb will start from tomorrow.

Day 15: Climb Peak – Base Camp

Today you will make an early morning start to climb Island Peak. The climb will go onto the snow and glacial ice as you climb up towards the summit. The day will provide unparalleled views of Lhotse to the North, Amphulapcha and Mera Peak to the South and Ama Dablam to the West. Although a tough day the views will justify the effort and likely be the most outstanding vision of natural beauty you will experience. Added to this is the undoubted sense of personal achievement you will feel having completed the day.

Day 16: Dingboche

Today is the start of your return trek towards Lukla and there is still more of the Himalaya to see along the way. The trail leads you back down the scenic Imja valley through Chukkung before revisiting Dingboche for the night.

Day 17: Khumjung (3790m)

Today takes you to the village of Khumjung, located high in the ‘green valley’. This traditional village is considered a focal point by local Buddhists because of its’ well-known monastery. Interestingly, this monastery is home to an alleged yeti scalp from the head of a yeti befriended by a local Lama many centuries ago.

Day 18: Visit Everest View Hotel – Namche Bazaar

As well as returning to the magic of Namche Bazaar, you also have the opportunity of revisiting the Everest View Hotel. This is the world’s highest altitude hotel. The stunning views of Everest and the huge Himalayan mountain range stretching as far as the eye can see will be such a great memory for you to take away.

Day 19: Chumoa

From Namche Bazaar is a relatively easy walk to the small village of Chumoa, located by the river outside the Everest National Park. In this tiny community you spend your last night before heading back to Lukla to fly to Kathmandu.

Day 20: Lukla

This is your last day of trekking as you descend to the village of Lukla.

Day 21: Arrive in Kathmandu

From Lukla you will board the 45 minute flight back to the city of Kathmandu. Arriving back to the midst of a bustling city may feel a little strange after the peace and slower pace of more rural mountains of Nepal.

Day 22: Kathmandu

Today is a rest day to relax, sight see, shop and whatever else you wish to do before your return journey home the next day.

Day 23: Kathmandu - UK