Everest Base Camp combine Island Peak Climbing

From Kathmandu Airport we will arrange a private transfer to your hotel. That night or early the next morning you will meet your local Explore Nepal Trails representative and have a full pre-trek briefing

The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla takes 45 minutes and is an adventure in itself with great views of the Everest region (from the left of the plane) and ending with a hair-raising landing on a steep mountain runway. After meeting our crew, we will start our trek by heading up the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well- marked trail to Phakding

From Phakding, we cross and re-cross the river on high suspension bridges. Beyond Monjo is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park, which was set-up to conserve this fragile mountain environment. We then ascend steeply to Namche and along the way, if the weather permits, catch the first glimpse of Mt Everest. Namche Bazaar is the main trading village in Khumbu and has a busy Saturday market. It is a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and Tibetan yak caravans that have crossed the glaciated Nangpa La. You can enjoy an Illy coffee and amazing brownies here.

Namche is tucked away between two ridges and has lots of lodges, tea shops and souvenir shops. Today we will trek up to the Everest View Hotel at 3880m for our first view of Ama Dablam and Mount Everest. Following the ‘walk high, sleep low’ principle, this hike will really help with your acclimatization

From Namche, the trail contours on to the side of the valley, high above the Dudh Koshi. We will get great views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, we descend steeply to a bridge over the river at Phunki Tenga. The village is an ideal stopover for lunch. Here we can rest before making the steep climb to Tengboche, famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in the Khumbu.

We descend through a forest, cross the Imja Khola and climb steadily to the village of Pangboche. This village is directly opposite Ama Dablam (6856m), and has exceptional views of the mountain, the gompa, Mani walls and scattered pine trees. A further two hours walk brings us to Pheriche.

A day for rest and acclimatization. We also have an opportunity to wander up the valley to look at the Tshola Tsho lake and the perpendicular walls of Cholatse and Tawache. Our guide will take us up onto the ridge overlooking Dingboche for the view of the Imja Valley and the incredible south face of Lhotse.

We continue up the wide valley beneath the impressive peaks of Cholatse and Tawache on the left. We then turn right and take a steep climb towards the foot of the Khumbu Glacier. The tea house at Duglha is a good spot to have lunch. The trail zigzags up through the boulders of the glacier’s terminal moraine. At the top of this climb there are many stone cairns, built as memorials to the many Sherpas who have died while climbing Mt Everest. The path then climbs gently along the glacier, to eventually reach Lobuche

To reach our next stop, Everest Base Camp, we follow the Khumbu Glacier. The trail offers superb views of the surrounding mountains, especially where the path is forced to rise to cross a tributary glacier. We stop for lunch at Gorak Shep before finally making our way to Base Camp itself (5364m). This takes several hours as the trail weaves its way through ice pinnacles and past the crevasses of the Khumbu Glacier.

A very early start is required to reach the top of Kala Pattar (5554m) for one of the best viewpoints in the Himalaya. From here we can see the face of Everest and deep into the Khumbu icefield. After lunch we then descend to Dingboche for the night.

Today we have an easy walk for about 2 hours, climbing up gradually to the small settlement of Chhukhung. Along the way we have great views of Island Peak and the challenge that awaits us.

Another easy day, the trail crosses the river and follows the valley for 3 hours, passing beneath the magnificent south face of Lhotse. Base Camp is by the side of the Imja glacier, below steep grassy slopes which mark the start of the climb on Island Peak.

We ascend a little further to High Camp, where we will relax and make final preparations for our climb tomorrow.

Crossing the gully above the camp, the trail makes a climb for another hour to a narrow ridge, leading on to the glacier. Here it is time to rope-up and put on our crampons to begin the glacier crossing. This is followed by the steep snow slope that leads onto the summit ridge. On reaching the summit we have stunning close-up views of the south face of Lhotse looming over us, while in the other direction there are more dramatic mountain views. We descend along the same route, down to Base Camp.

A contingency day allocated for poor weather, etc

After descending along the trail to Chukhung, we continue on to Dingboche for lunch. It is then another couple of hours to the village of Pangboche where we will stay for the night.

From Pangboche we drop down to follow the river. After crossing it, we climb back up through birch and rhododendron forest back to Tengboche. From Tengboche we descend over the Dudh Koshi before making our way back to Namche.

Your final day’s trekking follows the Dudh Koshi back down to Lukla. This last evening in the mountains is the ideal opportunity for a farewell party with the Sherpa guides and porters, where you can look back on a memorable trekking experience.

After an early breakfast, we will head to the airstrip for our return journey to Kathmandu.

A free day in Kathmandu to explore the city at your leisure. The Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath, the Monkey Temple at Swayambhunath and the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath are just some of the religious highlights of this fascinating city.

We will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to Kathmandu International Airport for your departing flight.