Climb Island Peak Imja Tse 6160 m

We welcome you upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and transfer you to our hotel. You have time to rest after your international flight.

Today we meet at our Kathmandu headquarters for a comprehensive expedition briefing. Our lead guide inspects your personal climbing gear and assists with any final administrative formalities.

We take an early morning flight from Kathmandu to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla (2,840 m). After meeting our porters, we begin our trek down the Dudh Koshi valley to reach Phakding (2,610 m).

The trail follows the Dudh Koshi river, crossing several suspension bridges adorned with prayer flags. After climbing steeply through pine forests past the Sagarmatha National Park checkpost at Monjo, we reach Namche Bazaar (3,440 m).

We spend the day in Namche Bazaar to aid acclimatisation. We take a short hike up to the Everest View Hotel (3,880 m) and visit the national park visitor center to observe local flora, fauna, and Sherpa history.

The path contours high above the Imja Khola, offering views of Ama Dablam, Thamserku, and Kantega. We stop at Tengboche (3,860 m) to visit the prominent Buddhist monastery before descending slightly through rhododendron forests to Debuche (3,820 m).

We cross the Imja Khola on a steel bridge and pass through Pangboche, noting its ancient gompa. The trail opens up into wide alpine pastures as we ascend towards the windswept settlement of Dingboche (4,410 m).

To assist with altitude adaptation, we undertake a morning hike up Nagarjun Hill (approx. 5,100 m) on the ridge above the valley. The vantage point provides panoramic sights of Makalu, Lhotse, and Tawoche.

We walk past stone-walled barley fields and ascend gradually through the wide Imja valley floor. The path leads us deeper into the mountain amphitheater to Chhukung (4,730 m), our staging post for the climb.

Our guides conduct a thorough practical training session around Chhukung. We practice walking with crampons, ascending and descending fixed ropes with a descender, and handling ice axes on nearby training slopes.

We depart well before dawn from base camp or high camp, navigating scree slopes and rock ledges to reach the foot of the glacier. We equip ourselves with crampons and harnesses, ascend the steep snow and ice headwall via fixed ropes, and traverse the narrow final ridge to the summit at 6,160 m before descending back to base camp.

We keep this day in reserve to account for potential weather delays or additional rest needed for individual climbers before our descent.

Leaving the high alpine zone behind, we retrace our steps down the Imja valley. We descend past Chhukung and Dingboche to overnight in the quieter village of Pangboche (3,985 m).

The trail drops down to cross the river before a short uphill pull back to Tengboche. We continue down through pine woods and across suspension bridges to arrive back in Namche Bazaar (3,440 m).

Our final day of trekking involves a long descent following the Dudh Koshi river. We pass through Monjo and Phakding before making the final steady climb back into Lukla (2,840 m).

We board an early morning fixed-wing flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu, weather permitting. Upon arrival, we transfer you to your hotel for a relaxing afternoon.

You have a free day in Kathmandu to rest, explore the historic streets of Thamel, or purchase souvenirs. We host a farewell dinner in the evening to celebrate the expedition.

We provide a private transfer from your hotel to Tribhuvan International Airport for your departing flight home.