Everest Base Camp with Island Peak Climbing - 19 Days

After a leisurely breakfast at a hotel in Kathmandu, our trip officially begins. We'll be driven to Tribhuvan International Airport where we'll take a short flight to the alpine town of Lukla, with beautiful Himalayan views from the airplane's window. Following our landing, we will join our trekking group and get started on the Everest Base Camp with Island Peak Trek. After approximately four hours of trekking, we will arrive at the little settlement of Phakding, which is our destination for the day. We will explore the neighborhood monasteries or take in the serenity of the Dudh Koshi River after we reach there. Then, we'll be spending the night at a homestay in Phakding.

We'll get up early today and eat a hearty breakfast at our guesthouse. We begin our second day of the EBC with Island Peak Climbing by hiking through a lush paradise of shady forests and hidden cascades. We'll go through the suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River and capture our first decent view of some of the tallest peaks in the Himalayan region, including Thamserku, which is covered in snowfall (6,608 meters). Then, our route enters Sagarmatha National Park, a huge region rich in scenic beauty. Following lunch, we'll traverse yet another set of footbridges before catching a glimpse of Mount Everest. From here, Namche Bazaar, a bustling town, is only a short distance away. For lodging tonight, we'll choose the finest hiking lodge that's obtainable.

We don't carry on with our journey today and stop by to sightsee the beautiful landscape of Namche Bazaar. We are resting here to adjust to the increasing elevation as we are currently at a steep altitude and are further traveling to a higher altitude location. You may take a little trek to admire the views from Syangboche Airport or you can take a tour of the 'Sherpa Culture Museum'. Additionally, you can visit the bakeries, which ought to be applauded for making delectable pastries at such high elevations. We make our way back to Namche Bazaar at dusk to spend the night at the same guesthouse.

After a hearty breakfast to enhance our strength, we will shoulder our bags and go towards the slender mountaintop above Namche Bazaar. Here, you may see a distinctive stupa honoring Tenzing Norgay and his trip to the summit of Mount Everest alongside Edmund Hillary. You'll be able to see some of the unexposed but spectacular Himalayan peaks, like Thamserku, Kangtega, and the triple summits of Kusum Kanguru. To get to Tengboche, we'll gradually start ascending through lush rhododendron jungles as we take in the breathtaking surroundings along the Dudh Koshi River. We'll check in at a nearby guesthouse when we get to Tengboche. After that, we visit Tengboche Monastery, the most illustrious and renowned Buddhist temple in Khumbu.

Pangboche, Somare, and Dingboche are three of the settlements we pass by on our fifth day of the EBC with Island Peak Trek. Huge snowy peaks like Lhotse and Ama Dablam overshadow the skyline as we travel through a beautiful rhododendron woodland and over a long footbridge over the Imja Khola River, which is shimmering with brilliance. We'll also notice a lot of mani stones set by the trailside as we get closer to Dingboche. You should always bypass these boulders from your right side since they are carved with Buddhist chants. Finally, before reaching Dingboche, we'll go past a vast area of lush greenery where barley and potatoes are farmed. Here, we'll choose a guesthouse where we may stay for the following two nights.

At this point in our EBC & Island Peak Trek schedule, our bodies still require a day to acclimate to the higher elevation. So we decide to stay back at Dingboche and witness the breathtaking viewpoints of Nagarjun Hill or Chukhung Village alongside Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Ama Dablam, and other peaks. You shall have a memory to cherish for a lifetime once witnessing the sunset above the stoned terraces of Dingboche and the wind-whipped peaks.

The journey today begins with a gentle ascent via little communities and temporary camps. You'll pass through recognizable summits like Ama Dablam and Nuptse along the journey as well as get a chance to spot unexplored mountains - Kongma Tse and Taboche. Each of these mountains is a spectacular stopover along the metaphorical path to Mount Everest. We will pause to pay our respects to a number of memorial monuments built in honor of climbers who perished soon after traveling through the little hamlet of Dughla. After there, we'll continue on to Lobuche, where we'll spend our night.

Gorak Shep has to be one of the most stirring names in the entire Khumbu, together with Namche Bazaar. Before reaching Gorak Shep in the morning, we will climb across a rocky glacier. We'll take a little lunch break here before continuing on to EBC. With the breezes of the world's tallest peak speeding past our ears as we climb the rocky road, you'll undoubtedly have a bounce in your heart. You'll have a plethora of leisure to see the expansive Everest Himalaya landscape once we reach the base camp. The vast walls of the Lhotse, Western Cwm, Nuptse, and the Khumbu Icefall are seen. We'll hike back to Gorak Shep later on to celebrate with a supper and spend the night at a hotel.

Today's task is to climb Kala Patthar, a 360-degree viewpoint for Nuptse, Ama Dablam, Taboche, Thamserku, and additional renowned summits and glaciers. Even more impressive views of Everest are visible from this viewpoint than yesterday! After that, we'll make our way down to Gorak Shep for a relaxing brunch before starting the long journey back to Lobuche. This will be a nice and familiar path that will take us to another guesthouse for a hot supper and pleasant sleep.

We leave early and hike for 6 to 7 hours through the Khumbu Glacier to reach Kongma La Basecamp - 5000m. It's the toughest day of this journey. The route is marked with praying flags in Kongma La pass. Then, after a long descent to the Imja Khola River and a short detour via a frozen lake to the little settlement of Chhukung where we'll spend the night. Chukkung, which was once a hamlet for yak farmers, is now a crucial checkpoint for trekkers traveling to Island Peak. Apart from teahouses and lodges, there are gear and equipment rental outlets from where you can hire good quality stuff. There will be final and thorough equipment and gear check. Good quality climbing equipment and gear are available for hire, and you can rent any item you need.

The hike today takes us all to Island Peak Basecamp. We proceed up the elevation that skirts the Lhotse glacier's southern slope, which is a hard ascent. The path winds by a picturesque glacier valley and a waterfall. Before reaching Island Base Camp, we traverse the majestic moraines of the Imja and Lhotse glaciers. The base camp is situated next to the Imja Glacier on a steep hillside. Our team shall have already established a campsite when we get to the base camp, so we directly head to our tents.

Your guide will teach you several climbing methods today, as well as how to handle ice ax, climbing boot spikes, ropes, ascenders, and other gear. Although not very technical, this training is obligated to guarantee your protection and welfare. You'll be more assured and capable of reaching the top after receiving some basic instruction. We could hike to Island Peak High Camp to aid with your additional acclimatization at this altitude. We may relax and get ready for the hike tomorrow. The base camp will be our home for this evening.

It's finally the day you've been looking forward to, and we'll need to get up about midnight to hike for about 10 to 12 hours. The pinnacle should be reached before noon since afternoon winds are likely to be fierce. After leaving Base Camp, we climb up a smaller gradient after initially ascending a steep mountain where we pass some boulders. Following a somewhat difficult gully crossing, the route continues along the ridgeline until it reaches the foot of the glacier that extends all the way to the mountaintop. We reach the peak after climbing a steep hill covered with snow. At this stage, your guides will most likely fasten ropes, both fixed and person-to-person. Depending on the thickness of the snow and whether there are any cracks, the rope can extend to roughly 350 meters. We can relax and take in many of the most incredible sights once we reach the peak. This is undoubtedly an exciting time to take pictures and enjoy to the fullest. Following our successful ascent of Island Peak, we will return to Island Peak Base Camp and rejoice.

Following breakfast, the trail descends steeply through a stunning terrain with the scenic beauty of the Khumbu region's many gorgeous towns and snow-capped summits, including Mt. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and so on. You will visit the legendary Tengboche Buddhist temples once again while in Tengboche, where you may also learn about Sherpa culture and its way of life. In Tengboche, spend the night in a guesthouse.

As we return to Namche Bazaar in the morning, we commence with a mild slope amid rhododendron trees. After a few hours of walking, we'll arrive at the Dudh Koshi River and we'll spot pheasants, leopards, and goats on our way. We will now travel across lush slopes and windy hillsides to return to Namche Bazaar. This evening, you'll have sufficient time to do some shopping prior to supper. In another pleasant hotel, we'll spend our second last night of this wonderful EBC with the Island Peak hike.

Our trek on the Everest Base Camp with Island Peak Climbing comes to an end today. We'll start a steep descent via several tiny settlements, including Phakding, wherein we spent our initial night on the trek. Your last glances of the picturesque Khumbu wildness will be from the mounting point of numerous footbridges, so be sure to take in the breathtaking vistas of waterways and wooded hillsides. When we finally get back to Lukla, we'll celebrate with dinner and also do a little bit of exploring around Lukla. Last but not least, make an effort to obtain enough sleep for the next day's early flight.

This is the last day of our trip to EBC along with Island Peak Climbing. We leave for the Lukla Airport early in the morning and get to have last-minute insights into all the beautiful Himalayas that we witnessed before. Following a 35-minute flight, we return to Kathmandu and check into our hotel. You can chill or go sightseeing during the remaining hours of the day in the capital. At the end, we will have a farewell dinner in a typical Nepali kitchen discussing the trip, and have a goodnight sleep.

This is the day of farewell where you accomplish the journey and leave for your home. Three hours prior to your boarding time, our staff will receive you from your hotel and drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport. We really enjoyed hosting you. Many thanks for having us and safe travels returning home.