Island Peak

Arrival at Kathmandu airport (usually in the afternoon) already marks our entry into another world... Customs formalities, baggage collection and welcome by our local French-speaking guide. Crossing the city to the hotel already offers a first discovery of the bustling and colorful capital of Nepal. Buses, trucks, bicycles and sacred cows crisscross in a friendly chaos... Depending on the arrival time, visit the surrounding area or simply settle in and rest at the hotel before your dinner at the hotel.

Early departure from the hotel to reach Kathmandu airport/Manthali Airport then flight of approximately 35/20 minutes to Lukla (2840m). We can see the range of the himalaya from our flight and already observe some mountains with snow covered from lukla. We go to lodge to meet the porters and take a cup of tea and coffee to start our journey. We will check our baggages and give to porters and we will find it only in the camp for the night. After tea break, we pass through the Lukla small city and meet the control point for the permits. We already notice the Buddhist culture and see it's monuments like Stupa, Chorten, prayer wheels with prayer flags. We descents towards Thado Koshi (2550m) for our lunch, Kusum Kanguru (6367m is just infront of us . After 1h 30 minutes of walk by passing some small villages and Buddhist monuments we arrive at our camp Phagding village. Note :- Flights to the Everest Region now depart from Ramchhap airport due to congestion at the Kathmandu airport. It take around 4/5hours of drive from Kathmandu, so we leave Kathmandu at 1 am to reach there for the early morning flights. The flights are only in the morning.

The day already, we attack to high altitude, we continue climb gradually towards Monjo village by the bank of the Dudh Kosi river, We pass through lots of beautiful village and can see Kusum Kanguru (6367m) and Thermserku Himal(6618m). We enter in the Sagarmatha Nation Park, and check point for the permits at Monjo. Jorsala(2740m) is the best place to lunch just at the bank of the river. We cross the bridge for several times, by passing the last long and high suspension bridge we climb up steepy part from where we can observe first point view of Mt. Everest (8848m). We arrive at Namche Bazar, where we stay for two nights. Namche is the gateway to the Khumbu region and Namche Bazaar is an entrance and a cultural hub as well as the real crossroads for the different treks in the region, don't be surprised to meet a lot of people before entering the city and when leaving.

We climb to the altitude. We go towards Thame village, which is very famous for the alpinist. There are lots of sherpas who did the records to climb the Everest. We lunch at Thamo village and visit monastery. after lunch, we leisurely go up the valley of the Bhote Kosi (the "river of Tibet") to the village of Thame (3800m), at the crossroads of the valley which goes towards the Rolwaling by the Trashi Lapsa (5755m) and the one which leads to Tibet via the Nangpa La (5716m).

As we are above 3500m altitude, we start to talk about the high altitude. Today is the day for acclimatization day going up in a very wild valley to Thengpo (4370m), last "hamlet" before the Trashi Lapsa pass (5755m) which gives access to the Rolwaling Valley. Return back to Thame village for the night .

This day hike is very extraordinaire. We can see the beautiful landscap by passing some small villages and crossing the riveres. We head towards the Nangpa La pass and Tibet via a path that can be very busy with caravans trading between the two countries (but the pass is sometimes closed). After crossing the Bothe Kosi, we climb to the village of Lungdhen (4380m).

After passing a fairly steep moraine front, the path climbs regularly on more or less grassy ridges, and we pass three small high-altitude lakes. From the third lake, the climb to Renjo Pass (5360m) is not very long but quite steep: wide stone staircase! Arrival at the pass rewards all the efforts: incredible view of Everest and its satellite peaks! The descent (very steep at the start) reaches the edge of one of the Gokyo lakes then, following its left bank, we arrive at the hamlet of Gokyo (4760m).

Early in the morning we climb up steep part to Gokyo peak (5357m) to see the sunrise and panoramic view from the summit. Magnificent viewpoint over all the peaks very close to Khumbu, including four over 8000m: Cho Oyu, Everest, Lhotse and Makalu. The best view point. Return back to Gokyo for the breakfast and cross the glacier (moraine) to reach Dragnag (4700m), where we lunch and pass night. Base camp of Chola Pass (5420m).

On of the important day of the trek, we climb up by the valley then grassy slopes lead us to the first pass of Nyimagawa (5041m), via a steep path with big stones and difficult steep part before reaching to Cho La Pass(5420m). A short passage on the glacier that we have to walk in ice and descends to the gigantic rocky ramp by following moraine and then the hamlet of Dzonglha (4830m), where we pass our night.

This day is cool day with magnificent views of the valley of Everest Base camp, Tabuche Peak (6495m), Cholotse (6335m), Arakm Tse Peak (6423m), Ama Dablam (6814m), Pumari (7165m), Labuche Peak(6135m) and climb towards by the balcony path leads us to Lobuche (4910m) then we take a quiet valley before passing the moraine in the middle of a gigantic of rocks. We lunch at Labuche. We climb up to Gorekshep with the moraine. After some ups and down in the moraine, we arrive at the “sand lake” of Gorak Shep (5140m).

Early in the morning we climb to Kala Pattar (5600m) by a path that is sometimes a little steep, but regular. We climb up to do the highest summit of the trek (5550m), which is located at just foot of the almost perfect pyramid of Pumori (7161m), the view of Everest, Ice Fall and Nuptse (7861m), Base camp view, 360 degree mountains view. We then descend to Gorak Shep for the breakfast and continue to return back towards Lobuche (4910m.

Early in the morning we attack for the third pass of the trek. We cross the glacier which descends from Everest then climb a fairly steep slope to Kongma La (5535m), at the foot of Nuptse (7861m). From the pass, we cam see the beautiful view of Makalu (8463m). And after pass we descent (steep at the start) to the hamlet of Chhukhung (4730m).

The day we attack for the alpinist. We climb towards to reach the foot of Island Peak by taking a path at the bottom of the valley which crosses a few streams. Camp at the foot of Island Peak at 5090m, on the lateral moraine of the Imja Glacier. We do some training for next day for summit.

The most important day of the trek, departure at night in a moraine which leads to a rocky spur. Climb (steeply) in the glacier, avoiding crevasses and seracs. We set foot on the ridge which we climb to easily reach a first summit then a second. We descend towards Chhukhung (4730m) by the same route after summit.

We descends to wards one big village Dingboche. One of the big village, where some villagers live whole year. People cultive potatoes, barley et vegetables. This is the gateway to climb Island Peak (6189m), famous peak for the people who want to do the alpinist. We descends by following Imja Khoa by passing Somare (4010m). This day is the day of Bouddhist old and famous monasteries visit like at Pangboche (3939m) and Tengboche (3860m), which carry the historic importance of khumbu region. We lunch at Tengboche and steep descends up to the river dudh koshi at Phunki (3250m), the steep climb up steadily up to Kenjoma (3550m), we will do the one circuit trek. We join the path, from where we climb up to Gokyo lake. Nice view hotel of Ama Dablam and other peaks.

We reach Namche Bazar (3440m) by the same way, we go to visit museum of climbers and to see the culture of Sherpas, We lunch and short visit at Namche Bazar, then go down to Jorsale and Monjo (2835m).

Return back to Lukla (2840m), The last day hike of the trek in the mountains, end of the trek and find everyone at the evening together to celebrate the conquered of the trek. The guide will explain you all the necessary briefing for the last day of the trek for Nepali staffs.

Flight back to Kathmandu or Ramechap. Mostly in big season will be Lukla to Ramechap/ Manthali airport to avoid the traffic jam at Kathmandu. And 5 hours of vehicles to arrive Kathmandu.

Kathmandu ( Visiting Day) This one day is extra day which is putted for the security of flight from Lukla to Kathmandu/ Manthali because of bad weather. If we can't fly in the date which was planned or booked because of bad weather. We can manage in another day by plane or helicopters.