Everest Base Camp Trek with Island Peak (6,189 m)

You leave Kathmandu before dawn for the 4-5 hour drive to Manthali Airport in Ramechhap, then board the short flight to Lukla, landing on one of the most dramatic airstrips in the world. In some seasons the flight departs from Kathmandu instead. After meeting your porters, the trek begins with a gentle, mostly downhill walk through farmland and small villages to the banks of the Dudh Koshi at Phakding. Walking time 3-4 hours. Overnight in Phakding.

Today's walk follows the Dudh Koshi upstream, crossing several suspension bridges, to the Sagarmatha National Park entrance at Monjo. After Jorsale you cross the high Hillary Suspension Bridge and begin the steep climb to Namche Bazaar. Take it slowly, as this is the biggest height gain of the early trek. Namche, set in a horseshoe-shaped bowl in the hillside, is the main trading centre of the Khumbu. Walking time 6-7 hours. Overnight in Namche.

A day to let your body adjust. In the morning you hike up to the Everest View Hotel ridge (3,880 m) for close views of Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam and Thamserku, returning to Namche to sleep at a lower altitude. On the way back you can visit the national park visitor centre, which has displays on the wildlife, plants and Sherpa culture of the region. The afternoon is free to rest or explore the town. Walking time 3-4 hours. Overnight in Namche.

From Namche the trail contours around the hillside to Kyangjuma, with fine views of Ama Dablam and Everest. It then drops to Phunki Thenga on the Dudh Koshi, where water-driven prayer wheels turn beside the stream, before climbing through forest to Tengboche. The village is home to Tengboche Monastery, the largest in the Everest region, and you can visit to watch the monks at prayer. Walking time 5-6 hours. Overnight in Tengboche.

After breakfast you walk through birch, conifer and rhododendron forest down to Deboche, cross the Imja Khola and climb to Pangboche. Beyond here the trees give way to open hillsides as you enter the Imja valley, with Ama Dablam towering overhead. The trail passes the confluence with the Lobuche Khola, crosses the river and climbs to Dingboche, a sheltered village of stone-walled fields and teahouses. Walking time 5-6 hours. Overnight in Dingboche.

After breakfast you hike up the ridge above the village towards Nangkartshang Peak, reaching a viewpoint at about 5,083 m. From the top, the views take in Ama Dablam, Taboche, the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge, Makalu in the distance and Island Peak, your objective later in the trip. Walking high and returning to sleep in Dingboche is an important part of preparing for the climb. Walking time 3-4 hours. Overnight in Dingboche.

The trail climbs above Pheriche along a broad valley to Thukla, then ascends the steep moraine of the Khumbu Glacier to Thukla Pass, where a cluster of stone memorials honours climbers and Sherpas who died on Everest. From the pass the gradient eases, and the trail follows the edge of the glacier to Lobuche, with Pumori and Nuptse rising ahead. Walking time 5-6 hours. Overnight in Lobuche.

Following the rocky moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, you reach Gorak Shep in about 2-3 hours and stop for an early lunch. In the afternoon you walk on to Everest Base Camp, set on the glacier beneath the Khumbu Icefall, where expedition teams prepare for their climbs in spring. After time to take in the scene, you return to Gorak Shep for the night. Walking time 6-7 hours. Overnight in Gorak Shep.

Before sunrise you climb Kala Patthar, a steady ascent of about 2 hours, to watch the first light reach Everest, Nuptse, Pumori and the Khumbu Glacier. After photographs you return to Gorak Shep for breakfast and then descend past Lobuche and Thukla to Dingboche. The lower altitude brings better sleep and helps you recover before the climbing part of the trip. Walking time 7-8 hours. Overnight in Dingboche.

A short, gentle walk up the Imja valley brings you to Chukung, the last settlement before Island Peak. The trail passes the stone-walled yak pastures of Bibre, with the Lhotse wall to the north and Ama Dablam to the south. Arriving by late morning leaves the afternoon free to rest and drink plenty of fluids, or to stroll up the slopes above the village for further acclimatisation. Walking time 2-3 hours. Overnight in Chukung.

Today's acclimatisation hike climbs Chukung Ri (5,550 m), directly above the village. The climb is steep in places, and the top gives an exceptional view of the Lhotse wall, Makalu, Ama Dablam and the Imja Glacier, with Island Peak rising in the middle. Climbing high and sleeping low again prepares your body for the summit. Back in Chukung, your guide checks your climbing gear. Walking time 4-5 hours. Overnight in Chukung.

The trail follows the Imja valley eastwards, crossing the moraine of the Lhotse Glacier, then climbs a fairly steep path to Island Peak Base Camp at around 5,100 m in about 3 hours. After lunch your climbing guide runs a practical training session covering crampons, ice axe, harness, ascender and descender, and the technique for climbing and abseiling on fixed ropes. An early dinner and early night follow, ready for a pre-dawn start. Overnight in tents at base camp.

You set off around 1-2 am. A rocky trail and steep gully lead up to the crampon point, where you rope up and cross the glacier, occasionally using ladders over crevasses. The snow and ice headwall is climbed on fixed ropes to the narrow summit ridge, and a short traverse brings you to the top, with the south face of Lhotse towering above. After descending by abseil and returning to base camp, you continue down to Chukung. Total 10-12 hours. Overnight in Chukung.

This is a long but satisfying day of descent. From Chukung you retrace your steps to Dingboche and Pangboche, then drop through forest to the Imja Khola and climb briefly to Tengboche. After a break, the trail descends to Phunki Thenga, crosses the Dudh Koshi and climbs past Sanasa to the final traverse into Namche Bazaar. With the summit behind you and thicker air in your lungs, the walking feels easier. Walking time 7-8 hours. Overnight in Namche.

The trail descends steeply from Namche to the Hillary Suspension Bridge, so take care on the stone steps. After crossing the bridges over the Dudh Koshi and its tributaries, the walking becomes more level through Monjo and Phakding, with a final gradual climb to Lukla. In the evening, celebrate the expedition with your guide and porters and look back on the last two and a half weeks. Walking time 6-7 hours. Overnight in Lukla.

An early morning flight takes you from Lukla to Ramechhap, followed by the drive back to Kathmandu, or a direct flight to Kathmandu when flights operate from there. Departures depend on mountain weather, so delays are possible. Once back at your hotel, the rest of the day is free to rest, enjoy a long hot shower, return any hired equipment and shop for souvenirs in Thamel. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Your expedition ends today. Depending on your flight time, you may have a few hours for a final walk around Boudhanath or Thamel. A Nima Adventure representative will drive you to Tribhuvan International Airport in good time for your international flight home. If you are staying longer in Nepal, we are happy to help you plan a jungle safari, a cultural tour or another trek in the Himalaya.