Everest Base Camp and Island Peak Climbing

The 17-day Everest Base Camp and Island Peak adventure begins upon your arrival in Nepal. At Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport, you will find our representative, who will welcome you and assist with your transfer to your hotel. After checking in, you can rest and unwind. In the evening, you take a stroll around the vicinity of your hotel, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of Nepal’s capital.

The second day of your trek is dedicated to preparing for your Himalayan excursion. Your day starts with a hearty breakfast. You will conduct a thorough check of your gear and equipment to ensure you have all the essentials needed for a safe and memorable trek/climbing journey. If required, you can also engage in last-minute shopping.

For those interested, GMT Adventures can conduct a half-day trip of Kathmandu to some of the most prominent UNESCO World Heritage Sites, like Swyambhunath, Boudhanath, or the ancient Durbar Squares.

Today, you will board a scenic morning flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. The flight gives you an aerial view of the awe-inspiring Himalayan landscape, introducing you to the majestic peaks. Upon landing in the Tenzing-Hillary Airstrip, you will meet your porter and begin a gentle 3-4 hour journey. Your journey takes you along the Dudh Koshi River and across several Sherpa villages toward the tranquil village of Phakding for an overnight stay.

Today’s trek takes you to the commercial hub of the Khumbu region, Namche Bazaar. To get to your overnight destination, you will follow the Dudh Koshi River and cross several iconic suspension bridges, including the Hillary Suspension Bridge. From here, you will take on an ascent toward Monjo, the official entry point to the Sagarmatha National Park. Your ascent continues across pine and rhododendron forests, with a first distant view of Mount Everest before reaching Namche.

Today is a crucial day. To allow your body to adjust to the increasing altitude and significantly reduce the risks of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), you will spend a day acclimatizing. As a part of the strategic acclimatization process, you will follow the “walk high, sleep low” principle.

Today, you can hike to the Everest View Hotel, a higher altitude region near Namche Bazaar offering panoramic vistas of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Alternatively, you can also visit the traditional village of Khumjung and its ancient monasteries.

From Namche, you will trek to the spiritual heart of the Khumbu region. The trek to Tengboche offers stunning views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam. Your journey further continues along the Dudh Koshi River before ascending through lush forests.

After a 5 to 6-hour trek, you will reach Tengboche. Here, you can visit the famous Tengboche Monastery, join the resident monks to participate in the evening prayers, and enjoy the serene mountain ambiance before settling into your teahouse/lodge.

As you depart Tengboche, you will descend through lush rhododendron forests into the picturesque village of Dingboche. The journey takes you across Imja Khola before beginning a steady ascent toward Pangboche. As you continue the uphill trek toward your overnight destination, you will notice the tree line receding. The lush vegetation is gradually replaced by alpine meadows.

After a 5-6 hour trek, you will reach Dingboche. You can enjoy spectacular views of Ama Dablam and Island Peak from your teahouse/lodge.

Today is your second acclimatization day. As you gain elevation, it is crucial to allow your body to adjust to the thin atmosphere and high-altitude conditions. To further aid in this process, you will go on a rewarding hike to Nagarjun Hill at an altitude of 5,100 meters. The hike is challenging, but it rewards you with a sweeping Himalayan skyline of Makalu, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and the Imja valley.

Upon returning to Dingboche, you can spend some time exploring the walled city of Dingboche. However, we recommend resting and preparing for the higher elevation journey that lies ahead.

The trek from Dingboche to Lobuche presents you with gradual ascents through the vast Dughla Valley. En route to Lobuche, you will pass the stone memorial dedicated to climbers who perished on Everest. As you move forward, you will find the landscape turning even more stark and rugged. Continue the journey to your overnight destination of Lobuche, enjoying the captivating views of Pumori and Nuptse.

Your journey today lasts 5-6 hours before reaching Lobuche, a crucial stop before the Everest Base Camp.

Today is a significant day as you will trek to the foot of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. Your journey from Lobuche begins early toward Gorakshep. Here, you will stop for a brief lunch before making the ultimate push to the foot of the world’s highest peak, Everest Base Camp. Upon reaching Everest Base Camp, you can soak in the breathtaking views of the Khumbu Icefall and the surrounding landscape. Experience the rewarding feeling of standing on the foot of Mount Everest before heading back to your teahouse/lodge in Gorakshep for the night.

The trek to Kala Patthar begins before dawn. With the help of headlamps and flashlights, you will navigate the rugged terrain to the Kala Patthar vantage point. You can enjoy the sight of a magical sunrise as the first rays of the sun scatter across the Himalayan sky, casting the majestic peaks in shades of gold. The sight of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and other surrounding peaks from this vantage point will leave you in awe.

After spending some time here, you will take on a challenging descent toward Dingboche.

After the demanding Lobuche Peak climbing, you will head to a lower altitude region of Chhukung. Today’s journey is shorter and gentler. The journey takes you across the scenic Imja Valley, giving you stunning views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, and Island Peak.

Today’s journey mostly involves trekking along the flat grounds with a gradual ascent. After a 3 to 4-hour hike, you will reach Chukkung. Enjoy a relaxing afternoon as you prepare to head toward Island Peak the following day.

Today, you head toward Island Peak Base Camp. To reach your destination, you will trek across glacial moraines and rocky terrain. The view of Island Peak gets increasingly clearer as you reach this majestic peak. Upon reaching the Island Peak Base Camp, after a 4-5 hour hike, you will settle into your campsite.

In the afternoon, you will spend your time preparing for the challenging climb. Ensure your climbing gear is in check and you are physically and mentally prepared for the technical ascent of Island Peak.

Prepare to take on the ultimate challenge of the 19 days Everest Base Camp and Island Peak climbing expedition. Today, you will reach the pinnacle of your journey, to the summit of the 6,189-meter Island Peak. The trek begins early, often around 1 or 2 AM. With battery-powered flashlights, you will find your way through steep ridges and icy trails.

Reaching the Island Peak summit requires expert technical skills and physical strength. Using the fixed ropes, you will climb to the thrilling summit for an incredible view of the Himalayan vista. From this vantage point, you will find breathtaking views of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Ama Dablam, and other surrounding peaks.

Spends some time at the summit to soak in this immense experience before heading back to Chhukung for a well-deserved rest.

After a successful summit of the incredible Island Peak, it is now time to return to the lower-altitude regions. As you leave behind Chhukung, you will retrace the familiar trails toward Pangboche. The descent is more relaxing and allows you to enjoy the panoramic views from a different perspective.

Your journey today takes you back to the bustling commercial hub of Namche Bazaar. You will follow the familiar trails across the spiritual center of Tengboche, the iconic suspension bridges, and the trail along the Dudh Koshi River before finally reaching Namche Bazaar.

During today’s descent, you will experience richer vegetation and feel a sense of ease as you return to a lower elevation.

Namche Bazaar reconnects you with modern amenities and services. Take this opportunity to rest, unwind, and celebrate your incredible adventure with your fellow trekkers.

The trek from Namche to Lukla marks the final day of trekking in the Everest region. You will begin your day with a hearty breakfast, enjoying the serene mountain views from your teahouse/lodge in Namche Bazaar. After breakfast, you will begin your descent toward Lukla along the Dudh Koshi River. After a 6 to 7-hour trek, you will reach Lukla.

Enjoy your breakfast in Lukla, savoring the final views of the majestic mountains. You will then head to the Tenzing-Hillary Airport for a scenic early morning flight back to Kathmandu. Relish an aerial perspective of the vast Himalayan landscape before entering the bustling capital city of Nepal.

Upon arriving at the Kathmandu airport, our representatives will assist in transferring you to your hotel. You have the rest of the day to yourself. You can relax in your hotel, revisit your favorite spots, explore the streets of Kathmandu, or indulge in a well-deserved spa treatment.

Your incredible 19-day EBC, Lobuche Peak, and Island Peak climbing expedition officially concludes today. Depending on your flight schedule, a representative from GMT Adventures will meet you at your hotel. Prepare to leave for the airport at least 3 hours before your boarding time.