Nepal Environmental Trekking

Island Peak trek/climb (16 days)

It is no surprise that Himalayan peaks have drawn adventurers, climbers and cultural enthusiasts for nearly 200 years. The stark and rugged terrain, so entwined with the culture of local Sherpa people, offers such powerful experiences that Himalayan travel stands in a class by itself. While many think of travel to the Himalayas as only high altitude climbing or trekking, this is somewhat of a misconception as many beautiful ascents can be made with limited climbing experience. This expedition offers both climbers and trekkers an exciting opportunity to enter the world of the mighty Himalayas.

In order to acclimatize prior to climbing Island Peak (20,305ft/6,189m), we offer a trek through the Himalayan Khumbu. This expedition offers wonderful trekking through the glorious Khumbu region and any fit enthusiast is welcome to join the team. All team members will have the opportunity to summit Kala Pattar (18,187ft/5,545m), a wonderful location to view and photograph Mt. Everest, and then we head for a visit to Everest Base Camp. While climbing team members make the summit attempt of Island Peak, trekking only team members will spend 2-3 days walking in the stunning valleys around Island Peak.

The route to Kala Pattar takes you along the path to Everest Base Camp. You travel through the renowned village of Namche Bazaar and the revered monastic community of Tengboche. From the summit of Kala Pattar you can snap excellent photographs of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. The Kala Pattar trek serves both as an introduction to the warmth of the Sherpa community. It also serves as an acclimatization period preceding the great ascent of the great pyramid, Island Peak.

The trek to Island Peak also walks you through the countryside, where you partake in Nepalese and Tibetan cultures as they have existed for centuries. The journey offers some of the most striking scenery in the Khumbu via the enchanting village of Dingboche. This trek is filled with Buddhist shrines and this village of stone charms your path to the mountains. The summit of Island Peak stands adjacent to the South Face of Lhotse, one of the world's largest ice walls, and offers stunning views of beautiful Ama Dablam and Makalu. It is an excellent opportunity to participate in and fully experience a Himalayan mountain climbing expedition

Outline Itinerary
Day 1	Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla which takes approximately 30 minutes and trek to Phakding. Early in the morning you will be driven from hotel to Kathmandu airport, after 30 minutes spectacular flight you will land to Lukla airport (2800m.).You begin your trek to Phakding (2652m.) and you walk for about 2 and half to 3 hrs. While trekking, you head up the Dudh Koshi Valley on a well-marked trail to Phakding (2652m.)
Day 2	Trek from Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3440 m.) which takes about 5 to 5 and half hours. This day you trek and cross the river on high suspension bridges. Beyond Monjo(2800m.) is the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park which was set-up in order to protect and preserve this fragile mountain environment. You then ascend quite steeply to Namche and along the way, if the weather is clear, catch a first glimpse of Mt Everest in the distance. You can also enjoy the view of Mt. Kusum Kangaru, Thamserku, Konde-Ri, Tawache peak. You can also visit some of the village monasteries on the way of trekking to Namche Bazaar (3440 m.). Namche is the main trading village in the Khumbu region and holds a busy Saturday market. There is set a meeting place for the Hindu traders from the lowlands and the Tibetan yak caravans that have reached there by crossing the glaciated Nangpa La.
Day 3	Rest at Namche Bazar for acclimatization and excursion around the places. Namche is tucked away between two ridges amidst the giant peaks of the Khumbu and has an abundance of lodges, tea shops and souvenir shops as well as a magnificent outlook. It is an ideal place to spend a rest day for acclimatization to the high altitude before heading off towards Tyangboche. For the acclimatization you walk upto Khunde Hospital which was set-up by Sir Edmund Hillary, or a one hour walk up to the Syangboche (3800m.) where Everest View Hotel is situated above Namche for the outstanding view of Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru. There are also good views from the National Park Centre and Museum just above the town.
Day 4	Trek from Namche Bazaar to Tyangboche (3850 m.) and it takes almost 5 hours. From Namche, the trail contours around the side of the valley, high above the Dudh Kosi. Now you have a glimpse of first really good views of the great peaks of the Khumbu including Mt Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Thamserku and Kusum Kangaru. Passing by several villages and numerous tea shops, the trail descends steeply to a bridge over the river Dudh Koshi at Phunki Tenga (3250m.).The village has an excellent place for lunch and you can take a short rest before making the steep climb to Tyangboche. Although exhausting due to the zigzag path, the trek has numerous attractions like rhododendron bushes, beautiful birds chirping and superb mountain scenery making your trek exciting. Tyangboche is famous for its legendary monastery, the largest in the Khumbu region.
Day 5	Trek from Tyangboche to Dingboche (4350m.) which takes about 4 and half hours to 5 hours. You gradually descend through a forest, cross the Imja Khola and climb steadily up to the village of Pangboche. This is directly opposite to Ama Dablam [6,856 m], and has exceptional views of the mountain, with the Gompa, Mani walls and scattered pine trees in the foreground. As you gradually ascend, you do find thick forests as the trail is full of thorny and juniper bushes. A further two and half hour’s walk brings us to Dingboche. Here you can see Sherpa people working hard in the agricultural farm.
Day 6	Rest at Dingboche for acclimatization.
Day 7	Trek from Dingboche (4350m.) to Chhukung (4730m.) And it takes about 2 and half hours. The trail gradually ascends up to the Chhukung. On the way, you can see summer huts made especially for keeping the livestock’s in summer time. Along this, you enjoy the beautiful mountain views in and around the valley.
Day 8	Trek Chhukung to Island Peak Base Camp (5087m) and it takes about three hours. You trek through gradual ascent path all the way to Base Camp. On the way you can enjoy the panoramic views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Island Peak and many others.
Day 9-10	Climb to Island Peak (6189m.) Crossing the gully above the camp the trail makes a climb for another hour to a narrow ridge, leading on to the glacier. Here it is time to rope-up and put on our crampons as the most interesting part of the climb begins with the glacier crossing. This is followed by the steep snow slope that leads onto the summit ridge. This ridge is wonderfully airy and on reaching the summit we have stunning close-up views of the south face of Lhotse looming over us whilst in the other direction, there are more dramatic mountain views. We descend along the same route, down to base camp.
Day 11	Trek Island Peak Base Camp to Chhukung which takes about three hours.
Day 12	Trek Chhukung to Pangboche (3985m.) After descending along the trail to Chhukung, we continue on to Dingboche for lunch. It is then another couple of hours to the lovely village of Pangboche where we'll camp for the night.
Day 13	Trek Pangboche to Khumjung (3790m.) and it takes about six hours. In the beginning you trek gradual down path and after crossing Phortse Tenga you trek through steep ascent path up to Mongla and then gradual down to Khumjung. On the way, you pass villages with monasteries, chorten, mani walls and prayer flags, yak pasture, farming terraces with panoramic views of Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Nuptse, Everest, Thamserku, Kantega, Tyangboche monastery etc.
Day 14	Trek Khumjung to Monjo which takes about five hours. All the way you walk downwards. En route, you pass Namche Bazaar.
Day 15	Trek from Monjo to Lukla (2800m) and it takes about 3 hours. Your final day's trekking follows the Dudh Kosi back down to Lukla. This last evening in the mountains is the ideal opportunity for a farewell party with the Sherpa guides and porters, where you can sample some chhang, try Sherpa dancing and look back on a memorable trekking experience.
Day 16	Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu which takes about 35 minutes.

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