Title image - BAI takes you to: Island Peak

Climb Island Peak with Berg Adventures – Trip Itinerary

The first 15 days of your Island Peak adventure are the same as our Everest Base Camp trek. The trek to Namche, Thame, Tengboche and Pheriche and up the Khumbu glacier to Base Camp is an excellent introduction to the culture of the Sherpa people and Everest climbing history. It is also a great way to acclimatize for making an Island Peak summit ascent to 20,305ft/6,190m.

Day 1 & 2 – Depart from home. International travel days.

Day 3 – Arrive in Kathmandu. We will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel, the legendary Yak and Yeti or another of Kathmandu’s 5 Star Hotels.

Overnight Kathmandu
Altitude: 4,593ft/1,400m

A temple in Kathmandu

Day 4 – Kathmandu: Our first day in this famous city will be spent touring major temples and sites. Your introduction will only skim the surface, but it will be a unique and fascinating beginning.

Overnight Kathmandu
Altitude: 4,593ft/1,400m

Hanging with the local holy men

All meals are included throughout the trek.

Day 5 – The flight to Lukla (9,100ft/2,800m). This spectacular mountain landing strip is the gateway for expeditions, trekkers and Sherpa people to the Everest Region. You will be transported from Kathmandu to a bright and colorful scene in clear mountain air. It will feel good to stretch your legs as we walk downhill to the village of Phakding, along the Dudh Kosi River. Times have been good in the area recently and the trail is full of new Buddhist art, prayer flags and small monasteries. We sleep tonight with sounds of the roaring glacial water of the Dudh Kosi in the background.

Overnight Phakding
Altitude: 8,500ft/2,600m
Elevation Gain: 3,907ft/1,200m

Excited to board the plane to Lukla

Day 6 – Today we enter Sagarmartha National Park, arriving just before lunch. In the afternoon we climb the notorious "Namche Hill", our first real taste of "ukalo", the Nepalese word for "uphill." With some luck our first view of Everest will be on the way up the hill. Mid-afternoon we enter Namche Bazaar. Namche is small, scenic beyond belief, and surprisingly cosmopolitan.

Overnight Namche Bazaar
Altitude: 11,400ft/3,450m
Elevation Gain: 2,900ft/850m

Trekking along the Dudh Kosi river on our way to Namche

Day 7 – Today is for acclimatization and enjoying Namche. Namche will be our home base for this trip. We stay indoors in a classic Sherpa style lodge, one that has been a center of many of our expeditions since 1987. Before breakfast we usually take a 10-minute walk to the National Park overlook just above our lodge. The views of Everest, Ama Dablam, and Lhotse are exciting and promise much about the adventures ahead.

Overnight Namche Bazaar
Altitude: 11,400ft/3,450m

Incredible morning views on our acclimatization hike in Namche

Plenty of shopping to do in Namche

Day 8 – We trek to Thame, toward the trading route that leads to Tibet. Thame is the home of many of the most accomplished Sherpa Everest climbers. We will stay in the family lodge of good Sherpa friends.

Overnight Thame
Altitude: 12,500ft/3,800m
Elevation Gain: 1,100ft/350m

Trekking to Thame

Day 9 – Our destination is Khumjung. We will stop at the small but impressive hydropower project on the Bhote Kosi River. We arrive in Khunde and visit the Sherpa Hospital and continue on the Khumjung wher we spend the night near the Hillary School.

Overnight Khumjung
Altitude: 12,700ft/3,850m
Elevation Gain: 200ft/50m

Day 10 – Today we hike from Khumjung to Tangboche. At Tangboche we will gaze up the valley towards the plume blowing off Chomolungma (Everest). After we visit the world famous Tangboche Monastery, we continue a short distance to Pangboche and stay at the Highland Sherpa Resort, the lodge owned by BAI’s Ang Temba and his family.

Overnight Pangboche
Altitude: 13,100ft/4,000m
Elevation Gain: 400ft/150m

Receiving Khata blessing scarves in Pangboche

Day 11 – A classic hiking day of the Khumbu. Ama Dablam still rises above us and we watch its shape change as we walk up the valley and see it from a different perspective. Our goal for the day is Pheriche home of the Himalayan Rescue Association clinic. Pheriche is in the shadow of Everest Base Camp. Yak trains returning from Base Camp make their first overnight stop here.

Overnight Pheriche
Altitude: 14,000ft/4,250m
Elevation Gain: 900ft/250m

Ama Dablam from the trails

Day 12 – Today is an acclimatization day. We awake to awesome mountain views in this cold valley. Towache Peak towers above the town. Kantega is sunlit and sparkles to the south. In the other direction we see Lobuche Peak and Cho Oyu, at the border of Tibet. We will attend the Himalayan Rescue Association altitude lecture, and we will have time for a hike up over the ridge to the village of Dingboche.

Overnight Pheriche
Altitude: 14,000ft/4,250m

Our acclimatization hike in Pheriche

Day 13 – Today we walk up onto the Khumbu Glacier! The lateral moraine of this famous glacier is visible as we walk out of Pheriche. Distances are short now, but each step is measured and deliberate as we move higher in the thin air. We take a break for tea and a trekking style lunch at Tukla. In the early afternoon we climb the moraine past the Chortens that have been constructed for Sherpas lost in expeditions over the years. Cholotse Peak and Lobuche Peak loom above. Our destination is the Eco Lodge at Lobuche at 15,800ft/4,800m.

Overnight Lobuche
Altitude: 15,800ft/4,800m
Elevation Gain: 1,800ft/550m

On our way to Lobuche

Day 14 – We walk through the ice and rubble of the massive Khumbu glacier. We arrive at Gorak Shep, 16,800ft/5,120m. This old yersa, or seasonal yak grazing area, has become the last outpost before Everest Base Camp. Surprisingly close is the 18,300ft/5,580m top of Kala Pattar, the famous mountain known for its views of the top of Everest and Base Camp. We will climb up in the afternoon for photos.

Overnight Gorak Shep
Altitude: 16,800ft/5,120m
Elevation Gain: 1,000ft/320m

In the midst of the Khumbu glacier

Yaks graze in Gorak Shep

Day 15 – Today we visit Everest Base Camp (17,500 ft/5,334m). This is the day we get a small taste of what an Everest climber's life is like living at Base Camp and above for many weeks. You will feel the challenge as you hike up the glacial moraine towards Base Camp. The challenges of living at altitude will be very tangible. Everest Base Camp is a famous but temporary habitat among the glacial boulders and ice of the upper Khumbu Glacier. The full mass of the Khumbu Icefall will not be viewed until you walk into Base Camp, but the creaks and groans of the glacier and the roar of avalanches from the slopes around will be heard during the entire day's hike. We return to our lodge at Gorak Shep with memories that will last a lifetime.

Overnight Gorak Shep
Altitude: 16,800ft/5,120m

Taking a moment to bask in the beauty of Everest Base Camp

Day 16 – Island Peak climbers will begin their first day of the Island Peak expedition trekking from Gorak Shep to the village of Dingboche. We will relax in our lodge and prepare for our trek to Island Peak Base Camp the next day.

Overnight Dingboche
Altitude: 14,800ft/4,500m
Elevation Loss: 2,000ft/620m

A breathtaking sunset in Dingboche

Day 17 – Dinboche to Island Peak Base Camp (16,700ft/5,100m)

Overnight Island Peak Base Camp
Altitude: 16,700ft/5,100m
Elevation Gain: 1,900ft/600m

Island Peak Base Camp

Day 18 – Rest and preparation day at Island Peak Base Camp. Today we will check and prepare our climbing gear, and review rope techniques. Our camp is between Island Peak and the spectacular lateral moraine of the Imja Glacier.

Overnight Island Peak Base Camp
Altitude: 16,700ft/5,100m

Day 19 – Move to High Camp (18,700ft / 5700m). By using a high camp we will not only shorten our summit day, we will also have the rewarding experience of a high Himalayan bivouac. The route to High Camp involves easy scrambling over rock ledges and walking up steep grassy slopes. By ascending the first 2,000 feet of our route to attain High Camp we will make our summit push more enjoyable.

Overnight Island Peak High Camp
Altitude: 18,700ft/5,700m
Elevation Gain: 2,000ft/610m

Our Island Peak High Camp

Day 20 – Summit day. From High Camp we will leave in the early morning and begin ascending low angle rock to the glacier above. After crossing short section of flat glacier we ascend a steep 100 meter section of snow. This leads to the spectacular summit ridge. Easy, but exposed climbing leads us over several high points or false summits before we finally climb a steep face directly onto the summit of Island Peak at 20,305ft/6,190m.