On top of stunning and renowned Island Peak with the spectacular panorama of the world's highest peaks
Standing tall at an elevation of 6,189m between the beautiful Lhotse and Ama Dablam, Island Peak, also known as Imja Tse, offers an extraordinary climbing experience for both novice climbers and alpinists. As the British explorer Eric Shipton was exploring the Khumbu region in 1953, he was fascinated by how this peak was like an island standing alone surrounded by a chain of mountains. So, from that point onward, this peak earned its popularity by the name of Island Peak.
The route of Island peak climbing follows the classic Everest base camp route from Lukla to Namche Bazaar and trek to Dingboche via Tengboche. Some people, however, opt to leave Dingboche and climb hard uphill to Chhukung. Meanwhile, other people decide to take advantage of this incredible chance to explore Everest base camp and prefer to return to Lobuche to make their way through the Kongma La pass to reach Chhukung.
From the picturesque village of Chhukung, you can walk past the Imja Valley to have a mesmerizing view of the Nuptse-Lhotse wall from Island Peak’s south ridge base camp. As you pass the glacier, you will reach the Island base camp, where you will begin your two-fold exploration of nature and challenge.
Climbing the rocky ridge from the base camp, you will follow the snow headwall to finally reach the top of Imja Tse. The surreal views from the summit of Island Peak, thumbing with glory encircling by the Nuptse and Lhotse from the north, Ama Dablam and Baruntse from the south, and Makalu in the east is something indescribable in human words.
So, are you also thinking that the Island Peak expedition can be an ideal choice for the introductory and practice Himalayan peak climbing? If yes, then here at Explorer Adventure, we are offering you this extended version of Island peak climbing along with Everest base camp to embark on your amazing Himalayan exploration.
Best Time:
Spring and autumn are considered the best times to make the Island Peak expedition. From March to May, the spring spreads the color of liveliness in the entire Khumbu region. The vegetation that loses its charm due to snowy winter gets back its life. The lush forest turns green and red with the blooming rhododendrons. Moreover, the wildflowers blooming along the trails will boost your energy.
The temperature in the region ranges from 15°C to 17°C during the day and may drop to -8°C at night and early in the morning. The mild temperature and great visibility allow you to enjoy the nature of the region with clear views of the snow-capped mountains.
Likewise, during autumn, from September to November, the daytime temperature of the region averages between 0°C to 15°C and can drop up to 15°C at night. The mild atmosphere with the chill breeze will shake you from the fatigue of trekking. Moreover, the monsoon washes out all clouds and dust, offering you spectacular and unobstructed views of the mountains and valleys.
Permits
You will be required to obtain different permits and paperwork before embarking on the Island Peak climbing adventure.
Firstly, you shall obtain a Nepal Mountaineering Association Permit, whose cost can vary as per season. This permit will give you entry from Chhurung to the Island Peak summit. Since spring and autumn are peak seasons, it will cost relatively more than other seasons.
Spring (March to May) - USD 250 per person
Autumn(September to November) – USD 125 per person
Winter (December to February)- USD 70 per person
Summer (June to August) - USD 70 per person
Another permit you need is the Sagarmatha National Park permit. The cost of this permit will be Nrs. 3000 for foreign nationals other than SAARC countries. Similarly, for SAARC national and Nepalese citizens, the cost of the Sagarmatha National Park permits will be Nrs 1500 and Nrs 100, respectively.
The Khumbu Rural Municipality Permit is the next documentation you must obtain. This permit costs around USD 20 per person/ week for the first 4 weeks, but the cost will be USD 25 per person/ week if the stay goes beyond 4 weeks.
Also Read: Yala Peak Climbing
Accommodations And Foods
There are many modes of accommodations throughout the trails of Island Peak climbing. However, teahouses and lodges are the common mode of accommodations but camping will be the only source of lodging at Island base camp.
You will be able to have twin sharing rooms in the teahouses. Some teahouses may offer you an attached Western bathroom, but as you incline higher altitude, you may find a Traditional squat style bathroom. Moreover, the facilities and services at the campsite depend on the arrangements made by the travel company. We will provide you with all the camping equipment and staff for camping at the Island Base camp.
Teahouses will have a diverse variety of food options from regional to Indian, Tibetan, and foreign specialties. But the food at the campsite will depend on the arrangements made by the team.
