Island Peak Climbing Trek is a 15-day Kathmandu-to-Kathmandu climb to the 6,189m summit of Island Peak (Imja Tse), combining the classic Everest Base Camp route with a technical PD+ peak climb above Chukkung. Package price ranges from $1,849 to $2,749 per person depending on group size.
The first nine days follow the same trail every EBC trekker walks, before turning off at Lobuche toward the quieter Chukkung valley. Yak pastures replace the crowded Gorak Shep teahouses, and the approach to Base Camp feels noticeably more remote than the EBC crowds below.
Acclimatization follows the same proven schedule as our EBC Trek, with rest days at Namche and Dingboche before the climb begins. See our Island Peak difficulty guide and cost breakdown for the technical side before you book.
Mountain Hike Nepal has run Khumbu treks and climbs from Kathmandu since 2018, arranging all permits, group climbing equipment, and a dedicated climbing Sherpa. Message us on WhatsApp with your travel month to check dates.
| Trip Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Trip Name | Island Peak Climbing Trek |
| Duration | 15 Days / 14 Nights (Kathmandu to Kathmandu) |
| Maximum Altitude | 6,189m (Island Peak Summit) |
| Major Highlights | Island Peak summit, Everest Base Camp, Kala Patthar, Chukkung valley, Tengboche Monastery |
| Trek Difficulty | Strenuous trekking, Technical climbing (PD+) |
| Trek Start/End Point | Lukla (fly from Kathmandu) |
| Best Season | Spring (March–May) and Autumn (September–November) |
| Low Season | Winter (December–February) |
| Not Recommended | Monsoon (June–August) |
| Accommodation | Teahouse, tented camp at Island Peak Base Camp |
| Meals Included | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner on trek and during the climb |
| Trek Style | Teahouse trekking combined with technical peak climbing |
| Region | Khumbu / Everest Region |
| Permits Required | Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, NMA Island Peak Climbing Permit |
| Climbing Equipment | Harness, helmet, crampons, ice axe, rope — provided as group equipment |
Lukla → Phakding → Namche Bazaar → Tengboche → Debuche → Dingboche → Lobuche → Gorak Shep → Everest Base Camp (5,364m) → Kala Patthar (5,644m) → Lobuche → Chukkung → Island Peak Base Camp (5,200m) → Island Peak Summit (6,189m) → Chukkung → Namche Bazaar → Lukla
This package gives you two trips for the price of one itinerary: the full Everest Base Camp experience, plus a genuine technical summit most EBC trekkers never attempt. You walk the same trail as every Base Camp group for the first nine days, then branch off toward Chukkung and a mountain of your own.
Island Peak’s standard North Ridge route is rated PD+ on the Alpine grading scale, reaching 6,189m from a Base Camp at roughly 5,200m — a single summit push with no separate High Camp required. The route crosses glacier terrain and a fixed-rope headwall below the summit ridge, with a short ladder crossing over the mountain’s main crevasse.
Compared to a standalone Island Peak expedition starting from Chukkung alone, this route gives you the full Khumbu acclimatization ladder — Namche, Dingboche, and Kala Patthar — before you ever reach Base Camp, which lowers your altitude risk going into the technical climb. If you’re deciding between peaks, see our Island Peak difficulty guide for the full technical breakdown.
This isn’t a casual add-on to a trek. Summit day is a long, cold push on fixed ropes above 5,200m, crossing glacier terrain and a crevasse before the final ridge — not difficult in the technical-climbing sense, but genuinely demanding at altitude after days of trekking fatigue. Go in with at least 8 weeks of structured training and realistic expectations about the cold, and this is one of the most achievable 6,000m summits in Nepal for a well-prepared first-time climber.
Peak Season (Spring: March–May | Autumn: September–November): Lukla flights operate from Manthali Airport in Ramechhap during these busiest months, not Kathmandu. Expect an early-morning 4–5-hour overland drive from Kathmandu to Ramechhap before the short flight to Lukla.
Off-Peak Season (Winter: December–February | Monsoon: June–August): Lukla flights generally operate directly between Kathmandu and Lukla in these months, subject to airline schedules and weather.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) runs this seasonal arrangement to reduce congestion at Tribhuvan International Airport during peak season. It applies to every airline flying scheduled Lukla routes, including Tara Air, Summit Air, and Sita Air. We include the Ramechhap transfer in every package for this reason.
Build in 2 to 3 buffer days on your return schedule — a missed summit window from a weather delay is a bigger problem on this trip than on a standard trek, since your flight home shouldn’t be booked tighter than your climbing days allow.
Prefer to skip a flight leg entirely? A helicopter upgrade is available on request. A shared seat currently runs roughly $650–700 per person one way. Heli pricing moves with fuel costs and passenger numbers, so treat this as a current rate, not a locked-in figure. We can also arrange a return pickup from Chukkung, Dingboche, or Namche instead of walking all the way back to Lukla. See our full FAQ on Lukla flight alternatives below for the breakdown.
per person
per person
per person
per person
Altitude: 2,610m | Flight: about 35 min | Trek: 3–4 hrs | Descent: −250m | Meals: Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Phakding
A short flight takes you to Lukla (2,860m), where you meet your porters and start walking. The trail drops gently along the Dudh Koshi to Phakding. It is an easy first afternoon, which suits a day that starts with an early flight.
Altitude: 3,440m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Ascent: +830m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Namche Bazaar
The trail crosses several suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi and enters Sagarmatha National Park at Monjo. After the high bridge, a long, steep climb leads to Namche Bazaar, the main town of the Khumbu. On a clear day you get your first view of Everest on the way up.
Altitude: 3,440m (hike to about 3,880m) | Hike: 3–4 hrs | Ascent: about +440m and back | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Namche Bazaar
You walk up towards the Everest View Hotel (3,880m) for views of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam, then come back down to sleep in Namche. Climbing higher in the day and sleeping lower helps your body adjust before the trail goes above 4,000m.
Altitude: 3,820m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Ascent: +380m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Debuche
The trail contours above the Dudh Koshi, drops to the river at Phunki Tenga and climbs to Tengboche, the largest monastery in the Khumbu. Ama Dablam and Everest are both in view. You then walk a short way down through the forest to Debuche, which is quieter than Tengboche for the night.
Altitude: 4,410m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Ascent: +590m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Dingboche
The trees thin out above Pangboche, and the trail climbs into the open Imja Valley. Dingboche sits among stone-walled fields below Lhotse. You get your first view of Island Peak further up the valley.
Altitude: 4,410m (hike to about 5,000m) | Hike: 3–4 hrs | Ascent: about +590m and back | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Dingboche
A steep hike up Nagarjun Hill above Dingboche, then back down to sleep at the same lodge. From the top you look over the Imja Valley towards Makalu and Lhotse. Go slowly; this is the most useful acclimatisation day before the climb.
Altitude: 4,940m | Trek: about 5 hrs | Ascent: +530m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Lobuche
The trail climbs to Dughla and then steeply up to the ridge where stone memorials remember climbers who died on Everest. From there it follows the edge of the Khumbu Glacier to Lobuche. The air is noticeably thinner, and many people sleep badly here. Tell your guide about any headache.
Altitude: 5,644m high point, sleep 4,940m | Trek: 10–11 hrs | Ascent: about +700m and back down | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Lobuche
The longest and hardest trekking day of the trip. You walk to Gorak Shep (5,164m) and on to Everest Base Camp (5,364m) and back. Then you climb Kala Patthar (5,644m) for the closest view of Everest’s summit on the route. Then you walk back down to Lobuche for the night. Keep a slow pace, eat well and drink steadily through the day.
Altitude: 4,730m | Trek: 5–6 hrs | Net change: −210m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Chukkung
You leave the main Everest Base Camp trail, walk back down past Dughla towards Dingboche and then head east up the Imja Valley to Chukkung. The valley is much quieter, and Island Peak is in full view ahead.
Altitude: about 5,200m | Trek: 3–4 hrs | Ascent: about +470m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Tented camp, Island Peak Base Camp
A short, steady walk along the moraine to Base Camp, where you swap teahouses for tents. In the afternoon your climbing Sherpa runs the training. You practise with crampons, harness and ice axe, and move up and down the fixed ropes you will use the next day. Eat well and sleep early.
Altitude: 6,189m high point, sleep 4,730m | Climb: 10–12 hrs | Ascent: about +990m | Descent: about −1,460m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Chukkung
You leave Base Camp around 1–2am. The route climbs rocky ground to the glacier, which you cross roped together, with a short ladder crossing. A steep headwall on fixed ropes then leads to the summit ridge. Lhotse’s south face rises above you from the top. You come down the same way, return to Base Camp, and walk on to Chukkung the same day. Your guide will turn the group around if the weather or anyone’s health makes it unsafe to continue.
Altitude: 4,730m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Chukkung
A spare day in case summit day has to move because of weather or illness. If you summit on Day 11, it becomes a rest day in Chukkung, and your legs will be glad of it.
Altitude: 3,440m | Trek: 6–7 hrs | Descent: −1,290m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Namche Bazaar
A long walk down through Dingboche, Pangboche and Tengboche, with a climb back up from the river before Namche. Breathing gets easier with every hour. Trekking poles help on the long descents.
Altitude: 2,860m | Trek: 6–7 hrs | Descent: −580m | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | Stay: Teahouse, Lukla
You retrace the trail down to the Dudh Koshi and along the river to Lukla, with a final climb into the town at the end. This is the last evening with your guide and porters, so set aside their tips tonight.
Altitude: 1,400m | Flight: about 35 min | Meals: Breakfast | Stay: Not included (trip ends in Kathmandu)
A morning flight back to Kathmandu. Lukla flights are often delayed or cancelled by weather, so leave at least two spare days in Kathmandu before your international flight home.
Planning your climb? These guides cover the details that don’t fit on this page — exact costs, technical difficulty, and the best season to go.
No prior mountaineering experience is required, but you need to be a strong, confident trekker. Island Peak’s standard route is rated PD+ — technical, but not extreme — and the Base Camp training day covers crampon technique, ice axe use, and the fixed-rope and ladder sections you’ll climb on summit day. If you’ve never worn crampons or used a climbing harness before, tell us before booking so we can plan extra practice time into your training day.
The NMA (Nepal Mountaineering Association) climbing permit for Island Peak falls under the standard Group B peak fee band. Nepal’s most recent fee revision took effect in September 2025, and the current band is $350 for spring, $175 for autumn, and $175 for winter and summer — replacing older $250 / $125 / $70 figures still quoted on some other sites. We confirm the exact current rate with the NMA before your trip is finalized.
Yes. The trekking portion follows the same trail as our Everest Base Camp Trek, so the walking difficulty is comparable. What EBC doesn’t have is the technical climbing above Base Camp — crampons, a harness, fixed ropes, a ladder crossing over a crevasse, and a summit day that can run 10 to 12 hours round trip. If you’ve done EBC and are deciding whether to add Island Peak, the climb is a real step up in physical demand and risk, not just a few extra days on the same trail.
Both are NMA-regulated peaks in the Khumbu, both rated PD+, and both climbed from a similar Base Camp approach. The real differences: Island Peak sits higher (6,189m vs Lobuche’s 6,119m), and its route adds a glacier crossing with a fixed ladder over a crevasse that Lobuche’s route doesn’t have. Our research found both peaks share the same PD+ grade on their standard routes, despite some older comparisons rating Lobuche as easier — we’re rebuilding our full Island Peak vs Lobuche comparison guide to reflect this and will link it here once it’s live.
Group climbing equipment — harness, helmet, crampons, ice axe, and rope — is provided as part of the package. What you need to bring yourself is personal clothing and equipment: climbing boots, a warm down jacket, and a sleeping bag rated well below freezing. All of these are rentable in Kathmandu if you’d rather not buy or fly with them.
Yes, a guide is mandatory. Every climber on an NMA-regulated peak must be accompanied by a licensed climbing guide, and we don’t offer Island Peak as a self-guided climb. Beyond the permit requirement, the route includes glacier travel and a crevasse crossing — not terrain to manage on your own on a first attempt.
Start training at least 8 weeks before you fly. You need a solid cardiovascular base, the kind that comes from regular hiking, running, or cycling, plus leg strength for sustained climbing with a pack, since you’ll walk 5 to 7 hours most days before the technical climbing even starts. If you can comfortably complete a multi-hour hike on consecutive days while carrying 5 to 8kg, you’re in a reasonable starting position.
Day 8 of this itinerary (Lobuche → Gorak Shep → Everest Base Camp → Kala Patthar → back to Lobuche) is a long day — 10 to 11 hours of trekking above 5,000m. Most Everest Base Camp itineraries split this into two separate days. We keep it combined here because the schedule needs the extra day elsewhere, as a contingency day for the summit push. If a long single day at altitude concerns you, especially on a first high-altitude trip, tell us before booking — we can rebuild your itinerary to split the two into separate days, which adds a day to the trip.
Day 12 of the itinerary is a built-in contingency day at Chukkung for exactly this. If the weather window for the summit push closes on Day 11, the climb can move to Day 12 instead. If the weather doesn’t clear within that window either, the summit attempt may need to be called off — no guide can safely push a summit attempt into genuinely bad weather on technical terrain. This is a real possibility on any Himalayan peak climb, not something any operator can promise away.
Some Island Peak itineraries include a separate High Camp between Base Camp and the summit. Ours goes directly from Base Camp to the summit in one push, which is the more common approach on this peak’s standard route and keeps the overall schedule tighter. It does mean a longer single push on summit day — 10 to 12 hours — rather than splitting it across two shorter days, worth knowing if you’re comparing itineraries from different operators.
If you’d rather not fly, the only real alternative is trekking out via the classic Jiri or Shivalaya route instead of flying from Lukla — adding 4 to 6 extra trekking days with no flight in either direction. Most climbers don’t choose this given the extra time, since Island Peak’s own schedule already runs 15 days. The more common choice, if you just want to skip the return flight, is the helicopter upgrade covered above.
