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Everest
Base Camp with Island Peak Expedition via
Gokyo~Ri / NPL 18 |
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Island
Peak climbing takes you into the
heartland of the Khumbu, Gokyo
(4,750m/15,584ft) and Everest Base Camp
(5,357m/17,575ft). Island Peak
(6,189m/20,305ft) is one of the main
climbing peaks in Everest Region with an
impressive and highly glaciated West Face
that rises from the Lhotse Glacier. An
ascent of Gokyo Ri (5357m/19,216ft) and Kala
Pattar (5,545m/18,192ft), proves a good
acclimatization hike and gives you
magnificent close-up views of the world's
highest mountains including Mt. Everest,
Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu and more. Further,
cross the less frequented Chola pass
(5,420m/17,782ft) and Kongma La Pass
(5,535m/18,159ft) while ascending one of the
most popular peaks in the Everest region.
The mountain was named "Island Peak" in 1952
AD due to its striking location in the
middle of the Chhukung valley, like an
Island on a sea of ice. It was renamed "Imja
Tse" in the early '80s, though its original
name is still more popular. From the Base
Camp, it may take two or more days to scale
the peak depending on weather conditions.
Experience tells us that it is better to
spend two nights at the base camp for
acclimatization and training and then
attempt the Island summit (6,189m/20,305ft)
in one push directly from the Base Camp. The
journey begins from and comes to conclusion
at one of the most famous airstrip in the
world, the Lukla Airport in the Everest
Region.
This itinerary is actually designed for
adventurers in quest of a challenging and
"off the beaten path" climbing plus trekking
experience crossing some of the most famous
high passes & peaks in the world. If you are
energetic, physically fit but have a limited
amount of time to trek, our 19-day Island
Peak Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek
itinerary would be ideal for you. |
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Brief
Itinerary |
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Day |
Activities |
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01 |
Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to
the hotel |
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02 |
Visit
Kathmandu Durbar Square,
Pashupatinath, Boudhanath &
Swayambhunath |
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03 |
Fly Kathmandu -
Lukla and then
trek till
Phakding. |
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04 |
Trek Pakding -
Namche Bazar
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05 |
Trek Namche
Bazar Thame |
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06 |
Trek Thame -
Kumjung |
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07 |
Trek Kumjung
Phortse |
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08 |
Trek Phortse -
Pangpoche |
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09 |
Trek Phangpoche
Dingpoche |
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10 |
Trek Dingpoche -
Lobuche |
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11 |
Trek Lobuche -
Gorak Shep -
Kalapathar
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12 |
Trek Gorak Shep
- Everest Base
Camp - Lobuche
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13 |
Trek Lobuche
Chukhung |
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14 |
Trek Chukhung -
Island Peak Base
Camp |
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15 |
Ascent summit
and back -
Chukhung. |
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16 |
Reserve Day. |
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17 |
Trek Chukhung
Thyangboche |
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18 |
Trek Thyangboche
- Namche - Monjo. |
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19 |
Trek Monjo
Lukla |
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20 |
Fly back to
Kathmandu &
transfer to the
hotel. Visit
Patan Durbar
Square |
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21 |
Visit Bhaktapur
and then
transfer to the
airport for
onward journey
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Day
01: |
Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer
to the hotel |
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Day 02: |
Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square,
Pashupatinath, Boudhanath &
Swayambhunath
In the morning after breakfast start
sightseeing tour of Pashupatinath -
One of the holiest Hindu shrines
situated on the banks of Holy
Bagmati River. The richly ornamented
pagoda houses the sacred linga, (or
phallic symbol) of Lord Shiva. This
is also a cremation site for Hindus,
where the dead bodies are burned
with ritual ceremony on the banks of
the holy river. Just a few minutes
drive from Pashupatinath is
Boudhanath which is one of the
biggest stupas in the entire world.
With its four pair of eyes in four
cardinal directions, it keeps watch
for righteous behavior and human
property.
In
the afternoon drive to Swayambhunath.
Regarded as more than 2000 years old
this stupa is situated at 77m above
the level of the valley and thus has
magnificent birdseye view of
Kathmandu Valley. From Swayambhunath
we drive to Kathmandu Durbar Square.
With more than 50 temples and
shrines within a few blocks of one
another, the square contains one of
the most concentrated groupings of
historical structures in the valley.
This complex of palaces, courtyards
and temples, built between the 12th
and 18th centuries, used to be the
seat of ancient Malla kings of
Kathmandu. |
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Day 03: |
Fly Kathmandu - Lukla and then trek
till Phakding.
Early morning drive to Airport for
the 40 minutes scenic flight to the
small mountain airport of Lukla,
after reaching at Lukla our guide
will introduce with the porters,
then start todays trekking
following mountainside on the left
bank of the Dudh Koshi, it is easy
trekking and takes about 3 and half
hour to reach at Phakding |
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Day 04: |
Trek Pakding - Namche Bazar
We continue our trekking following
the Dudh Koshi River and crossing it
many times and we enter to the park
in Jorsale. After few hours walking
Namche Bazar will appears ahead as
you travel along the path surrounded
by pines. Pass the plateau where the
Saturday bazaar is held and enter
the village. Namche Bazar (3440m) is
surrounded on three sides by
mountain ranges and opens out only
where it faces the Dudh Koshi. The
village is a central hub of the area
and food, laundry and even mountain
climbing equipment may be purchased
here. |
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Day 05:
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Trek Namche Bazar Thame
Today you head north-west, up the
Nangpo Drangpo valley (Bhote Koshi).
As you walk up the valley, up to
your left you will have fine views
of Kwangde (6,343m) and the
waterfalls cascading off its flanks.
Continue high above the river, the
Bhote Khosi, on a contouring trail
through fine rhododendron forest.
Watch out along here for colorful
Impeyan Pheasant (the Nepalese
national bird) and small deer. Just
before the village of Thamo you
cross a side valley (Kyajo Kola) and
from there you can look back for
fine views of Thamserku (6,648m) and
Kusum Kangru (6,370m). You might
choose to visit the little nunnery
passed just as you leave the
village. Leaving Thamo you continue
up the valley, still staying high
above the river before descending to
cross the river near some Buddhist
rock paintings. For the final part
of the walk you climb alongside a
small stream to arrive at the
cultivated fields in front of Thame
village. This is where Tenzing
Norgay, the first Sherpa ever to
climb Mt. Everest, lived for many
years with his first wife. If you
are still feeling energetic on
arrival you could make the short
climb (about 1 hour) to Thame
monastery clinging to the cliff side
above the village in a truly
spectacular location. The monks here
have a Mani Rimdu festival every
year in the late spring. You climb
to the top of the ridge above the
village and then ascend left to the
monastery. From the monastery
terrace there are fantastic views
back down the valley of the
mountains beyond Namche. As you
descend from the monastery it is
worth while walking to the end of
the ridge to look up the valley
towards the Nangpa La, a pass to
leading to Tibet and a principal
trade route between Nepal and Tibet
for many hundreds of years. |
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Day 06: |
Trek Thame - Kumjung
Trek from Thame to Khumjung [3790m].
You trace your route down the Bhote
Koshi Valley towards Namche and
branch off to follow a quiet trail
to Khumjung. It is a picturesque
village, which also has its own
Gompa at the top end of town. Here
you can have excellent views of
Thamserku, Kantega, Tawache and Ama
Dablam. |
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Day 07:
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Trek Kumjung Phortse
After breakfast, we descend to the
west of the village down the broad
valley leading to the Dudh Kosi
River. The Gokyo route is turn
north, climbing above the more
frequented route to Thyangboche and
Everest Base Camp. Here's choice of
routes in the beginning: the yak
trails which climbs gently or the
steep staircase-like trail made of
rocks embedded in a narrow cleft in
a large bounder, the two trails soon
join and continue towards a large
Chorten on the top of the ridge at
3973 metres. This ridge descends
from Khumbila 5716m), abode the
patron god of the Khumbu. From the
ridge, the trails descends in a
series of steep switchbacks down a
sandy slope to the Dudh Koshi and
we'll be spend overnight in Phortse |
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Day 08: |
Trek Phortse - Pangpoche
After a sunny breakfast, we head up
the hill in back of Phortse until we
can look down on Thyangboche Gompa
across the Dhud Kosi valley. Today's
trail also has fantastic mountain
views (Kim's vote for perhaps the
most scenic trail in the Solu Khumbu),
as we contour along for just over
three hours to Pangboche, which
homes one of the oldest gompas (500
years) in the Khumbu in the upper
part of the village. We stay the
night in lower Pangboche at Nima
Lhamo's Sonam Lodge, and look out
over Everest and the Nuptse wall
up-valley, and Tengboche Gompa on
the hillside across the river below.
It's a nice walk up past the gompa
to another hermitage, tucked away at
the mouth of a narrow gorge, in the
afternoon, and a good place to scour
the small shops for left-over
Everest supplies, as many of the
Everest Sherpas come from Pangboche. |
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Day 09: |
Trek Phangpoche Dingpoche
Descend throughout most of the
morning into the Imje Khola only to
once again gradually ascend as we
follow the river northward, past
more mani walls and through a few
small villages. The valley ahead
will begin to open up as we approach
the confluence of the Lobuche Khola,
descend into the khola and begin the
last and steepest climb of the day
up to Dingboche (4400m). |
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Day 10:
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Trek Dingpoche - Lobuche
A few hours of trek up beside the
glacier moraine to a small cluster
of tea houses pleasantly situated at
Lobuche (4940 m). Passing the famed
memorial, with tributes to climbers
lost on Everest. |
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Day 11: |
Trek Lobuche - Gorak Shep -
Kalapathar
Trek to Gorak Shep (5164 m). Further
trek without backpacks to Kala
Patthar (Black Rock), a mountain at
5545 m). with marvelous views on
Mount Everest, Nuptse, and Pumo Ri (Pumori).
Then, return to Gorak Shep (Gorakshep). |
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Day 12: |
Trek Gorak Shep - Everest Base Camp
- Lobuche
Trek to Everest Base Camp (5360 m ).
Retrace the trail to Lobuche. |
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Day 13: |
Trek Lobuche Chukhung
A long but gradual day hiking south
out of the Khumbu Glacier to a lunch
stop at Dingboche (14,100 ft). After
lunch, we hike east up into the
Chukhung Valley, last of the glacial
valleys we will explore. We camp
under the incredible rock wall that
links Nuptse with Lhotse (27,923'). |
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Day 14: |
Trek Chukhung - Island Peak Base
Camp
Trek along the Imja Khola to
Pareshaya Gyab, a pleasant site by a
small lake with fine views of the
Lhotse Glacier and Nuptse-Lhotse
wall. You will reach the Base Camp
of Imja Tse today. Once camp has
been set up you will be free to get
your climbing gear in order and get
organised for your ascent of the
peak tomorrow, weather permitting. |
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Day 15: |
Ascent summit and back - Chukhung.
Weather permitting, you will begin
your climb today. The day's climb
will continue through high camp on a
col. at 5,700 meters. You will start
early for the summit. The going gets
difficult once you reach the bottom
of the steep icefall below the
summit. Great care and caution must
be exercised while scaling the wall
to emerge on the ridge leading to
the summit. After the summit,
descend to the Base Camp. |
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Day 16: |
Reserve Day.
We keep this day extra just in case
weather or any condition will change
the summit plan early on. |
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Day 17: |
Trek Chukhung Thyangboche
Descend to Thyangboche the
spiritual center of the Khumbu- a
training center for new monks. The
area is considered holy; nothing may
be hunted or killed. Expeditions to
the worlds highest peaks have
traditionally stopped here to
receive the blessing of the
Thyangboche Rinpoche. Thyangboche
has the high scenic treasures like
Ama Dablam and Mount Everest in the
background that impresses all
passersby. We will camp overnight in
the lovely meadows around the
monastery and have ample time to
visit it. |
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Day 18: |
Trek Thyangboche - Namche - Monjo.
Follow a similar trail through a
forest of juniper, rhododendron and
fir to Phunkitenga; continue on to
cross the Dudh Kosi for a steep
descent to Trashinga. After lunch at
Shanasa make a way back to Namche
Bazar. Following a steep descent
passing the Bhote Kosil, crossing
the river, follow the bank to
Jorsale, then to Monjo for staying
overnight in Monjo. |
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Day 19: |
Trek Monjo Lukla
This morning you will depart Monjo
and continue your descent along the
Dudh Kosi, before making a final
ascent to reach the Lukla plateau by
mid afternoon. On arrival in Lukla
you will have time to relax and
celebrate the completion of your
trek. Stay overnight in Lukla. |
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Day 20: |
Fly back to Kathmandu & transfer to
the hotel. Visit Patan Durbar Square
Upon arrival in Kathmandu transfer
to the hotel and in the afternoon
sightseeing tour of Patan city. This
sister capital is an ancient city
also known as Lalitpur and is
situated on the southern bank of the
river Bagmati River and is 5 km
southeast of Kathmandu. This city is
full of Hindu temples and Buddhist
monuments with bronze gateways,
guardian deities and wonderful
carvings. It is also known as the
city of fine arts and for the superb
craftsmanship of its artisans. |
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Day 21: |
Visit Bhaktapur and then transfer to
the airport for onward journey
In the morning after breakfast drive
to Bhaktapur. The urban city of
Bhaktapur from the medieval period
also known as Bhadgaon has an area
of 4 sq. miles in a conch-shell
shape. Bhaktapur also means the city
of devotees. We also visit the
Nyatapola Temple, which at 98ft.
Height, is not only the highest
temple in the valley but also one of
the best examples of traditional
Nepali Temple architecture. |
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Highlight
of this Trek |
| Island
Peak climbing takes you into the
heartland of the Khumbu, Gokyo
(4,750m/15,584ft) and Everest Base Camp
(5,357m/17,575ft). Island Peak
(6,189m/20,305ft) is one of the main
climbing peaks in Everest Region with an
impressive and highly glaciated West Face
that rises from the Lhotse Glacier. |
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Trip Facts |
Minimum altitude: 3440m.
Maximum altitude: 5360.
Grade: Easy
Mode: Tented Camp
Duration of Trek: 17 Day
Entry: Kathmandu - Lukla
Exit: Lukla - Kathmandu |
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Everest
Region Map |
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[ Click on
Map to Enlarge ] |
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