Everest Base Camp & Island Peak Trek

Itinerary (heights in meters above sea level):

• Day 1: Departure to Nepal

• Day 2: Arrival in Kathmandu.  Airport arrival; hotel check-in; briefing.

• Day 3: Kathmandu.  Look around the city and purchase/hire any trekking gear you may need.

• Day 4: Fly Kathmandu to Lukla (2866m); trek to Phakding (2652m).  An early morning 40 min flight.  Upon arrival at Lukla, we meet the porters and Sherpas who make up our support team and  staff.  Following  a short tour of Lukla village, we head up the Dudh Kosi valley to Phakding (3 hrs).

• Day 5: Phakding to Namche Bazaar (3,440m).  Enter the Sagarmatha National Park and cross one of the highest suspension bridges in Nepal.  Approaching Namche we may get a first glimpse of Everest (weather permitting) before ending the day at the largest village and administrative centre of the Khumbu valley (5 hrs).

• Day 6: Rest Day.  Acclimatisation day with option of visiting local sights or just chilling in the village.

• Day 7: Namche Bazaar to Tengboche (3,867m).  The Himalayan giants come into view including Everest, Ama Dablam, Lhotse and Nuptse.  Visit the world-famous Tengboche monastery, the largest in the Khumbu region (4 hrs).  

• Day 8: Tengboche to Pheriche (4,243m).  We continue through forest with fine mountain panoramas, crossing the Dudh Kosi River. The trees finally give way to shrubs before arriving at Pheriche.  This village is Nepal's gateway to Everest and from here the locals walk to Everest Base Camp and back in a day - a 3-day trek for most of us!  (5 hrs).

• Day 9: Pheriche to Lobuche (4,930m).  A leisurely trek gently leads towards the Khumbu Glacier.  Near the lower edge of the glacier, you pass numerous chortens (memorials) to those who have died during Everest expeditions (4 hrs).

• Day 10: Lobuche to Kala Patthar (5,554m); return to Lobuche.  We climb past Gorak Shep along the rim of the glacier with great views of Nuptse and Pumori and on to Everest Base Camp (5,350m).  We then return to Lobuche via the spectacular viewpoint of Kala Patthar (5,554m) which gives you your closest view of Everest (6 hrs).

• Day 11: Trek to Chhukung  (4,753m).  We exit the lower edge of the Khumbu glacier and descend to cross the Khumbu glacial river at Tugla.  Here we leave the Everest trail and traverse via Dingboche and on up to Chhukung with great views of Ama Dablam (4 hrs). 

• Day 12: Rest Day in Chhukung. 

• Day 13: Chhukung to Island Peak Base Camp (5,100m).  We depart Chhukung with only some porters, our climbing guide and the equipment necessary for the Island Peak climb.  The porters drop our luggage and tents at Base Camp and then return to Chhukung (3 hrs).

• Day 14: Ascent of Island Peak (6,189m) and return to Chhukung.  An early morning start for our attempt at the summit of Island Peak, returning afterwards via Base Camp to Chhukung.  Island Peak, also known as Imja Tse, was first climbed in 1953 in preparation for the first ascent on Everest. It was named by Eric Shipton, the early Himalayan pioneer, who thought it resembled an island in a sea of ice. It is actually an extension of Lhotse, an outlier of Everest

• Day 15: Chhukung to Pangboche (3,985m).  We descend and rejoin the Everest path to Pangboche which has one of the oldest monasteries in the region (4 hrs).

• Day 16: Pangboche to Phortse (3,840m).  We continue descending via a quieter trail with opportunities for glimpsing wildlife (3 hrs).

• Day 17: Phortse to Khumjung (3,790m).  We cross the river that flows out of the Gokyo valley and cross a small hilltop called Mongla before descending to Khumjung (4 hrs).

• Day 18: Trek to Lukla (2,866m).  We return through Namche Bazaar and back to Lukla for a final night in the Khumbu Valley and the opportunity for a farewell party with the porters and Sherpa friends who have supported us on the trek. They depart separately on a 4 days' trek and bus ride to Kathmandu (6 hrs).

• Day 19: Fly from Lukla to Kathmandu. 

• Day 20: Kathmandu.  A rest day in Kathmandu to reflect on the trek, visit the shops or a number of the Hindu shrines and temples in the city.  This also serves as a reserve day if weather precludes the flight from Lukla.

• Day 21: Departure from Kathmandu