Adventure AsiaAI-assisted
Nepal16 daysGroup 2-10

Everest Base Camp and Island Peak — 16 Days

Trek to 5,364 meters and climb Island Peak (6,189m) in the Khumbu Region of Nepal

This 16-day expedition combines the Everest Base Camp Trek with a mountaineering ascent of Island Peak, a 6,189-meter peak in the shadow of Everest. The itinerary follows the classic trekking route through the Khumbu Region—Namche Bazaar, Tengboche, Pheriche, and Lobuche—before reaching Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar. From there, the route turns south toward Island Peak Base Camp via Chukkung. The climb itself involves fixed ropes, ladders, and glacier traversal on terrain suitable for first-time mountaineers and experienced alpinists alike. Throughout, acclimatization days are built in to minimize altitude illness risk. The expedition begins and ends with flights between Kathmandu and Lukla (2,860m), with nights spent in mountain teahouses and one night in a tent at Island Peak Base Camp. A licensed climbing Sherpa, trekking guide, and porter support the group throughout.

Best time to go: Spring and Autumn

Highlights

  • Scenic 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,860m), gateway to the Everest Region
  • Trek through Sagarmatha National Park with suspension bridges over the Dudh Koshi River
  • Acclimatization days in Namche Bazaar (3,440m) and Pheriche (4,280m) with optional side hikes
  • Reach Everest Base Camp (5,364m) and Kala Patthar (5,545m) for views of the summit and surrounding peaks
  • Summit Island Peak (6,189m) via fixed ropes and glacier crossing, with 360-degree panorama from the top
  • Pass through Sherpa settlements including Phakding, Tengboche Monastery, and Chukkung
  • Views of Ama Dablam, Nuptse, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Makalu from various points on the route
  • Descend via the same valleys and suspension bridges to Lukla for return flight to Kathmandu

Day by day

1Flight to Lukla and Trek to PhakdingLukla · Phakding · Kathmandu Airport · Lukla Airport · Lukla to Phakding
The expedition begins with an early morning departure to Kathmandu Airport to catch the scenic flight to Lukla (2,804m). The 30-to-35-minute flight itself is remarkable—a gradual ascent over foothills, mountains, and cloud cover that offers first glimpses of the high country ahead. Lukla Airport, perched at the gateway to the Everest Region, receives you with mountain air and the bustle of arriving trekkers. After landing, the team arranges logistics while you settle into a local eatery for a light meal. Once preparations are complete, the trek proper begins. The first day is intentionally modest: a gentle 3-to-4-hour walk that descends through wooded terrain alongside the Dudh Koshi River. This measured pace allows your body to begin acclimatizing to the mountain environment without undue strain. The trail leads steadily downward to Phakding (2,610m), a modest village where teahouses line the main path. You'll spend your first night here, resting in simple but welcoming accommodation before the trek intensifies in the days ahead.
2Trek to Namche BazaarNamche Bazaar · Phakding · Dudh Koshi River · Sagarmatha National Park · Tenzing Hillary Suspension Bridge
We depart Phakding after breakfast, rejoining the trail that shadows the Dudh Koshi River northward. The 4-to-5 hour trek unfolds across five Himalayan suspension bridges, each strung with colorful prayer flags that mark our passage through the valley. The walk grows more mountainous as we approach the entrance to Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After presenting permits at the gate, we push deeper into the forest, where the weather clears to reveal our first clear views of Mt Everest and the surrounding high peaks. From Tenzing Hillary Suspension Bridge, the trail turns decidedly uphill for the final approach. The last stretch brings us climbing steeply into Namche Bazaar (3,440m), a hill town that sprawls across its mountainside with remarkable vitality. This is the Khumbu's largest settlement and main trading hub, and the atmosphere here—busy, colorful, purposeful—marks a genuine shift in the trek. We settle into our teahouse for the evening.
3Acclimatization in Namche BazaarNamche Bazaar · Sagarmatha National Park headquarters · Everest Museum · Everest View Hotel · Khumjung · Khunde
A full acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar allows the body to adjust to 3,440 meters and reduces the risk of altitude illness during higher ascents. While the day is free of fixed trekking, active options include a visit to Sagarmatha National Park headquarters, the Everest Museum, or the Everest View Hotel for its vantage point over the region. Alternative walks include visits to the Sherpa villages of Khumjung and Khunde. An evening stroll through Namche Bazaar's commercial and residential lanes provides insight into local commerce and community life. The night is spent in the same teahouse.
4Trek to TengbocheTengboche · Namche · Phunki Thanga · suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River · Tengboche Monastery
After breakfast, the trek departs Namche on a gentle climb out of the town onto a valley-side trail offering views of Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and Everest. The route passes several settlements before descending through lush rhododendron and pine forest to Phunki Thanga. At another suspension bridge over the Dudh Koshi River, the trail then climbs steadily for roughly 2 hours to Tengboche (3,790m). The famous Tengboche Monastery sits prominently at this elevation, its courtyard offering panoramic mountain views. A teahouse near the monastery provides accommodation for the night. Total trek duration is 5-to-6 hours.
5Trek to PherichePheriche · Tengboche · Imja Khola River · Pangboche village
Departing Tengboche in the morning, the route descends through rhododendron forest, then climbs after crossing the Imja Khola River. The ascent leads to Pangboche village, where the trail passes mani walls (inscribed stone walls) and small gompas (Buddhist shrines) amid pine and juniper forest. As elevation increases, tree density decreases and the landscape opens. The final 2 hours of walking lead to Pheriche (4,280m), a settlement at the edge of high alpine terrain. The village offers views of surrounding peaks including Ama Dablam. Trek duration is 4-to-5 hours, and accommodation is in a teahouse.
6Acclimatization and Hike to NagarjunaNagarjuna · Pheriche
A second acclimatization day at Pheriche (4,280m) consolidates adjustment to higher altitude. Rather than remain stationary, an active hike to Nagarjuna (5,000m), a nearby hilltop, combines rest with gentle exertion. The hike rewards with panoramic views of Everest, Makalu, and other major peaks. This ascent and descent—undertaken at a measured pace—allows the body to process the altitude while the mind adjusts to the scale of the surrounding massif. The return to Pheriche for the night provides continued acclimatization benefit.
7Trek to LobucheLobuche · Pheriche to Lobuche · wide, open valley · Khumbu Glacier · Duglha
The trek from Pheriche to Lobuche (4,950m) is shorter and slower-paced, lasting 4-to-5 hours. The route crosses a wide, open valley with views of Tawache and Cholaste peaks. A steep ascent follows to the foothills of the Khumbu Glacier. The trail continues on the glacier's terminal moraine—a winding path over glacial debris—before reaching Duglha, a spot marked with memorials to mountaineers who died on Everest and other peaks in the region. The final approach to Lobuche traverses this moraine landscape. Accommodation is in a teahouse at Lobuche.
8Trek to Gorak Shep and Everest Base CampGorak Shep · Everest Base Camp · Khumbu Glacier
This is the main trekking day of the expedition and the longest of the route, lasting 8-to-9 hours total. An early start follows the Khumbu Glacier on terminal moraines beneath towering peaks. The route reaches Gorak Shep (5,160m), the final teahouse before the Base Camp, where lunch is taken and backpacks are left for the night. The ascent from Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp (5,364m) is a 3-hour round hike on rugged, rocky terrain across the glacier's upper reaches. At Base Camp, the site where Everest expeditions establish their starting point, trekkers spend time absorbing the scale of the valley and the peaks surrounding it. The return descent to Gorak Shep takes place in the afternoon, and the night is spent at the teahouse.
9Sunrise at Kala Patthar and Descent to DingbocheKala Patthar · Dingboche · Gorak Shep · Pheriche to Dingboche
Before dawn, a steep 1-to-2-hour hike leads from Gorak Shep to Kala Patthar (5,545m), a vantage point offering one of the most direct views of Everest's summit and an unobstructed 360-degree panorama of the surrounding massif. The sunrise experience and the view justify the early exertion. After descending to Gorak Shep for breakfast, the trek reverses direction and descends toward lower elevations, following the outbound route in reverse through Pheriche and continuing to Dingboche. This day is predominantly downhill and more comfortable, lasting 7-to-8 hours. Accommodation is in a teahouse at Dingboche (3,860m).
10Trek to ChukkungChukkung · Dingboche to Chukkung
The route turns from the main Everest Base Camp trail toward Island Peak, beginning with a steep climb from Dingboche through traditional mountain hamlets. The 3-to-4-hour trek to Chukkung (4,760m) is deliberately paced to allow thorough observation of the landscape. Chukkung sits in a side valley with views of Nuptse, Ama Dablam, and the surrounding glacier-carved terrain. The village serves as the jumping-off point for Island Peak expeditions. Accommodation is in a teahouse.
11Trek to Island Peak Base CampIsland Peak Base Camp · Chukkung to Island Peak Base Camp
From Chukkung, the route climbs steeply then traverses the main valley in the direction of Island Peak Base Camp (5,100m). The walk lasts 5-to-6 hours and crosses the 5,000-meter threshold. Glacial waterfalls and streams line the route; the Lhotse Glacier's moraine and the Imja Khola Glacier are passed. The landscape becomes increasingly stark and alpine. Upon arrival at Island Peak Base Camp, a tent serves as accommodation rather than a teahouse. The evening includes a climbing practice session—review of rope work, crampon fitting, and glacier travel technique—to prepare for the summit attempt the following day.
12Climb Island Peak and Return to ChukkungIsland Peak · Chukkung · Island Peak Base Camp · Island Peak summit
The climb departs Island Peak Base Camp in the pre-dawn hours (approximately 1 a.m.) to reach the summit before afternoon wind and weather patterns intensify. The initial climb is steep and rocky, ascending the face above camp. As elevation increases, the terrain becomes narrower and steeper, with sections of exposed rock. The route follows a defined ridgeline toward the summit. Fixed ropes and aluminum ladders are in place at key sections; climbers move using crampons, ice axes, and harnesses under guide direction. Two crevasses have formed in recent seasons and require careful crossing. The Island Peak summit (6,189m) offers expansive views across the Khumbu peaks and into Tibet. After celebration and photograph time at the apex, the descent begins, following the same ridgeline and fixed lines downward. The total round-trip climb lasts approximately 8-to-9 hours. Climbers typically descend to Chukkung rather than returning to the higher camp, spending the night in the teahouse to recover.
13Trek to TengbocheTengboche · Chukkung · Pangboche · Debuche
After Island Peak, the expedition reverses toward lower elevations. The route descends from Chukkung through Pangboche, retracing earlier steps on a predominantly downhill trail lasting 3-to-4 hours. A gentle climb leads through Debuche before the final descent into Tengboche (3,790m). The pace allows for observation of the landscape and recovery from the climb. Accommodation is at a teahouse near Tengboche Monastery.
14Trek to Namche BazaarNamche Bazaar · Tengboche to Dudh Koshi River · Dudh Koshi River to Namche Bazaar
From Tengboche, the trek descends to the Dudh Koshi River, then climbs back into forested terrain along the valley side. The 3-to-4-hour walk follows the outbound route in reverse, passing through rhododendron and pine forest with views of surrounding peaks. The trail reaches Namche Bazaar (3,440m) by mid-afternoon, allowing time for an evening walk through the town's lanes. Accommodation is in a teahouse.
15Trek to LuklaLukla · Namche Bazaar to Lukla · Hillary Suspension Bridge
The final trekking day descends from Namche Bazaar to Lukla (2,860m), retracing the initial ascent route over 6-to-7 hours. The trail passes the Hillary Suspension Bridge and follows the Dudh Koshi River downstream through forest and settlement. The descent is steady, and the pace allows reflection on the expedition. Upon arrival in Lukla, accommodation is in a teahouse, and the evening marks the conclusion of the trekking portion of the expedition.
16Flight to KathmanduKathmandu · Lukla Airport
The expedition concludes with a 30-minute return flight from Lukla Airport to Kathmandu. The flight offers aerial views of the valleys and foothills recently traversed on foot. Upon landing in Kathmandu, ground transfer to accommodation concludes the formal itinerary. Rest and recovery follow the 16 days of trekking and mountaineering at altitude.

Where you go

Map: Everest Base Camp and Island Peak — 16 Days route
Numbers follow the itinerary order. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap
  1. 1Lukla
  2. 2Phakding
  3. 3Namche Bazaar
  4. 4Phakding
  5. 5Dudh Koshi River
  6. 6Sagarmatha National Park
  7. 7Namche Bazaar
  8. 8Namche
  9. 9Tengboche Monastery
  10. 10Pheriche
  11. 11Lobuche
  12. 12Khumbu Glacier
  13. 13Kala Patthar
  14. 14Island Peak Base Camp
  15. 15Island Peak
  16. 16Island Peak Base Camp
  17. 17Island Peak summit
  18. 18Pangboche
  19. 19Namche Bazaar
  20. 20Lukla
  21. 21Kathmandu

Included

  • Three meals a day (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) with a cup of hot drink( Tea/Coffee).
  • Fresh fruits every night after the dinner.
  • Trekking lodge (Tea House) accommodations during the trek.
  • All necessary paper works Sagarmatha National park entry permit & Trekker`s information Management System (TIMS) permit.
  • Peak climbing permit and other necessary fees.
  • 1 nights in a twin tent after Chhukung. Breakfast, lunch and dinner with tea and coffee, seasonal fruit or cane fruits.
  • Camping tent and climbing rope.
  • Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu flight including airport transfer( High season flight to and from Lukla are operated from Ramechhap airport which is 4-5 hours east of Kathmandu)
  • A highly experience, helpful, knowledgeable, friendly , English speaking, Government license holder trekking guide and climbing Sherpa, with all his salary, food, drinks, accommodation, transport and insurance.
  • Strong, helpful porters with proper equipment (1 porter= two people). with all his salary, food, drinks, accommodation and insurance.
  • Comprehensive medical supplies (first aid kit).
  • Arrangement of Emergency Helicopter service (paid by your Travel insurance company).
  • Use of sleeping bag, down Jacket and walking Poles (if you don’t have your own, To be return after trip completed). Using these 3 items you pay $10 USD each as maintenance and washing charge.
  • Nepal Eco Adventure T-shirt, cap and duffel bag.
  • Oxymeter to check your pulse and oxygen saturation and heart rate twice daily (very useful to check Altitude Mountain Sickness symptoms) which will ensure you trek is in the safest hands possible for all levels of trekker.
  • Assistant guide group size above 6+ person.

Not included

  • Airport pickup and drop for international flight arrival and departure.
  • Accommodation in Kathmandu.
  • Nepal entry visa $50 USD for 30 days visa on arrival.
  • Your Travel and medical insurance.
  • International airfare.
  • Your personal expenses.
  • Cold and hot drinks on trek as desserts and sweet things (those you choose to purchase along the way and during evenings in the Tea Houses)
  • Battery charging and hot shower on the tea houses.
  • Personal climbing equipment can be hired $150 USD per person.
  • Tips for the guide, porter and driver (Tipping is expected).
  • Excess baggage more than 15kg for Lukla flight.

Activities: TREKING

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