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Rising like a sharp white tooth from the Chhukung Valley near Mt Everest is Imja Tse / Island Peak! Considered as the ideal training peak for Mt Everest, Island Peak’s summit is at 6,189 m / 20,305 ft. Mountaineers can get real and genuine experiences without the commitments and dangers of climbing +8,000 meters / 26,247 feet peaks. Above and Beyond Trekking organizes trips to the summit of Island Peak with Everest Base Camp, letting you experience the best of the Everest region in Nepal.
During the Island Peak with Everest Base Camp trek, you’ll follow the standard route up to Everest Base Camp. From here you take a detour via Chhukung and head straight for island Peak Base Camp. Here you’ll get your first Himalayan mountaineering experience and overnight in tents at base camp at 5,200 m / 17,060 ft! The climb to the summit is not technical and with the help of fixed ropes, you cross the glacier onto a long and narrow summit ridge taking you strait to the top of Island Peak. If you ever wondered what it feels like to stand on a Himalayan summit? This trip gives you that answer. The views? Absolutely stunning! Imagine standing on the top of the peak and seeing a 360-degree view of mountains such as; Everest, Lhotse and Makalu.
The Island Peak with Everest Base Camp trek itinerary is specially designed in 18 days with buffer days for rest and acclimatization. Above and Beyond Trekking includes all logistics, accommodation (Lukla-Lukla), guides, and permits for the Island Peak with Everest Base Camp trek. Are you ready to push past the trekking trails and onto the mountain itself? This trip is where the real above and beyond adventure begins!
Island Peak is considered a moderate to challenging climbing peak. It is suitable for trekkers with good fitness and some previous high‑altitude experience. The climbing involves steep snow slopes, sections of fixed ropes, and a narrow summit ridge. You need to be comfortable using crampons and fixed ropes. In combination with a trek to Everest Base Camp this trek / peak climbing package is considered hard but rewarding!
You need a Sagarmatha National Park entry permit, a Khumbu Rural Municipality permit, and an Island Peak climbing permit from the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). Above and Beyond Trekking arranges all permits for the island Peak with Everest Base Camp trek as part of the package included within the price.
Pack warm layers for higher elevations, waterproof clothing, sturdy hiking boots, a sleeping bag (rated to -10°C or lower), a headlamp, sunscreen, and a first‑aid kit for your trek to EBC. For the climb up island Peak, you need climbing boots, crampons, a harness, and a helmet. Above and Beyond Trekking will provide all these climbing equipment. Your guide can provide a detailed packing list upon request.
Previous climbing experience is helpful but not required. We have had many novice climbers pop their cherry on island Peak. Hence the peak is considered the perfect training or beginner peak. If you have good fitness and are willing to learn, the guide can teach you the basic skills during the training day at Base Camp. However, experience on another peak like Mera Peak or Lobuche East is only better.
Success rates vary depending on weather and fitness, but well‑prepared groups with good weather windows have success rates of 70‑80%. The key factors are proper acclimatization, good fitness, and a stable weather window. Your Above and Beyond Trekking guide will make the final decision on summit day based on conditions. We have had almost zero failed attempts during spring and autumn.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu
Day 02: Trip briefing and preparation day
Day 03: Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding
Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar
Day 05: Acclimatisation day at Namche Bazaar
Day 06: Trek to Tengboche
Day 07: Trek to Dingboche
Day 08: Acclimatisation day at Dingboche
Day 09: Trek to Lobuche
Day 10: Trek to Gorak Shep and hike to Everest Base Camp
Day 11: Hike to Kala Patthar and trek to Chhukung
Day 12: Trek to Island Peak Base Camp
Day 13: Summit Island Peak and return to Chhukung
Day 14: Trek to Pangboche
Day 15: Trek back to Namche Bazaar
Day 16: Trek back to Lukla
Day 17: Fly back to Kathmandu
Day 18: Departure
Outside the arrival gate of the airport in Kathmandu, you’ll find a representative from Above and Beyond Trekking waiting for you. You drive to your own booked hotel heading through Kathmandu's streets. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours. Perhaps you'll explore the nearby alleys, find a rooftop café, or simply crash after a long flight! Thamel is just around the corner if you have the energy to explore its multitude of shops and eateries. But there's no rush. Just enjoy your first day in Nepal!
Overnight: Your own booked hotel in Kathmandu
Breakfast is followed by a meeting with your Above and Beyond Trekking guide in the hotel lobby. The Island Peak with Everest Base Camp trekking map unrolled on the table. Your guide walks you through the next three weeks. Namely, where you'll go, what you'll see, and how you'll handle the extreme altitude. Permits get checked, and your gear gets a thorough inspection. Is your sleeping bag warm enough? Do your boots still have life in them? If something is missing, Thamel's gear shops are just a short walk away. By the end of the day, everything is packed and ready for tomorrow’s flight to Lukla.
Overnight: Your own booked hotel in Kathmandu
Flight: 15-35 minutes, Trek time: 3-4 hours
A pre‑dawn transfer takes you to the airport or, if it's peak season, to Ramechhap, a 4‑hour drive east of Kathmandu. From there, a short 15‑minute flight flies over the hills and drops onto Lukla's short runway. You meet up with the entire team and prepare to start your trek following the Everest Base Camp trail. The trek to Phakding is a gentle introduction. Follow the trail along the Dudh Koshi River, passing through pine forest and across several suspension bridges. You cross the first few bridges with the river rushing below, a taste of the days to come. A last bridge leads straight into Phakding, your first overnight village. Dinner is prepared by the teahouse where you have checked in and you go over tomorrow’s plan with your guide while resting from your first day of trekking.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Phakding
Trek time: 6-7 hours
You continue on the trail after breakfast heading further uphill along the river. Crossing multiple suspension bridges and trekking through the forest ever uphill is hard at first, but you’ll get used to it quite fast. At Monjo you take a break, check permits and enter the Sagarmatha National Park. From here the real climb begins! After clearing the forest and navigating around the ridge, you’ll see on clear days your first views of Mt Everest small tip on the distant horizon. A bit further on the trail is Namche Bazaar, a town built into the hillside, its streets packed with lodges, bakeries, and gear shops. You arrive tired, but the views keep you awake!
Overnight: a local teahouse in Namche Bazaar
Hike time: 3-4 hours
To prepare for the upcoming altitudes, holding a scheduled acclimatization day is mandatory! A morning hike to the Everest View Hotel takes you above Namche for a breathtaking look at the peaks. Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, they're all visible on a clear day. For those who are up for it, you can hike further in the Khumjung Valley and visit Khumjung’s monastery as well. Back in Namche Bazaar you can pay a visit to the Sherpa Culture Museum, wander through the market, or have a hot drink in one of the town's cafes.
Overnight: the same teahouse in Namche Bazaar
Trek time: 6 hours
You prepare to leave Namche Bazaar and head into Buddhist territory as you make way for Tengboche’s monastery. Bend around the valley and head into a lush and green forest consisting of mostly rhododendron and fir. Notice an increase in wildlife activity as the people who live in this area follow a strict Buddhist culture and do not harm any living creature. As you trek further on the trail Tengboche comes into view with Thamserku and Ama Dablam in the background. The monastery, the biggest of the entire Everest region, standing peacefully overlooking the valley. Is there a more perfect setting for a Buddhist monastery? The evening prayer session is also worth attending, the sound of the monks chanting echoes across the valley, as the teahouse prepares dinner.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Tengboche
Trek time: 5-6 hours
Almost halfway now on the island Peak with Everest Base Camp trek, you leave the monastery behind and follow the trail leading to the Imja Valley. The initial part of the trail bends around Tengboche via an upper ridge and then descends the hill towards the Imja River. You pass by the village of Pangboche and start the uphill trek now through pastures. Ama Dablam is in the spotlight today, and mostly insight. On a bench below the mountain rests Dingboche village. Check into the local teahouse and take a rest before dinner is served.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Dingboche
Hike time: 3-4 hours
Another day for rest and adjustment. A hike up Nagarjun Hill gives you a view across the Imja Valley to Makalu and Lhotse. It's hard work, but the extra height helps your body prepare for the higher altitude at Everest Base Camp. The rest of the day is for resting, laundry or enjoying the views of the Himalayas from the village.
Overnight: the same teahouse in Dingboche
Trek time: 5-6 hours
Climb out of Dingboche after breakfast, and head north towards Lobuche. You pass by a field of stone cairns. These are memorial sites dedicated to fallen climbers who sadly didn’t make it back from Everest. A hard reality of the dangers the Himalaya can bring, and why acclimatization is to be taken seriously! You continue on along the Kumbhu Glaciar traversing a rocky trail. Just above the glacier a small outpost is located. This is Lobuche, your next overnight stop on the trek. After check-in, you rest and have a well-deserved dinner. Now, ever closer to Mt Everest you take a good night's sleep.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Lobuche
Trek time: 7-8 hours
Today is an exciting day! The day has come to touch down at Everest Base Camp! Follow the trail to Gorakshep along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier, with Nuptse and Pumori rising above the ice. The air grows thin, and every step takes more effort. It’s a short trek to reach the last outpost, and once there you drop off any heavy gear and take a break. Ready for the final push? From Gorakshep, a rocky path leads to Everest Base Camp. The site is quiet outside during the climbing season, a few flags, a small cairn, and a view of the Khumbu Icefall. You stand there and imagine the expeditions that started from this very spot! Afterwards, you make the trek back to Gorakshep for dinner. Above and Beyond Trekking takes you on a special sunrise hike the next day so charging your batteries is highly recommended. If possible, start to charge them before the trek to EBC it will save you lots of time later!
Overnight: a local teahouse in Gorakshep
Trek time: 7-8 hours
A pre‑dawn start is required for Kala Patthar. The climb is steep, and the loose rock makes footing tricky. But the sunrise is worth the effort! Mt Everest catches the first light, turning from grey to gold to white. Lhotse and Nuptse glow alongside it! For many this is a sight you’ll never forget! After the descent and a hot breakfast, the route turns east, crossing the valley to Dingboche and continuing to Chhukung. The day is long, but the views keep you moving and motivated. At Chhukung you check-in and rest. Before dinner you recheck your gear and equipment. Should you need anything for the climb, at Chhukung you can find mountaineering shops that rent or sell equipment and gear.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Chhukung
Trek time: 3-4 hours
The trek from Chhukung to Island Peak Base Camp is very short. The trail follows the valley floor, with Lhotse rising to one side and the south face of Island Peak ahead. Your Above and beyond Trekking team will be moving on ahead to prepare camp before your arrival. Base Camp is a simple place with tents on a rocky flat piece of ground, just beside the glacier. The afternoon is spent on training: crampon fitting, rope skills, and a practice climb on a nearby slope. Your Above and Beyond Trekking guide checks your gear and answers every question you have about the summit day ahead. At night you sleep in a tent surrounded by the Himalayas.
Overnight: a tent at Island Peak Base Camp
Climb time: 10-12 hours both ways
This is it! The biggest highlight of the Island Peak is with Everest Base Camp trek! You’ll make for the summit of Island Peak today. The alarm goes off at 1 a.m. The tent is cold, and the air outside is still. A hot drink and a few bites of food are all you can manage before the headlamp goes on. The climbing route starts on rocky trail, then turns onto a steep snow slope where crampons are required. Fixed ropes help with the steeper sections, but the climb is physically demanding and mentally consuming. Near the top, the route follows a narrow ridge. It's exposed, but the sun just starts to rise, and the views are breathtaking! Everest and Lhotse in the north, Makalu sits to the east.
After photos or videos and a brief celebration, the descent begins. You reach back at Base Camp, take a rest and celebrate again before the team packs up the tents. The trek back to Chhukung is silent, as you can’t forget the epic views you just saw from the summit of Island Peak. How do you feel? Tired, hungry, and on top of the world! You check back in to the teahouse in Chhukung and prepare for the most delicious dinner you have ever had. Tomorrow the trek back starts.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Chhukung
Trek time: 5-6 hours
After breakfast, you depart form Chhukung and head down the Imja Valley. The air grows thicker with every step as the altitude decreases. See the vegetation returning, and the sense of accomplishment grows with each step now with the highest mountains at your backside. Pangboche which you passed on your way to Dingboche is just before the Imja River. You can visit its monastery if you haven’t before.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Pangboche
Trek time: 5-6 hours
The trail follows the river downstream, passing back through Tengboche and crossing several bridges. Now familiar with the trail and a veteran trekker, your legs know what to expect. Namche Bazaar appears in the late afternoon, its cafes and bakeries are a welcome reward for the trek back! Check into the teahouse and enjoy the Sherpa village for a last time.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Namche Bazaar
Trek time: 6-7 hours
The final trekking day follows the trail back downhill into the forest. Now following the river downstream back through Phakding and ultimately back uphill to Lukla. The trail is busier than the higher sections here, full of trekkers starting their own adventures. In Lukla, a meal and cold drink mark the end of the Island Peak with Everest Base Camp trek. The sense of achievement is real! You've walked the Khumbu and climbed the famous Imja Tse / Island Peak in one epic trek.
Overnight: a local teahouse in Lukla
Flight: 15-35 minutes
The flight back to Kathmandu offers one last view of the mountains from the window. During peak seasons, the flight lands at Ramechhap, with a drive of several hours back to the capital. Above and Beyond Trekking transfers you to your own booked hotel in Kathmandu. The rest of the day is for hot water, clean clothes, and a bed that feels soft and cozy! We meet back up in the evening for your valuable trip review.
Overnight: Your own booked hotel in Kathmandu
A driver arrives three hours before your flight. Say goodbyes at the airport, then you're through security. The memories stay with you! Especially the summit of Island Peak, the sunrise at Kala Patthar, and the prayer flags at Tengboche. We wish you a safe flight back and hope you enjoyed this amazing 18-day Island Peak with Everest Base Camp trek!
November 2, 2025
“We had an incredible experience with Above and Beyond Trekking while doing the Three Passes Trek in the Everest region. From the moment we got in touch to book the trek, Sam was professional and responsive. Sam went the extra mile throughout, managing all the logistics so we could enjoy our holiday. Sam is local, and has a lifetime of guiding groups of all experience and fitness levels. He’s friendly, knowledgeable about the local culture, and his outgoing personality meant we had personal experiences with locals we might not have otherwise. He is exceptionally considerate – we had no idea how much we would crave fresh fruit once we were up high, but Sam had planned ahead packing in pomegranate we would all enjoy each evening after dinner. Trekking in the Everest region can be incredibly quiet and peaceful, but often there are a lot of tourists. Sam was like-minded with us, in taking the less travelled options so we could enjoy the experience of being in such an incredible part of the world. One of our highlights was ascending Island Peak, the photos are below – they are able to cater for all levels of trekking adventure. I couldn't recommend Above and Beyond more highly”
November 5, 2024
“Stop looking elsewhere. We had the absolute best time with Sam hiking the three passes and Island Peak route in the Everest region in November 2024. I knew from the moment Sam met us at the airport at 1am with marigold flower necklaces, a bright smile and loads of enthusiasm we were going to have a good time. He was endlessly patient, kind and enthusiastic. Over the next three weeks there were innumerable moments where we said to each other as a group 'I am so thankful we have Sam. He's the best guide.' He's always attentive, nothing is ever too much and all the other guides come to him for advise, translations or help. The Three Passes hike and Island Peak was absolutely stunning and I would do it again in a heart beat. I wouldn't hike in Nepal with any other group besides Sam.”
October 12, 2025
“My trek to Everest Base Camp with Above & Beyond Trekking exceeded all expectations. Everything was well-organized from airport pickup to the final descent.”
April 2, 2023
“The Everest Base Camp trek was an experience of a lifetime! And a knowledgeable guide like Sam was a definite plus. We learned so much about the Nepali culture. He took extra time to answer our questions and explain customs of the wonderful local people. All details were well worked out and logistics went smoothly. Sam was kind and gentle but also made the call when needed to get a horse for me to finish the last leg of the journey”
April, 2023
“Sam is possibly the best trekking guide in Nepal if not the world. Guide, porter, medic, comidian, singer he does it all! Sam is very friendly and so easy to talk too. I found it very easy to bring up any issues I had (not that I had many) which helped to make the trekking experience the best it could possibly be. Sam is very knowledgeable about the mountains and the local culture and thought us so much. Sam also chooses the best local porters. Very friendly and very helpful. Couldn't have asked for any better. I couldn't recommend above and beyond trekking more highly”
