Short Island Peak Climbing – 11 Days

On Day 3 of our Short Island Peak Climbing itinerary, we’ll stay in Namche Bazaar for a rest and acclimatization day. Taking a rest day helps our body adjust to the higher altitude and reduces the risk of altitude sickness. Having said that, even though it’s a rest day, we won’t just sit around.

We’ll take a short hike to the Everest View Hotel, one of the highest hotels in the world. From there, we’ll enjoy amazing views of Mount Everest, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and other tall peaks along the Island Peak Climbing trail. On the way back, we may stop by Khumjung Village, home to the Khumjung Monastery, where you can see what locals claim is a yeti scalp.

We’ll also visit the Hillary School, built by Sir Edmund Hillary to support the Sherpa community. If you prefer another short hike, we can go to Syangboche Airport or visit Khunde village nearby. After the hike, we’ll return to Namche Bazaar for the night. This day of gentle activity is important for preparing your body for the higher altitudes ahead on your Island Peak Climbing journey.

After a well-deserved rest at Namche Bazaar, on the fourth day after breakfast, we will leave Namche Bazaar for Debuche. We follow the trail along the Dudh Koshi River. After a short uphill hike, we’ll reach Khumjung village. As we continue on the Short Island Peak Climbing trail, we’ll see a stunning sight of Ama Dablam, one of the most iconic peaks in the Himalayas.

Soon, we’ll arrive at Tengboche village. At Tengboche, we will visit the famous Tengboche Monastery, the largest and most sacred monastery in the Khumbu region of Nepal. Built in 1916, this monastery is an important spiritual place for the Sherpa people. If we visit in October, we can see the colorful Mani Rimdu Festival celebrated there. After exploring the monastery and enjoying the views, we’ll walk downhill for a short distance to reach Debuche village. We will spend the night at Debuche in Rivendell Lodge.

Today, our Short Island Peak Climb journey continues with a scenic trek from Debuche to Dingboche. The distance isn’t too long, but the high altitude makes it more challenging, especially as we reach the final uphill stretch into Dingboche. The Short Island Peak Climbing trail first goes through the quiet Somare village (4,020 m) and then to Orsho. These areas are less crowded.

Soon after Orsho, the trail splits. The left path goes toward Pheriche, but we’ll take the right trail, cross a suspension bridge, and climb a steep hill to reach Dingboche. This village is a popular stop for trekkers and climbers and has several good guesthouses. Dingboche is located in a wide, open valley with beautiful views of the surrounding peaks. It’s a key stop on the Short Island Peak Climbing path, where we’ll rest at Hotel Good Luck and get ready for the higher sections ahead.

We will leave Dingboche and hike to the Chhukung village, another important stop on the Short Island Peak Climbing route. The trail is short but uphill. It follows the rocky path through Imja Khola Valley. We’ll walk past stone-walled fields with stunning views of Ama Dablam and Mount Lhotse. Also, we will often spot yak trains carrying expedition loads to base camp. The wind can be fierce in the afternoon, so we start early to avoid it.

By late morning, we will reach Chhukung. Chhukung serves as the last stop before the climb of Island Peak. It’s also a base for those crossing Kongma La Pass. After checking in at the Kangri Lodge, our guide will give a full briefing about tomorrow’s Island Peak Climbing journey and go over the climbing equipment checklist, like boots, harness, crampons, carabiners, ice axe, and headlamps.

Since it’s a short hike today, we’ll use the rest of the day for acclimatization and exploring the area. There are several areas to explore, like Chhukung Monastery, Imja Tse Glacier, and even Chhukung Valley. This day helps your body adjust to the high altitude and prepares you for the summit push ahead.

Day 7 of our short trek to Island Peak Climbing journey takes us from Chhukung to Island Peak Base Camp. We will trek to Island Peak Base Camp walking northward and follow the rocky path along the edge of the Lhotse Glacier moraine. After a short and scenic walk beside a stream, you’ll reach a landmark known as “Big Rock.” From here, the route to Amphu Lapcha lies to the southeast. We’ll take a zigzagging trail through the Imja and Lhotse glacier moraines, which finally leads to a wide valley on the southwest side of Island Peak. A final uphill climb of about 45 minutes, we’ll arrive at the base camp.

The Island Peak Climbing trail to base camp is short but challenging because of the high altitude. After reaching camp, your team will set up tents for the night. The area is remote, with very basic facilities and cold weather, so it’s important to stay warm and prepared.

In the afternoon, our climbing Sherpa will provide training on peak climbing techniques and the proper ways of using climbing gear like crampons, ice axes, harnesses, climbing boots, and ropes. Though you have some climbing skills, this training will help you feel more confident and safe during the summit. We are now just one step away from climbing Island Peak.

This day is the most exciting and challenging day of the Short Island Peak climbing adventure. We will summit Island Peak today. We’ll start the summit push early under a sky full of stars. After about 2 to 3 hours of climbing, we’ll reach High Camp (5,600 m). From here, the real challenge begins. The route becomes steeper as we approach the glacier. At around 5,700 m, we’ll put on our crampons and follow fixed ropes, carefully crossing crevasses and ladders. The final push to the summit includes tackling a 300 m headwall, which is a steep, icy slope of nearly 50-55 degrees.

Following this, we traverse a narrow and exposed, but less steep, summit ridge. The summit itself is quite small, with only enough room for a few people to stand safely. Reaching the Island Peak summit is a surreal moment. All our effort pays off as we stand among the world’s highest peaks. To the north, massive peaks like Nuptse, Lhotse, and Lhotse Shar rise high above the clouds. To the east, you can see the mighty Makalu. And in the south, Baruntse and the beautiful Ama Dablam add to the magical scene. The cold, the altitude, and the exhaustion disappear in the face of such raw natural beauty.

After summiting Island Peak and celebrating our achievement, we’ll descend back the same route. Once we return to Base Camp, we’ll rest briefly and then continue to Chhukung. Today will test our strength, but it will also reward us with one of the most memorable days of our lives on the Island Peak expedition.

We are still on our descent journey from the Short Island Peak Climbing expedition on day 9. Leaving Chhukung behind, we’ll retrace our steps through the Imja Khola valley and walk past peaceful villages, alpine forests, and highland meadows. The path takes us to Debuche and Tengboche.

From Tengboche, the trail descends steeply through juniper and alpine bush forests, then enters beautiful pine woods near the Dudh Koshi Gorge. After crossing the suspension bridge, the trail continues past Sansa. Eventually, we will reach the military post that marks the gateway to Namche Bazaar. It’s a long and challenging day. The warm Khumbu lodge and bustling village life of Namche will welcome us back with open arms. This part of the Short Island Peak trekking path is a beautiful farewell to the high Himalayas.

It is the final trek day of our climbing adventure. After breakfast in Namche Bazaar, we will begin our steady descent to Lukla. The path once again takes us through lush forests, suspension bridges, and quiet Sherpa villages like Monjo, Bhenkar, and Tok Tok. Take a moment to reflect on your journey.

As you continue past Phakding, the trail climbs through Chaurikharka Village. From there, we will reach Lukla. Our return to Lukla is both a quiet ending and a proud reminder of the challenges we’ve overcome.

This morning, we will say goodbye to the Himalayas. We will board a flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. The short flight offers incredible views of the snowy peaks, deep valleys, and green hills, a perfect way to wrap up your Island Peak adventure.

Once you land at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu, our team will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel. You can spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring the vibrant city. Your 11 days Short Island Peak expedition officially ends here. Thank you for trekking with Nepal Alternative Treks. We wish you a safe journey and hope to see you again in the future!