Everest High Passes and Island Peak – 23 Days

Manthali to Lukla Flight (March, April, May, October, and November)
During peak seasons, such as March, April, May, October, and November, the flight to Lukla will be operated from Ramechhap/Manthali due to air traffic expansion. The Manthali/Ramechhap airport is about a 5 to 6 hours drive away from Kathmandu. On this day we wake up at 1:30 to 2:30 am and take an escorted shuttle to Manthali airport on a shared tourist vehicle and board a 20-minute flight to Lukla.

Kathmandu to Lukla Flight (January, February, June, July, August, September, and December)
The flight to Lukla is typically operated from Kathmandu during nonpeak seasons, which include January, February, June, July, August, September, and December. Please be aware that the decision regarding the operation of flights solely depends on the airline and is influenced by the volume of travelers during a specific month. On this day we wake up at 5 to 6 am. Our staff will escort you to the domestic airport terminal in Kathmandu and board a 35-minute flight to Lukla.

Prepare your luggage for the trek the day before the flight. You will be arriving at the Tenzing Hillary Airport early in the morning. Breakfast in Lukla. Porters will meet group in Lukla and are assigned to carry luggage. For every two clients, one porter is assigned.

Today we trek to Phakding. The trail is straightforward. We head out of Lukla and follow the Dudh Koshi River with a downhill. The route connects to the Namche Bazaar trail, just above Chaurikharka (2,713 m). Continuing, we come across the small village of Ghat. After a brisk hike, we arrive at Phakding.

We continue trekking along the banks of the Dudh Kosi, crossing the majestic river many times on exciting suspension bridges laden with prayer flags. After entering the Sagarmatha National Park, the trail climbs steeply with breathtaking views. Namche Bazaar (considered the Gateway to Everest) is home to many quality restaurants, hotels, lodges, shops, money exchange services, internet cafes and bakeries. Namche is the biggest town along the Everest trail.

We will spend a day in Namche Bazaar in order to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning air. We will trek a short distance to a museum that is celebrated for its exhibits of the traditional customs of the Sherpa people. We will also hike up the Syangboche Airport and the Everest View Hotel, one of the highest-placed hotels in the world. From this point, we can see rewarding views of the Himalayas including Mt Everest.

The trail climbs steeply out of valley through rhododendron forest. Juniper and large conifers start to appear as the elevation increases making the trekking very pristine in spring. The trail passes through Yak Kharkas and summer settlements. The views of Khumbi La and Taboche are magnificent throughout the day.

We climb a ridge for an excellent view both down the valley to Kengtega and up towards Cho Oyu and descend to a river and again climbs steep to the terminal moraine of the Ngozumpa glacier. We will reach Machherma by early noon.

The trek today takes us at one of our main destinations, Gokyo (4,800 m). We will make this camp our base for 2 nights as we will have a sightseeing and hiking trip around Gokyo.

Early in the morning, we have a steep climb up to the top of Gokyo Ri at an elevation of 5,483 m. There are ample rewards for those who attempt this trip – you get stunning views of the super Gokyo valley, the massive Ngozumpa glacier and an incredible panoramic view of the whole Khumbu Himalayas, including the giants Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, Makalu, Cho-Oyu and Gychung Kang.

Trek to the foot of Cho La pass. Accommodation in Thangna will be very basic and in a dormitory-based room because of its remoteness.

We start walking before sunrise at 4:00 or 5:00 am so as to reach the pass by 9:00 am – 10:00 am and dodge bad weather conditions of the noontime. We cross over at an altitude of 5,300 m where we could be exposed to strong winds if we crossing too late. We start to climb steeply the trail that is regularly used and easy to follow. However, the problem may arise due to the altitude and snow. It often causes terrible problems to cross the pass if it is covered by snow.

As you reach the top, you are rewarded by the magnificent views, then we descend to the Dzongla at noon. Accommodation in Dzongla will be very basic and in dormitory-style room because of its remoteness.

A rather easier and shorter trekking route will take us to Lobuche after 4 to 5 hours of trekking.

This will be one of the most difficult yet rewarding days of the trek. Most of this day is spent climbing Mt. Kala Patthar at 5,555 m. The ascent is demanding but the climber gets the most magnificent mountain panorama possible: Everest, the highest point on the planet at 8,848 m towers directly ahead and on all sides loom the giants, Nuptse, Pumori, Chagatse, Lhotse and countless others.

If possible, we can stay and watch the awe-inspiring sunset on Everest and its neighbors. We make a quick descent to Gorakshep, a tiny hamlet at 5,180 m.

This is a big and difficult day walk along the Khumbu Glacier and up to Everest Base Camp at 5,364 m, the closest you can get to Mt. Everest without mountaineering equipment. During spring, there will likely be expedition teams about to attempt the summit. The view of the Khumbu Icefall from Base Camp is spectacular. We return back to Lobuche for the night.

From Lobuche we ascend past a series of small glacial lakes with fine views of Makalu to the south-east. As we are near the pass, we cross glacial moraines before a final rocky scramble which leads to a narrow ridge adorned with prayer flags. The top of the pass is usually very windy. After a short rest, we head down towards the Chukhung Valley. It is a tiring walk today, but the fantastic scenery makes it all very worthwhile.

From Chukhung we make a leisurely start following the Imja Valley with great views of Ama Dablam dominating the skyline and follow the moraines that flow from Lhotse (8,501 m) towards the sand flats at Pareshaya Gyab. It is only a short distance from here to the Base Camp, which we will reach in the mid-afternoon. Accommodation will be in a tented camp and you will be having camp food cooked by our professional camping team.

We spend a day at the base camp to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning of the air. Our climbing sherpa/guide will provide you pre-ice climbing training to make you skillful on using climbing gears such as ropes, ice pick, harness, crampons etc. We will also have a short trek around the base camp to prepare us for the 6,000 m adventure the next morning.

We have allowed two days to climb the Island Peak, although we will probably not require more than one if weather conditions are fine. The strategy for the climb will be decided by our climbing Sherpa leader at the time, taking into account the group’s acclimatization, weather, snow conditions and other factors.

The site of the camp is just below the permanent snowline. In the morning we leave very early for the final climb to the summit. This may take between four to six hours, depending on snow and weather conditions. We will fix a rope on the summit headwall for safety on both ascent and descent.

Although it is not a technically difficult climb, the snow slopes are crevassed, the headwall is reasonably steep and a head for heights is useful. To reach the summit, willpower and stamina are required, but the incredible feeling of achievement atop this 6,187 m giant will remain a lifetime memory.

The view from the summit is utterly fantastic! Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Makalu and Baruntse are the dominant giants rising above a sea of smaller peaks. Given good conditions, we should be able to descend back to Chukhung from our summit attempt.

We have this spare day in case of bad weather on Island Peak. If the weather is good on the climbing day, you can use this spare day somewhere else on the trek.

Leaving the mountains behind us, our descent takes us through various towns of Dingboche, Orsho, Shomare and Lower Pangboche to reach the suspension bridge over the Imja Khola River to ascend gradually through Debuche and then to Tengboche.

From Tengboche, we descend steeply through beautiful forests of juniper, rhododendron and fir to Phunki Tenga. After a welcome break and a cup of tea, we cross the Dudh Kosi River and climb to Trashinga.

From here the trail contours high above the valley through to Shanasa, where we have the option of visiting Kunde and Khumjung villages before returning to Namche Bazaar – our stop for the night.

This is our last day of trekking as we return to Lukla where the trek began. We enjoy this time to reflect on the trek as a group and the personal achievement of all those who took part. The afternoon is free, so you can wander about, relax and enjoy a hot shower! In the evening, have a few celebratory drinks and dance with your trekmates.

Lukla to Manthali Flight (March, April, May, October, and November)
The flight from Lukla to Manthali is a 20-minute flight. After that, it is about a 5 to 6 hour drive to Kathmandu. Please note that the driving hours may vary according to the highway traffic condition. You’ll be transferred to the hotel in Kathmandu on a shared tourist vehicle.

Lukla to Kathmandu Flight (January, February, June, July, August, September, and December)
The flight from Lukla takes about 35 minutes. After arriving at the airport, you will be transferred to the hotel in Kathmandu via a shared tourist vehicle.  Please be aware that the decision regarding the operation of flights solely depends on the airline and is influenced by the volume of travelers during a specific month.

You might want to stay a little more in Nepal. If you are looking for extending your trip, there are options such as a visit to Chitwan National Park, known for wildlife viewing and to Pokhara, considered one of the most beautiful cities of Nepal. You can also extend your trip to Tibet, India or Bhutan.