Island Peak (6189 m), located at the head of the Imja valley, is one of the highest points open to trekkers in the Himalayas. It was named by Eric Shipron. Known locally as Imja Tse peak, it was so called because it appears to rise out of the middle of the Chhukung Valley like an Island on a sea of ice.
The peak was first ascended in 1953 by the British team as preparation for climbing Mt Everest. The peak forms part of the south ridge of Lhotse Shar, and from the top you can see breathtaking panoramic views of the gigantic mountains Nuptse (7879m), Lhotse (8501m), Lhotse central (8410m) and Lhotse shar (8383m).
The trip commences with an exploration of the world heritage cultural and historical sites in Kathmandu, followed by time to prepare and check kit and gear. Next morning we take a 30 minute flight to the famous Lukla Tenjin Hillary airstrip, with stunning mountain views alone the way. Here we begin the adventure proper. We start our trek walking alongside the Dudh Kosi river, passing through the entrance to the Sagarmatha National Park. The trail then ascends to Namche Bazaar, trading centre for the Khumbu region, in the heartland of the Sherpa people. Here we take a day’s rest to acclimatise and enjoy the world famous hospitality. We might make a short walk to help with acclimatisation and if so we have the opportunity to witness some of the most remarkable Himalayan panoramas.
The journey then ascends gradually through the Khumbu valley and up to the iconic Everest base camp, where you discover yourself in the lap of the world’s tallest mountain. We make an ascent of Kalapathar for a spectacular view before descending to Gorak Shep and then on to the Chhukung valley. From here we make the ascent to the highest point of the trek, Island Peak, via Island Peak base camp, high camp and finally summit at (6,189m). We then descend back to Lukla.
This trek is suited to people with a high level of fitness and with some trekking experience. The peak itself is considered physically challenging, but not technically tricky. Because of the elevation, good attention to acclimatisation is considered a key ingredient. People with a strong inclination towards adventure can join this trip to scale the top.
As with all our treks, we can be flexible with the itinerary and can adjust many details according to your time, availability and special interests.
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