Everest High Passes via Island Peak – 25 Days

Day 01 - Arrive in Kathmandu (1,400 m)

Meals included: Dinner

Our airport representative will welcome you at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu upon your arrival. He/she will escort you to the respective hotel in a private vehicle. Your prior trip meeting will be scheduled on the very day at the hotel before dinner. However, our airport representative will give you a brief idea about the second day’s schedule on your way to the hotel. During this meeting we will introduce you to your leader/guide. Please do not hesitate to ask questions about your trek or anything that is related to your trip. To make you feel comfortable, we host a welcome dinner for you in a popular restaurant in the city where you can enjoy authentic Nepali meal along with cultural programs including ethnic dance and songs. And the night you will be spending at a hotel in Kathmandu.

Note: If you happen to arrive after 4 pm you would be briefed about the trip by our guide, this will be the pre-trip meeting for you, so please make sure that you ask all the questions. But if you arrive earlier than 4 pm, your pre-trip meeting would be on that very day at our office. During the meeting, we will introduce your trek leader/guide. For the meeting, please make sure you bring the passport, three copies of passport-size photos and a readable copy of your travel insurance policy. During this meeting, please clear the due balance, if any, and sign the legally binding trip form as well as the non-liability disclaimer.

Day 02 - Spare Day

You can explore the city and do some last-minute shopping in the Thamel area for trekking essentials.

Day 03 - Fly to Lukla (2,804 m) and Trek to Phakding (2,610 m)

Total duration: 3 hours

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

An early morning start takes us to the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu for the 35-minute scenic flight to Tenzing and Hillary Airport at Lukla (2,804 m). On arrival at the airport, the guide will brief you and introduce your porters before we begin our trek towards Phakding (2,610 m). After landing you’ll have time to explore the village while our Sherpa crew sort and load our trekking equipment. Then the terk begins by descending towards the Dudh Kosi River where you’ll join the main trail to Namche Bazaar, located just above Chaunrikharka (2,713 m). This walk is considered to be a short hike that will help you to acclimatize. After almost three to four hours of walk you will reach Phading. There are many beautiful monasteries to visit, beautiful Lukla village and a breathtaking terrain to view. There are many resting places and lodges in Phakding and you will be staying in one of these lodges tonight.

Day 04 - Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,441 m) - 5.5 hours

Total duration: 5-6 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

You’ll 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 Sagamartha National Park, the trail climbs steeply with breathtaking views. You can find many good restaurants, hotels, lodges shops, money exchange, bakeries and teahouses as Namche is the biggest village along the whole Everest trail. Major attractions of this day are amazing view of Mt. Kusum, Lhotse, Nuptse and a first Glimpse of Mt. Everest. You will stay in a guesthouse tonight.

Day 05 - Namche Bazaar Acclimatization Day

Total duration: 3 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

The entire day will be spent in Namche so as to adjust with the thin air and the environment. Namche is an important acclimatizing spot. It is always advisable to remain active instead of sitting ideal during the day. Today, you will go for a short trek to Thame, an old Sherpa village, to celebrate and watch the Sherpa Tradition or you can visit the peripheral villages offering you a lot more to see and cherish. You can also visit the National Parks headquarter, monasteries or the museum. Evening time can be spent by roaming around the market areas. This night will also be spent in a lodge in Namche Bazaar.

Day 06 - Trek to Phorste Thanga (3,680 m)

Total duration: 5 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

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.

Day 07 - Trek to Machherma (4,470 m)

Total duration: 5 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

You will 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. You will reach Machherma by early noon.

Day 08 - Trek to Gokyo (4,790 m)

Total duration: 5 - 6 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

The trek today takes you at one of our main destinations, Gokyo (4,790 m). You will make this camp your base for 2 nights as you will have sightseeing and hiking trip around Gokyo.

Day 09 - Trek to Gokyo Ri (5,483 m) and Back to Gokyo

Total duration: 5 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Early in the morning, you will 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.

Day 10 - Trek to Thangna (4,500 m)

Total duration: 4 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

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

Day 11 - Cross Cho La pass (5,300 m) and Trek to Dzongla (4,710 m)

Total duration: 7 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

You will 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. You will cross over at an altitude of 5,300 m where you could be exposed to strong winds if you cross it too late. You will 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 and then you will descend to the Dzongla at noon. Accommodation in Dzongla will be very basic and in dormitory-style room because of its remoteness.

Day 12 - Trek to Lobuche (4,910 m )

Total duration: 5 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Today, the trail continues along the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier and passes by stone memorials for climbers who have perished on nearby summits. You will continue as heading to the village of Lobuche which is located at the foot of giant Lobuche peak. Due to change in air density as the air density gets lower n lower and some of you may be facing breathing problem starting from this point. You will stay in a guesthouse tonight

Day 13 - Trek to Gorak Shep (5,180 m), Hike Up to Kala Patthar (5,555 m) and Return to Gorak Shep

 Total duration: 7 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

This will be one of the most difficult yet rewarding days of the trek. This day you will be spending your time 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. You will make a quick descent to Gorakshep, a tiny hamlet at 5,180 m.

Day 14 - Trek to Everest Base Camp (5,365 m) and then Back to Lobuche (4,910 m)

Total duration: 8 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

This is a big and difficult day walk along the Khumbu Glacier and up to Everest Base Camp at 5,365 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. Soon after which you will return back to Lobuche for the night.

Day 15 - Cross Kongma La Pass (5,535 m) and Trek to Chukhung (4,710 m)

Total duration: 8 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

From Lobuche you will ascend past a series of small glacial lakes with fine views of Makalu to the south-east. As you are near the pass, you’ll 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, you head down towards the Chukhung Valley. It is a tiring walk today, but the fantastic scenery makes it all very worthwhile.

Day 16 - Trek to Island Peak Base Camp (5,240 m)

Total duration: 4 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

From Chukhung you will 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 you 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.

Day 17 - Acclimatization Day

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

You will 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. You will also have a short trek around the base camp to prepare us for the 6,000 m adventure the next morning.

Day 18 & 19 - Climb Island Peak (6,187 m) and Return to Chukhung (4,710 m)

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

You have seperate two days to climb the Island Peak, although you 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 you will 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, you should be able to descend back to Chukhung from our summit attempt.

Day 20 - Trek to Tengboche (3,860 m)

Total duration: 6 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Leaving the mountains behind you, our descent takes you 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.

Day 21 - Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,441 m) via Khumjung (2,780 m)

Total duration: 5 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

From Tengboche, you 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 you’ll have the option of visiting Kunde and Khumjung villages before returning to Namche Bazaar – your stop for the night.

Day 22 - Trek to Lukla (2,804 m)

Total duration: 6 hrs

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

This is your last day of trekking as you return to Lukla where the trek began. You’ll 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 trek mates.

Day 23 - Morning Flight from Lukla to Kathmandu

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Enjoying the last glimpse of the mountains we have recently visited, the 35 minutes scenic flight takes us back to Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu, we are met and transferred back to our starting hotel.

If you are interested in extending the trip, there are many options such as Chitwan jungle safari, river rafting adventure, Kathmandu shopping tour, mountain biking and other activities.

Day 24 - Leisure Day and Farewell Dinner in Kathmandu

Meals Included: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

After exhausting climbing and trekking, this is a rest day for you. Get your body massaged, leisurely stroll around Thamel and buy souvenirs, visit Garden of Dreams for some relaxing time. This is also a spare day to use for flight back to Kathmandu in case there wasn’t a flight the day before due to bad weather. And, in the evening we will host farewell dinner in a traditional Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances.

Day 25 - Transfer to the International Airport for Your Final Flight Departure

Meals included: Breakfast

The trip concludes – our airport representative will drop you to Kathmandu’s Tribhuwan International Airport for your flight departure from Nepal.

Dates and Cost

Note : Set your own departure date if you have a group size of 2 packs or more.

Cost Include

1. Airport / Hotel / Airport pick up & drop off service by a private tourist vehicle.
2. Standard twin-sharing accommodation in a three-star hotel in Kathmandu including breakfast.
3. Basic guesthouse accommodation during the trek in mostly twin-share and occasionally dormitory-style rooms.
4. Local licensed English-speaking trekking guide.
5. The required number of local staff and porters to carry your luggage during the trek (We assign one porter for every two guests.)
6. Food, accommodation, insurance, equipment, and medicine for all staff.
7. Everest National Park permits and Khumbu permit for trekking.
8. Airfare from Kathmandu – Lukla - Kathmandu including airport departure tax in Kathmandu and Lukla airports.
9. All our government taxes, vat, tourist service charges.
10. Official expenses.

Cost Exclude

1. Dinner and lunch in Kathmandu except for welcome and farewell dinner. 
2.  Your personal expenses for mineral water, soft beverages ,confectionaries ,laundries, phone calls, hot drinking water, barbills, showers etc. 
3. Internet facility, battery chargers, multi plugs etc. 
4. Extra baggage excess while flying to Lukla.
5. Extra porter if you require. 
6. Personal trekking equipments.
7. Your travel insurance that covers Helicopter evacuation.
8. Medical expenses and trip cancellation. 
9. Any other extended trips and accommodation.
10. Tips of guide, porters and driver as  a token of appreciation. 
11. Monument entrance fee for sightseeing tour in Kathmandu.
12. Any other expenses or charges that are not mentioned in “cost includes” list. 
13. Nepal arrival visa.

Passport and Visas:
First, be sure you have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity from return date.  You can obtain visas for Nepal from the Nepalese Consulate in your country or up on arrival in Kathmandu Airport. Nepalese visas cost USD 25 for 15 days and USD 40 for 30 days till date.

Get the required visa for Nepal.
You can get Nepal visa prior to arrival from the Nepalese Embassy at your home country. Likewise, you can easily get an up on arrival visa at Kathmandu airport and other different borders from Nepal. This is for those who travel from India and Tibet. For more information and download please visit Nepal Visa Information.

Bring Official Papers
Some of the required official documents are your valid passport, 4 extra passport sized photographs (for trekking permits), travel insurance, airline tickets and luggage tags. Visas can be obtained upon entry into Nepal. For detail information we request you to visit our visa page.

Money & Credit card Info
We find that most of the credit card, master and visa card is blocked from your card provider. It may be because of a security reason. It, sometimes, may bring you in problematic situation that you can't get money from ATMs and that you find difficult to pay for your treks and tour. To find yourself free from this problem, you can call to your card provider before you travel to Nepal and inform there that you are traveling to Nepal. Ensure them to give the authorization for the payment. In Nepal you have to pay 3.5 % credit card commission s per Nepal Bank rules, on top of your payable amount for the trek cost.  So, please be sure that you bring some cash in USD to pay us. Likewise, be sure you have brought some small amount for your daily expenses as well as for those items which are not included in our cost. We request you not to change money in the Airport. The exchange rate is very low there. Our office provides you the facility to change your money. Or, you can take help from Money Changers in Thamel.

Travel Insurance:
Our clients must have comprehensive travel insurance package. Their insurance must cover against medical, personal accident, emergency evacuation, trip cancellation, lost of gears, natural calamity, theft of or damage to baggage etc.

Who can trek?
No special degree of fitness is required and that there is no age barrier. However, in the areas over 3000m altitude, extra care should be taken. One can trek who have strong legs and the spirit for adventure to explore the exotic will enjoy the thrills of trekking in the hills of Nepal. Normally, for weary trekkers we have a list of short, easy and exotic treks and for the experienced trekkers we offer a longer trek with lots of excitement and adventure. We encourage all men and women, families, students and professionals around the world to enjoy the enchanting trekking in Nepal. You can join us as an individual team member or with your own group. We commit to arrange a best trekking that delight you in the Nepal Himalayas. If you can have fun walking for 3-6 hours up and down hills to Nepal, pack your luggage and join us for an exhilarating and unforgettable journey. All the necessary things for your trekking will be arranged by us. What you can do is to enjoy the beautiful scenery and magnificent view of Nepal Himalayas.

Clothing and Equipment for Traveling in Nepal
Trekking in the Himalayas need to arrangement of equipment as you have to find yourself comfortable at higher altitude. The basic clothing item that you are expected to be prepared with are well described here. Remember that excess baggage is likely to be a burden for yourself and your supporting staff. "Pack light, but pack right", is our motto. This will allow you to enjoy a comfortable journey with your energies and enthusiastic zeal focused on the exploration of this enchanting Nepal scenic beauty. Please visit here for Clothing and Equipment list.

Buying and Renting Equipment in Kathmandu
It is not really necessary to spend large amount of money buying extra equipment and clothing prior to your trip. It is because most of the trekking equipment can be hired from many adventure shops within Kathmandu. Most of the gear is locally manufactured (hence a lot cheaper). Some Chinese gear are likely to be more expensive but qualitative. Sleeping bag and down jacket are easily rented. Each item can be rented for less than USD 1, for a day. You have to manage other items buying them yourself. However, these items are more likely to be cheaper than those in your hometown. We will arrange all the necessary items you need on the second day of your arrival. 

Vaccination for Nepal
All travelers should consult with their physician or update on vaccination requirements before travel. (Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities) For traveling to Nepal; we recommend you to take a vaccination of Polio, Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Rabies etc, it is not really must but recommended.

How to Book
While you chose which trip you wanted to go with, contact us to our head office Thamel Kathmandu Nepal by mail or phone, email is more easy and clear options, as soon as we get your email or call we will process for your booking. We need 20% booking amount to confirm your booking, the payment can be made through the Bank transfer, Credit card payment (Master/Visa card) or through online money transfers also Money Gram, Western Unions or others. After we get the 20% amount we will confirm your booking and you will get the official booking and payment receipt. The final balance for the tour will be paid up on arrival in Kathmandu.