Island Peak

Overview

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An ascent of one of Nepal's most popular 6,000m climbing peaks after acclimatising on Pokalde (5,806m)

Introduction

Island Peak is one of the most popular 6,000m climbing peaks in Nepal. This 22-day expedition itinerary ensures you acclimatise gradually whilst trekking up the Khumbu Valley, before a training asxent of Pokalde (5,806m) as preparation for Island Peak. North of Namche, we don't follow the normal base camp trail; instead, we take a high-level route on the west side of the Dudh Khosi. This trail is more challenging, but it takes us through traditional farming villages and so gives a more authentic journey into the mountains. We return down the Everest trail to ensure no sights are missed.

For the climb, you have the advantage of a high camp at 5,600m, which makes the summit day shorter (others exclude this to give a shorter trip by enforcing a climb all the way from base camp at 5,000m). From high camp, the ascent begins with a scramble up a rocky gully to a ridge where you put on crampons and rope-up for the glacier crossing heading towards the south ridge. The route across the glacier is easy-angled, but it can be crevassed in places. From the bergschrund at the base of the headwall, 100m of snow and ice, as steep as 45° is climbed to arrive on the airy summit ridge. This is followed to the top, where you can enjoy fabulous views of Lhotse Shar, Makalu's West Face, the North Face of Baruntse and Ama Dablam's North Ridge.

You may also be interested in our Mera Peak expedition.

Join us on Island Peak

• Superb climbing expedition in a stunning location.
• Interesting trek in via Phortse, then acclimatise with an ascent of Pokalde (5,806m).
• Climb Island Peak from a high camp (some teams go all the way from base camp).
• Optional Everest Base Camp extension - 4 more days required.

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Experience Required

To join this expedition, participants need to have completed climbs of at least Scottish Grade II or Alpine PD. You need to be able to abseil confidently without supervision.

Overall this trip is less sustained and physically tough than either Mera and Island Peak or Khumbu Climber. However, the technical difficulty is a grade up from Mera Peak.

Island Peak is not a 'trekking peak', as it involves steep, exposed climbing on rock, snow and ice. The route has changed considerably in recent years. We have increased the technical grade from '2' to '3' to reflect this (read more about expedition grading). You need to be able to climb mixed ground (rock and ice) in crampons. There is also potential for rockfall triggered by other people.

A high level of fitness from frequent days out in the mountains at home is also required.

Our Scottish Winter Courses and our Alpine Courses provide good training for a trek or expedition.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the expedition or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Dates & Prices

Date	With Flight	or Meeting in	Availability
Sat 24 Oct – Sat 14 Nov 2026	UK	Kathmandu	Trip Guaranteed Book now »
	£5,045	£3,795
Sat 10 Apr – Sat 1 May 2027	UK	Kathmandu	Available Book now »
1 place left with £200 early booking offer	£4,095 £3,895	£3,895 £3,695
Sat 23 Oct – Sat 13 Nov 2027	UK	Kathmandu	Available Book now »
2 places left with £200 early booking offer	£5,095 £4,895	£3,895 £3,695

Our Trip Guarantee

This expedition is available to book in GBP, USD and EUR.
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Group size: 6 – 12 people.

Single room supplement: £250

For comparison, this expedition starts from £181 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).

With Flight pricing

Our 'With Flight' price includes an Economy class return airfare from the UK. The cost is based on a group fare that we have already reserved, or individual seats that we have budgeted for. Note that in some circumstances, the earlier you book, the less expensive the airfare and the 'With Flight' price.

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) 'Know Before You Go' campaign. We recommend that you read the FCDO Travel Advice for Nepal on the FCDO Website.

What the price includes

• Economy class return airfares from the UK (unless Land Only).
• UK airline taxes.
• One in-country, return flight between Ramechhap and Lukla by scheduled, fixed-wing aircraft.
• Return transfers between Kathmandu airport and the hotel (one on arrival and one on departure of your international flight).
• Return transfers between the hotel and Ramechhap Airport.
• 3 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at a 4-star Hotel in Kathmandu on a twin-sharing basis.
• 1 nights' local hotel accommodation in Ramechhap, on a twin-sharing basis, including breakfast and dinner.
• 10 nights' full-board lodge ("Tea House") acccomodation whilst on trek.
• 6 nights' accommodation in tents on a twin-sharing basis.
• Emergency equipment (oxygen for therapeutic use, Portable Hyperbaric Chamber (PAC), Satellite Communicator (either phone or InReach)) – see trip PDF for more details.
• Jagged Globe leader*.
• All costs for Sherpa staff, cook staff and porters.
• Jagged Globe kitbag or lightweight fleece.

*Occasionally, small teams are led by one of our very experienced High-Altitude Sherpas.

What the price does not include

• Visa fees.
• Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
• Bar bills and laundry.
• Travel insurance.
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu.
• Optional trips and sightseeing tours.
• Tips.

Tailor Made Trips

We can organise this expedition on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip. A more detailed day-to-day itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF »

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 - 2:	Fly to Kathmandu Team members joining on a "land-only", please plan to arrive in Kathmandu today, when your services will begin. Overnight hotel.
Day 3:	Drive to Ramechhap, overnight Freedom Resort You will leave Kathmandu at around 10am for the 4 - 5-hour drive to Ramechhap. Freedom Resort provides functional accommodation, with a nice spacious terrace for dining/relaxing, a swimming pool and air conditioned, twin-sharing rooms.
Day 4:	Fly to Lukla, trek to Phakding It's a 10-minute walk from Freedom Resort to the airport. You will take an early morning flight to the airstrip at Lukla, the gateway to Nepal's famous Khumbu region. Trek to Phakding. Overnight lodge.
Day 5:	Trek to Namche Bazaar (3,400m) Enter the Khumbu National Park and cross the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Bhote Kosi. You climb steeply for about two hours up 'Namche Hill' to reach Namche Bazaar. This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Overnight lodge.
Day 6:	At leisure in Namche Bazaar (3,400m) You will spend two nights in Namche Bazaar. During this period you may trek to the Everest View Hotel (3,900m). Overnight lodges.
Day 7:	Trek to Phortse (3,850m) From Namche, you'll follow the main Everest trail for an hour before turning left and climbing up to the Mong La (3,989m) for lunch and spectacular views. Drop down to the river, then climb up to Phortse. Overnight lodge.
Day 8:	Trek to Pangboche (3,930m) Leave the village via quiet trails between fields of buckwheat and potatoes. The trail then leads across steep cliffs and slopes to enter the main part of Pangboche village. A more exciting walk than via the main Everest trail. Overnight lodge.
Day 9:	Trek to Dingboche (4,410m) Re-join the main route up the Khumbu. From Pangboche the trail contours up the valley side and turns up the Imja Valley to reach the picturesque farming village of Dingboche. Overnight lodge.
Day 10:	Acclimatisation in Dingboche (4,410m) Today you can walk over to the nearby village of Pheriche, which has a hospital run by the Himalayan Rescue Association. Return to Dingboche. Overnight lodge.
Day 11:	Trek to Pokalde base camp (4,900m) From Dingboche the team walk up the valley for 1.5 hours then turn left and access a secluded cirque (3 hours). Overnight camp.
Day 12:	Move to Pokalde high camp (5,400m) It is possible to climb Pokalde from base camp, but by walking for 2.5 hours and placing a higher camp, you will benefit from better acclimatisation and a shorter summit day tomorrow. Overnight camp.
Day 13:	Ascent of Pokalde (5,806m), descend to Chukkung The the climb is relatively easy with a scramble at the top. Overnight camp.
Day 14:	Trek to Island Peak base camp (5,000m) From Chukkung you trek up the Imja valley beside the Imja glacier to Island Peak base camp. Overnight camp.
Day 15:	Move to Island Peak high camp (5,600m) The path to high camp leads very steeply up the hillside and takes about 3 hours. You camp just below a rocky gully on rock selves, well-positioned for your early start tomorrow morning. Overnight camp. Overnight camp.
Day 16:	Island Peak ascent (6,189m), descend to base camp (5,000m) You start in the dark and climb the rock gully to reach a ridge line, which leads onto the snout of the glacier. Fixed lines are placed on the headwall, which is climbed to gain the ridge. From here it's 3 rope lengths to the top. Descend to base camp. Overnight camp.
Day 17 - 19:	Return trek to Lukla Descend back down the Khumbu Valley via Pangboche and Namche. Overnight lodges. Alternatively, if you are doing the Everest Base Camp extension, you will walk to Dugla today.
Day 20:	Fly Lukla to Ramechhap Return drive to Kathmandu. Overnight hotel.
Day 21:	At Leisure in Kathmandu A chance to explore the bustling capital, with its beautiful temples and bustling markets. Overnight hotel.
Day 22:	Fly home Airport transfer. For those joining "land-only", you should book your flight home today.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is adventure travel in a remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it! Weather conditions, availability of porters and the health of team members can all contribute to changes. The guides and their Sherpa assistants will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if necessary.

Optional Everest Base Camp - trek in/out

If you would like to extend your trip by 4 days and trek to Everest Base Camp, we recommend the following itinerary.

Day 17 - 18: Trek to Lobuje (4,940m) Descend from Chukkung to Dingboche and continue up the broad valley bottom towards Dugla, where you spend the night. From Dugla, the trail starts steeply to climb up beside the glacial moraine and after a few hours it leads to Lobuje.

Day 19: Trek to Everest Base Camp via Gorak Shep (5,220m). Gorak Shep, the site of the 1953 expedition's base camp, is 3 hours beyond Lobuje. From Gorak Shep you contour along the valley side and the trail leads onto the moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. After three hours you reach base camp near the foot of the Khumbu Icefall. For those visiting base camp in the spring, it is a chance to meet the Jagged Globe team (assuming they are not up on the mountain!). Lunch is prepared by our chef and served in our base camp tent. Return to Gorak Shep.

Day 20 - 23: Kala Pattar (5,545m) and return trek to Lukla You can make a morning ascent of Kala Pattar, before making your way back down the valley. You'll take four days to descend the Khumbu Valley via Pheriche, Pangboche and Monjo.

Day 24: Fly Lukla to Kathmandu Overnight hotel.

Day 25: At Leisure in Kathmandu A chance to explore the bustling capital, with its beautiful temples and bustling markets. Overnight hotel.

Day 26: Fly home Your scheduled flight back to the UK arrives in London Heathrow early evening.

Price £395 per person

Photos & Videos

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• Island Peak - October 2018

Reports & Reviews

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Team Member Reviews

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Leader Reports

• Island Peak 25 October 2025
  “A slightly nervous start waiting for a delayed flight to Lukla. But we managed to get one of the last flights before clouds rolled in, arriving with all our bags just in time for lunch. Then the easy wander down to Phakding. The...”
  report added 27/Nov/25
• Island Peak, October 2024
  “The whole Island Peak team headed out to Nepal on a variety of flights, but gradually migrated towards each other in airport lounges.  We were all very excited about the forthcoming trekking and climbing adventures but...”
  report added 05/Nov/24