Island Peak Climbing with EBC - 16 Days

You will arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu. We provide free airport arrival and departure transfer on any flight for trekking guests who have booked Island Peak Climbing with the Everest Base Camp Trek package.

At the TIA airport, you will find our representative holding a pamphlet with your name and our company name. They will welcome you, present you with a marigold garland and take you to your hotel in a private vehicle. You will need at least an overnight stay at a hotel in Kathmandu, but this package does not cover this. 

On your trek departure day, we will take you to TIA to catch a domestic flight to Lukla that lasts about 40 minutes.

Island Peak Climbing with Everest Base Camp includes 15 nights lodge stay in mountain regions at the best available lodges. We provide five nights of twin sharing room with a private attached bathroom at Lukla, Namche (3N), Phakding, and eight nights of twin sharing accommodation at Tengboche (2N), Dingboche, Chhukung (3N), Lobuche, and Gorakshep. You will be spending two nights in camps/tents in the Island Peak Base Camp.

You will need at least two nights of hotels in Kathmandu - one before the trek and another after the trek. However, this package does not include these accommodations.

Kathmandu has a wide range of hotels for all budgets and interests, and we do not want to restrict your choices. 

Your trek takes place at high elevations, near the world’s highest peaks, which means your body needs enough nutritious food. We will arrange plenty of nutrient-rich, hygenic, and tasty food, but you will not have all the food options available in cities.

We will provide you with 16 breakfasts, 16 lunches, and 15 dinners during the trek.

Some of the popular menu items are -

Breakfast - Oatmeal, Corn Flakes, French toast with Jam, Butter, Cheese, Honey Tibetan bread or Chapati, Local Tsampa porridge, Eggs, Pancakes, Muesli Breads, Fruits, Vegetables, Hot drinks (varieties of teas and coffees, hot chocolates, etc.)

Lunch - Dhal, Bhat, & Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Macaroni dishes, Tenduk, Spaghetti Noodles, Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Potatoes, Vegetables, Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Desserts (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), etc

Dinner - Dhal, Bhat & Tarkari, Tibetan Bread, Macaroni, Tenduk Spaghetti, Noodles Thukpa, Pasta, Vegetable curry, Various Soups, Sherpa Stew, Steaks, Sandwiches, Momo (dumplings), Potato items, Vegetable and Salad Pizza (Tomato, Mushroom, Mixed), Snacks (Papad, Prawn), Korean Ramen, Desserts items (Rice Pudding, Apple pie), Hard Drinks Steaks, etc

The menu includes traditional local, Asian, and western cuisine almost everywhere, but at high elevations, the food choices get restricted. We highly recommend liquids - green tea, lemon tea, hot lemon, ginger tea, and garlic soup (must) at high altitudes. Similarly, you should intake fresh vegetables for health benefits.

Though plenty of non-veg items are available in trek regions, we do not recommend them because the meat in such places may not be hygienic and healthy. Similarly, we highly encourage you to avoid dairy items and strongly suggest not to consume alcoholic, caffeinated drinks and hot chocolates.

The best time for Climbing Island Peak with Everest Base Camp Trek depends on the weather. Though you can get online weather forecasts in the Everest region, it is very difficult to get an accurate prediction.

People trek to Everest Base Camp throughout the year, but treks are easier with clear skies during certain months. 

Spring and autumn are great seasons for Climbing Island Peak with the Everest Base Camp trek. During these seasons, the skies are crystal clear from dawn to dusk, the temperature is cool, and there are minimum chances of rain. The magic of clear azure skies provides the most spectacular vistas. 

This time is the coldest time with heavy snowfall, especially during January, so we do not conduct this trek in January. The winter eases in February. The daytime starts getting warm and admirable with clear skies, but the nighttime will be cold. However, it is perfectly fine to trek during February, and we conduct this trip safely in February. However, if you are allergic to extreme colds, we advise you not to trek during these months.

It is one of the best times for Island Peak Climb with Everest Base Camp Trek. The weather is very favorable, allowing you to enjoy stunning views of the Himalayas ranges and glaciers. From March, the weather starts to warm up, and all flora and fauna dormant throughout the winter spring to life, feeding and breeding in the sun-kissed temperatures. Temperatures start increasing in the mid of March, and with clear skies, snow mountains will look their best.

These are also great months for Island Peak Climb with Everest Base Camp Trek, just before the monsoon becomes active. Rainfall starts from the end of June and lasts till mid-August. The season of spring and summer makes the trek much more enjoyable.

The rainfall hits its peak during this time at altitudes below 3500 meters. Due to heavy rainfall, flights to Lukla may get canceled at the beginning or end of the trek. The trails are wet and slippery. So, Discovery World Trekking does not conduct Island Peak Climb with Everest Base Camp trek during these months.

September and October are favorable months for Island Peak Climb with Everest Base Camp Trek. As the monsoon slowly ends, a perfect trekking climate sets itself. The temperature goes up to 20 degrees in the daytime and falls to 5 degrees at night.

This season is when most trekkers enjoy the most, with clear skies enabling amazing views of the snow peaks and cool temperatures. If you want to get great views hassle-free, it is the best time to trek. Moreover, the two biggest Nepali festivals, Dashain and Tihar, fall in these months, adding a festive mood to the whole nation. 

As winter begins, snow falls start in the Himalayas region, and by December, it gets tough to trek. However, it is perfectly fine to trek in November as November day temperatures are cool with clear skies enabling you to enjoy stunning views of the mountains. Discovery World Trekking does not organize this trek during December. 

Temperature: 18°C to -10 °C

You must acclimatize for Island Peak Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek.

Altitude sickness is common among trekkers and needs immediate treatment. During this trek, you will be acclimatizing at Namche Bazaar and Chhukkung.  Island Peak Climbing is a relatively more challenging trek than Everest Base Camp treks.

At Namche Bazaar, trekkers can explore this famous Sherpa town while adjusting to the thin air. We have scheduled second-day acclimatization at Chhukung. 

At Chhukung, Sherpa climbing guides will train you to use the climbing gears, ropes, knots, ice axes, climbing boots, crampons, harnesses, etc. Island Peak does not require prior training experiences. Although without a doubt, such training opportunities will boost climber confidence, sharpen climbing skills and increase the chances of scaling the summit.

Our trekking leaders and guides are well qualified and experienced at high altitudes, and they are extensive first aid trained. Your health and safety are important to us, and they are our first priority. 

If a trekker gets rigorously affected, the only cure would be to descend immediately. In such cases, your trek leader has the authority to decide whether to descend immediately or continue the trek based on the overall situation. 

Island Peak Climbing is a challenging yet rewarding trek/climb. The hiking will be from 5 to 7 hours a day depending on the destination, taking regular breaks to admire the mountain views. The trek routes involve long climbs, steep descents, and a steep forward trail in the rocky paths and forests.

For Island Peak Climbing, the fitter you are, the more comfortable and enjoyable your journey will be. If you have prior experience, this may be an advantage for you. However, we do not recommend this trek for those suffering from sensitive medical conditions like heart or lung disease.

We organize a group as well as a private trek. You are eligible for group discounts if you have your own group. The bigger your group is, the more discount you will get. However, you will not get any discount for groups' Discovery World Trekking assembles. We can handle all group sizes and add an assistant guide for a group of 12 or more. Each team will have a group leader and a guide for every two trekkers. 

Each day you will be rewarded with a unique trekking experience, climbing, enjoying the incredible scenery, taking photos, and exploring local villages. During your expedition, our experienced, friendly, and qualified Sherpa will accompany you while informing you about the places as you trek. We will assign porters to carry your luggage. However, we expect you to bring a small regular backpack with important items.

The day starts with an early morning hot cup of tea/coffee. After a wholesome breakfast, we set off on the day’s walk from around 7 AM to 8 AM, depending on the duration and nature of that day’s walk. After trekking for three to four hours, we will serve you lunch around midday on the route to the next destination. We will rest for an hour after lunch and then continue on the path. 

The afternoon walk is generally shorter, about two to three hours. Once you reach our overnight lodge/tea house/tent, you can snack on the extra dietary food and explore nearby places till it gets dark.

You will be having dinner from around 6 PM to 7 PM. After dinner, you can indulge in friendly conversations. The expedition leader/guide will brief you about the next day’s plan. After this briefing, you can read books, enjoy onboard games like monopoly and cards, or watch available mountaineering documentaries. Most foreigners indulge in light and fun learning of the Nepalese language from our crew before heading off to bed for a well-deserved sleep.

During the Island Peak Climbing Trek, you can use the internet at lodges by paying a small service charge. You can contact your family and friends from the lodges, but once we reach high altitudes, we will use mobile phones for communication.

We will communicate with all our trek teams through our trek leader at least once a day to ensure all trek members are safe and feel right. You can easily purchase a local sim in Kathmandu, but based on the network, the signals at high altitudes may not be strong enough. 

Discovery World Trekking covers major expenses during the trek. However, meals and accommodations in Kathmandu are up to our clients. Kathmandu has all kinds of hotels/lodges (both luxury & budget), and you can book most of them online. 

All our valuable clients will need personal spending money for visa fees, travel insurance policy purchases, beverages, snacks, hot (tea/coffee) and cold drinks, tips to the trekking crew members, souvenirs, etc. We recommend bringing cash (major currencies), which you can exchange for Nepalese currency. Trek regions only honor Nepali currency.

Throughout your trek, you can use electricity for battery recharge at the lodges/hotels you will be staying in by paying a small service fee.

You can buy either packed mineral water from local lodges or en route shops. However, some trek regions may not allow plastic bottles. So, we suggest you carry a water bottle and fill it with boiled water available in lodges. If you need, we can provide you with water purification pills.

This trip grade is challenging, and it comes with inherent high-altitude trek risks, including altitude sickness and other unforeseen events like landslides.

Travel insurance is compulsory for Island Peak Climbing with EBC trek. All trekkers must provide a copy of their comprehensive travel insurance policy certificate to Discovery World Trekking. The policy must cover medical and emergency repatriation, including helicopter rescue and evacuation expenses up to 6000m.

We can recommend insurance companies to help you, but we do not sell insurance policies. 

Please send us your detailed insurance information within a week of booking the trek. We will use your insurance policy and other informational documents you sent us during emergencies for effective rescue operations and transfer for emergency medical help. 

All foreigners, except Indians, need a visa to enter Nepal. You can get an on-arrival visa at Tribhuvan International Airport and immigration checkpoints along Nepal borders. For a visa application, you will need a passport with at least six months of validity, a passport size photo, and visa fees. The current visa fee is USD 50 for a 30-day stay, which you can pay in cash (major currencies). 

Citizens of China and the SAARC countries will receive a free visa. However, there are some limitations. Citizens from certain countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Cameroon, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia, Iraq, Palestine, and Afghanistan) may not receive an on-arrival visa. If you are a national from these countries, you need to contact your local Nepalese embassy.

Visa information may change without notice. For the most current information, please visit https://www.immigration.gov.np/. 

Nepali Rupee (NPR) is the local currency.
(1 USD = ~ Rs.120 NPR)

You can exchange most foreign currencies through local banks and legitimate money exchanges in Kathmandu and all-over Thamel. Some hotels also exchange small amounts of cash (Dollars). 

If you have INR (Indian Rupees), please note that only INR notes of Rs.100 and 2,000 are legal in Nepal. 

Despite the security advantage of travelers' cheques, we recommend you cash exchange to avoid hassles like a lengthy process and high bank commissions. You can also withdraw cash (in Rupees only) from one of the many ATMs in Kathmandu using your foreign debit/credit card. Several of these ATMs are open around the clock. The maximum withdrawal amount is 35,000 Rupees for a 500 Rupees processing fee.

If you use the money exchange facility at banks and financial institutions, they will charge you a service fee of about 4% or more, depending upon the institution. 

Trek regions do not have banks and money exchange services, so you should exchange your money in Kathmandu, depending on your spending estimates. Bear in mind that locals in trek regions only accept Nepali currencies. 

The luggage weight limit per trekker is 9kg. We assign one porter for every two trekkers, and they will carry no more than 18kg of combined weight. We never overload our porters. 

We also expect you to bring a backpack with your valuables or important documents. You can store your excess luggage at your hotel or the World Discovery Trekking store. We provide free luggage storage at our store during the length of your trek. 

Discovery World Trekking guarantees client safety, security, and satisfaction. Safety is the utmost concern for us. We have several checks and balances in place to make treks safe. We will be carrying all the necessary gears, equipment, and first aid kits. 

Our leaders and guides are wilderness first aid trained. If a trekker falls sick, your trek guide has the authority to decide whether to continue the trek or descend immediately based on the overall condition of the trekking team. In emergencies, we will deploy a rescue helicopter to bring you to safety (funded by insurance). Further, we will be traveling together for the group's safety.