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Island Peak climbing

A typical plan runs 15 days from Kathmandu and back, with the climb to Island Peak / Imja Tse at 6,160 m.

Guide price from US$1,619: our 2023 price for the 16-day itinerary. We confirm this season’s price in your quote.

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Rated 4.9 from 21 reviews on TripAdvisorMember of the Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal
Island Peak climbing, Imja Tse 6,160 m: the Island Peak summit team, October 2016, Nepalfrom US$1,619
The photograph shows the Island Peak summit team, October 2016, in Solukhumbu District, Koshi Province. The Island Peak climb runs from Lukla and back through Sagarmatha National Park.

Trip facts

Days
15 days
High point
Island Peak / Imja Tse, 6,160 m
Grade
PD+
When to go
Spring (April to May) and autumn (October to November)
Starts
Lukla (2,860 m)
Finishes
Lukla (2,860 m)
Days on the trail
12
Walking each day
3 to 7 hours

Island Peak, officially Imja Tse, is 6,160 m high in the lists of the Nepal Mountaineering Association and the Department of Tourism. Many climbing pages, and our own 2016 summit banner, print 6,189 m, a figure no current official list carries.

Sources: Nepal Mountaineering Association, Department of Tourism, Government of Nepal, Explorersweb and High 5 Adventures; checked 2 October 2026.

Typical figures for this route, checked on 1 October 2026. Narbin's team confirms the days, heights and grade for your dates.

Getting there

Fly to Lukla. In the spring and autumn peak seasons most Lukla flights leave from Manthali airport in Ramechhap district, not Kathmandu: about 130 km and 4 to 5 hours by road from Kathmandu, then a flight of about 20 minutes. Some teams drive the day before and sleep near the airport; others leave Kathmandu at about 2 to 3 am. Outside the peak seasons, and for a minority of peak-season flights, planes fly direct from Kathmandu, about 35 to 40 minutes.

Getting back

Walk back to Lukla, then in the peak seasons fly Lukla to Manthali (Ramechhap) and drive about 4 to 5 hours to Kathmandu; when direct flights run, fly Lukla to Kathmandu (about 35 to 40 minutes).

Route and altitude

The map below shows every stop on the Island Peak climb, with its height.

Phakding2,610 mNamche Bazaar3,440 mTengboche3,867 mDingboche4,410 mLukla2,860 mChhukung 4,730 mIsland Peak Base Camp 5,087 m5 km
  1. Phakding, 2,610 m
  2. Namche Bazaar, 3,440 m
  3. Namche Bazaar, 3,440 m
  4. Tengboche, 3,867 m
  5. Dingboche, 4,410 m
  6. Chhukung, 4,730 m
  7. Chhukung, 4,730 m
  8. Island Peak Base Camp (Pareshaya Gyab), 5,087 m
  9. Chhukung, 4,730 m
  10. Namche Bazaar, 3,440 m
  11. Lukla, 2,860 m
Each dot is a place you sleep, joined in the order you walk. High point: इम्जा छे Island Peak / Imja Tse, 6,160 m.

Heights on the way

Passes, viewpoints, camps and side trips, highest first.

Kala Patthar (combined Everest Base Camp version)
5,644 m
Island Peak High Camp
5,600 m
Chhukung Ri
5,546 m
Kongma La (optional pass on some combined versions)
5,535 m
Everest Base Camp (combined version)
5,364 m
Island Peak Base Camp (Pareshaya Gyab)
5,087 m
Altitude by dayEach dot is an overnight stop, in walking order. The days depend on your plan.
Altitude each night on the Island Peak climb. The highest night is at Island Peak Base Camp (Pareshaya Gyab), 5,087 m, stop 6.
StopOvernightAltitude
1Phakding2,610 m
2Namche Bazaar3,440 m
3Tengboche3,867 m
4Dingboche4,410 m
5Chhukung4,730 m
6Island Peak Base Camp (Pareshaya Gyab)5,087 m
7Chhukung4,730 m
8Namche Bazaar3,440 m
9Lukla2,860 m

Day by day

The overnight stops of a typical climb, in walking order.

  1. 1Phakding2,610 m
  2. 2Namche Bazaar (2 nights)3,440 m
  3. 3Tengboche3,867 m
  4. 4Dingboche4,410 m
  5. 5Chhukung (2 nights)4,730 m
  6. 6Island Peak Base Camp (Pareshaya Gyab)5,087 m
  7. 7Chhukung4,730 m
  8. 8Namche Bazaar3,440 m
  9. 9Lukla2,860 m

Narbin's team sets the days for your dates. Ask us on WhatsApp for this season's plan for the Island Peak climb.

Ask for the plan

What is included

From our 2023 trip notes; to be confirmed in your quote.

Included

  • Airport pickup and drop-off
  • A day of sightseeing in Kathmandu with a driver
  • Hotel and lodge rooms for the nights in the plan
  • Flights within Nepal, with their taxes
  • Bus tickets
  • An English-speaking trek leader, assistant leaders and guides
  • Porters: one porter for every two people
  • Down jackets, tents and the other equipment the trip needs
  • Island Peak climbing permit
  • Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park entry permit
  • TIMS card (a trekker registration card)
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner as listed in the plan
  • Emergency medical supplies and a first-aid kit
  • Shared climbing equipment

Not included

  • Your Nepal visa
  • International flights
  • Meals not listed in the plan
  • Tips for drivers, guides and porters
  • Your own trekking gear and clothing
  • Personal costs: phone, extra food, showers, laundry and water
  • Travel insurance with rescue cover
  • Bottled oxygen

Permits and rules

We arrange these permits for your climb. Fees are as the issuing office lists them, with the date we checked.

  • Sagarmatha National Park entry permit

    Issued by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation

    Foreign visitors
    NPR 3,000person per entry
    Citizens of SAARC countries
    NPR 1,500person per entry
    Nepali citizens
    NPR 100person per entry

    Issued by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation; paid at the Tourist Service Centre, Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, or at the park entry points. Children under 10: free.

    Source: Nepal Tourism Board (figures supplied by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation), checked 1 October 2026

  • Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality trek card (local entry permit)

    Issued by Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality

    Foreign visitors
    NPR 3,000person
    Citizens of SAARC countries and China
    NPR 2,000person

    Issued by Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, Tourist Information Centre, Lukla.

    Source: Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality (Wayback capture of 2026-06-13), checked 1 October 2026

  • Nepal Mountaineering Association climbing permit

    Issued by Nepal Mountaineering Association

    Spring (March to May)
    US$350person
    Autumn (September to November)
    US$175person
    Winter (December to February)
    US$175person
    Summer (June to August)
    US$175person

    Issued by Nepal Mountaineering Association (digital permit system), applied for through a registered agency. Seasons: spring Mar to May, autumn Sep to Nov, winter Dec to Feb, summer Jun to Aug.

    Source: Nepal Mountaineering Association, checked 1 October 2026

Rules on this route

  • Nepal Mountaineering Association climbing permits run for one month (extendable by two weeks); every party must be accompanied by a guide or sirdar (lead guide) registered with the association; groups of 12 at most.

    Source: Nepal Mountaineering Association, checked 1 October 2026

  • The association grants permission for one month of climbing above base camp (extendable by two weeks); the trek to and from base camp is not counted.

    Source: Nepal Mountaineering Association, checked 1 October 2026

  • Camps must be left clean and no fixed rope, pitons or other foreign material may be left on the mountain.

    Source: Nepal Mountaineering Association, checked 1 October 2026

  • The association sets a maximum of 12 people per climbing group.

    Source: Nepal Mountaineering Association, checked 1 October 2026

Is this trip right for you?

A glaciated climb above 6,000 m. From base camp (or an optional high camp at about 5,600 m) the route scrambles up a rocky gully, then crosses a crevassed glacier roped together (a fixed aluminium ladder has been used over the main crevasse), then climbs a headwall of about 100 m of snow and ice at up to about 45 to 50 degrees on fixed ropes to an exposed summit ridge; descent is by abseil on the fixed lines. Alpine grade PD+. Needs crampon, ice axe, fixed-rope and abseil skills; previous use of crampons helps. Summit day is 10 to 12 hours at altitude.

Ask us if this climb suits you
Walking each day
3 to 7 hours
Highest night
Island Peak Base Camp (Pareshaya Gyab), 5,087 m
High point
6,160 m

Price and booking

from US$1,619

2023 price for the 16-day itinerary

This is a guide price for the Island Peak climb. The typical plan on this page runs 15 days, so your quote sets this season's price for the plan you choose. It depends on the size of your group, the season and whether you travel privately or join a group.

We confirm payment terms in your quote. Nothing is paid online.

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