Island Peak Climbing

Island Peak located is located in west-central Nepal. Island Peak is considered as a trekking peak and often the first Himalayan climbing experience for mountain climbing enthusiasts. With the height of 6189 meters, it was named by Eric Shipton’s party of 1952 as Island Peak cause it stands somewhat alone in the Himalayas. Nepal renamed it Imja Tse In 1983.

The best time to climb island peak is the pre and post-monsoon but Spring is popular. Spring is a good time for climbing as it gets warmer with less threat of snow. But the Fall season is less popular with colder days and increasingly unstable weather.

Island peak difficulty grade is challenging but with proper planning and great physical fitness, you can summit Island peak. Climb to Island peak is a real one and requires crampons, ice axe and fixed ropes. Even though considered as trekking peak of little danger, real great care needs to be taken during the climb since there are crevasses and potential avalanches along the route. The real climb is the final 150 meters and last 450 meters which can be a bit steep and these days there is a fixed rope.

Island peak is undoubtedly simpler if compared with Everest or other 8,000m both in altitude or duration so the best option to start your Himalayan climbing journey.

The approximate successful summits are over 30,000 people and perhaps a handful of deaths.

Island peak most popular route is only one standard route that leads from the base and advanced base camp on the Chhukung side of the mountain.

Island peak climbing duration is a week to get to base camp, a few days to summit and four days to get back to Kathmandu, so between 2 and 3 weeks in total.

For island peak training plan one can walk/run with a large pack to work the micro-muscles and climb stairs in a high-rise office building.

Yes, there is a possibility of altitude sickness on island peak climbing which involves climbs above 6,000-meters. Therefore, the travel to base camp should take about a week trek to better acclimatize on the way. Besides, one day rest is also planned at the base before the summit the next day.

Island peak expedition cost depends upon the group-size and also if you are doing it privately or joining a group. Also, the climbing guide needs to be insured including his medical insurance along with helicopter rescue. All of these things will be handled by your tour operator.

Island peak equipment list includes long handle ice axe, harness, carabineers and crampons. It will be extremely cold and windy at times, especially on the summit, so multiple down layers (like (Mountain Hardwear 800 Fill Down jacket) are required. Besides, tents, kitchen equipment, etc. All the climbing gears can be rented at Chhungkug and usually, your climbing guide arranges it all.

Yes, and Island peak permit fee comes to in Spring (March-April-May) is USD250, Autumn (Sept-Oct-Nov) USD125, Winter (Dec-Jan-Feb) and Summer (June-July-August) USD70 which are all on per person basis.

Guide for Island Peak is highly recommend since it’s about climbing the high Himalayan peak so an experienced climbing guide is required who shall help you throughout the climb and help in case of any emergencies. On the season, you will find a lot of climbers on Island Peak so you would probably not be alone but easily could be. In harsh weather (white-outs) or in a medical emergency, you will be on your own so the climbing guide will be the best support. Climbing alone or in too small of a team is never a good idea.

Everything like permits, hotels, foods, gears, communication, you might arrange yourself but consider yourself if something goes wrong – are you 100% self-sufficient? What are your medical skills? HAPE and HACE are really possibilities on Island Peak – do you have the appropriate medicine and training to deal with it? And lots of other questions. Again, climbing alone never a good idea. Saving a few hundred dollars is not worth your life.

Absolutely! You are recommended to get travel insurance that covers even at higher altitudes i.e. up to 6000m. The insurance policy usually doesn’t cover over 3,000 meters of altitude. So, make sure these things while purchasing travel insurance for Island peak and read their policies.

Family-run lodges often called ‘Teahouses’ are in the Everest region. Especially the higher you go accommodation is limited, so the room may differ from a private single/double room to a bed in a dormitory. Island peak accommodation is a very basic accommodation and usually be shared shower and toilet facilities. All lodges have a communal dining hall. Though basic, these teahouses are clean and welcoming, friendly and warm resting place after a tiring day’s trek.

It’s the squat toilet facilities at the most lodges on the Everest Base Camp trail but nowadays lodges have also built western styled toilets with a number of foreign trekkers increasing day by day. It’s suggested that you should take along your own toilet paper.

Lodges on the trail offer wide choices for foods and drinks. These contain typical Nepali meals to the continental dishes. Nepali dish ‘Dal Bhat’ with season vegetable and pickle. Or, go for pizza, momo, noodles, macaroni, sizzler, sandwich, burger, etc. Different types of coffee, fruit juice, and alcoholic drinks are also available. If you have booked a package tour then the company handles all costs. But if booked on service only then food prices on the Island peak cost to US$25-30 per person per day for lunch/dinner, where breakfast will be included. But on high altitude treks, avoiding alcoholic drinks is a good idea.

Bottled water can be bought or you can take along a bottle and fill the bottle with tap water with purifying tablets. These can be bought in Kathmandu before the trek. Most brands of purification tablets take just 30 minutes before you can drink. Drinking a minimum of 3 to 4 liters of water per day is recommended.

Bringing snacks and protein bars is good. Daily meal includes Dal Bhat – Nepali meal which is already high in carbohydrate. If you bring your own food, lodges may charge you an additional cost.

Showers are available at Lodges. Especially the higher up you go there will usually be shared bathrooms in most lodges. Hot water shower needs to be paid per person. As you go higher, the colder it gets and you may have to think for the second time for a shower. Wait just a few days until your descent. Wet wipes can be used to clean your body but in trek it might come expensive. So it is good to buy them in Kathmandu.

You can bring trekking gear from your home country. They can also be bought in Kathmandu at many trekking shops around there. But, most of the trekking gears you get here are not up to standard though are comparatively cheaper. So, it’s up to you to decide. The last option to buy them is at Namche Bazaar if you forget any trekking gears. Besides, climbing gears can be rented at Chukkung which your climbing guide shall handle it all.

All the electronics can be charged in lodges with an extra cost of US$2-6 per hour. Further up you go, the price for charging increases.

Sickness depends upon its nature. For mild sickness usually descending to a lower altitude with the help and support of the guide or porter is done. For serious illness, emergency helicopter evacuation service is arranged. Our guide will be in constant contact with us and takes immediate action as per the situation. This is where travel insurance comes covering for a medical evacuation service and other medical expenses. Our guides carry first aid kit with basic medication like simple painkillers, altitude sickness tablets, bandages, balm for muscle aches and medication to treat diarrhea and vomiting. They are experienced trek guides and will take care of you if anything happens to you. Besides, there are health posts in Lukla, Namche Bazaar, Pheriche where you can get medical services.

Lukla airport is located at the mountainous terrain where frequent weather changes occur every hour. Even a hint of bad weather arise flight delays in Lukla. When the weather goes worst especially during winter and monsoon, Lukla flight cancellations occur even for days. Mental preparedness is required to face such unforeseen situations and keeping some buffer days after the trek is highly recommended.

Tipping is not mandatory but let’s not forget that it has become a custom to show gratitude towards your guide and porters who made it all possible for you to finish the trek and help you summit one of the Himalayan peaks at the world’s highest location. You can give them a certain amount as tips for Island peak climbing as per your desire at the end of the trek.

Wifi on Island peak climbing is available at most of the lodges on the EBC trail.

You do not have to carry much cash if you have booked a full tour package from your travel company since your trek guide shall take care of your accommodation and daily meals. Besides that only a few extra costs incur like for bottled water, charging mobile phones/cameras, shower, extra tea/coffee and of course alcoholic drinks also tipping your guide and porters. So, carrying Nepalese Rupees equivalent to a few hundred USD is recommended.

ATM facilities are available only at Namche and Lukla, but depending upon them is also not suggested since sometimes they don’t work. Exchanging into Nepali rupees before the trek in Kathmandu is the best option.

Only cash is accepted during the trek and converting your currency to Nepali rupees before the trek is the best idea.

Usually it’s about 5-6 hours in most of the days. The walks must be slow and steady.

The maximum number is 15 trekkers. Yes, you can also do this trek privately with your personal guide and porter.

Your hotel where you stay in Kathmandu will store your luggage that you don’t want to take to trek without any charge. Later on, you can pick up your luggage after the trek.

Most of the villages along the trek route have landline telephones from where you can make international calls. Mobile phone services are also available and even at the Everest Base Camp but the reception quality varies depending upon the locations. Internet facilities can be found but is expensive.