Everest Base Camp with Island Peak Climbing

Overview

Everest Base Camp with Island Peak Climbing combines the classic trek to the base of the world’s highest mountain with a climb up one of Nepal’s most popular trekking peaks. The Everest Base Camp leg builds the altitude tolerance you need before stepping onto Island Peak, so by the time you reach the climbing base camp, your body has already adjusted to thin air above 5,000 meters.

Island Peak, also called Imja Tse, sits near the head of the Imja Khola valley beyond Chhukung, ringed by glaciers on most sides. From the 6,160m summit, Lhotse rises to the north, Baruntse sits to the southeast, and Makalu is visible to the east. The standard route follows the southwest ridge, while the north ridge is the harder, less-traveled line.

A British expedition team made the first ascent in 1953, the same year Everest itself was first climbed. Charles Evans, Alf Gregory, Charles Wylie, and Tenzing Norgay led that climb with seven Sherpa climbers. The peak got its English name from Eric Shipton in 1952, who thought it looked like an island rising out of a sea of ice when viewed from Dingboche. It was officially renamed Imja Tse in 1983, though most trekkers and climbers still call it Island Peak.

The route runs through the Dudh Koshi valley and Namche Bazaar before reaching Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar, then continues to Island Peak for the climb, finishing back in Lukla.

Climbing permits for Island Peak follow current regulations from the Nepal Mountaineering Association.

For the trek alone without the climb, see our Everest Base Camp Trek. For another peak-climbing combo, see our Mera Peak Climbing trip.