EBC + Island Peak Trek & Climb

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. AltiPro representative meets you at arrivals and transfers you to the hotel. Welcome briefing covers the full EBC + Island Peak Trek & Climb 2027 itinerary, permit processing, gear check, and team introductions. Welcome dinner in Kathmandu with your AltiPro team.

Permit processing day: SNPEP (Sagarmatha National Park Entry Permit) and NMA Island Peak Climbing Permit. Full group briefing on the climb route, safety protocol, and altitude management. Gear inspection — AltiPro checks every team member's kit against the equipment list. Any missing items can be sourced in Thamel. Final questions answered before the early-morning Lukla flight tomorrow.

Early morning transfer to the domestic terminal for the 35-minute mountain flight to Lukla — one of the world's most spectacular short flights, with the high Himalayan ridgeline filling the window from takeoff. Trek from Lukla (2,840 m) down through rhododendron forest and along the Dudh Koshi river to Phakding (2,610 m) via Cheplung. Suspension bridges and the first Khumbu teahouse culture. 3–4 hrs.

Trek from Phakding up through the Dudh Koshi gorge, crossing the famous Hillary Suspension Bridge (3,420 m) with the first views of Thamserku ahead. A steep 600 m ascent through forest brings you to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m), the commercial and cultural capital of the Khumbu Sherpa. First true altitude gain of the trek — pace carefully, hydrate well. 5–6 hrs.

Rest and acclimatise at Namche (3,440 m). Day hike to the Everest View Hotel (3,880 m) for the first sightings of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam above the Khumbu ridgeline. Visit the Sherpa Museum and the famous Saturday market in Namche. This acclimatisation day is physiologically critical — the body adapts to altitude by sleeping lower and hiking higher.

Trek from Namche up through forest, crossing suspension bridges above the Dudh Koshi, to the iconic Tengboche ridge (3,860 m). Tengboche Monastery — the highest Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu — sits with Everest (8,849 m) and Ama Dablam (6,812 m) rising directly behind it in one of the most photographed views in Nepal. 5–6 hrs.

Trek through Pangboche (the highest permanently inhabited village in the Khumbu, 3,985 m) and up the Imja Khola valley to Dingboche (4,360 m). The vegetation thins dramatically above Pangboche — wide-open yak pastures and stone-walled fields replace the juniper forest. Crossing 4,000 m for the first time. 5–6 hrs.

Full acclimatisation day at Dingboche (4,360 m). Morning hike to the Nangkartshang ridge (4,980 m) above the village for a panoramic view of Island Peak, Ama Dablam, Makalu, Lhotse, and Baruntse. This high-altitude day hike accelerates acclimatisation before crossing to 4,940 m at Lobuche. Afternoon rest, hydration, and route briefing for the Lobuche and EBC days.

Trek from Dingboche to Thukla Pass (4,620 m) — a short but steep rise above the moraine. At the top of the pass, the Khumbu climbers' memorial — stone chortens dedicated to mountaineers who died on Everest and the surrounding peaks — is a powerful and sobering site. Continue to Lobuche (4,940 m) on the lateral moraine of the Khumbu Glacier. 4–5 hrs.

Trek from Lobuche along the Khumbu Glacier moraine to Gorak Shep (5,164 m), the last settlement on the route. Drop packs and continue to Everest Base Camp (5,364 m / 17,598 ft) on the Khumbu Glacier — the famous expedition city of tents, crevasses, and seracs that hosts all Everest expeditions every spring. First views of the Khumbu Icefall. Return to Gorak Shep for the night. 6–7 hrs total.

Early wake-up (4–5 AM) for the pre-dawn push to Kalapatthar (5,545 m / 18,192 ft) — the highest non-technical summit on the EBC route and the finest Everest viewpoint in Nepal. Everest (8,849 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Nuptse (7,861 m), and Pumori rise at eye level across the Khumbu Glacier. Sunrise from Kalapatthar is the defining moment of the EBC phase. Descend to Gorak Shep, breakfast, then descend all the way to Pheriche (4,240 m). 7–8 hrs.

Trek from Pheriche east along the Imja Khola to Dingboche, then continuing east up the Imja Valley to Chhukung (4,730 m) — the staging point for Island Peak. The upper Imja Valley opens dramatically with Ama Dablam, Island Peak, Lhotse Shar, and Baruntse framing the valley ahead. Island Peak route briefing from the AltiPro climbing guide tonight. 4–5 hrs.

Full day of climbing skills instruction led by AltiPro's certified climbing guide. Crampon technique on snow and ice, harness fitting and checking, jumar (ascender) use on fixed rope, ice axe management, and basic rope team protocol. All training takes place on safe terrain above Chhukung. Gear check for summit day. This training is mandatory before proceeding to Island Peak Base Camp.

Trek from Chhukung up the Imja Valley through increasingly dramatic glacial terrain to Island Peak Base Camp (5,100 m) — positioned with direct views of the Island Peak headwall above, Lhotse Shar to the north, and the Imja Glacier spreading below. AltiPro sets camp and a full hot meal awaits. Early sleep in preparation for the pre-midnight departure. 3–4 hrs.

Rest day at Base Camp. Hydrate, eat well, and sleep as much as possible. Review the summit route and timing with your AltiPro climbing guide. Final gear check — crampon fit, harness, headlamp batteries, warm layers. The guide team assesses overnight conditions and confirms the departure time (typically 1–2 AM). An early night is strongly advised.

Pre-midnight departure (1–2 AM). Cross the Imja Glacier, navigate the crevassed approach with careful ropework, then tackle the technical crux — the 50-degree headwall on AltiPro-fixed ropes from approximately 5,500 m. Reach the narrow summit ridge and push to the highest point at 6,189 m / 20,305 ft. The summit panorama: Lhotse south face directly north, Makalu, Baruntse, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, and the entire Khumbu massif. Descend to Chhukung by afternoon. 10–12 hrs total effort.

Buffer day built into the itinerary. If weather or conditions prevented a summit attempt on Day 16, this day is the second summit window. If the summit was successful, use this day for full rest and recovery at Chhukung before beginning the descent. AltiPro monitors conditions and advises on the best use of this day.

Begin the long descent from the climbing phase back toward Lukla. Trek from Chhukung through Dingboche and Pangboche and down to Tengboche (3,860 m). Dropping below 4,000 m, the body begins recovering rapidly from altitude stress. The descent feels effortless compared to the ascent. 6–7 hrs.

Continue the descent from Tengboche down through the lower Khumbu to Namche Bazaar (3,440 m). The last significant descent of the expedition. Namche's bakeries and restaurants offer a well-deserved reward after the summit push and altitude days. 4–5 hrs.

Final trekking day — from Namche through Phakding and on to Lukla (2,840 m). 5–6 hrs. Evening celebration dinner with the AltiPro Sherpa team. Summit stories, photos, and farewells to the crew who made the climb possible.

Morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. Transfer to hotel. Rest and cleanup. Farewell dinner in Kathmandu. AltiPro presents the Island Peak climbing summit certificate and EBC trek certificate. Celebration of completing one of Nepal's finest combined trekking and climbing adventures.

Buffer day for Lukla flight weather delays, which are common at Lukla airport. AltiPro monitors flight schedules throughout the trek and advises on use of this day. Kathmandu sightseeing available — Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, or the markets of Thamel.

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for final departure. AltiPro team sees you off. Safe travels from one of Nepal's most comprehensive Himalayan adventure combinations — EBC and a genuine 6,000 m summit in one expedition.