It is no surprise that Himalayan peaks have drawn adventurers, climbers and cultural enthusiasts for nearly 200 years. The stark and rugged terrain, so entwined with the culture of local Sherpa people, offers such powerful experiences that Himalayan travel stands in a class by itself. While many think of travel to the Himalayas as only high altitude climbing or trekking, this is somewhat of a misconception as many beautiful ascents can be made with limited climbing experience. This expedition offers both climbers and trekkers an exciting opportunity to enter the world of the mighty Himalayas.

In order to acclimatize prior to climbing Island Peak (20,305ft/6,189m), we offer a trek through the Himalayan Khumbu. This expedition offers wonderful trekking through the glorious Khumbu region and any fit enthusiast is welcome to join the team. All team members will have the opportunity to summit Kala Pattar (18,187ft/5,545m), a wonderful location to view and photograph Mt. Everest, and then we head for a visit to Everest Base Camp. While climbing team members make the summit attempt of Island Peak, trekking only team members will spend 2-3 days walking in the stunning valleys around Island Peak.

The route to Kala Pattar takes us along the path to Everest Base Camp. We travel through the renowned village of Namche Bazaar and the revered monastic community of Tengboche. From the summit of Kala Pattar we can snap excellent photographs of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. The Kala Pattar trek serves both as an introduction to the warmth of the Sherpa community. It also serves as an acclimatization period preceding the great ascent of the great pyramid, Island Peak.

The trek to Island Peak also walks you through the countryside, where you partake in Nepalese and Tibetan cultures as they have existed for centuries. The journey offers some of the most striking scenery in the Khumbu via the enchanting village of Dingboche. This trek is filled with Buddhist shrines and this village of stone charms your path to the mountains. The summit of Island Peak stands adjacent to the South Face of Lhotse, one of the world’s largest ice walls, and offers stunning views of beautiful Ama Dablam and Makalu. It is an excellent opportunity to participate in and fully experience a Himalayan mountain climbing expedition.

Trip Facts