In this article, we are going to discuss the Best Time To Climb Island Peak.
With tons of mountains to ascend and a string of time-worn trails to walk, the adventure never ends in Himalaya. In fact, the expedition only gets exciting here with dream-like landscapes, rolling hills, spectacular villages, and cliffs.
It’s swarmed with so many interest points and landmarks that every wanderer will get to traverse their places of choice. They can find any easy, mediocre, or rock-hard trails they wish to walk and savor the unreal beauty of nature with overwhelming views.
One of the many trekking destinations that have blown the trekker’s mind with its impressive geographical features and alluring wilderness is Island Peak. It is a moderate trekking mountain at 20,305 feet, incorporating easy access and less difficult trails.
The mountain is remarkably amazing in both region and landscapes, feeding the visitors a surreal view. The paths running some of the iconic places like Namche Bazaar and Dingboche are truly magnificent. Visitors can find a lot of prayer flags, beautiful chortens, and monasteries along the way.
As for the snow peak, it stuns visitors with a marvelous view of glacial lakes, rock debris, and crevasse. The trails are real pain after base camp with so many intricate sections, crevasse, and glaciers. We’ll also be ascending the rock face before reaching the crest of Island Peak and retracing the steps back to Lukla through Dingboche and Namche.
Highlights of Island Peak Trek
- A pristine view of Mt. Everest and its surrounding Nuptse and Ama Dablam
- Exploration of Sagarmatha National Park, sprawled in an area of 1,148 sq. km.
- Trip to prehistoric monasteries, cultural landmarks, and quaint Nepali villages
- Visiting Everest view hotel to capture the lovely view of snow peaks
- Encounter Himalayan wild animals and birds while walking through the forest
When is the best time to climb Island Peak?
Island Peak may be an easy trekking mountain with unimpeded access and not so hard trails. But if you end up walking the mountain in bad weather, the excursion will turn out to be an awful experience. So, you need to be extra careful while picking the time for an Island Peak trek otherwise, it’s impossible to reach the top.
Spring is often seen as the ideal time for a trek to Island Peak as it lasts fair weather and stunning sceneries. Its warmer climate with, not too dry, not too wet trails makes it perfect for trekking the peak in the month. Since spring is a season of flowers, you can see a lot of flowering plants on the verge of blooming.
Deep green forests adorned with rhododendron flowers offer a splendid view to watch. The average temperature in spring is around 17 Degree Celsius during the day and falls to -15 Degree Celsius in the nighttime. So, it’s better to shove some warm clothes inside the backpack while hiking the peak.
Following on the heels of spring, autumn too offers temperate weather that is great for outdoor activities. It repels the hot and humid summer by providing a refreshing breeze to trekkers scrambling the hills.
The temperature in autumn normally ranges from 6 to 22 Degree Celsius, making the day slightly hotter but still enjoyable. The views around the valleys and hills are unrealistic from September to November with colorful leaves, green foliage, and a beautiful terrace farm.
While autumn is preferred by all hikers for Island Peak Trek, monsoon keeps striving to draw attention to them. Not many people dare to climb the mountain in the month, seeing poor weather, damp walkway, and misty view.
If you don’t want to get caught in a wild snowstorm or put up with frosty weather, avoid visiting the peak in the winter as well. Temperatures at Island Peak is typically around -5 to -15 Degree Celsius between December and February making the place bitterly cold.
Most of the trails in the upper hills are covered in snow, causing us to slip over and over again. Tea houses and lodges also remain closed during winter as there is a good chance of heavy snowfall and windstorms.
Related trips:
Island Peak Climbing – Detailed Itinerary:
Day 01: Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport
As stated earlier, our officials will receive you at the airport on this day. Soon after meeting you, they’ll transfer you to the hotel and make sure you’ve no trouble checking in. Till the time we meet you again, you can relax a little and get over the effects of jet lag.
In the evening, you can go for a slow walk to the streets of Thamel which shines in the sparkling lights and beautiful local shops. You can even bring the Nepalese spirit to your plate by dining at a local restaurant or cafe house.
Day 02: Excursion around Kathmandu Valley
Since it’s your day off in Kathmandu before the trek, we’ll make the most of it by visiting a bunch of famous historic and religious landmarks. Ensuring that you learn more about Nepalese culture and its lineage, we’ll take you on a tour of UNESCO’s world heritage sites including Pashupatinath Temple and Boudha Stupa.
During the full-day tour of the valley, we’ll stop at the historic square of Bhaktapur to explore the ancient palaces and courtyards. We shall see a lot of stone temples, statues, narrow lanes in the age-old Newari. After exploring the city, we’ll drive you back to the hotel so that you can enjoy your dinner and get some rest.
Day 03: Fly back to Lukla, Trek to Phakding
Maximum Altitude: 2610 mee
Flight Distance: 138 km
Trek Distance: 6.2 km
Flight Duration: 40 minutes
Trek Duration: 2-3 hours
Early in the morning, we’ll board a flight to Lukla from Kathmandu which takes about 40 minutes. Given it’s a scenic trip, you’ll get the chance to see a lot of amazing things including the old-time rural areas, sweeping landscapes, towering hills, and mountains.
After landing at the town, we’ll have a nice tea time ahead of walking the trail. Following the unpaved trail, we’ll climb off the hillside on the bank of Dudh Koshi River. We’ll do a lot of ups and downs in between the trek from Lukla to Phakding. We’ll wrap up the trip to the village and spend the night in a lodge.
Day 04: Trek to Namche Bazaar
Maximum Altitude: 3,440 meters
Trek Distance: 7.4 km
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
On the fourth day of the Island Peak trek, we’ll walk to the most famous town of Khumbu, Namche Bazaar. The trek starts with a gentle climb after Dudh Koshi River Valley below and through the rhododendron forests.
A few hours after the trek, we’ll get our permits checked to enter Sagarmatha National Park. Just to end up in the town, we’ll cross several suspension bridges and pass small settlements like Manjo and Jorsale. The trial before the village is a bit difficult with steep ascent so it’ll take us slightly more time. Overnight stay is in a teahouse at Namche Bazaar.
Day 05: Acclimatization at Namche Bazaar
It was a long and challenging trip the other day so it’s only fair that we relax a bit today and enjoy the time exploring the village. After taking breakfast, we’ll trek to the nearest viewpoint Syangboche and take a close-up view of Mt. Everest. The trail leading to Syangboche is mostly uphill, taking around 3 hours of walk. The sight from the Everest View Hotel is jaw-dropping with dramatic landscapes, charming cliffs, and snow-capped mountains. Since we choose the best time to climb Island Peak, the views are crystal clear together with beautiful sunshine.
Day 06: Trek to Tengboche
Maximum Altitude: 3,860 meters
Trek Distance: 9.2 km
Trek Duration: 4-5 hours
After the energizing force from the break yesterday, we’re all ready to go back to the trail for a trek to Tengboche. The trail out of Namche is vertically moving with a primarily uphill walk. So, it’ll take us 4-5 hours to finish the trek, depending on pace and altitude sickness.
We’ll ascend the steep trails beside ancient mani walls and Chortens. After walking a few minutes off the ground level, we’ll speed up and come across the river on a wooden plank. The trail gets extremely difficult from here with a perceptive climb and decrease in atmospheric pressure.
After navigating a rugged trail that gains substantial elevation, we’ll finally reach Tengboche. It’s a wonderful Sherpa village, lying at 3,860 meters altitude.
In sum, trekkers can witness an appealing view from here including a lovely picture of Ama Dablam.
Day 07: Trek to Dingboche
Maximum Altitude: 4,410 meters
Trek Distance: 9 km
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
Today we’ll get up early in the morning and visit Tengboche Monastery that lies before Ama Dablam. Joining the other Buddhist devotees, we’ll offer prayers in the pilgrimage and begin the trek to Dingboche. The trail out of the village goes downhill but shortly afterward gains elevation.
After crossing the river, we’ll gently head up the hill, walking beside the river valley. Coming to this part of the trail, we can see Island Peak from far away, as we are choosing Best Time To Climb Island Peak. During the trek, we’ll cross Imja Khola and put through rough terrain to arrive at Pangboche.
From here, our trail gradually scrambles the hill which is no doubt strenuous, but worth it, following a staggering view of snow peaks and deep valleys. After trekking for around 6 hours, we’ll finally reach Dingboche. Tonight we’ll stay in a tea house in the village.
Day 08: Trek to Island Peak Base Camp
Maximum Altitude: 5,100 meters
Trek Distance: 5 km
Trek Duration: 6-7 hours
After a warm breakfast to lift the spirits up, we’ll leave for the trail heading to Island Peak Base Camp. The trip kicks off with an accent to a steep slope and rolls up walking the rocky terrains filled with boulders. We’ll spend most of our day scaling the foothills and navigating rugged trails above Imja Valley.
On the way to the base camp at 5,100 meters, we’ll get to relish the spectacular views of Nuptse, Island Peak, and Lhotse. The diverse landscapes and steep hills surrounding the base camp makes it look incredible. We’ll call it off a day at the base camp and continue the trek tomorrow.
Day 09: Acclimatization and Exploration
The hike from Island Peak Base Camp to the summit is a tough and never-ending journey so we’ll leave a day for preparation. While staying back at the campsite, we’ll do all the training required to climb the peak under the oversight of trek guides.
We’ll also take a short walk around the camp to adapt to the temperature and prevent altitude sickness while climbing high. We’ll take an easy stroll up to Imja Lake, which provides a phenomenal view. After the sightseeing, we’ll return back to base camp and spend the night there.
Day 10: Island Peak Summit and Return to Base Camp
Maximum Altitude: 6,189 meters
Trek Duration: 9-10 hours
All these weeks, we spend so much time climbing peaks and valleys, enduring the challenges which were not for nothing. The experience will indeed help us reach the summit of Island Peak without many difficulties. Since there are high chances of snowstorms in the mountain during the daytime, we have to set off on a journey early in the morning and finish it before noon.
A lot of its section has technical difficulties with crevasse so we have to be extremely careful while ascending the mountain. The trek, of course, running from the rocky terrain and weaving up the hills has us make an anchor with a fixed rope.
With the help of crampons, we’ll escalate the snowy ridge and cross gigantic glaciers to make it to the acme. Climbing the headwall as high as 492 feet, we’ll finally get to the summit.
Since we choose the best time to climb Island Peak, there’s no need to fear the bad weather. Provided a temperate climate and clear sky, we can easily catch a glimpse of snow-capped mountains and icefalls while resting foot at the crest.
Day 11: Trek to Dingboche
Maximum Altitude: 4,410 meters
Trek Distance: 5 km
Trek Duration: 6-7 hours
After the triumphant over Island Peak, we’ll descend the trail to Dingboche. The path is mostly downhill so we’ll start a bit late enjoying the majestic view at base camp and having a hearty meal.
The trek has us running off the sharp terrain and down the hills, losing all the previous gained elevation. While retreating, we can feel the change in weather and even the level of oxygen in the air.
After hiking for about 6-7 hours on a meandering rough trail, we’ll finally get down to Dingboche. The scenery in and around Dingboche is mind-blowing with picturesque villages, colorful Tibetan chortens, and gorges. We’ll stay the night in a tea house at Dingboche.
Day 12: Trek to Namche Bazaar
Maximum Altitude: 3,440 meters
Trek Distance: 14.9 km
Trek Duration: 8-9 hours
The expedition has almost come to an end and we still can’t get over the zone of the best time to climb Island Peak. But leaving it aside, we’re now to climb down the lane, passing the barren tract and untouched landscapes.
We’ll be crossing many villages and traversing through the forest during our trip to Namche Bazaar. As the trail descends, we’ll get to watch a lot of primeval monasteries, prayer flags, and gushing rivers. Eventually, after trekking an entire day, we’ll arrive at the famous Sherpa town which is also our last stop for today. We’ll spend the night in a tea house in the village.
Day 13: Trek to Lukla
Maximum Altitude: 2,860 meters
Trek Distance: 13 km
Trek Duration: 5-6 hours
After breakfast, we’ll start climbing down the hills and valleys that offer fascinating views. The trail descends as far as Dudh Koshi River valley and crosses the suspension bridges more than once.
The entire walk from Namche to Lukla will take around 5-6 hours, passing through the forest filled with juniper and pines. It follows the path that walks past many villages including Jorsale and Manjo. We’ll get off the short hillock in the last few hours before arriving at the town. Overnight stay in a lodge.
Day 14: Flight to Kathmandu
Maximum Altitude: 1350 meters
Flight Distance: 138 km
Flight Duration: 40 minutes
As we’ve finished trekking the zigzagged trails of Island Peak, it’s practically the end of the trip for us. After breakfast, we’ll take a flight to Kathmandu from Lukla which lasts over half an hour. During the whole trip, we’ll encounter the best of nature’s landscapes, lush green forests, lofty hills, and gushing waterfalls. After taking down the Tribhuvan Airport, we’ll drive you back to the hotel where you can have lunch and the rest of the day off.
Day 15: Final Departure
It’s the day of your flight home so our representative will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to the airport. If needed they’ll help you with everything till the minute you board the flight.
Cost of Island Peak trek
Like any other trip, the cost for the Island Peak trek also depends on the timescale and facilities of your kind. The more extravagant service you demand, the higher your charges for Island Peak trek. However, the collective 15 days trek of Island Peak will cost anywhere from US$1,885 to US$2,000. For the price paid, you’ll get rid of paying lots of expenses while there are some costs that aren’t covered by fare.
Cost Inclusion
- Internal flight to and fro Lukla
- Transportation cost for pick up and drop from airport to the hotel
- Accommodation and three-time meal throughout the trek
- Welcome and farewell dinner in Kathmandu
- Entrance fee, guide and porter charge
- Climbing permits for Island Peak and including entrance fee of Sagarmatha National Park and local entry permit
Cost Exclusion
- International flight fare
- Extra tips and bonus for guide and porter
- Personal expenses, cost of souvenirs and others
- Food charges while staying in Kathmandu other than ones included in the itinerary
- Climbing gears including backpack, crampons, trekking poles, etc.
Difficulties of Island Peak Trek
Compared to other mountains, it may be easy climbing Island Peak but it too has a lot of challenges. You’ll have to be physically and mentally prepared before ascending the peak otherwise it’s impossible to go all the way up. Some of the difficulties that every trekker climbing Island Peak have to overcome are:
1. Altitude Sickness
It’s pretty obvious for trekkers to suffer from acute mountain sickness while trekking Island Peak as they have to travel all the way up to 6,189 meters. This eventually witnesses a low barometric pressure in the air which causes the hiker to show symptoms like headache, dizziness, and even hypoxemia.
So, you need to be more cautious while ascending the peak and don’t neglect the minor signs. Altitude acclimatization is the best way to avoid altitude sickness so if possible take enough rest before climbing high.
Weather and Temperature
The weather and temperature in and around Island Peak are unpredictable and can get worse anytime. So, you have to prepare for every adverse weather condition to avoid winding up the trek. Winter usually has an extreme climate with temperatures normally at minus degrees celsius. Hence, if it’s possible, you shouldn’t climb the mountain during the season. The best time to climb Island Peak is Spring and Autumn as it comes with delightful weather and gratifying sceneries.
3. Length of Trail
The trek to Island Peak takes more than 2 weeks to complete with a trail extending as far as 33.6 km from Lukla. Most of these paths are rough and meander through hills and valleys which is stressful and tiring. Apart from that, you’ll also have to walk the cliffs covered in snow. Hence you need to be physically fit in order to keep up with the pace and arrive at the summit.
