Everest Base Camp & Island Peak | Island Peaks Expeditions

Everest Base Camp & Island Peak, Nepal

Two little words. They go round your head every night as you lay it down on your pillow and fall into a slumber. Base Camp.

If you’ve got the Everest itch, then you’re not alone. And on this trek to Base Camp, you’ll not only walk among giants and revel in the rugged power of the highest mountain in the world, but you’ll also test your limits on Everest’s little sister, Island Peak.

500 odd metres lower, Island Peak’s summit is the perfect place to go to next, if you’re not quite ready to tackle the peak of Everest herself. (And let’s face it, not many people are.)

On Island Peak’s summit at the end of Chukkung Valley, you’ll learn new climbing skills as you make your way up the steep snow and ice slopes. You’ll feel the challenge, but you’ll have a bloody good time too.

Want to take another step towards one day summiting the biggest mountain in the world?

This is your trek.

Find out more about Island Peak

Locals call it “Imja Tse” but it’s easier to get your mouth around “Island Peak” so that’s what we’ll go with. Either way, this ancient mountain was named because it looks like a mysterious island emerging from a sea of ice. And if you’re viewing it from the Sherpa village of Dingboche, it really does.

6189m above sea level, Island Peak sits just south of Everest in Sagarmatha National Park. It might be a couple of kilometres smaller than Everest herself, but boy is Island Peak mighty.

Back in 1956, the peak was successfully summited for the first time by two unknown Sherpas and a Swiss dude called Hans-Rudolf Von Gunten. (Next time you need to name anything, that’s got to be a contender.)

That’s when Island Peak became a worthy training exercise ahead of an Everest summit attempt. Like a mini-Everest in terms of its challenges, it’s definitely a hard climb, but the rewards are plenty.

Not only is the trek the perfect introduction to full alpine mountaineering, but it’s blooming beautiful too. From way up there, you’ll get spectacular views of the Himalayan giants: Everest, Lthose and Makalu.

And that’s what makes this version of the Everest Base Camp trek so special. Sure, you can do Base Camp alone. But if you’ve got the itch for a summit, that’s not going to satisfy it. By tacking on Island Peak to the end of the Base Camp trek, you’ll tick a whopper off your Bucket List and get that “peak feeling” at the same time.

So if you want to add some useful technical climbing skills to your armoury…

If you want to summit the Himalayas’ most ideal progression peak and get closer to achieving your dream of one day summitting Everest herself…

And if you want to take in the stunning silence and oceans of mountain scenery that only exist in Nepal…

This Everest Base Camp and Island Peak trek is for you.

Check out the itinerary, chuck any questions you have in our direction, book your spot and get ready to tick an incredible experience off your Bucket List.

If you don’t do it now, will you ever?