Lobuche & Island Peak Climbing -28 days

We receive you at Kathmandu airport on arrival to Nepal. We wait at airport in Nepal with your Name and drive to Hotel. The afternoon is at leisure. A pre-trek briefing will be given in evening together with your trek tour guide.

A group meeting with gear check will be held and at this time any necessary items will be hired or purchased. A group sightseeing tour has been arranged, taking to the key attractions of Kathmandu like Swoyambhunath stupa and Kathmandu durbar square.

Take 30 minutes scenic flight to Lukla and trek to Phakding for 3/4 hours. It is a wonderful trekking day on the land of wonderful landscapes and cultures.

Trek on busy trail, never ending trail of yaks and people; local traders, commuters and trekkers, all making their way up to or down from the busy market of Namche Bazaar. Trekking will take 6/7 hours on upon and down trek trail. Morning part of the trek is comparatively easy than the final part of the trekking is goes steep uphill from the confluence of Bhote kosi and dudh koshi river to Namche.

A day in Namche is an important part of our acclimatization process and can be used to explore the area. It is our first opportunity to see Mt Everest, as well as many other peaks of the region. As we trek higher over the coming weeks we will see these peaks and many more from differing perspectives. Hiking to Everest view hotel and Khumjung village could be the good option for acclimatize day in Namche.

Trek on gradually flat trail to Sansa and then trek steep uphill to Mongla. Trek down to Portse Tenga. Crossing the river, we leave trekking groups and yak trains behind, and climb steadily up through fine forest of silver birch, fir and rhododendron toward Phortse. In this region more fauna is likely to be spotted than perhaps anywhere else in Khumbu; look out for pheasant, Nepal national bird, blood pheasant, musk deer and Himalayan thar.

This true left bank of the Dudh Kosi and Gokyo Valley is steep, spectacular and little travelled, making for good adventure trekking. As we follow high yak herder’s trails to the head of the valley, we gain a good view across to Kyajo Ri (6186m) and rocky peaks that run parallel to us as well as the continuum of villages beneath them servicing the main trail and used in the summer for grazing by the farmers of Khumjung and Khunde.

We continue traversing the slopes, passing through small clusters of forest and smaller shrubs of juniper and dwarf rhododendron and to an expanse of braided streams that flow down from the immense Ngozumpa glacier and associated mountains.

A day is set to rest and make a side trip up to Gokyo RI peak. This is one of the prettiest locations of the Khumbu, a succession of azure blue glacial lakes set beneath towering, rugged peaks dusted in snow, and tremendous views attained from slopes above Gokyo. The one to one and a half hour hike up Gokyo RI beside the village and the large Gokyo Lake is well worth the effort for our first panoramic Himalayan views. In clear weather there are good views across to Mt Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse and close by; Mt Cho Oyu.

Trek on moraine and glacier to Drangnag, it takes 4/5 hours walk.Taking our ascent rate steadily, we follow the main trail towards the Cho La pass, up rolling grassy slopes and then moraine to a camp at 5200 metres. We are situated in a pretty side valley opposite the Cho La.

We start early to take advantage of the firm snow conditions and what are usually the most stable weather conditions. It may take us approximately 4/5 hours to reach the saddle of this glaciated pass and we are rewarded with expansive views. The crossing is not technical but good boots, gaiters and a walking pole are useful. As we cross the pass we enter the Khumbu valley and a whole new vista of peaks, the near vertical north aspects of Cholatse and Taweche, Ama Dablam, Makalu off in the distance and Lobuche East rearing up to our north. The descent is not quite as steep as the climb and snowier to begin with, as we follow a glacier down to its terminus before the valley drops off steeply in a series of glacier-polished cliffs that somehow allow us through quite easily.

At our Base camp now, we are able to pull out all our climbing gear; sort and check it, and rehearse and revise techniques we will use on the climb. Your guide will coordinate these activities to ensure everyone is completely conversant in procedures and correctly equipped. It will only be necessary to take personal gear for the climb with you up to the high camp, and this will include your sleeping bag and mattress. Group gear, such as tents, food, fuel and group climbing equipment/ropes etc will be carried up by some of our porters and staff. The remainder of gear will be stored at base camp where some of our staff will also stay until our return.

Trek up to a high camp and it should take us about four hours to climb up and some snow to the site of high camp. We are set on a small expanse of snow or rock, above a deep, blue lake and close to the mountain. Here tents are shared so as to keep the load numbers down and it’s early to bed for a very early alpine start.

An early start at around 2.30am, climb the south East Ridge, which is a mixture of moderately steep snow and ice. Where necessary, we fix ropes along the route. We ascend steadily to a plateau at around 6000m, and then traverse around to an exposed ridge, which we will follow to the summit slopes. Approximately six hours of steady climbing brings us to the far eastern summit. From here it is a steady climb along the summit ridge towards the east summit, which for us marks our summit. The main summit is not far in distance but requires some technical climbing which is normally beyond the ability of novice climbers, certainly in terms of the time it would take. This final section of the climb is not for the faint-hearted, as there are huge drops on both sides, so this section will definitely be fixed with a rope. From the top we are well rewarded with superb views across to Ama Dablam , Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Nuptse, Changtse (in Tibet) Pumori, Gyachung Kang, Cho Oyu and the myriad peaks to the west and south. After a full day climbing, we retrace our steps back to High Camp, pack up, then with weary legs head down to base camp. The day climb could be anywhere between ten and fifteen hours, depending on conditions and our progress.

Today has been a set aside as a contingency day.

A lovely day trekking down and along some very scenic Himalayan valleys. We trek past the turquoise Chola Lake, beneath the peak of Taweche and cross the trail that leads to Everest base camp at Dughla where we cut across to Dingboche in the valley of the Imja Khola. Chukung is an old settlement, about 2/3 hour’s walk past Dingboche.

Moving up the Imja valley, between Ama Dablam, Lhotse and a panorama of other peaks, we ascend onto lateral moraine to a camp in an ablation valley above the normal base camp for the climb.

Climb steeply up the lower flanks of the south-east face. The track is well used as this is a popular peak. At times there is a bit of rock scrambling and the rocky spur takes us to a snow ramp that leads to the upper snow fields. The peaks of Makalu and Lhotse come into view as we climb higher. Upon crossing the upper neve, it is necessary to fix ropes up a short but steep ice face that leads on to the summit ridge. The summit ridge is a classic alpine ridge and quite exposed, (we fix ropes here also) and traverse our way to the summit. It provides a magnificent vantage point to all the peaks south of the stupendous Lhotse face. After some exhilarating moments on the summit we descend by the same route to our base.

Although we are now on our return journey to Lukla, there should be time to make a side trip to the Kongma La pass and Pokhalde peak, for further spectacular views across the Khumbu. Today is an easy day descending the Imja valley from base camp, through Chukkung village to Bibre. Ama Dablam is immediately opposite us, with Pokhalde immediately above.

Trekking directly up the grassy slopes above our camp, we gain even more stunning views across to Ama Dablam and its north face. It is also a good vantage point of Island Peak and an opportunity to observe our route on the mountain; with Lhotse and Nuptse above. It will take us about a half day to reach a camp, set about 100 metres below Kongma La near a lake. If time allows, there is a small glacier about one hour away, where we can do some ice climbing.

Our program is flexible today, with the general aim being to trek and scramble to the summit of Pokhalde. It should take us approx 2/3 hrs to reach the top with the last section probably requiring some fixed ropes. The views are superb; 360 degrees of Himalayan peaks and directly down the Dudh Kosi valley. Descent should take us 1 to 1.5hrs and back into camp for lunch.

Now we are really on our way home. We descend from our camp to the main valley, and then trek down through yak pastures and tundra to Pangboche.

Descending the valley further down and then climb through an enchanting sub-alpine forest and lovely clearings where yaks graze to Tengboche where there is a large well kept monastery after which the location is named. The trail then winds down through chir pine to the river once again and trek up to Namche bazzar. Namche is the principal town in Khumbu, and it is an opportunity to explore the markets and watch the activity.

We descend the slopes of Namche to the Dudh Kosi joining the main trail to follow at riverside through numerous villages to Phakding.

On crossing the bridge, we trek a short distance up and around, to the broad flat spur that Lukla lies upon. The last night is always memorable for an end of trip celebration with all the crew and porters.

This morning, fingers crossed, we fly to Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure, relax or explore and shop in the town.

Spend leisure free day in Kathmandu. You could have either shopping or tour in Katmandu like visiting Patan and Bhaktapur durbar square. In the evening join at farewell dinner at typical Nepali restaurant with culture program.

The trip ends and we take you to Kathmandu airport to catch your onwards flight.