Island Peak

A Swotah representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfers you to your hotel in the Thamel or Lazimpat area of Kathmandu. Your guide meets you in the evening to brief you on the 18-day programme, check your climbing and trekking gear, and go through the permit paperwork. The NMA climbing permit, Sagarmatha National Park fee, Khumbu Pasang Lhamu fee and TIMS card are all arranged here. Overnight in Kathmandu at 1,400 m.

A guided morning visits the Kathmandu Valley's main heritage sites: Boudhanath Stupa, the largest stupa in Nepal at 36 m, the Swayambhunath hilltop complex and Pashupatinath temple on the banks of the Bagmati. The afternoon is free for gear rental or shopping in Thamel; the Namche equipment shops are more limited, so pick up any remaining items today. Swotah's guide checks rented mountaineering boots, crampons and harnesses at the hotel. Overnight in Kathmandu.

An early morning drive of roughly 4 to 5 hours on the Araniko Highway reaches Manthali (Ramechhap) airport, where the Lukla flight is shorter and less congested than from Tribhuvan. The Twin Otter flight to Lukla (2,845 m) takes about 20 minutes over forested ridges. From Lukla the trail descends beside the Dudh Kosi river through Chaurikharka and Ghat to Phakding (2,656 m), about 2 to 3 hours of easy walking on a well-graded path. This first afternoon is deliberately short to let your legs and lungs adjust after the early start. Overnight in Phakding.

Today's 5 to 6 hour walk to Namche Bazaar is one of the iconic approaches in Himalayan trekking. The trail crosses the Dudh Kosi on the large Hillary Suspension Bridge at around 2,800 m, with a brief view of Everest appearing at a notch in the ridge above Namche. A long, steep 600 m climb up pine-forested hillside reaches the horseshoe-shaped town of Namche Bazaar at 3,450 m. Here you will find well-stocked shops, a bakery, hot showers and reliable wi-fi, the last of all four until the return. This is where the permit checkpoint confirms your paperwork. Overnight in Namche Bazaar.

From Namche the trail contours east along the Imja Khola valley, passing the monastery-village of Khumjung and then climbing to Tengboche ridge at 3,860 m. The walk is 5 to 6 hours and gains around 400 m from Namche, with Ama Dablam (6,812 m) growing larger as the route turns south. Tengboche Monastery, the largest in the Khumbu and seat of the head lama of the region, sits at the top of the ridge with a direct view of the entire Khumbu massif. Arriving in the late afternoon allows time for the monastery grounds before the evening puja bell. Overnight in Tengboche at 3,860 m.

Tengboche to Dingboche is a 5 to 6 hour walk that crosses the Imja Khola at Pangboche (3,930 m) and then climbs the wide, wind-swept upper Imja valley to Dingboche (4,360 m). Pangboche has the oldest monastery in the Khumbu. Above the treeline after Pangboche the landscape becomes open grassland, and on a clear day the full south face of Lhotse is visible ahead. Dingboche sits between two valleys, the main Imja valley continuing to EBC and the Chhukung valley branching to Island Peak; you will return here from EBC. Today is the first real altitude step, so drink well and eat a solid supper. Overnight in Dingboche at 4,360 m.

Lobuche is a 4 to 5 hour walk from Dingboche via Dughla (4,620 m), the memorial cairn site for climbers lost on Everest. The trail climbs steeply from Dughla through the terminal moraine of the Khumbu Glacier to the narrow shelf of Lobuche (4,940 m) at the edge of the glacier. Wind picks up sharply on this exposed section. Lobuche has basic lodges and limited menu choice; a hot soup and carbohydrate meal in the evening is the standard. Above 4,500 m the effects of altitude are more pronounced for most people, and a gentle pace and early arrival are the priorities today. Overnight in Lobuche at 4,940 m.

After the highest day of the approach, today is a long but rewarding descent of about 5 to 6 hours back to Dingboche (4,360 m), retracing the glacier moraine past Lobuche and Dughla. The lower altitude of Dingboche provides real physiological recovery after two nights above 4,900 m, and most trekkers feel noticeably better at 4,360 m than at Gorakshep. Use the afternoon to eat a full meal and rest; the next two days move toward Island Peak Base Camp. The familiar Dingboche lodges offer a broader menu than Lobuche or Gorakshep. Overnight in Dingboche at 4,360 m.

Chhukung is a 2 to 3 hour easy walk east from Dingboche up the Imja valley, gaining 370 m to reach the small cluster of lodges at 4,730 m. The trail is straightforward, passing stone walls and grazing yaks on the valley floor with Lhotse's south face filling the skyline ahead. Chhukung is the last permanent settlement before Island Peak Base Camp; the lodges here are simple and the evening gets cold quickly, so organise all base camp gear this afternoon: double-check crampon fit, harness buckles and ascender function, and pack your summit kit into the daypack your porter will carry to base camp. Overnight in Chhukung at 4,730 m.

This rest day is also a mandatory skills session. Your Swotah climbing guide leads a 2 to 3 hour practice session on a nearby snow or ice slope, covering crampon walking on different angles, ice axe self-arrest, clipping and ascending a fixed rope with the jumar, and using the belay device for the descent. Even if you have some climbing experience, practising these techniques at 4,730 m under your guide's correction matters more than altitude fitness alone. The afternoon is free: a short hike toward Chhukung Ri (5,550 m) is an option for the energetic, though most clients rest, eat and acclimatise. Overnight in Chhukung at 4,730 m.

The descent from Chhukung to Tengboche is a long 5 to 6 hour walk that loses 870 m of altitude, and legs that climbed Island Peak the previous day will feel every metre. The route retraces through Dingboche and Pangboche, with the Khumbu peaks now behind you and the valley broadening as the altitude drops. Tengboche at 3,860 m feels significantly warmer and more oxygen-rich than anywhere you have slept since Namche. The monastery at dusk on the return is quieter than on the way up. Overnight in Tengboche at 3,860 m.

A 4 to 5 hour walk from Tengboche back to Namche Bazaar (3,450 m), largely downhill. The trail descends from the monastery ridge into the Dudh Kosi gorge and climbs back up to the horseshoe of Namche. With the summit behind you and the altitude dropping, this is one of the more relaxed days of the trip. Namche's cafes, bakeries and restaurants offer a celebration meal after the summit; the Sherpa community here has deep connections to Island Peak and the wider Khumbu climbing culture. Overnight in Namche Bazaar at 3,450 m.

The final walking day is 5 to 6 hours from Namche down the main trail to Phakding and up to Lukla (2,845 m), a straightforward descent of around 600 m with the Dudh Kosi below. Lukla in the evening has a lively collection of lodges and teahouses where Khumbu climbers and trekkers gather before the morning flights. Confirm the flight time with Swotah's logistics team and pack kit for the Kathmandu return. This is the last night at altitude. Overnight in Lukla at 2,845 m.

The morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu (or Manthali, then drive) departs weather-permitting, usually in the early morning window before cloud builds. The 20-minute flight back over the Khumbu foothills to the Kathmandu valley is a quiet close to the high-altitude work. A Swotah representative receives you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for a final meal, shopping or rest; Swotah arranges a certificate and trip summary dinner in the evening if requested. Overnight in Kathmandu at 1,400 m.

Your Island Peak climb ends today. A Swotah representative transfers you to Tribhuvan International Airport at the time arranged around your international departure. If you would like to extend your stay in Nepal, add another trek or a cultural tour, Swotah is glad to arrange it.