Island Peak Climbing with EBC

The Island Peak climbing with EBC trek is regarded to be challenging because of high altitude activities and the peak climbing. The Everest Base Camp section is moderate to strenuous – it will be either a 5 to 7 hour trek most days, with trekking on rocky mountain trails. The Island Peak summit ascent is more challenging, requiring the use of glaciers and steep snow and ice slopes with crampons and fixed ropes.

Though the climb is not technical, one needs a good stamina, mental strength, determination, and supported by your guides. On the whole, through adequate acclimatization and encouragement, fit beginners in climbing can complete this trek and climb. Island Peak is graded Alpine PD+, which means it involves steep snow slopes of 40–45° with fixed ropes and ladders.

The weather in the Everest region can be extreme and it is therefore important to make sure that you plan your Island peak climb with EBC trek within the correct season. The most appropriate seasons would be spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). The weather of these months is mostly sunny and with clear mountain views, and nights are cold but bearable.

During spring, lower trails are lined with flowering rhododendrons (below Namche), and the fall is cold and clear. There is heavy rain and clouds during monsoon (June-August) (so the trails are muddy and slippery and the flights are unpredictable), and in winter (December–February) the weather is very cold and icy, suitable only for experienced climbers with proper gear.

On the Island Peak climbing with EBC trek, you will be able to get nutritious meals in tea houses and camps that will ensure that you are energized. Common trekking food consists of dal bhat (rice and lentil curry), noodles, soups, momos (dumplings), pasta or porridge or pancakes breakfast. Several Teahouse menus are available with a combination of Nepali, Tibetan and a few western foods to provide to the international preferences.

Eating healthy to gain energy is important and being hydrated. Teahouses sell boiled water and local water can be treated through purification tablets or filters to get safe drinking water. To remain healthy throughout the trek, avoid using untreated tap water and use boiled and purified water.

A lot of trekkers carry the electrolyte packets to add to water to maintain hydration. Keep in mind that prices increase with altitude meals usually cost USD 5–15, especially at higher teahouses, and boiled or bottled water ranges from USD 1–3 per liter in higher villages. At Island Peak Base Camp, meals are prepared by expedition cook teams, not teahouses.

The altitude of this Island Peak climbing with EBC trek is very high and thus one of the major factors that need to be considered is the altitude sickness (Acute Mountain Sickness, AMS). The high altitudes that are above 3,000 m cause some of the trekkers to experience headaches, nausea, or shortness of breath as the body adapts to thinner air. Extra acclimatization days in Namche and Chhukung help prevent AMS and prepare for higher altitudes.

It is important to go up gradually, keep hydrated, and listen to your body. Your guides will watch over your well-being every day. Should the symptoms be more severe (severe headache, dizziness, no possibility to sleep), the only remedy is to go to a lower altitude. Being very careful of the altitude and not hurrying will make the trip to Everest Base Camp and Island Peak a much safer one. Remember that Island Peak summit day reaches over 6,000 m, where the risk of AMS is significantly higher than at Everest Base Camp, so extra caution and proper acclimatization is essential.

Your Island Peak with EBC trek will be a lot more fun with proper preparation. Begin training for cardiovascular endurance, leg strength, and hiking fitness a few months prior to your trip. Walking with a backpack and climbing up the stairs frequently or walking up a hill is great exercise, target to walk around 5-7 hours daily.

The strength of the core and both legs is useful in the long ascents and descents. Island Peak does not require any technical climbing experience, but there is an excellent opportunity to train some basic outdoor skills (such as the use of trekking poles or a few scrambling hikes) in case you have an opportunity. Most of all, come with a positive attitude and motivation- mental strength is as crucial as mountain fitness.

In the case of the majority of the travelers who are doing the Island Peak climbing with EBC Trek, Nepal tourist visa is easily obtained, you can get a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport. A 30-day tourist visa (approximately USD $50) is advisable in a 17 days journey. Moreover, this expedition needs a number of permits. A Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality permit, a Sagarmatha National Park entry permit, will be required to hike in the Everest area.

To climb the Island Peak, a climbing permit is required by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA). A TIMS card is not required in the Khumbu region, as the local rural municipality fee replaces it. When you book with a trekking company, they will usually get all the necessary permits arranged on your behalf. Always bring your passport and permit paperwork into the trail, since there are checkpoints (e.g., at Monjo and Dingboche) where you will need to present them.

Your safety is the top priority during the Island Peak climbing with EBC trek. Experience High-altitude trekking requires concern of health and environment. Go with qualified guides and listen to them – they are familiar with the path, the climatic conditions and how to cope with the altitude problem. It is important to keep clean: wash hands with a hand sanitizer, consume well-cooked food, and consume purified or boiled water not to get stomach diseases.

Take care on sharp or slippery parts of the path. Wear sunglasses and sunscreen to protect against sunburn or snow blindness at elevations where protection is essential. Emergency helicopter rescue requires travel insurance coverage. You can trek and climb safely and enjoy the adventure to the full by remaining alert and adhering to guidelines.

The adventure begins with a scenic 20–35 min flight to Lukla (often via Manthali/Ramechhap in peak seasons), the gateway to the Khumbu region and the starting point of your Island Peak climbing with EBC trek. The experience of this flight is in itself as you get aerial shots of the Himalayan mountain ranges as you land on a small mountainside runway.

Remember that the flights to Lukla are weather-dependent, and the flight can be delayed or canceled in case of insecure weather conditions, it is prudent to have a buffer day or contingency plan. In the trekking itself, you will be carried by your feet, since the area of the entire Everest Base Camp has no roads. You will walk all the way through villages, over suspension bridges across rivers, and on the rocky mountain roads. You will be flying back to Kathmandu at the end of the trek at Lukla.

It can be done but with a lot of patience to remain connected in the Everest region during the Island Peak climbing with EBC trek. NTC and Ncell networks work up to Namche and sometimes beyond, but signals fade higher up. There is no signal or it becomes spotty as you climb higher. Lots of teahouses have Wi-Fi, which is provided by a paid service (like Everest Link cards) allowing you to check messages or send home updates when you have the chance.

The internet bandwidth is however limited and may be slow at the times or even offline in remote areas. Don’t take heavy data usage into consideration- consider connectivity as an extra but not a given. You should notify the family that you may go offline days at a time. To stay in touch during emergencies, guides bring mobile or satellite phones along.

In case you want some variations of the Island Peak climbing with EBC trek, there are some options. Island Peak can also be done without Everest Base Camp for a shorter trip which will reduce the duration of the trip and will involve trekking.

Those who want even more adventure may combine the Three Passes Trek with Island Peak and add high alpine passes ( Kongma La, Cho La, Renjo La) to the tour. Finally, the regular Island Peak climbing with EBC trek is a good choice, however, there are numerous trekking and climbing variations in Nepal that you can choose to match your interests and time in case of spare time.

In the case of Island Peak climbing with EBC, personal expenses are not included in the trek package, so you should budget personal expenses. most trek packages include three meals per day on the trek. Clarify with your operator what meals are included and perhaps gear rentals or last-minute shopping in Kathmandu. Common optional expenses during the trek are snacks, beverages not included in the meals (e.g. chocolate bars, soft drinks, or coffee), bottled or boiled water and hot shower or battery charging at lodges.

Wi-Fi access might cost extra. Remember to tip your guide and porters at the end (tipping is customary as a way of good service). Moreover, you should have some money as an emergency in case of shopping souvenirs or other unplanned trips. Always carry Nepali rupees because shops and teahouses do not accept cards.

The official language of Nepal is Nepali though in the Everest region, a large number of the inhabitants in the region speak Sherpa (a dialect of Tibetan language). Trekking regions normally speak English and therefore you will not have much difficulty communicating with people in teahouses or even with guides and employees.

Your Sherpa guides usually have good English speaking and can even translate when dealing with villagers. It can be helpful to learn a few simple Nepali phrases (such as Namaste to say hello or Dhanyabad to say thank you). Trail communication can be quite straightforward and familiar, and a big smile can go a long way in case of a language barrier.

The high levels of the Himalayas have limited electricity and internet services, and thus you should prepare to charge your gadgets. Villages have tea houses that are typically solar or generator-powered and usually have a small fee (per hour or per device) to allow you to write to your phone, camera, or power bank.

The higher you ascend the higher the cost of charging – in Dingboche, Lobuche, or Island Peak Base Camp charging costs can range from NPR 300–600 (USD 2–5) per device. Bring an extra battery or a power bank (or a small solar charger) and recharge your devices whenever you can get the opportunity. Internet access is also poor – there are teahouses that provide paid Wi-Fi, although the connections are usually slow and unreliable.