Join us for a climb and trek of famous Island Peak, Imja Tse, easy trekking peak in 2006, 2007, and 2008. When you see the high level of service we provide, as well as low budget options, you may agree that the cost is affordable, inexpensive, even cheap.

We welcome you to visit our new Island Peak website. There is more thorough information about the trip, slideshows, photo galleries, video clips and much more. Thank you.

In just five additional days, this may be the fastest, most enjoyable, and most affordable way to test yourself and see how you feel at 6000 metres (20,000 feet). Also a fine way to get up-close to the high peaks around Mount Everest.

Island Peak at the end of the valley, an easy walk from from Dingboche Village along the Everest Trek at 4412 metres (14, 500 feet).

A fun and easy, exciting, and beautiful trekking peak near Everest. Its a great trek to this mountain, known as Imja-Tse or Imja Tse at 6189 metres (20,300 feet).

Full Service Cost: $850, Ł450, €550. Add-on to one of our Nepal Everest basecamp treks.

18-22 October, 15-19 April, 18-22 May. Five additional days added to our Everest basecamp trek, for a total of 22 days in Nepal.

Only a few places are left for our 2008 Autumn treks and climbs. Please book now or sign on for 2009.

Price includes sherpas, guides, ropes, cooks, food, and accommodation in tents.

When you see the high level of service we provide, as well as low budget options, you may agree that the cost is affordable, inexpensive, even cheap.

Ms. Elselien te Hennepe, looking out into the Imja Tso Lake on the left of the photo on our October 2005 trek. Behind her, on the right side of the photo is Island Peak basecamp at 5100 meters (16,728 feet) (DL Mazur).

Island Peak high camp at 5500 metres (18,000 feet) on our October 2005 trek. We use this high camp for added safety, a more relaxed climb, and additional acclimatization and time in case of bad weather (it snowed during our October 2005 climb, but because we used the high cmp we still made it to the top), to ensure we will reach the summit at an un-rushed pace with plenty of time to spare. In the background is the Imja Glacier at 5000 metres (DL Mazur).

Walking roped up in total safety on the upper Imja Glacier at 5770 metres (19,000 feet) on our October 2005 trek. Just a few metres below here the glacier has receded and there is an easy trail on a rocky slope (DL Mazur).

Our team reaching the summit at 6189 metres (20,300 feet) on our October 2005 trek. We had perfect weather for the final walk up the 34 degree slope which is about 200 metres (650 feet) high. In the background, you can see another team starting the climb and a few people on the valley floor (DL Mazur).

Two of our 2005 trek members: Kristof Wielicki from Poland and Dan Mazur from Seattle and Bristol, on the summit during a beautiful warm day in October 2005. Thats Nuptse and Lhotse in the background. Lhotse is the fourth highest peak in the world, located on the shoulder of Everest (Elselien te Hennepe).

Our team on the summit on a beautiful sunny day on our October 2005 trek: Ms Elselien te Hennepe, Lakpa Kongle Sherpa, Kandu Sherpa, and Nima Dolma Sherpa. By the way, Lakpa Kongle Sherpa has led 25 climbs of Island Peak. Thats Makalu, the world's 4th highest peak, in the background (DL Mazur).

In just five days, Island Peak is probably the easiest and most affordable way for you to obtain high-altitude experience and see how you feel at 6000 metres (20,000 feet). Its also a beautiful place to take an up-close look at the high peaks around Everest.

OUR TREK LEADERSHIP TEAM: Dan Mazur is our trek organizer. He has led and organized more than 25 treks and expeditions to Everest, Ama Dablam, Pumori, Mount Kailash, Kilimanjaro, Mouunt Kenya, and many others. He has recently been running our Glacier Schools.

Interested? Please contact us: Info@SummitTrek.com

Island peak affords an excellent opportunity to go high, but the actual climbing part of the trip is limited to just a few hours of walking roped up on snow. Our trek departs from the Everest trail at Dingboche, then up to the village of Chukkung, and then onto basecamp and high camp. The trail to the summit is a good one, on rocks and scree. Then we take out our ice-axe and put on our crampons for the final few hours of walking roped-up on the snow slopes to the summit. Once there, we can be treated to some very awe inspiring views of the 4 highest peaks in the world!

* Our “full-service” trek-climb includes:

1. Trek Organizer: Daniel Mazur, trekking in the Khumbu valley since 1991.

2. Nepalese Sherpa-English speaking guides for the group (we are also able to provide Sherpa French and German speakers);

3. Return round-trip domestic flights for you and your baggage;

4. Yak and porter transport for all your equipment from Lukla to and from to your final destination on the trek and back down;

5. Three meals per day during the trek, normally these may be cooked, but sometimes, during trekking, they may be a "packed-lunch".

6. All permit fees, trekking fees, climbing fees and liaison officers;

7. Emergency equipment and supplies: medical oxygen, gamow bag, basecamp medical kit, high-altitude medical kits, etcetera;

8. All group equipment like ropes, anchors, tents, stoves, etcetera.

9. Sleeping arrangements will be in comfortable and roomy tents while camping, or in comfortable bunks in teahouses;

What is not included?

A. Hotels and meals in Kathmandu are a minimal expense, with our chosen Nepa Hotel (http://www.hotelnepaintl.com/) costing $20 for a single and $30 for a double. Three large western-style meals a day might cost $20, including beverages, etcetera. There are numerous delicious restaurants and cafes within a few minutes walk of our hotel.

B. Your visa is best obtained at the Kathmandu airport upon arrival. In October of 2005 the cost was $30 for a 60 day visa.

C. Additional expenses like bottled or canned drinks on the trek, tips and gratuities, and expenses of a personal nature (ie: laundry or gift shopping) are not included.

IS THIS TRIP FOR YOU

The Trek and Climb is suitable for anyone of reasonable fitness.

TREKKING STYLE

We will be totally self-sufficient. We will have our own cook who will prepare all our meals, and we will camp in tents through out the whole trek. Food on the trek consists of local fresh food. All your luggage will be carried by porters except for a small day pack. Each day's hiking-climbing is not too long (3-8 hours) allowing time to enjoy the scenery, take photos and meet the local people.

SOME FACTS ABOUT ISLAND PEAK

Island Peak is also known as Imja-Tse or Imja Tse at 6189 metres (20,300 feet).It was named by Eric Shipton in 1952 and first climbed by members of the British 1953 expedition. Its probably one of the easiest and fastest ways to reach 6000 metres (20,000 feet) in all of Nepal.

Suggested Itinerary

1. On the first day, you will branch off from our standard Everest basecamp trek on day 12 of that trek, and this evening we plan to stay in the lovely village of Pheriche at 4250 metres (14,000 feet) with its many temples.

2. We will take a leisurely walk up to Chukkung Village today at 4700 metres (15,500 feet).

3. Today we will go up to Island Peak basecamp at 5100 meters (16,728 feet). The trail follows gently along the moraine of the massive Imja glacier.

4. Today we walk up hill for about two hours up to Island Peak high camp at 5500 metres (18,000 feet). We will go to bed early today so we can rest for the approaching climb.

5. We will wake up in the middle of the night and slowly and carefully head for the top at 6189 metres (20,300 feet). The trail is mostly on stones and rocks. Only the last few hundred metres are on snow and we will be roped together, using all safety precautions. That morning, after taking our summit photos, we will walk down to Chukkung, slowly, resting quite a bit, stopping for lunch, hot drinks, etcetera.

6. Today we will make a relaxed walk down to Pangboche.

7. We will walk back to the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar.

8. Walking down from Namche to Lukla.

9. Return flight to Kathmandu.

10. Extra Day of Rest and Celebration in Kathmandu. Do take a taxi out to Bhaktapur if you wish to visit an impressive temple city.

11. Flight Home. Good Bye everyone, it was nice meeting you!

Rhododendron Tree near Monjo. Trekking in the Khumbu, on the way down to Lukla. D.L.Mazur

Interested? Please contact us: Info@SummitTrek.com