Luxury Island Peak Climbing with Helicopter Return

The best seasons for Island Peak climbing with helicopter return are the windows opened during the spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) seasons in Nepal.

The benefit of these two seasons are their offerings of clear visibility and low wind speeds, which are crucial for helicopter fly-out, particularly from Chhukung to Kathmandu.

Among spring and autumn, spring is the climber’s favorite as the snow on higher altitudes becomes more compact and stable, allowing for excellent crampon traction necessary for the headwall and summit ascent of the peak.

Autumn is the second favorite among climbers, which also offers highly stable and dry weather necessary for high altitude helicopter flights. Also, you will have the exceptional visibility of all the high Himalayas of the Everest region.

Winter (December to February) offers very beautiful, clear skies, but the season is also characterized by sub-zero temperatures and violent high altitude winds, so extra caution is needed if you choose to climb the Island Peak in this season.

As for monsoon/summer between June and August, heavy rains, thick fog, and dense clouds can often be the factors for flight delays or cancellations. The climbing route will also be riskier due to increased rockfall and avalanches.

Island Peak is categorized as a 2B summit with an alpine grade of PD, indicating that climbing the summit is a semi-technical and slightly challenging expedition.

The challenges that may occur during our luxury Island Peak climbing are:

• Risk of Acute Mountain Sickness
• Grueling long hike (9 to 10 hours) and climb during the summit day, which begins around 1 to 2 AM in a freezing, pitch-black mountain environment
• Loose rock, scree, and icy terrain on the trail leading to the summit
• Skill to use actual mountain climbing gear and techniques
• Navigation of Imja Glacier wearing crampons and carrying an ice axe
• Crossing of deep crevasses using ladders
• Vertical 100 m vertical Headwall of the Island Summit

Therefore, our Island Peak climbing with helicopter return adventure requires true physical strength, basic mountaineering skills, and excellent mental resilience.

Although we have made our Island Peak climbing with helicopter return an elite and high-end adventure with maximum comfort and efficiency, reducing the physical strain, this doesn’t change the fact that Island Peak is not a walk-up peak.

There still remain a few technical sections on the way to the summit that will test your endurance and basic mountaineering skills. Some of those technical challenges that this summit throws in your way are:

• Crossing the Imja Glacier

On the way to the Island Summit, you will have to navigate the vertical slope of the Imja Glacier using rope, crampons, and an ice axe.

• Crevasses

The depth of the crevasses depends on the season you choose to climb the summit. However, they are still there, which you need to traverse using the aluminium ladder while wearing crampons. This task needs excellent mental composure, balance, and surefooting.

• Headwall

This is the main technical section of the Island summit, which stands as a sharp vertical 100 m wall of ice and snow inclined at a 45 to 60 degree angle.

For tackling this section, you need to use a jumar and fixed ropes, for which you must have strong upper body and core strength.

• Summit Ridge

The next technical challenge is the summit tip itself, which is a narrow, exposed, knife-like ridge. Here, you must have a steady footing and be able to cope with the crisp mountain wind.

• Descend from the summit

Equally difficult and technical is the long descent from the summit top. Once again, you will have to rappel down the headwall and re-traverse the sheer wall of Imja glacier to reach the base camp of the Island Peak.

Our luxury Island Peak climbing with heli return is no doubt a slightly difficult mountain expedition. But with the combination of luxury and helicopter return, this has made this expedition accessible and achievable to all fit trekkers and beginner climbers.

However, you must have already engaged in Annapurna, Everest, or other multi-day mountain treks in Nepal. If you have basic mountaineering skills for using the necessary gear, it will be an added advantage.

Our Sherpa climbing guide will provide a mandatory pre-climb training session when you are at Island Peak Base Camp. So if you are looking to experience the thrill of a 6000 m Himalayan peak in Nepal, then our Island Peak climbing with helicopter return expedition is made for you.

Even if you are busy, the program will fit your schedule perfectly as you will be bypassing the strenuous return trek to Lukla with our helicopter, taking you back straight to Kathmandu from Chhukung.

However, if you are highly sensitive to high altitude, cannot cope with multi-day hikes, are afraid of flying, and have a serious illness related to the heart and lungs, then you must have a medical consultation before joining our Island Peak climbing with helicopter return expedition.

The probability of developing AMS during our Island Peak climbing with helicopter return is high, which is estimated between 50 and 70 percent even after following the standard acclimatization plan (rest days in Namche and Chhukung).

The mild symptoms of AMS usually occur during the ascending section of the summit. First, you will be trekking through 4000 to 5000 m altitude of the Khumbu Valley, then you will cope with the physical exertion when climbing the 100 m vertical Headwall of the summit.

Thus, the thin Himalayan air and less oxygen can cause mild symptoms of AMS such as headache, fatigue, nausea, and drowsiness. However, you will be flying directly back to Kathmandu from Chhukung, which means you will be at sea level in under an hour.

This return will therefore immediately vanish the AMS symptoms due to high oxygen levels.

So, if you want to keep the AMS occurrence as close to 0 percent, then you must gradually ascend, drink a minimum of 4 liters of water when trekking and climbing, integrate lemon and garlic into your daily diet, keep away from alcohol and sleeping pills, and, under medical advice, use Diamox.

Rest assured, our Sherpa climbing guides are well-trained on AMS and first aid treatment, while our crew will also be carrying supplemental oxygen to administer when needed.

Kindly understand that Island summit, although a trekking peak, its ascent still requires serious physical strength, semi-technical skills, and sharp mental readiness.

Thus, to ready yourself for this serious Himalayan expedition, you must have the following training and preparation that should begin 3 to 6 months before your luxury Island Peak climbing expedition:

• Cardiovascular Training, such as long-distance running, mountain trail hiking, cycling, and swimming. Practice for around an hour, 4 to 5 times a week.
• Endurance and climbing training with stairs, long hikes, steep climbs over the hills, and carrying backpacks weighing at least 10 to 15 kg.
• Leg and core strength training with activities such as squats, lunges, and planks, which you should incorporate in your routine 2 to 3 times a week.
• Basic technical skills of using crampons, ice axe, ascending fixed rope using jumar, rappelling and abseiling, and crossing a ladder over crevasses.
• Practice deep breathing techniques to reduce the probability of AMS
• Mentally be ready to expect the discomforts during the journey, such as helicopter flight delays, an extra night in the mountain lodge in case of bad weather

Depending on your time availability, fitness level, budget, and acclimatization preferences, you can add various extensions and variations to your Island Peak climbing with helicopter return expedition. Some of the options that we suggest are:

• Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar trek, which is the most popular extension in the Khumbu Valley. The route that follows will lead you from Lukla to Everest Base Camp and Kala Patthar. Then, the return will guide you to Chhukung village via Dingboche, from where you will approach the summit.
• The Kongma La Pass crossing option is made for adventurers, which will offer you the opportunity to tackle one of the famous three passes of Everest. When you select this variation, you will reach EBC and then trek down to Lobuche, cross the Kongma La Pass (5535 m), and reach Chhukung.
• Double Peak attempt with ascent of both Island and Lobuche peaks, from which you will follow the route to EBC, climb the Lobuche peak, and then descend to Chhukung to attack Island peak.
• Enjoy the full trekking trail of Island Peak, eliminating the helicopter flight on return.

For our luxury Island peak climbing with heli return, we have focused highly on your comfort, hygiene, and nutrition to support you during the high-altitude demands.

For accommodation, in Kathmandu, we have arranged for you at the five-star Aloft or the Arya boutique hotel, including breakfast before and after your expedition.

On the trail of Phakding and Namche, your overnights are arranged in the finest available luxury comfort mountain lodges such as Yeti Mountain Home. Here, you will get a private attached bathroom along with hot running showers.

In Chhukung, Dingboche, and Tengboche, we will organize your overnight stays in the best available standard teahouses. Here, you may have to share bathrooms due to limited availability and remote location.

Similarly, during your stay in Island Base Camp, we will provide you with high-quality cold-resistant double-sharing sleeping tents supplied with thick mattresses, blankets, and pillows. You will have separate dining, sleeping, and toilet tent set-ups.

The tents will be supplied with solar generators for your charging and reading.

As for meals, all standard meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) are fully covered during the trek and climb.  At base camp, our kitchen crew will prepare fresh meals that focus on your high-carbohydrate needs. We will also offer fresh seasonal fruits as part of dinner.

We will also provide you with hot beverages such as tea and coffee during breakfast and dinner at the lodges and base camp. Boiled and purified water will also be provided daily.

However, we do not offer you alcoholic beverages, sodas, or snacks during the journey.

Similarly, for your transportation during our Island Peak climbing with helicopter return, we will provide you with our private VIP transfers via air-conditioned vehicle for all your airport arrivals and departures.

On your extra day in Kathmandu, we can also arrange a fully private guided tour of the city.

For your Lukla transfer, a domestic flight from Kathmandu or Ramechhap will also be looked after in advance. Likewise, on your return, a private or shared shuttle will fetch you directly from Chhukung to Kathmandu.

Note:

On request, we can also upgrade you to an exclusive private charter flight during your return, so no outside passengers are on board.

Our Island Peak climbing with helicopter return expedition requires certain mandatory permits so we can legally and without any interference cross through the Khumbu Valley and ascend the Island Summit.

As your trusted travel partner, Life Himalaya Trekking will handle the cost and all administrative procedures for the expedition on your behalf.

The permits that we need for our luxury Island Peak climbing adventure are:

• Island Peak climbing permit: The authority that issues this permit is Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), which will charge $350 USD per foreign climber for spring and $175 USD per foreign climber for the rest of the seasons (autumn, winter, and summer/monsoon).
• Sagarmatha National Park Permit: The issuing authority of this permit is Nepal Tourism Board, which will charge NPR 3,000 along with 13% VAT per foreign climber, NPR 1500 per SAARC National, and NPR 100 per Nepali trekker.
• Khumbu Pasang Lhamu regional permit: This local municipality permit is issued by the local Government of Khumbu Municipality in Lukla and charges NPR 2000 per traveller.
• NMA Garbage deposit of a $500 USD refundable deposit per group is also required for climbing the Island Peak. Once you safely deposit all your waste as specified in the designated garbage disposal units at base camp, this deposit will be refunded to you.

Kindly understand that for our Island Peak climbing with helicopter return expedition, you must buy a specialized high-altitude mountaineering insurance policy, and you must submit a copy of this policy for us to organize the essential permits for the journey.

When purchasing your insurance policy for this expedition, please ensure it has the following important coverage:

• Technical trekking and mountaineering at altitudes up to 6500 m
• Technical climbing coverage for group B peaks that clearly mentions the usage of alpine gear
• Emergency helicopter search and rescue
• Miscellaneous for theft, baggage and gear loss or damage, expedition cancellation, and flight delays, probable extra nights during the journey

Please note that you must also provide us with the 24/7 Emergency International Assistance Hotline Number as well, so we can instantly coordinate with your insurance provider to cover the cost for your emergency helicopter rescue without any delay.