ISLAND PEAK & KYAJO RI COMBO EXPEDITION

A full expedition briefing covers both peaks — the route, camp structures, technical approach, safety protocols, and permit formalities for Island Peak and Kyajo Ri. You receive your Alpinist Climber Expeditions duffel bag, cap, and T-shirt. The afternoon is spent visiting Kathmandu's UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, and the medieval courtyards of Bhaktapur — before the flight to Lukla the following morning.

An early mountain flight from Kathmandu to Lukla (2,840m) takes approximately 35 minutes with clear views of the Himalayan arc in the morning light. In Lukla, the porter team is organized and loads distributed before the trek begins. The trail descends through pine forest along the Dudh Koshi River to Phakding — a steady introduction to the Khumbu on the first trekking day.

The trail crosses the Sagarmatha National Park checkpoint at Monjo before dropping to the confluence of the Dudh Koshi and Bhote Koshi rivers and climbing steeply for two hours to Namche Bazaar. The ascent gains roughly 600 metres and is the most physically demanding trekking day of the approach — but the first views of Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse that appear above the ridge as Namche is approached make the effort worthwhile.

A structured acclimatization day. A morning hike to the Everest View Hotel ridge at approximately 3,800m provides altitude exposure above Namche while the body begins adapting. The route passes through Khumjung village, where a yeti skull preserved in the monastery is one of the valley's more unusual attractions. Ama Dablam, Everest, Lhotse, and Nuptse are all visible from the ridge above — including the first clear view of Island Peak's position in the upper Chhukung Valley.

The trail leaves Namche and descends into the rhododendron forest before climbing through Tengboche — home to the most famous Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu — and continuing downhill to Diboche village. The monastery at Tengboche deserves a pause: the setting, with Ama Dablam rising directly behind, is one of the most photographed viewpoints in the Himalaya and one of the finest in person.

Above Diboche the valley opens up and the scale of the surrounding peaks becomes fully apparent. The trail crosses the Imja Khola and climbs steadily to Dingboche — a broad, open settlement at 4,410m where Lhotse's south face dominates the upper horizon. Island Peak is now visible in the upper left of the valley above Chhukung. The altitude makes itself felt here for the first time and the pace is deliberately steady.

A short but meaningful walk from Dingboche to Chhukung — the last permanent settlement in the upper Imja Valley and the staging point for Island Peak Base Camp. The terrain around Chhukung is raw glacial landscape: moraine ridges, turquoise glacial lakes, and ice-draped walls of Lhotse and Lhotse Shar rising to over 8,000 metres directly above. Island Peak's summit ridge is clearly visible from the village.

A serious acclimatization hike to the summit of Chhukung Ri at 5,546m — a rocky ridge above Chhukung that provides exceptional altitude exposure and one of the most panoramic views in the eastern Khumbu. The ascent takes three to four hours and the view from the top — Makalu, Baruntse, Ama Dablam, Lhotse, Everest, and Island Peak all visible simultaneously — gives the team its first real measure of what 5,500m feels like under exertion. The descent returns to Chhukung for the final night before Base Camp.

From Chhukung, the trail climbs steadily onto the moraine above the Imja Glacier to Island Peak Base Camp at 5,100m. The approach is a mix of rocky trail and glacial terrain, with the island-like form of the peak becoming more dramatic with every hundred metres gained. Tents are pitched at Base Camp, the team eats well and rests early — summit day begins before dawn.

The summit day begins in the early hours by headlamp. The route from Base Camp climbs steeply through the glacier basin to the base of the headwall — a sustained section of 45–50 degree snow and ice that is protected by fixed ropes. Crampons and jumar are in use from the bottom of the headwall, and this is where your IFMGA guide works most actively on technique — demonstrating efficient movement on fixed rope, managing pace and rest, and building the specific skills that will be needed on Kyajo Ri's upper mountain. The final snow ridge to the summit at 6,160m is exposed and rewarding, with Lhotse, Makalu, and Baruntse filling the southern horizon.

After celebrating the first summit, the team descends carefully back to Base Camp and continues down to Chhukung for the night. Reaching Chhukung with Island Peak behind you — and Kyajo Ri ahead — is a specific and satisfying moment in this expedition.

The team leaves the upper Chhukung Valley and begins the return west along the main Khumbu trail. The descent to Pangboche drops over 750m from Chhukung, and the lower altitude is immediately noticeable — warmer air, easier breathing, and the appetite returning properly. Pangboche's ancient monastery — one of the oldest in the Khumbu — is worth a brief visit before settling in for the evening.

The trail continues west through familiar terrain — the descent from Pangboche through Tengboche and back toward Namche Bazaar. The views of Ama Dablam, Nuptse, and Everest are as good on the return as on the approach, though they carry a different quality now — Kyajo Ri is above Thame, just around the ridge from Namche, and tomorrow's rest day is the calm before the second chapter of the expedition begins.

A full rest day in Namche Bazaar — the most well-equipped village in the Khumbu. The team rests, eats, and recovers between the two peaks. Namche has a bakery, a good selection of trekking shops, a local market on Saturdays, and Sherpa-owned restaurants with food far better than their altitude would suggest. The guide reviews the Kyajo Ri route and weather forecast, and the plan for Base Camp departure the following morning is confirmed.

The trail leaves Namche and heads northwest toward Thame — a quieter route than the main Everest corridor and noticeably less trafficked. Thame village sits above the valley floor below the great peaks of the Rolwaling range, and the trail to Kyajo Ri Base Camp climbs steeply above the village into the high ground. Base Camp at 4,550m is established with views back toward the Namche ridge and the Khumbu valley below. The Kyajo Ri summit ridge is visible above — steeper and more serious-looking than Island Peak's headwall.

The route from Base Camp climbs steeply through mixed terrain — a combination of rocky ground, snow slopes, and the first sections of technical ridge that characterize Kyajo Ri's approach. Camp 1 at 5,200m is well-positioned on a broad ledge on the lower ridge. From here, the upper mountain comes fully into view, and the technical character of what lies above Camp 2 is visible for the first time. Tents are established, a hot meal prepared, and the team rests with Camp 2 and the summit push ahead.

Above Camp 1, the terrain becomes distinctly more demanding. The route gains the main ridge through steep snow and some mixed ground — sections where the technical instruction from Island Peak's headwall pays direct dividends. Camp 2 at 5,700m sits on a narrow but sheltered position on the upper ridge, with the summit of Kyajo Ri visible a further 486 metres above. This is serious terrain at a serious altitude. The team rests carefully and eats well in preparation for the summit push.

A reserve day at Camp 2, built into every Kyajo Ri expedition. Weather on the upper mountain is unpredictable and the summit push cannot be safely attempted in poor visibility or high wind. This buffer day allows the team to wait for a clean window without compromising the timeline. All decisions are made by the expedition leader based on current weather data and route conditions. If conditions allow on Day 18, the team may summit and use Day 19 as the descent day.

The summit push from Camp 2 begins in the early hours. The upper ridge of Kyajo Ri involves the most demanding terrain of the expedition — sustained steep ground, exposed mixed sections, and the final push to the summit at 6,186m where the ridge opens onto a view that extends across the entire Khumbu, the Rolwaling, and deep into Tibet. Cho Oyu rises directly to the north. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and the full eastern arc of the Himalaya fill the horizon to the south and east.

This summit is the centrepiece of the expedition. Island Peak built the skills that make it achievable — and standing here, with Kyajo Ri beneath your feet and two summits in two weeks behind you, is an experience that marks a genuine step forward in a climbing career. After time at the top, the team descends carefully to Base Camp with a 1:1 Climbing Sherpa alongside each member throughout.

From Kyajo Ri Base Camp, the trail descends back through Thame to Namche Bazaar. The altitude drop is substantial and immediate — the body responds to it gratefully after days above 5,000m. Namche feels like a city by comparison after the high camp, and the evening is a chance to decompress, eat a proper meal, and reflect on the second of the two summits.

An early start for the long descent to Lukla — the trail follows the Dudh Koshi Valley downstream through Phakding and the familiar forest of the lower Khumbu. The flight from Lukla to Kathmandu returns the team to the capital in the mid-morning, and the afternoon is free for rest, shopping in Thamel, or a final exploration of the city. The farewell dinner in the evening is a proper celebration of a 22-day expedition, two 6,000-metre summits, and everything it took to reach them.

Private airport transfer is arranged for your outbound flight. The Island Peak and Kyajo Ri Combo Expedition concludes — 22 days, two summits, and a technical progression through the Khumbu that very few climbers experience in a single trip.