Island Peak

At 6,189m, Imja Tse is situated at the head of the Imja Khola valley. Surrounded by a sea of ice in the eastern Khumbu, the view from the summit is one of the most spectacular anywhere in the world. Nuptse (7,879m), Lhotse (8,501m), Lhotse Middle Peak (8,410m) and Lhotse Shar (8,383m) form an immense semi circle in the north, and to the east, Makalu (8,875m) towers above its neighbors.

Following a few days in Kathmandu, we commence the expedition with a flight to Lukla, a small mountain airstrip deep in the Khumbu. We then set off towards the capital of the region – ‘Namche Bazaar’, with its bustling market and great bakeries. We stop here for a day’s acclimatization

Beyond Namche, we follow the classic Everest trail, along the Dudh Khosi and then into the Imja Khola. Passing Sherpa villages, monasteries and temples we head on through forest of rhododendron and dwarf firs until we reach the alpine meadows above the tree line. With plenty of acclimatization time built into the program, we make our way steadily in a northerly direction to the Khumbu glacier and our first destination – ‘Kala Pattar’. We gain unsurpassed views of Mount Everest from here, and build up strength for the second leg of our journey.

Retracing our steps down the Khumbu glacier and beyond to Dingboche, we rejoin the Imja Khola and head east to its source, and to our base camp near Pareshaya Gyab (5,070m). Although we could summit Imja Tse and return comfortably in a day, we spend the next few days exploring this remote corner of Sagamartha National Park. Establishing a high camp at 5,640m, we prepare for the highlight of the trip. Using crampons and ropes, we climb snow slopes and cross glaciers on our final push to the summit. The final climb to the summit is steep, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Standing on the summit, dramatic views fill our field of vision in all directions.

Retracing our steps to the Imja Khola, we descend back to Namche Bazaar with a spring in our step. The loss in altitude and increased supply of oxygen, coupled with our greater level of fitness gives us a great feeling as we head back to the airstrip at Lukla.

The Imja Tse expedition is a highly accessible adventure into the grandest mountain range on earth, offering unsurpassed views and a perfect introduction to Himalayan climbing.

Trip Overview