Mountain Hawk Trek
Season Calendar: Island Peak

The Island Peak Year

Two windows a year: April to May and October to November, when the headwall holds good ice and the Base Camp acclimatization does its job. Winter is a cold-experienced climb only; monsoon is off.

Island Peak, the year at a glance
The short answer

When to climb Island Peak Climbing

April, May, October and November are prime season. March is good with caveats. September is shoulder season. January, February, June, July, August and December are the tough months. Every month below opens a full report: temperatures at real waypoints, trail and summit conditions, crowd levels, flights and what we advise.

Prime seasonGood conditionsShoulder seasonTough season
  1. JanuaryTough seasonDeep winter climb: brutal High Camp cold, cheapest permit, experienced only-1 to 3°Cday, Chukhung-18 to -23°Cnight, Island Peak High CampQuietcrowds
  2. FebruaryTough seasonLate winter: still brutal at High Camp, but the season begins to loosen0 to 4°Cday, Chukhung-15 to -20°Cnight, Island Peak High CampQuietcrowds
  3. MarchGood conditionsSpring opens: warming days, softening ice, the season’s real start2 to 7°Cday, Chukhung-12 to -17°Cnight, Island Peak High CampModeratecrowds
  4. AprilPrime seasonPeak spring window: best headwall snow, EBC in full tent-city bloom4 to 9°Cday, Chukhung-9 to -14°Cnight, Island Peak High CampBusycrowds
  5. MayPrime seasonHistorically the strongest month: warmer nights, thinning crowds, rising haze6 to 11°Cday, Chukhung-6 to -11°Cnight, Island Peak High CampModeratecrowds
  6. JuneTough seasonMonsoon arrives: we do not run the climb; the trail turns green and quiet8 to 12°Cday, Chukhung-2 to -6°Cnight, Island Peak High CampQuietcrowds
  7. JulyTough seasonDeep monsoon: no summit attempts run; wettest month on the whole route9 to 12°Cday, Chukhung0 to -4°Cnight, Island Peak High CampQuietcrowds
  8. AugustTough seasonMonsoon continues, easing late; still no summit attempts scheduled9 to 12°Cday, Chukhung-1 to -4°Cnight, Island Peak High CampQuietcrowds
  9. SeptemberShoulder seasonThe hinge month: monsoon tail early, the autumn window opening late6 to 10°Cday, Chukhung-4 to -8°Cnight, Island Peak High CampModeratecrowds
  10. OctoberPrime seasonThe classic autumn window: firm headwall, clearest air, busiest fixed rope4 to 9°Cday, Chukhung-9 to -14°Cnight, Island Peak High CampPeakcrowds
  11. NovemberPrime seasonAutumn thins out: October clarity, colder High Camp, real solitude1 to 6°Cday, Chukhung-13 to -18°Cnight, Island Peak High CampBusycrowds
  12. DecemberTough seasonWinter returns: brilliant skies, hard cold, a holiday bump then quiet0 to 4°Cday, Chukhung-16 to -21°Cnight, Island Peak High CampLightcrowds
Other treks and climbs, month by month
Everest Base CampAnnapurna Base CampGhorepani Poon HillLangtang ValleyAnnapurna CircuitMera Peak
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Island Peak Climbing

19 days6,189m (Island Peak summit)Prime: Apr, May, Oct, Nov
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Nepal trekking season 2026

Some mountains
don't wait

Permits close. Weather windows narrow. The best Everest region teahouse beds fill by October, and spring season opens again in March. Our Kathmandu team is already booking for autumn. If you have been planning a trek, this is the window.

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