FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Why climb Island Peak? 

Island Peak is nestled in the Khumbu valley and hosts some amazing views. As part of this expedition you get to see some of the greatest mountains in the world, visit Everest Base Camp and climb to over 6,000m!

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How fit do I really need to be and what skills do I require?

The fitter you are the more you will enjoy it, and the more chance you'll have of getting to the top. Being able to complete 3-4 back to back days of big hill walks in the UK is a good gauge that you're ready. You'll find some advice, as well as a free downloadable 12 week training plan on our Fitness Training page. 

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Being able to walk proficiently with crampons and use a walking axe for safety will be a good skill to have before heading to the Himalaya. As part of this package you will be able to join us for a two day winter skills weekend here in the Lake District (Instruction only)

In order to reach the summit you will spend a day in crampons and you will ascend using 'fixed lines'. There is a steep headwall and a narrower summit ridge so a head for heights is required. Matt is also a qualified Personal Trainer so if you want some formal training just get in touch with us via LMG Personal Training

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What about Altitude Sickness?

Having concerns about AMS is very natural and it unfortunately unpredictable. Even the experienced could struggle to get over 6,000m if they get ill. We have however designed our itinerary to help us best acclimatise. The fitter you are, the less exhausted you'll get, which in turn has an impact on bringing on symptoms of AMS. These points combined with walking slowly, drinking lots and eating well all give you the best possible chance. 

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What Technical Kit do I require?

Apart from the usual walking equipment you'll require crampons, a walking axe, double boots (Insulated for the altitude - Hired in Kathmandu if you don't want to purchase) a climbing harness and a quality sleeping bag rated to -15 / 20.

All of this kit can either be hired direct from us or when out in Nepal. 

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What about the Food and Accommodation?

The food in Nepal is fab. Expect a lot of rice, noodles and vegetables. If you have specific allergies or dietary requirements it may be worth researching what's on offer before committing. Eating well throughout is key to success on such an expedition. Our accommodation whilst on the trek will be teahouses, apart from 1 night (possibly 2 nights if the contingency day is used) will be spent in a tent. 

Should you need to leave the expedition early, any additional accommodation costs will need to be covered by you (or depending on the circumstance, your insurance)

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Do I require Travel Insurance?

Most certainly. Travelling, let alone adventure travel, can throw up all sorts of incidents or circumstances that need to be covered by insurance otherwise you could face a very hefty bill. As a minimum your insurance must cover the dates of the trip, the altitude you are trekking to and helicopter evacuation. Our recommendation for travel insurance is Campbell Irvine

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Do your trips have a minimum required number of participants to run?

Our scheduled trips do. Our Island Peak and Everest Basecamp trip requires 7 people to ensure it is guaranteed to run. We will let you know when it is guaranteed to run and from this point you can book flights. 

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Do you organise bespoke trips?

Of course, just get in touch with your group size and we'll offer you a quote.

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Why should I trek with LMG Treks & Expeditions?

For over a decade we've provided fun, educational and safe adventures in the UK through Lakeland Mountain Guides. We've taken our experience and academic education and created a company that has the sole aim of providing amazing, personal adventures abroad. Yes, we're just a small company, but this has two big benefits for you. Firstly, we really appreciate each and every booking we get, and you are not one in a few thousand. Secondly. we're able to, and want to, put the time into helping you get mentally and physically prepared for your adventure. ​

We pride ourselves on being compliant to UK Package travel regulation laws, diligent with safety, and environmentally sensitive. What's more is we create our trips with the customer experience, safety and chances of success at the very fore of our minds. We will often add in extra days for acclimatisation or contingency to achieve these three major factors, even if it makes our trips a bit more expensive. 

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How do we justify the price of our trips?

There's no doubt about it, if you went online you'd likely find a cheaper alternative, but you can't be certain you're buying a like for like product. We get it, these trips aren't cheap, but there are numerous reasons why the price amounts to what it does. Please click here to read deeper into the reasons why. 

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Are you environmentally responsible?

As a company, although small, we will operate responsibly, giving back where we can. One of our best partnerships is that with Trees4Travel. We will plant 2 trees on the behalf of every booking we get, and we will plant enough trees to offset the travel of our trek manager too. Click here to see our Responsible Tourism Policy

We discourage the use of single use plastics on expedition where possible, and are continually thinking of ways to become even kinder to the planet we operate in. 

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Are there any hidden costs?

We appreciate that when a trip comes with a price tag of £3500+ and then a list of exclusions you want to be sure you won't get stung with extra costs. We've tried to be as transparent as possible, and depending on how much equipment you need / want to buy this trip will probably cost you between £4500-5000 all in. International flights are on average £850 - £1200 and your personal trekking insurance will be £150 - £250. Other major exclusions include the Nepal Entry Visa (£50) and tips for the trekking team. 

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More info can be found in our Resources section​

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