Imja Tse is more popularly known by the name of Island peak, a name coined by Eric Shipton who thought this peak looked like ‘an island in a sea of ice.

The peak was first ascended in 1953 by a British team as preparation for climbing Everest and Tenzing Norgay was one of the members of that successful team.

The peak is part of the south ridge of Lhotse Shar and the enormous summits of Nuptse, Lhotse, Middle peak and Lhotse Shar rise above the summit to the north. To the east lies the looming west face of Mt. Makalu and the unmistakable form of Mt. Ama Dablam can be seen to the south-west.