Mera Peak Climbing – 19 Days
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Mera Peak is the highest trekking peak in Nepal. It is situated on the edge of the famous Khumbu Region, which is dominated by Mount Everest.
Country: Nepal
Duration: 19 Days
Difficulty: Advanced Beginners
Activity: Trekking, Climbing, and Camping
Maximum Altitude: 6,470 meters (21,227 feet)
Best Seasons: Mar-May, Sep-Nov
Accommodation: Hotels, Tea Houses, and Tented Camps
Meals: Included
Start/End Point: Kathmandu
Trip Highlights:
- Scenic flight to and from Lukla
- Immersive experience in the heart of the Himalayas
- Remarkable views of Kangchenjunga, Makalu, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, and more
- Unique staying experience in remote regions
- Summit of Mera Peak, the highest trekking peak, at 6,470 meters (21,227 feet)
Trip Overview:
Nestled within Nepal’s renowned Khumbu Region, Mera Peak stands as the highest trekking peak at an impressive altitude of 6,470 meters. Situated in the Mahalangur range, Mera Peak offers a straightforward climb suitable for groups and individuals with good fitness and a spirit of adventure.
The journey begins with a southward trek from Lukla, passing through beautiful forested hillsides and over several mountain passes before ascending to Mera La. After the climb, the descent leads directly back to Lukla.
Mera Peak Climbing involves high-altitude trekking and climbing. Participants should be physically fit and comfortable using ice axes and crampons, with training provided at our base camp near Mera La if necessary. In favorable conditions, it’s possible to summit and return to Khare in a single day.
The climb rewards climbers with breathtaking vistas, encompassing Kangchenjunga and Makalu to the east, Everest rising above Nuptse and Lhotse to the north, Ama Dablam and Kang Taiga to the west, and Cho Oyu in the distance. This panoramic view includes many of the world’s highest peaks.
The ascent follows the north face glacier to the summit ridge, leading to an exposed and thrilling final climb. After summiting, the return route traverses a dramatic ridge back to Lukla for the flight to Kathmandu.
Given the unpredictable Himalayan weather, a spare day is included to accommodate potential delays. If weather conditions prevent a summit attempt on the scheduled day, the extra day provides flexibility to attempt the climb the following day. Otherwise, it serves as an opportunity to relax or explore Lukla before concluding the expedition.
Lukla flight information
We would like to inform you regarding the Lukla flight details which may affect your itinerary. During peak seasons, (including March, April, May, October and November) the flight to Lukla will be operated from Ramechhap/Manthali due to air traffic expansion, which is about a 5 to 6-hour drive from Kathmandu. Whereas, during nonpeak seasons, (including January, February, June, July, August, September and December) the flight is operated from Kathmandu.
Please be aware that the decision regarding the operation of flights solely depends on the airline and is influenced by the volume of travelers during the specific month.
Unpleasant weather conditions, congested traffic in the Airport, unmanaged runway, topographical difficulties, etc., are the significant reasons for Lukla flight delay/cancellation. Therefore, if you intend on trekking in the land of Everest region, arranging additional one or two days in your trip is highly preferable. This will help in case of flight delay/cancellation and thus board on the pre-planned international flight.
Included/Exclude
- All (international and domestic) airport transfers on a tourist vehicle
- Twin-sharing/double accommodation in a 3-star hotel for 2 nights in Kathmandu including breakfast (Private room accommodation can be organized at an extra cost)
- Twin-sharing guesthouse accommodation during the trek for 15 nights in Mera region
- Tented camp accommodation and all meals during the 1/2-nights stay at the Mera Peak Base Camp (We will provide fully water/wind-proof twin-share tents, dining tents, kitchen gear, dining table, chairs, toilet tents, etc.)
- All your standard meals during the trek (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner) including one hot drink and seasonal fruits
- Permits for Sagarmatha/Everest National Park, TIMS (Trekkers’ Information Management System), and Mera Peak Climbing Permit.
- Experienced, first-aid trained, government licensed, English-speaking All Himalayan Trek and Exedition trekking guide
- Group climbing equipment (Climbing rope, ice screw, snow bar and ice hammer)
- Climbing Sherpa from Khare to the summit of Mera Peak and back to Khare (We assign one climbing guide for a group of 2 clients. We increase the number of guides if we have 3 or more clients in one group.)
- Porters during the trek for carrying luggage (1 porter for every 2 clients)
- Round-trip airfare between Kathmandu/Manthali and Lukla
- Filtered water in the trails using Water Filter or using water purification tablets
- Wages, accommodation, meals, gear, insurance, and medications for all staff
- A farewell dinner on the last night in Nepal
- All administrative expenses and government taxes
- Meals (lunch and dinner) in Kathmandu
- International flight fare and airport departure tax
- Any beverages including bottled and boiled water
- Travel insurance along with high-altitude emergency evacuation coverage
- Tips to trekking staff and driver
- Nepal Entry Visa (Visa can be acquired easily after your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu with a fee of USD 50 for 30 days visa and USD 125 for 90 days visa)
- Personal Trekking gear and equipment
- Any expenses other than the Price Include section
Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
One of our officials will greet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, upon your arrival. We will take you to the hotel in our private tourist vehicle. Pre-trip meeting at the office with our trekking guide in the afternoon.
Manthali to Lukla Flight
The airport in Manthali, Ramechhap is about 4 to 5 hours away from Kathmandu. Wake up at 2:30 am and take an escorted shuttle to Manthali airport on a shared tourist vehicle. Board a 25-minute flight to Lukla. Manthali to Lukla flight is relevant during peak trekking months.
Kathmandu to Lukla Flight
Wake up at 5/6 am. Our staff will escort you to the airport’s domestic terminal in Kathmandu. Board a 35-minute flight to Lukla. Kathmandu to Lukla flight is relevant during the off-season of trekking.
Helicopter Option
You have the option to book a direct helicopter flight from Kathmandu to Lukla for an extra charge of USD 550 per person. This price is quoted on a 5-people sharing basis. This is the best alternative to avoid the long drive to Manthali airport during peak season (March, April, May, October, and November).
Flight to Tenzing-Hillary Airport usually takes place early in the morning. We suggest you make all the sorting and packing the day before, so there is no rush on Day 2. Once we reach Lukla, we will take a rest for a while. We will meet our porters. They will make their load with your duffel bags and other things. We assign one porter to every two clients. We will then walk towards the south, away from the Everest trail. We will pass through farmlands, a forest, go down and up the mountain, cross a couple of streams and finally reach Paiya after 4 to 5 hours of walking from Lukla.
Today we have a 6 to 7 hours trek to Pangkongma from Paiya. We will start after having our breakfast. We will walk uphill through forests until Col Khari La Pass at 3,081 m/10,108 ft.
After this, we will gently go downhill all the way to the village of Bupsa at 2,300 m/7,545 ft. Then, the trail climbs moderately until we reach our destination Pangkongma. The village is almost at the top of the mountains.
Pangkongma isn’t at the top of the mountain, so we will first climb up the winding path to a mountain pass Pangkongma La at 3,170 m/10,400 ft.
We will be greeted with stunning views of the surrounding mountains including the stunning south face of Mera Peak. From here, it is a steep descent all the way down to the Hinku Khola.
The downhill walk will be on the ridge for a significant portion. After resting at the bottom of the valley for a while and crossing the suspension bridge, we will take a 2-hour climb up the forests to our destination Nashing Dingma.
Like Pangkongma, Nashing Dingma is below the top of the mountain, and our destination is on the other side of the mountain. We will start climbing up through the forest.
It’s a steep ascent until Surke La Pass at 3,060 m/10,039 ft The pass has a couple of lodges selling snacks and tea. We will rest for a while to regain our energy.
Then we will continue on to moderate uphill and downhill trek to Chholem Kharka which is basically a pastureland.
It’s one of the challenging days of Mera Peak expedition, because for the large part of the hike, we will only be going up, walking on ridges and gaining altitudes.
We will start trekking northeast of Chholem Kharka. The first hour is a gentle uphill through the green landscape and then we will find ourselves in the rocky terrain.
The climb is steep and challenging, so taking plenty of breaks is recommended. We will finally arrive at today’s highest point at 4,500 m/14,763 ft. This marks the end of our ascent.
If the weather is clear, we will see the world’s third highest Mt Kangchenjunga 8,586 m/28,169 ft, which is all the way to the eastern border of Nepal.
We will start a moderate descent into a small valley where we will pass through the Panch Pokhari lakes. In the Nepali language, Panch Pokhari means fives lakes. In a short while, we will reach our destination Khola Kharka.
It will be an easier trek to Kothe today. We start heading northwest to Kothe with a short climb from Khola Kharka for half an hour. Then the descent starts, which is gentle in the beginning; then it’s a steep decline all the way down to the bottom of V-shaped Hinku Valley, named after the Hinku Khola (River) which passes through the valley.
The landscape changes from rocky terrain to green bushes and trees. We will be walking on the right side of the river. The path gradually climbs up northward. Just as we are about to reach Kothe, we will cross the white-water Hinku Khola through a wooded bridge. We will encounter no settlements on our walk on this day.
We climb up the Hinku Valley. The ascent is mostly gradual, so we won’t have a hard time. The trails is a blend of rocky landscape and green grazing fields which are used by the yaks in summers.
We will be on the left side of the Hinku Khola. From the trails, we will be able to observe all three peaks of Mera (North, Central and South). On our way, we will pass by 200-year-old Lungsamba Monastery.
We spend a day here in order to acclimatize and adjust to the thinning of the air. After proper rest, we can explore other adventure possibilities like strolling by Sabal Tsho.
This beautiful moraine-dammed lake is hidden behind the Sabal Glacier and climbs a peak up to an altitude of nearly 5,000 m/16,404 ft. We can also explore Hinku Nup Glacier which leads north toward Kangtaiga. The upper Hinku valley turns east at Tangnag, crossing the moraine of the Dig Glaciers.
The trail goes eastward through the Thangnak meadow amidst blocks brought by the break of the moraine of the south side of the lake in 1999. Then it climbs steeply to the stream bed coming out on the wide grassy basin of Dig Kharka.
We reach Khare in about 4 to 5 hours of trekking. From the village, we can see the superb views of the northern face of the Mera Peak.
It’s another acclimatization day for us. Plus we will be using this day to practice our climbing. The climbing Sherpa will help you out practicing with ropes, ascender, ice axe, crampons, etc. We will also do gear check to ensure we have all the equipment we need for the climb.
As we progress along the snowy glacier, we approach the pass and the slope becomes steep. This is one of the best parts of the trek. Stunning panoramas of giant mountains rising above 7,000 m/22,965 ft, among the highest on earth: Chamlang (7,290 m/23,917 ft), Makalu (8,475 m/27,805 ft), and Baruntse (7,220 m/23,687 ft) to the east; Everest (8,848.86 m/29,031 ft), Lhotse (8,501 m/27,890 ft) and Nuptse to the north cannot be ignored. Continuing westward, the peaks of Ama Dablam, Cho Oyo (8,153 m/26,748 ft), and Kantega don’t fail to fill our view.
We start early in the morning around 2 or 3 AM depending on the weather. From the high camp, the route follows the southwest, entering a broad comb on the left of the steep slopes.
Then it reaches a pass at the bottom of a final steep slope (450) to the Mera Central Peak (6,470 m/21,227 ft). There are three peaks of Mera: North, Central, and South. We will be climbing Central Peak.
From the summit, we can embrace the most spectacular panoramic views of at least five of the world’s fourteen 8000 m peaks: Everest (8,848.86 m/29,031 ft), Kangchenjunga (8,586 m/28,169 ft), Lhotse (8,516 m/27,939 ft), Makalu (8,485 m/27,837 ft) and Cho Oyu (8,201 m/26,906 ft).
Then, we descend down to the high camp, rest for a while and return to Khare. The total duration for the climb up and down the mountain will be around 10-15 hours.
(Please note if climbing isn’t possible on Day 13 due to bad weather, the accommodation will be at the tented camp so we can climb the peak the next day.)
This day in the itinerary is separated as an extra day. The weather in the mountains cannot be predicted as it might change every other day. In case of extremely bad weather on Day 13, you can summit the peak on this day.
However, the weather might work in our favor most of the time. In such cases, you can continue to trek and utilize this day to rest or relax anywhere on the trail or at Lukla which offers a lot of good restaurants, bars, bakeries, etc. Lukla has many good places to hang out. All the trekkers and climbers celebrate the success and end of their trip to Lukla.
Leaving the mountains behind us, our descend takes us through Tangnag before continuing back to Kothe which will take about 6 to 7 hours.
We will take a different route today to leave Kothe and reach Lukla in a couple of days. From Kothe, we begin our gentle descent southward on the left side of the Hinku Khola. A couple of hours later, we will start the westward climb to Thuli Kharka.
The steep ascent passes through the forests and stops at Toktar for lunch. It’s small settlement in the middle of the forests. We will ascend more through the forests and pass through the rocky section. In a final push, the trail gently drops to Thuli Kharka where we will spend our night.
Lukla is on the other side of the mountain. It’ll be a long day of trekking up and going down around (1,800 m/5,905 ft) to reach our destination. We start by climbing the steep trail northwest of Thuli Kharka.
Once we get to Zatrwa La Pass at 4,610 m/15,124 ft, we begin our steep descent to Lukla. The landscape changes from rocky sections, possibly with snow during winter, early spring, and late autumn, to green bushes and forests.
We will pass through a small settlement called Chutanga and finally arrive at the end point of our Himalayan adventure.
Flight to Manthali
The flight from Lukla to Manthali is 25 minutes flight. After that, it is about a 4 to 6-hour drive to Kathmandu. You’ll be transferred to the hotel in Kathmandu on a shared tourist vehicle. This is relevant for the peak trekking season from March to November.
Flight to Kathmandu
The flight to Lukla takes about 35 minutes. After arriving at the airport, you will be transferred to the hotel in Kathmandu via a shared tourist vehicle. This is relevant for the months outside peak trekking months.
Helicopter Option
You have the option to book a direct helicopter flight from Lukla to Kathmandu for an extra charge of USD 550 per person. This price is quoted on a 5-people sharing basis. This is the best alternative to avoid the long drive to from Manthali airport to Kathmandu during peak season (March, April, May, October and November).
You might want to stay a little more in Nepal. If you are looking for extending your trip, there are options such as a visit to Chitwan National Park, known for wildlife viewing and to Pokhara, considered one of the most beautiful cities of Nepal.
The trip ends, our Airport Representative will drop you to the Kathmandu international airport for your flight departure from Nepal.
