Mera Peak Climb

Day 01 - Arrival in Kathmandu [1,350m/4,430ft]

Arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal. Upon completing the visa formalities and collecting your luggages in the airport, kindly proceed to the exit of the arrival hall. Your trip leader will await you just outside the arrival hall and will escort you to your hotel in Kathmandu. Please look out for a placard of Highland Expeditions at the exit of arrival hall. Welcome drinks will be served and after you’ve refreshed, your trek leader will brief you about your trip in the lobby of your hotel in the evening. Get familiar with your surroundings by taking a walk down the street

Day 02 - In Kathmandu for trek/climb preparation [1,350m/4,430ft]

After your first night in Kathmandu, you will be well informed on arrival about the time for briefing and equipment check. However, sometimes, depending on your flight arrival, if it’s too late into the night we will do equipment check in the afternoon instead of morning to give you some sleep and rest so that you can get rid of that jet lag. In the evening, you will be briefed by your trek and climb leader about your trekking program the next day. In case you have fallen short of any trek and climb equipment that you may need, this time can be used to arrange for it.

Day 03 - Fly to Lukla and trek to Poiyan [2,800m/9,184ft]

After an early morning b/fast, we take the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla on STOL aircraft. Flight time is about 35 minutes to the airstrip built by Sir Edmund Hillary and the Sherpas in the mid-1960s. It is a memorable flight, with outstanding views of the eastern Himalaya (sit on the left side of the plane for the best views). At Lukla we are immediately overcome by the scale of the massive peaks that surround the village but this is only an indication of what is to come. We will leave Lukla and follow the relatively easy trail through the woods of colorful rhododendron and pine to Poiyan via Surke village.

Day 04 - Trek to Pangoma [2,850m/9,348ft]

After breakfast, we travel through dense forest and begin a climb to the picturesque village of Pangkongama with splendid views of the surrounding valley and a nearby monastery.

Day 05 - Trek to Ningsho Bhuk [2,850m/9,348ft]

Day 06 - Trek to Chetra Khola [2,800m/9,184ft]

Day 07 - Trek to Khote [3,600m/11,808ft]

After an early morning tea, we will take about 3-hours of downhill trek through rhododendron forest. We will be taking lunch amid the forest before continuing the trek along Hinku River. It will take couple of hours to reach Kothe where we will stay overnight.

Day 08 - Trek to Thaknag [4,356m/14,292ft]

This is going to be an exciting day as we will be entering Barun National Park. Leaving our camp in Khote early in the morning, we will receive an entry permit of Barun National Park. Once the officials confirm the permit check, we will proceed to Thaknag. The trail leads us along the edge of Hinku River about 4-5 hours to lead us to Thaknag which will greet us with awe-inspiring views of Thamserku, Kusum Kangru and Kangteka peaks.

Day 09 - Rest and Acclimatization day [4,356m/14,292ft]

Today is a day scheduled for acclimatization. Since an activity helps us in proper acclimatization, we will be taking a side trip to either Charpate Himal Glacier or a nearby hill. Our main objective is to climb high and sleep low and this is exactly what we will be doing on this day. After our acclimatization, we retrace back to Thaknang for overnight stay.

Day 10 - Trek to Khare [5,045m/16,552ft]

After an early morning breakfast, we will leave Thaknag and move through the lateral moraine of Dig Glacier to reach Dig Kharka. We will be greeted with pleasant view of Charpate Himal from Dig Kharka. We will follow the ascending path through moraines to the snout of Hinku Nup. Proceeding further, we will cross Shar Glacier and follow the steep path uphill to Khare where we will camp overnight. The camp site in Khare allows exquisite view of North face of Mera Peak.

Day 11 - Pre-Climb training and acclimatization at Khare [5,045m/16,552ft]

Rest and get organized before moving up for the climb. In the morning, there will be a climbing course at the nearby hill, where your guides will teach you the required climbing skills and the basic safety instructions. The course will mainly consist of using the climbing gears in a proper way and glacier travel. Proper usage of safety cord and Terrian instructions will be given too. In the afternoon, it's free time to rest and get organized before moving up to Mera Peak high camp the next day.

Day 12 - Trek to Mera Peak High Camp [5,800m/19,029ft]

We will need to use climbing gears like Crampons and axe to take the steep ascend to High Camp of Mera Peak. From Mera La, we will ascend the glaciated path. At around 5800m elevation, we will find a rocky section among glacier to set up our high camp. Existing at the edge of mountain, the area offers striking view of Kanchenjunga that rises to the east above the ridge of Chamlang. We will also get exquisite views of Makalu, Ama Dablam, Nuptse, the southern section of Lhotse and Lhotse Shar Mountains.

Day 13 - Summit Mera Peak [6,476m/21,247ft] and trek to Khare [5,045m/16,552ft]

We will wake up much early on this day. After tea, we will take slow climb towards the summit. Temperature remains on an average 10 degree Celsius below Zero on this region. We will climb the glacier and proceed to snow hump-back ridge. We will follow the non-technical and classic route through the south-east ridge. Climbing further through the snout of glacier, we will climb over the south summit to the summit ridge. Finally, the moment comes for which all of us were eagerly waiting. We will get the 360 degree views of many eight thousand meter peaks including views of Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Lhotse and other peaks and mountains. We will spend some time on summit witnessing the views before taking gradual descent to Khare where we will celebrate the successful climb and stay overnight.

Day 14 - Contingency day

This is a free day. Peak Climbing is a challenging task. Multiple factor like weather condition comes into action. Also, our crew members might get injured or sick from High Altitude Sickness. In such case, our schedule might get affected. This contingency day will help us to make sure that our schedule will go on smoothly without interruption even if there occur complications while climbing the peak.

Day 15 - Trek to Khothe [3,600m/11,812ft]

We will leave Khare and lower down through the Hinku valley to Khote. The trail is much easier as we will be taking steep descent..

Day 16 - Trek to Thulikharka [4,320m/14,174ft]

Early in the morning, we will follow the steeply raising trail for couple of hours through the lush green forest existing to the western edge of Hinku Valley which will take us to Thuli Kharka. The trail is pleasant. We can feel the aroma of blooming red rhododendron that breathes life to the forest. Our camp site in Thulikharka allows us the views of Mera peaks including Mera North, Mera Central and Mera South.

Day 17 - Trek to Lukla [2,800m/9187ft] via Zatrwa La Pass

From Thulikharka, we will climb uphill for couple of hours to reach Zatrwa La pass. The pass allows an exquisite view of Lukla valley and surrounding peaks and mountains including Cho yu, Kongde, Numbur, Kusum Khangru and others. We will descend from Zatrwa La to Chutanga and follow the straight path all the way to Lukla village. Later we celebrate our successful completion of climb with our Sherpa guides and porters who we’ve got to know so well & are now good friends. It’s a pleasure to end this wonderful trip on a happy note. We then slumber into blissful sleep.

Day 18 - Fly back to Kathmandu [1,350m/4,430ft]

Take an early morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. We will be transferred to hotel in a private vehicle in Kathmandu. Take leisure and soothe your aching limbs from long and tiring peak climb.

Day 19 - Free day in Kathmandu [1,350m/4,430ft]

Enjoy a leisure day. You are on your own. Participating in a day tour in Kathmandu is a pleasant plan. You can also go shopping in Thamel, a tourist hub where you can buy souvenir items like handicrafts and art for your family. At eventide, we will relish a farewell dinner to celebrate our successful climb. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you would like to extend your stay. Kindly email us for more details on extensions.

Day 20 - International departure

Finally, the undeniable day of departure arrives. Thank you for joining us on this climb and it has been a pleasure getting to know you during this time.  We hope this venture has enriched your experience with happy memories. You will be assisted in your last minute preparation. Our representative will take you to Tribhuvan International Airport three hours before your scheduled flight. Keep in touch and hope to hear from you soon.  Bon voyage for a safe and pleasant trip home.