Mera Peak Climb

Trek start: Lukla (2862 m / 9383 ft)
Trek end: Chutanga (3020 m / 9908 ft)
Time needed: 3-4 hours

We take an early morning flight to Lukla which is the starting point of our trek. The flight itself takes only 45 minutes.

Trek starts: Chutanga (3020 m / 9908 ft)
Trek ends: Thuli Kharka via Zatrwa La Pass (3670 m / 12040 ft)
Time needed: 7-8 hours

Today, you will walk along the Kalo Himal Ridge that separates Hinku Valley and Khumbu. As you walk further, the views of Dudh Koshi and Lumding Himal come into view. You may also encounter yaks and their herders. You then come across a huge boulder, which is in Thuli Kharka, and you stay overnight here in a camp.

Trek starts: Thuli Kharka via Zatrwa La Pass (3670 m / 12040 ft )
Trek ends: Khote (3691 m / 12109 ft)
Time needed: 5-6 hours

After breakfast, you will hit the trail that winds downhill into the Hinku Valley. En route, you get to see spectacular views of Mera Peak, Peak 43, and Kusum Kanguru. Enjoy the magnificent view as you walk through dense rhododendron and pine forests. Continue walking on the ridge to arrive at Kothe for overnight stay.

Trek start: Khote (3691 m / 12109 ft)
Trek end: Tangnang (4350 m / 14270 ft)
Time needed: 5-6 hours

We now move away from the river on a steady ascent. Our destination is Tangnang which bears testimony to the earthquake catastrophe in 1998. Tangnang also offers spectacular views on a clear day, of Kyashar to north west, Mera Peak to east and Kusum Kanguru to the west.

Trek start: Tangnang (4350 m / 14270 ft)
Trek end: Khare (5045 m / 16552 ft)
Time needed: 3-4 hours

We are now quite close to Mera Peak which looms above the Khare village, to the extent that it can be considered the base camp for Mera Peak. This is the edge of civilization, our last stop where we will sleep in lodges.

Trek start: Khare (5045 m / 16552 ft)
Trek highest point: Mera La / Mera Pass (5415 m / 17767 ft)
Time needed: 5-6 hours

We will take an acclimatization trek to Mera La and afterward return to Khare Lodge.

On this day, we’ll train for two hours and then take some time to rest at Khare, with one more night at the lodge.

Trek start: Khare (5025 m / 16486 ft)
Trek end: Mera High Camp (5778 m / 18958 ft)
Time needed: 5-6 hours

We will retrace our path from Khare to Mera La and then continue further to Mera Peak Camp. We will now be at altitude and hopefully have acclimatized well. Weather permitting, the High Camp will offer glorious views all around.

Trek start: Mera High Camp (5778 m / 18958 ft)
Trek highest point: Mera Peak (6459 m / 21190 ft)
Trek end: Khare (5025 m / 16486 ft)
Time needed: 11-12 hours (big day!)

As is standard practice, we will start our summit bid early in the day around 2:00 am. We will rope up and proceed slowly, steadily. The going can be difficult on account of the altitude more than the difficulty of the trail. Steady effort for about five hours should get us to the summit. The views from the top are glorious, with five of the tallest peaks on earth (Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu and Kanchenjunga) in sight. After spending a while at the summit, we will descend all the way to Khare for overnight. Your body will welcome the descent of nearly 5000 feet and this descent should remedy any of the detrimental effects of altitude.

Trek start: Khare (5025 m / 16486 ft)
Trek end: Khote (3691 m / 12109 ft)

We drop by another 4000+ feet to Khote. The jubilation (or relief) of the summit, ease on your body as you move closer to sea level, and nearing prospects of creature comforts (luxuries, they would seem by now) in your everyday life - all these factors should combine and put you in a joyous mood. Khare to Khote will take us just a day, but we will also make sure to have a reserve day on hand.

There is the option here for a helicopter ride (3 people per ride) to Lukla from Khare at $1400.

Trek start: Khote (3691 m / 12109 ft)
Trek end: Thuli Kharka ( 3670 m / )
Time needed: 5-6 hours

The reverse of your first lovely trek on this ridge with views.

Trek start: Zatrwa La (4487 m / 14720 ft)
Trek end: Lukla (2862 m / 9383 ft)
Time needed: 7-8 hours

Another walk in the park, this time from Zatrwa to Lukla. On the way we will reach the highest point of Zatrwa La (15090 ft) which offers magnificent views reminiscent of Mera Peak. Beyond this it is steady downhill till we reach Lukla, which now will appear dramatically different and seem more urban than when you flew in. We’ll stay overnight at the lodge.

No trekking is involved, but the same weather-dependent uncertainty for flights faces us. We keep a spare day to be comfortable.

Spend this day in Kathmandu! If you wish, you can join us for an early morning visit to the famous Swayambhunath temple. You are also welcome to sleep in if you feel like resting. After breakfast, we will have a briefing session to go through details of the climb. We will use this opportunity for a final gear check. We can shop for or rent any items that you still need. Then, back to the hotel to pack your bags for the trip ahead. Our guides will be on hand at the hotel if you need further assistance during packing.

Adieu! Till we meet again in the glorious abode of snow!