Mera Peak Climbing with Heli Return

Our airport representative will welcome you and explain the program further. There are no planned activities for the day, so check into the hotel.

Enjoy your overnight stay at the hotel.

The day is dedicated to preparing for the upcoming trek and climb, including a briefing on the itinerary, weather conditions, safety protocols, and the necessary climbing gear. This is a crucial time to ensure all your trekking and climbing gear is in good working order and that you have everything you need for the expedition.

You'll receive information about the logistics of the expedition, including transportation, porters, and the support team you'll have on the trek.

Overnight at the hotel, breakfast included.

The drive from Kathmandu to Phaplu is a rugged 7-8 hour journey through the mountains, primarily on dirt roads and narrow, winding paths. Expect a slow pace, as the average speed is around 30-40 km/hrs. While the distance is relatively short, the road conditions make it a longer trip.

Overnight stay at a guesthouse at Phalpu. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

The drive from Kathmandu to Khari Khola takes approximately 4-5 hours. You'll likely be taking a scenic route through the mountains, offering glimpses of the surrounding landscapes. Be prepared for some bumpy roads as you ascend towards the valley.

From Khari Khola, the trek to Panggom takes about 3-4 hours. On today’s trip, we will also likely get to be in the awe-striking presence of the Dudhkoshi Valley. We will then continue our trek to Panggom Village, whose settlers are dependent on farming and trading. The journey is extremely rich in natural beauty, and the prudence of nature is made even more gorgeous by the Himalayan environment.

Overnight stay in a guesthouse at Panggom. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

We begin our trek after breakfast. After trekking out of Panggom, we will cross the Panggom La Pass, ascending on a steady path. Turning north, we will cross the Peseng Kharka Khola first, then, after walking for some time, reach the Peeng Kharka Danda. Further on out, we will cross the Ningsow Khola before reaching the Ningsow Village.

From Ningsow, the trail takes us climbing first, then descending for a while, and climbing some more to reach Ramailo Danda. It is an arduous journey, but the natural beauty and the Himalayan ambiance more than make up for the ups and downs. From here, we can get extraordinary views of Mera Peak and the Salpa.

Overnight stay at a guesthouse in Ramailo Danda. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Today, we will ascend and descend on our trail further on and enter the Makalu Barun National Park. It is the eighth national park in the Himalayas of Nepal and was established in 1992 as an eastern extension of the Sagarmatha National Park.

The protected area of the Makalu Barun National Park is a habitat for a wide diversity of faunal species. Our trail from here to Chhatra Khola is called the “Pasang Lhamu” trail. On the way, if we are lucky, we might even come across the elusive Red Panda.

Overnight stay in Chhatra Khola. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Walking towards the north on the main trail to Mera Peak, we will find ourselves alongside a trail next to the Majang Khola. From here, we shall merge with another trail that moves alongside the Hinku Khola.

Our trail moves straight ahead towards Tashing Ongma, which has seasonal tea shops daintily lining the main trail street. Continuing our trek, we will cross the bridge over the Sanu Khola before reaching Kothe.

Overnight at the Guesthouse in Kothe. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

We will trek along the ridge of the Hinku Khola under the shadow of the Mera Peak. Stopping for luncheon at Gondishung- the summer herders' settlement in the west bank of the Hinku Drangka- we shall trek further beyond Gondishung, passing the 200-year-old Lungsumgba Gompa, where we can find “Mera Peak” scripted in the rock along with its route to reach the mountain. A short walk takes us to Thaknak, which is a summer grazing area with primitive lodges and shops.

Overnight in Thaknak. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Leaving Thaknak, we shall follow the lateral moraine of Dig Glacier to Dig Kharka, from where spectacular views of the Charpate Himal adorn the trip. The trail climbs through moraines to the snout of the Hinku Nup and the Shar glaciers, from where it further branches out more steeply to Khare.

As we move, we can see the northern face of Mera Peak, the sight is truly fascinating and unlike anything you have ever experienced! After lunch, we can hike in and around Khare.

Overnight at Khare. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

We have a separate day set aside solely for acclimatization and basic training just to prepare ourselves better for the climb to Mera Peak.

Our climbing leader will help us polish our basic climbing techniques and demonstrate the best ways to use our climbing gear, like the ice axe, harness, ascender, climbing boots, and crampons. The training will also include learning the best climbing technique with the rope.

Overnight in Khare. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Walking through a boulder-strewn course on a steep trail, we will make our way to the Mera Peak Base Camp. From here, we shall continue further through the Mera La Pass to reach the Mera High Camp. Our path runs along a rocky trail, which can be hazardous if it has recently snowed, as there are a number of crevasses.

Making our way to the top of the rock band, which is marked by a large cairn, we will set up a high camp as we enjoy excellent views of Mount Everest, Makalu, Cho Oyu, the south face of Lhotse, Nuptse, Chamlang, and Baruntse.

Overnight at Mera High Camp. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

This is a really important day for the expedition. Waking up around 3 am in the morning for breakfast then start climbing approx 4 am, we shall climb higher towards the summit. Initially, it will be very cold, but soon- we can warm up as we continue up the glacier and onto a peculiar ridge.

Along the climb, we can see the first rays of the sun hitting the big peaks in a spectacular fashion. The rays provide the cerulean mountain peaks with a fluorescent glow and make them look like they are sprouting molten gold. The route remains non-technical as we shall slowly climb higher into the ever-thinning air.

The slope steepens for a section behind the ridge and the summit comes back into view. At the foot of the final steep summit cone, we may use a fixed rope if the climbing leader believes it’s required.

From the summit, we can take in spectacular views of the mighty Himalayas including Mount Everest, the Cho-Oyu, the Lhotse Himal, Mount Makalu, the Kangchenjunga Peak, Mount Nuptse, the Chamlang, Baruntse, and many others.

After a successful climb, we return to Khare by lunchtime, then later, we transfer to Lukla by Helicopter.

Overnight at Guesthouse, Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Returning to Kathmandu from Lukla by flight is generally straightforward, especially during the shoulder and off-seasons. However, during peak seasons, particularly the spring and autumn, Lukla flights may be diverted to Ramechhap due to high demand and potential weather-related delays. Expect a shorter, scenic flight, but be prepared for potential delays.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

After climbing Mera Peak, a buffer or leisure day in Kathmandu allows for acclimatization, potential flight delays, or requires an additional day for the climbing and a chance to relax after a challenging climb.

You can rest in your hotel, with the rest of the day free for activities like exploring Kathmandu's historical sites(we provide day tours in Kathmandu at an additional price), shopping in Thamel, or visiting the Garden of Dreams. This day is also crucial for recovering from the altitude and physical exertion of the trek.

Overnight at the hotel, breakfast included.

Approximately 3 hours before the scheduled flight, a representative from the Nepal Hiking Team will take you to the airport.