Mera Peak Climbing

As you arrive in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by the breathtaking sight of snow-capped peaks and green hills stretching out across the horizon. Our representative will be waiting for you at the airport and will be holding a placard with your name. They will escort you to your hotel and help you check-in. After freshening up and taking a break, you may choose to explore Thamel, a lively tourist hub.

You will be introduced to your climbing guide at a trip briefing, which will take place in the hotel lobby or at Third Rock Adventures' office. Your guide will go over the route you will be taking and provide an overview of what each day will be like, as well as important guidelines to follow while trekking and climbing. After the briefing, there will be a gear and equipment check. The company will provide all necessary group and personal climbing gear, but you are welcome to bring or rent your own if you prefer. Please note that bringing your own gear may result in additional baggage fees. If you prefer not to bring your own gear, it can be rented at Khare from outlets that offer high-quality equipment for hire. It is worth noting that climbing boots in sizes 12 and above can be difficult to find in Nepal, so if you have large feet (size 12 or greater), it may be practical to bring your own boots. Be sure to get a good night's rest as you have a long day ahead tomorrow. You will spend the night in Kathmandu.

Get up early and head to the airport for your flight to Lukla, the starting point of your Mera Peak adventure. The flight offers breathtaking views of the jagged Himalayan peaks, including the eight-thousanders. The Tenzing Hillary Airport in Lukla is located on a high mountain plateau surrounded by steep hills and features a narrow, short runway, making for an exciting landing. Once you arrive, you will meet the rest of the crew, including the porters and assistant guides, and sort out your luggage. Lukla is known as the "Gateway to Everest" as it is the starting point for many Everest treks and expeditions. After walking past the colorful Lukla bazaar, we will head south to Paiya. We will stop for lunch in Surkye before continuing on to Chutok La, a mountain pass. Another hour of hiking on an undulating trail will bring us to Paiya, where we will spend the night.

Today's hike will take us through traditional farms, terraced fields, and lush jungles. We will cross a small wooden bridge over the Paiya Khola stream and embark on a steep ascent to Khari La, a mountain pass. The trail will be an up and down route, passing through a dense rhododendron and bamboo forest before reaching the small Sherpa settlement of Panggom. Along the way, we will have the opportunity to take in stunning views of the Dudh Koshi Valley.

After breakfast, we will set off from Panggom and head towards Ramailo Danda via Ningsow. The trail will take us through a dense forest of rhododendron and bamboo to Pankongma La (3,174 meters), another mountain pass. This point marks the separation between the Dudh Koshi River Valley and the Hingku Valley. Along the way, we will be able to take in inspiring views of Kongde, Manju Peak, and Numbur Himal. We will follow a gradual incline to the settlement of Ningsow, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch, we will continue on an up and down trail to Ramailo Danda, a hill whose name means "enjoyable" or "fun-filled" in Nepali. From Ramailo Danda, we will have our first view of Mera Peak and other peaks.

Today's hike will take us through a dense jungle and the Makalu Barun National Park. As there are no teahouses along the way, we will carry a packed lunch. The park extends up to the international border with Tibet and is home to a variety of wildlife including red pandas, snow leopards, Himalayan tahrs, musk deer, pale blue flycatchers, and spiny babblers. We will follow the Pasang Lhamu trail, named after the first Nepalese woman to scale Mount Everest, on our way to Chhatra Khola. We will spend the night in Chhatra Khola.

We will head north and follow the Majhang Khola (a river in Nepali). After crossing the river, we will take the trail alongside the Hinku Khola. The path will be up and down as we make our way to a bridge that we will cross to reach the other side of the river. A short distance ahead lies Kothe, where we will spend the night.

Today's hike will be filled with stunning views of Mera Peak, Kusum Kanguru, Charpati Himal, and Thamserku. We will leave Kothe and head into the Upper Hinku valley, where the vegetation becomes sparse and the forest disappears. This area is home to kharkas, or grazing camps for nomadic yak herders, and there are no major villages. After walking for a while, we will reach Gondishung, where we will stop for tea and refreshments. We will also visit the ancient Lungsumgba Gompa, a 200-year old Buddhist shrine that is sheltered by a huge rock. The crew will burn incense or juniper and pray for good weather and a successful ascent of Mera Peak. After about an hour of walking, we will arrive at Thaknak, a summer camp used by yak herders. From here, we will have a clear view of Charpati Himal from the base to the summit. There are a few newly built teahouses in Thaknak that offer food and shelter to trekkers and climbers heading to Mera Peak. We will spend the night in Thaknak.

It is a short hike from Thaknak to Khare. We will climb up the Dig Glacier and pass by Charpati Tal, a glacial lake. After descending from the Dig Glacier, we will climb back up to Dig Kharka, where we will be treated to incredible views of the Kyeshar glacier, Charpati Himal, and Mera Peak. From Dig Kharka, a steep ascent through the Hinku Nup and Shar glaciers will bring us to Khare, also known as the Mera Peak Base Camp. This is where we will begin our ascent of Mera Peak. Khare has a few teahouses and climbing gear and equipment outlets, and from here you can get a close-up view of the north face of the mountain. After having lunch at our teahouse and resting for a bit, we can explore the surrounding area.

Today we will spend the day acclimatizing and receiving pre-climb training from our climbing guide. There will be a final gear and equipment check and packing. If you wish to rent climbing gear, the rental outlets at Khare offer high-quality equipment for hire, including climbing boots, ice axes, crampons, and helmets. Please note that it may be difficult to find climbing boots in sizes 12 and larger in Nepal, so if you have large feet it may be beneficial to bring your own boots.

During the pre-climb training, our guide will teach us the proper use of climbing equipment (such as ice axes, jumars/ascenders, crampons, and harnesses) and basic techniques for scaling the peak. They will also share practical tips on how to stay safe in the mountains. This training is important, particularly for novice climbers. After the training, we can take a rest or explore the area. There is a hill right above Khare that offers good views of Mera La. We will spend the night in Khare.

From Khare, we will take a steep ascent up a rocky path to reach Mera La. From the trail, we will be able to see all three summits of Mera Peak: Mera North (6,476m), Mera Central (6,461m), and Mera South (6,065m). Our goal is to reach the summit of Mera Central, which is the peak most commercial expeditions aim for. We will follow the Mera glacier up to the Mera Peak high camp, which does not require any technical climbing but can be challenging due to the altitude and cold. As we walk above 5,000 meters, each step will be a struggle. Once we reach the Mera High Camp, we will have hot drinks and soup.

From the high camp, we will be treated to stunning views of the five highest peaks in the world: Mount Everest (8,848m), Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Lhotse (8,516m), Cho Oyu (8,188m), and Makalu (8,485m). We will also have good views of Baruntse (7,129m), Gaurishanker (7,134m), and Chamlang (7,319m). We will sleep in single tents (one tent per climber) and should retire early as we have an early start tomorrow. We will be camping at the Mera High Camp tonight

Today, we will embark on an early morning summit push for Mera Peak. After eating breakfast, we will put on our crampons, headlamps, and roping up for safety. We will follow our guide as we walk in rhythm across the open glacier, climbing slowly but steadily on an uphill, non-technical hike. The terrain is relatively easy, but the cold and thin air at high altitude may make the ascent challenging. Mera Peak is classified as a Trekking Peak, which means it can be easily climbed to the top via a trekking route. However, the last 40-50 meters to the summit may be more difficult, with a steep incline that may require the use of fixed ropes and jumars.

We will aim to reach the summit of Mera Peak by 9 or 10 AM, where we can take in breathtaking views of the five highest mountains in the world: Mount Everest (8,848m), Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,481m), and Cho Oyu (8,201m). After savoring this achievement and capturing the views on camera, we will spend about 5-10 minutes at the summit before beginning our descent to the High Camp. We will have a hot drink and lunch at the camp before making a quick descent (2-3 hours) back to Khare. After a tiring day, we can celebrate our success and rest at the teahouse in Khare.

Overnight in Khare.

We have reserved a day in case our summit bid on Day 12 needs to be cancelled due to bad weather or illness. This day can also be used in the event of emergencies such as flight delays or unexpected events that may cause us to cancel a day during our trip. If everything goes as planned, we can use this extra day to take our time and explore more places on the trail, or to do some sightseeing in Kathmandu.

From Khare, we follow a forested path that takes us down to Kothe. The trail is shaded by dense overgrowth, so there are no mountain views. We will descend on this trail and arrive at Kothe in the Hinku Valley. Overnight in Kothe.

We begin our journey by gradually ascending through the valley to the western part of the Hinku Valley. The trail is forested and involves some ups and downs. After a final ascent, we will reach Thuli Kharka, where we will spend the night. Thuli Kharka is a summer camp used by yak herders, and new lodges are being built to accommodate trekkers and climbers on this route. Overnight in Thuli Kharka.

This marks the final stage of our Mera Peak climbing journey. We will leave Thuli Kharka and make a steep ascent to Zatrwa La (4,600m), a high mountain pass. The ascent is challenging, but not technical, as we walk up a steep incline. It takes approximately two hours or more to reach the pass. The view from the pass is breathtaking, and we can see a portion of the trail we have already traveled. We can also see the entire Lukla village, Numbur Himal, Dudh Kunda, Kongde, Khumbila, and Hinku Valley. After a steep descent, we will arrive in Lukla. We will go straight to our teahouse and enjoy a hot shower. We will celebrate our last evening in the mountains with our crew, with a lively evening filled with Sherpa brew (chhyang) and singing and dancing. Overnight in Lukla.

We will say goodbye to the Sherpa homeland and fly to Kathmandu. This flight is particularly interesting as the plane taxis down the narrow runway at Lukla airport and takes off right at the edge of the cliff, providing a heart-stopping experience. Take in the views of the Himalayan mountains one last time. Upon arriving in Kathmandu, you will be driven to your hotel. Check in and take a much-needed rest, or visit the hotel spa for a post-trek massage. If you haven't had enough adventure, you can explore the city on your own or take a guided tour (just let us know and we'll be happy to help!). Celebrate the end of your trip with a farewell dinner. Overnight in Kathmandu.

You will be transported to the airport three hours before your scheduled departure. If you would like to continue exploring the Himalayas, please let us know and we can arrange a trip to the destination of your choice.