Mera Peak Climbing

Welcome to Nepal! Upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, a representative from Himalayan Dream Team will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel.

After check-in, take some time to relax and recover from your journey or explore the lively streets of Thamel at your own pace. In the evening, meet your trekking and climbing guide for a detailed briefing about the Mera Peak Climbing adventure, including the route, accommodation, acclimatization, equipment and preparations for the days ahead.

Later, enjoy a traditional Nepali welcome dinner and your first introduction to Nepalese cuisine and hospitality.

After breakfast, enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of some of the most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu Valley. Your cultural guide will introduce you to Nepal's fascinating Hindu and Buddhist traditions, historic architecture and everyday life in the old city.

Visit Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple), one of Kathmandu's oldest Buddhist sites, situated on a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. Continue to Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple complex, located along the banks of the Bagmati River.

Later, explore Kathmandu Durbar Square, the historic royal heart of the old city, with its traditional Newari architecture, temples and courtyards. Finish your sightseeing with a walk through Indra Chowk and Asan, where narrow streets are filled with spice shops, vegetables, traditional goods and busy local markets.

Return to your hotel in the afternoon and complete the final preparations for your Mera Peak Climbing expedition. Make sure your trekking and climbing bags are packed and ready for the early departure the following morning.

Today your journey into the Himalayas begins with a spectacular mountain flight to Lukla, the gateway to the Mera Peak climbing route.

Depending on the season and current flight operations, you will either take a direct Kathmandu to Lukla flight (approximately 25–35 minutes) or travel by road from Kathmandu to Ramechhap (Manthali Airport), approximately 4–5 hours, followed by a 20-minute flight from Ramechhap to Lukla. During Nepal's busy trekking seasons, many Lukla flights operate from Ramechhap.

After landing at Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla (2,840 m), meet the trekking crew and begin the first walking section of the Mera Peak route. Instead of immediately crossing the high Zatrwa La Pass, our itinerary follows the longer and more gradual approach toward the Hinku Valley, allowing a more progressive start to the trek.

The trail leads away from Lukla through villages, forest and rolling mountain terrain before reaching Paiya (2,800 m). After approximately 3–4 hours of trekking, arrive at Paiya and settle into your teahouse for your first night in the mountains.

After breakfast in Paiya, continue through the quieter hills south of the main Everest trekking route. Today's trail passes through forested landscapes, small settlements and agricultural areas as you gradually make your way toward the remote Hinku Valley.

The route includes a mixture of ascents and descents, with changing views of the surrounding hills and valleys. Compared with the busy trails leading toward Namche Bazaar, this approach to Mera Peak offers a much quieter trekking experience and provides valuable time for your body to adjust gradually before reaching higher elevations.

After approximately 6–7 hours of trekking, arrive at Panggom (2,900 m), a traditional mountain settlement where you stay overnight in a local teahouse.

Leaving Panggom after breakfast, continue deeper into the less-travelled countryside on the approach to the Hinku Valley and Mera Peak. The trail winds through forests, traditional settlements and changing mountain terrain, with several ascents and descents throughout the day.

As you move farther away from the main trekking routes, the surroundings become increasingly peaceful and remote. This gradual approach is an important part of our 20-day Mera Peak Climbing itinerary, allowing more time in the lower mountains before the significant altitude gains that begin around Kothe, Thaknak and Khare.

After approximately 6–7 hours of trekking, reach Nashing Dingma (2,963 m). Settle into the teahouse, enjoy a warm meal and rest in preparation for the next day's journey toward Chhatra Khola.

After breakfast, leave Nashing Dingma and continue toward the increasingly remote landscapes of the Hinku Valley. The trail follows a varied route through forested hills, small settlements and sections of steep ascent and descent.

As the trek progresses, the surroundings become quieter and more isolated, offering a very different experience from Nepal's busier trekking routes. Continue through the beautiful mountain landscape before descending toward Chhatra Khola (2,870 m).

After approximately 6–7 hours of trekking, arrive at Chhatra Khola and settle into your teahouse for the night.

Today's trek takes you deeper into the Hinku Valley and toward the higher mountain environment of Mera Peak. Leaving Chhatra Khola, follow the trail through dense forests and along the valley, with the landscape becoming increasingly dramatic as you gain altitude.

The route eventually joins the main trail leading toward Mera Peak and continues through the forested valley toward Kothe (3,600 m). Along the way, enjoy the peaceful surroundings, mountain streams and changing views of the high Himalayan landscape.

After approximately 6–7 hours of trekking, reach Kothe, an important overnight stop on the Mera Peak climbing route.

After breakfast, leave Kothe and continue north through the upper Hinku Valley. The trail follows the Hinku River through a beautiful high-altitude landscape as forests gradually become thinner and the surrounding mountains appear increasingly close.

Along the route, pass Gondishung, where you can see an ancient Buddhist gompa and religious inscriptions associated with the sacred mountain landscape of the region. From here, continue steadily upward through increasingly open terrain toward Thaknak (4,350 m).

The significant gain in elevation today marks your arrival in the higher-altitude section of the Mera Peak trek. After reaching Thaknak, take plenty of time to rest, hydrate and prepare for tomorrow's important acclimatization day.

Today is an important acclimatization day at Thaknak, allowing your body additional time to adjust before continuing above 5,000 metres toward Khare and Mera Peak.

Rather than spending the entire day resting, take a gradual acclimatization hike in the surrounding area (3-4 hrs). Depending on weather, trail conditions and the guide's recommendation, you can explore higher terrain around Thaknak before returning to the teahouse. Following the principle of “climb high, sleep low” helps support the acclimatization process.

The afternoon is kept relaxed. Rest, stay well hydrated and discuss the next stages of the climb with your guide. This carefully planned acclimatization day is particularly valuable before the substantial altitude gain to Khare.

After breakfast, leave Thaknak and begin the steady climb toward Khare, the main base for Mera Peak climbers. Today's trail enters a dramatic high-altitude environment surrounded by glaciers, moraines and increasingly impressive Himalayan scenery.

Continue gradually upward through the upper Hinku Valley, with views toward the Mera Peak massif becoming more prominent as you approach Khare. Because of the considerable increase in altitude, the pace is kept slow and steady with regular breaks along the way.

After approximately 4–5 hours of trekking, arrive at Khare (5,045 m). The remainder of the day is reserved for rest and acclimatization. Tomorrow you will spend another full day at Khare for pre-climbing training and further acclimatization before moving toward Mera High Camp.

Today is dedicated to acclimatization and pre-climbing training at Khare, an important preparation day before moving higher toward Mera High Camp and the summit of Mera Peak.

After breakfast, your experienced climbing guide will conduct a practical training session and check your personal climbing equipment. You will become familiar with essential mountaineering equipment such as crampons, climbing harness, helmet, ice axe, ropes and ascender (jumar). Your guide will demonstrate basic techniques for walking safely with crampons, using fixed ropes, ascending and descending with climbing equipment, and travelling as a team on snow and glacial terrain.

Depending on the weather, snow conditions and your guide's recommendation, the training may also include a short acclimatization hike above Khare. This provides additional exposure to higher elevation before returning to Khare to sleep, following the important acclimatization principle of “climb high, sleep low.”

The remainder of the day is kept relaxed so you can rest, stay well hydrated, organize your climbing equipment and prepare physically and mentally for the climb toward Mera High Camp.

After an early breakfast, leave Khare and begin the climb toward Mera High Camp. Today you move beyond the regular trekking trail and into the mountaineering section of the Mera Peak expedition.

The route climbs steadily over rocky and glacial terrain before reaching the snow-covered upper slopes. Depending on current conditions, your climbing guide will determine when crampons, ropes and other technical equipment are required. The pace remains slow and controlled because of the increasing altitude.

Continue across the glacier toward Mera High Camp (5,780 m). In clear weather, the high camp offers spectacular views across the surrounding Himalayan peaks and provides an unforgettable setting for the final night before the summit attempt.

After reaching camp, rest while the climbing team prepares for the following morning. Dinner is served early, followed by a final equipment check and briefing. Try to sleep as much as possible before waking late at night for the summit climb.

Today is the most challenging and rewarding day of the Mera Peak Climbing expedition. The summit attempt normally begins very early, often around midnight or shortly afterward, depending on weather, snow conditions and your climbing guide's assessment.

After a light meal and final equipment check, leave Mera High Camp wearing your climbing equipment and warmest layers. Following your guide, climb steadily across the glacier and snow slopes toward the summit. The combination of extreme altitude, cold temperatures and the long climbing day requires patience and a controlled pace.

The final section toward the summit can be steeper and may require the use of a fixed rope and ascender depending on snow and climbing conditions. Reaching the summit of Mera Peak (6,476 m) is an extraordinary achievement.

In clear weather, the summit provides a magnificent Himalayan panorama with views of several of the world's highest mountains, including Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Kangchenjunga.

After spending a short time on the summit, begin the careful descent to Mera High Camp and continue down to Khare (5,045 m). This is a long and physically demanding day, but returning to the teahouse at Khare provides a well-earned opportunity to rest and celebrate the climb.

This day is reserved as a contingency day for the Mera Peak summit attempt. Mountain weather and climbing conditions in the Himalayas can change quickly, and strong winds, snowfall, poor visibility or unsafe glacier conditions may prevent a summit attempt on the originally planned day.

If the summit could not be attempted on Day 13 and conditions improve, your climbing guide will assess the situation and decide whether it is safe to make the summit attempt today. The final decision will always depend on weather, mountain conditions and the safety of the group.

If Mera Peak was successfully climbed on Day 13, this extra day can be used for rest or adjusted elsewhere in the itinerary according to the group's progress and operational requirements.

Including a dedicated Mera Peak summit contingency day gives the itinerary valuable flexibility and avoids placing unnecessary pressure on the climbing team to attempt the summit in unsuitable conditions.

After the Mera Peak climb, begin the return journey through the beautiful Hinku Valley. Leaving Khare after breakfast, descend through the high mountain landscape toward Thaknak and continue along the familiar trail toward Kothe.

As you lose altitude, the air becomes noticeably richer in oxygen and the barren alpine terrain gradually gives way to greener surroundings. Retracing the route through the upper Hinku Valley also provides another opportunity to enjoy the mountain scenery from a different perspective.

Continue downstream until reaching Kothe (3,600 m). After the demanding summit section of the expedition, today's descent brings you back to a more comfortable elevation and a well-deserved evening of rest.

After breakfast, leave Kothe and begin the return journey toward Thuli Kharka. Unlike the previous day's descent from Khare, today's route involves another significant climb as you make your way out of the Hinku Valley toward the Zatrwa La Pass.

The trail climbs gradually through rhododendron and alpine forest before reaching more open mountain terrain. As you gain elevation, look back across the Hinku Valley and surrounding Himalayan landscape that has accompanied you throughout the Mera Peak Climbing adventure.

Continue steadily toward Thuli Kharka (4,200 m), an important overnight stop below Zatrwa La. After reaching the teahouse, rest and prepare for tomorrow's long crossing of the pass and descent to Lukla.

Today is the final major trekking day of your Mera Peak journey. After an early breakfast, leave Thuli Kharka and climb steadily toward Zatrwa La Pass (4,610 m).

The ascent can be demanding, particularly after the previous days of climbing and trekking. Depending on the season, sections around the pass may contain snow or ice, so your guide will carefully assess trail conditions and determine the safest way to cross.

From the pass, enjoy impressive views across the surrounding mountains and valleys before beginning the long descent toward Lukla. The trail drops through alpine terrain and forest as you gradually return to the lower elevations of the Khumbu region.

After approximately 7–8 hours of trekking, arrive in Lukla (2,840 m). This marks the end of the trekking and climbing section of your Mera Peak expedition. Enjoy your final evening in the mountains with your guide, porters and climbing team.

After breakfast, transfer to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla for the scenic flight back from the mountains.

Depending on the season and current flight operations, you may fly directly from Lukla to Kathmandu, taking approximately 35 minutes. During busy trekking seasons, Lukla flights may operate via Ramechhap (Manthali Airport). In this case, take a short flight from Lukla to Ramechhap followed by an overland drive to Kathmandu.

The mountain flight offers a final opportunity to enjoy aerial views of Nepal's spectacular Himalayan landscape. If travelling through Ramechhap, continue by road through the countryside and hills toward the Kathmandu Valley.

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. After completing the challenging Mera Peak Climbing expedition, you can relax, enjoy a hot shower, explore Thamel or simply rest at your hotel.

Today is kept as a leisure and flight contingency day in Kathmandu. Flights between Lukla and Kathmandu or Ramechhap are weather-dependent and may occasionally be delayed or cancelled due to poor visibility, strong winds or other operational conditions. Including this additional day provides valuable flexibility before your international departure.

If your flight from Lukla operated as scheduled on Day 18, you are free to relax and enjoy Kathmandu at your own pace. You may explore the lively streets of Thamel, shop for souvenirs and traditional handicrafts, visit local cafés and restaurants, or simply rest after your Mera Peak climbing adventure.

Those interested in further cultural exploration can arrange an optional sightseeing tour of additional UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, such as Boudhanath Stupa, Bhaktapur Durbar Square or Patan Durbar Square.

This final free day is also a wonderful opportunity to relax and reflect on your journey through the remote Hinku Valley, the high-altitude landscapes of the Himalayas and the unforgettable experience of attempting or reaching the 6,476 m summit of Mera Peak.

Your Mera Peak Climbing adventure in Nepal comes to an end today. After breakfast, enjoy your remaining time in Kathmandu until it is time for your departure.

A representative from Himalayan Dream Team will meet you at your hotel and arrange a private transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport, according to your international flight schedule. We recommend arriving at the airport approximately three hours before departure.

After 20 unforgettable days from the cultural heritage of Kathmandu and the remote trails of the Hinku Valley to the challenging climb toward the 6,476 m summit of Mera Peak, we hope you leave Nepal with wonderful memories, new friendships and a true sense of Himalayan adventure.

Thank you for traveling with Himalayan Dream Team. We wish you a safe journey home and hope to welcome you back to Nepal for another Himalayan adventure in the future.