Mera Peak Expedition

Overview

Itinerary

• Day 1

  Arrive at Kathmandu (1300m) and Transfer to Hotel

  On arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be greeted by our staff, who will escort you to the hotel, where our Sherpa guide or the office staff will give you a brief orientation about the hotel, Kathmandu itself, trekking, and the do's and don’ts of the area. They will also review any additional information that you might require while in Nepal, including an overview of the next day's sightseeing tour. In the evening, you will enjoy a complimentary welcome dinner at one of the finest traditional Nepalese restaurants in Kathmandu, with the necessary transfer to and from the hotel by taxi, bus. Overnight in Hotel

• Day 2

  Guided sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley

  After your breakfast, you will precede to Kathmandu Durbar Square, where you will tour the ancient palace, the temple of Kumari, hailed as the living goddess of Nepal, Hanuman Dhoka and Kasthamandav Temple with a guide knowledgeable about Nepalese history, architecture, and religion. From there, you will proceed by taxi, bus to the Buddhist site, Swoyambhunath Stupa, also known as the "Monkey Temple" because of its lively troops of resident monkeys. You will then visit Pashupatinath Temple, the holiest shrine for Hindus, situated on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, a popular cremation site. Before returning to the hotel, you will visit Boudhnath Stupa, a Buddhist pilgrimage center and home to many colorful gompas, or monasteries. Once back at the hotel, you will receive a briefing about the trek and have a chance to meet your guides and ask any last minute questions before tomorrow morning's departure. Overnight in Hotel

• Day 3

  Fly to Lukla (2840m) 35 Minutes

  Early in the morning you will be picked up by a vehicle and transferred to airport. It is always advisable to get early morning flight to Lukla and vice-versa because weather is usually clear early in the morning and in the afternoon it is usually cloudy or windy. After 35 minutes flight by a Twin Otter/ Dornier aircraft you will land at Lukla Airport, the most dangerous airport in the world. Your staffs and porters will be waiting for you at Lukla Airport. Do not worry about your luggage, your guide and other staffs will collect them. Overnight at tented camp/ Tea-house lodge

• Day 4

  Trek to Paiyan (2730m) 04 Hrs

  After having breakfast at Lukla, you will start your trek which will last for a couple of weeks. The first part of the trail goes down-hill for 1 hour till you reach Surke. By crossing the bridge above Surke Khola path starts climbing up. After 45 minute‟s steep climbing up you will reach at a small tea shop from where you can have good view of Surke Village down in the valley. From the tea shop your path gradually becomes easier. Walk another half an hour to reach Paakhe Pani where you will have lunch stop. You can have good view of Lukla Village as well as various snowy peaks including Kongde Ridge. After the lunch break you will walk straight for 1 and half hours passing few tea houses to reach Paiya. Paiya situated in the corner of two ridges where many lodges and good camp sites are available. Overnight at tented camp

• Day 5

  Trek to Pangom (2850m) 05 - 06 Hrs

  It is advisable to wear full trousers and few layers of clothes because it is usually cold in the morning. Because of the high ridges the sun doesn‟t rise in Paiya until late morning. After having breakfast early in the morning, you will leave Paiya at 7:30 am. You will meet a junction after you follow straight path in the dense forest for the first 1 hour. From the junction you will avoid the mail trail and follow the sub trail which goes steep up for 1 hour till you reach Kade. Kade is the top of the ridge which provides you good panorami view of snowy peaks and Karikhola village to the south-east. Walk slope down for 1 and half hour to reach Ngingsuwa Buk. There is a small open meadow in the bank of a small stream where your cook and kitchen staffs will be already preparing your lunch. From the lunch stop the path goes straight with some slope ups passing some Sherpa houses for 2 hours to reach Pangom.Overnight at tented camp

• Day 6

  Trek to Ngingswa (2745m) 05 Hrs

  After having breakfast early in the morning, you will leave Pangom. By passing some houses and an old Mani (a stone wall inscribed with Tibetan fonts) you will leave Pangom village and enter into dense forest. Though, the path is easy climbing up, some of you might feel difficulty in breathing because you are already walking at an elevation of approx. 3000 meters. After 1 and half hour‟s walking up, you will reach Pangom La which is the highest point of the day. “La” in Sherpa language refers to „pass‟. There is a good resting place and there are two tea shops where most of your porters and staffs will be having tea. After having good rest on the top of the ridge, you will follow the path which goes down in the forest, but the thick forest becomes thinner and thinner as you rush down. Soon you will be in the cliff from where you can see some Sherpa villages. Look to the east you will see a chain of three snow capped peaks at a stone throw away distance. Prepare yourself ready to hear the name of those peaks. Yes! It is Mera Peak, the most popular peak in Nepal. Mera Peak has three peaks, Mera North, Mera Center, Mera South. Mera Center is the highest one which is usually climbed. And just imagine that within few days you will be on top of Mera Center. After walking 1 hours and following 10 minutes steep down-hill in the end you will be in front of Namaste Lodge in Sibuje, a small Sherpa Village. It offers you with very good view of Mera Peak and villages like, Cherem, Najingdingma, Gaikharka and Juke. You staff will have already prepared lunch. After 1 hour‟s good lunch break, you will walk 30 minutes straight path and after crossing a small stream start climbing up for 1 more hour to reach Ngingswa. Ngingswa is surrounded by forest and there is a tea shop with well built camping. Overnight at tented camp

• Day 7

  Trek to Chhetrabuk (3150m) 071/2 Hrs

  Today, you will walk all day in dense forest. After having breakfast early in the morning, your journey of the day starts with climbing slope up and soon you will be confronted with very steep climbing uphill. It can be the most strenuous walking so far now. If it was covered in snow, I‟m sure you would need fixed rope to climb this ridge. But, your hard climb will be rewarded once you reach on the top of the ridge which is called “Ramailo Danda”. You will have very good view of some beautiful villages to the south. There is a small seasonal tea shop where you can buy tea, cold drinks and chocolates. After having good rest on the top, you will again walk into dense forest. The path is not as wide as it should be and not easy as well. There are many ups and downs, somewhere the path is very steep up and somewhere the path is very steep down. After 1 and half hours walking in the forest from Ramilo Danda, you will reach at the bank of a small stream where your staffs will be already preparing lunch. After the lunch break, you will start climbing up in the forest. The path leads ups and downs in the dense bamboo forest. Two and half hours walk from the lunch place will take you to cross a small river. After crossing the river, just 2 minutes climbing up will take you to the campsite. The campsite is very small and if there are more than 2 groups staying together on the same day, there might be problem for the space. There are two seasonal tea shops where your porter will be spending the night. Overnight at tented camp

• Day 8

  Trek tp Kothe (3800m) 06 Hrs

  Today‟s trek will be shorter and much easier than the previous day. After having breakfast early in the morning, start climbing up in the bamboo forest. For the first two hours, the path goes up following turnings which makes you easier to climb up. Again there is a beautiful point which offers you with the nice view of lowlands. After having a short rest, walking straight and slope down for another 1 and half hour will take you to a small seasonal settlement containing few lodges which is the meeting point for 3 routes: one leads to Kothe/ Mera, one leads to Lukla via Chhetra La, and one leads to the path that we have followed. We will have lunch at the bank of a river near the lodges. After then, the path leads downwards to the bank of Ingkhu River, which takes 1 hour. From the river bank, you will walk one more hour to reach Kothe. It is the newly established seasonal human settlement for the purpose of business and it is the biggest market place in this area which offers you with good campsites and good rooms to spend night. Overnight at tented camp

• Day 9

  Trek to Thangnak (4360m) 04 Hrs

  It is the easiest day on your whole Trek. After having breakfast early in the morning, start walking on the bank of the river. You will be walking on the bank of the river till you reach lunch place. After 2 and half hours walking you will leave the beach and reach on a green meadow covered by high altitude junipers. In the afternoon it is usually windy but definitely you will have good sunshine. After having lunch, follow the straight path for another 1 and half hours to reach Thangnak. Unlike Kothe, Thangnak is an old settlement, where people from Lukla and nearby villages used to bring their yaks here in the summer. Overnight at tented camp

• Day 10

  Rest Day at Thangnak

  You have a rest day today. The main purpose of the rest day is to acclimatize since you are already above 4000 meters from sea level. It is usually mandatory not only for the foreigners but also for the Native guides and climbers who have been staying in Kathmandu for the last few months. Usually your guide will fix your breakfast time during the trekking days, and it is usually early in the morning. But, today you can choose your breakfast time. If you want to have breakfast late, please, inform your guide on the previous night. But, that must be the decision of the group, not individual. Some trekkers walk up to the glacial lake for acclimatization which is usually good and advisable. But, apart from that you will be taught the necessary climbing techniques by your guides or Sherpas. There are some good places to practice climbing at Thangnak. You will be taught basic climbing techniques, such as, using jummer, handling with safety ropes, abseiling, climbing up and down etc. Overnight at tented camp

• Day 11

  Trek to Khare (5100m) 03 Hrs

  Today you will be ascending 700 meters. After an early breakfast, your guide will lead you on the straight path for the first quarter an hour. After then you will start climbing up on a rocky path for 45 minutes. Have a short rest once you finished climbing up the steep path. If you had missed to visit the glacial lake the previous day you can visit today. Just walk off the main trail for quarter an hour to observe the lake. The path is relatively easier for another 1 hour. After 1 hour‟s walking, you will reach at the place called Dik which is a big flat ground where there are two seasonal tea shops. Some trekkers have lunch here and some go to Khare. From Dik the path climbs steep up for 1 hour to reach Khare. There are few lodges and most of them have well built campsites.Overnight at tented camp. Please, give your concern on the following points: Maintain your walking pace. When you are walking at high altitude places your walking pace plays vital role on your acclimatization. The one who walks too fast is more likely to get AMS than the one who walks slowly. So walk slowly and flow the advice of your guide or team leader. Never walk alone, be in a group. Now, it is the time to believe on your team/ group more than yourself. Since your strength and physical fitness does not play any role in having AMS nobody can predict who will get AMS and who will not. If you have symptoms of AMS and your guide or team leader advices you to go back, please, follow the advice because the only treatment for the AMS is going down.

• Day 12

  Rest at Khare

  Rest at Khare is mandatory because the next camp from Khare is at an altitude of 5780 meters which is more than 700 meters higher than Khare. You can walk up to the ridges to acclimatize. It is always better to go in group or if you are alone take your guide or Sherpa with you. Overnight at tented camp

• Day 13

  Trek to Mera High Camp (5780m) 05 Hrs

  After an early breakfast you will be provided with packed lunch for the day. You have to carry your packed lunch yourself. Most of the time, you will be walking steep-up. If the path is covered by snow you may need crampons and ice-axe. Otherwise, most of the day, you will walk on rocky path. Once you reach starting point of Mera La (5500m), it is better to go on Main Rope fixed by your guide or leader. “La” refers to the “pass”. From Mera La half of your porters go directly to Kongma Dingma. Only few of the porters and the support staffs will go to Mera High Camp carrying necessary things. You can have your packed lunch at Mera La. You can see Mera Base Camp just below Mera La. From Mera La continue going on Main Rope to Mera High Camp. Since the path is not really steep up you do not need Fixed Rope except there are crevasses. Some of the climbers climb Mera Peak directly from the Base Camp too. It is usually windy after mid-afternoon at High Camp, so stay protected from the wind. Overnight at tented camp

• Day 14

  Climb Mera Summit (6460m) and Return to Khare (5100m) 08 Hrs

  Your staff will prepare your breakfast at 3 o‟clock. At 4 o‟clock you will start climbing. Do not forget to carry headlight. You will be given time to fix your harness and crampons. When you are ready, your guide or leader will give instruction for few minutes before climbing. After then, you will start climbing on the Main Rope carrying Ice-Axe. Approx. after 4 hours you will reach at the top of Mera Peak. It is a victorious moment for all of you because you are on the top of the most popular peak in the world from where you can see world‟s 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th highest mountains at a stone throw away distance. Finally, your effort and will power have been rewarded. Try to save this memorable and historical moment in your cameras. After having half an hour‟s rest on the summit, you will start to descend. Your staffs will be ready to welcome you with hot soup and lunch for you. Then, pack up your bags and start walking down to Khare. But, you have to walk on the Main Rope till you reach Mera La. Overnight at Teahouse/Lodge

• Day 15

  Trek Back to Thangnak (4360m) 05 Hrs

  It‟s an easy day spending most of the day on trek with a stop en route for lunch and overnight rest at Thangnak. Overnight at Teahouse/Lodge

• Day 16

  Retrace back to Kothe (3800m) 04 Hrs

  It’s a pleasant day for retracing back following the same trail to Kothe, after breakfast. Overnight at tented camp

• Day 17

  Trek to Chutanga (3430m) 06 Hrs

  Today the trail begins with an ascent before descending down to reach Chutanga. Overnight at tented camp

• Day 18

  Trek to Lukla (2840m) 04 Hrs

  Today trail leads mostly downhill to Lukla. The steep descents at certain points are a bit rough on the knees, but the warmer climate offers good opportunity to finally shed our down jackets & woolen thermal wear. At Lukla, it’s a good place to indulge in an overdue hot-shower/ bath. Overnight at Teahouse

• Day 19

  Fly back to Kathmandu

  The flight time to Kathmandu, are schedule for morning normally, because of the wind in the afternoon, sometime the flight time can be delayed due to bad weather and other reason beyond our command. As you get hold of the boarding pass depending upon your flight time you make your way to the terminal for security check, this scenic flight from Lukla takes about 45 minutes to Kathmandu, a panoramic view of the snow capped peaks can be seen from window of the plane. Arriving at Kathmandu domestic terminal, one of our Tour Officers will be waiting to receive and escort you back to the Hotel. Rest of the time will be at leisure. Overnight in Hotel

• Day 20

  Free day in Kathmandu

  A free day in Kathmandu please let our staff know if you would like to go on another short tour in and around Kathmandu Valley or if you need to extend your stay for few days and join in our extension trip White Water Rafting, Jungle Safari, Paragliding or Bungee Jump. Overnight in Hotel

• Day 21

  Final Departure

  Keep the departure time of international flight in mind, and make sure to keep your confirmed air ticket and passport handy! Our staff will take you to the airport for your final departure from beautiful Nepal.