Mera Peak Climbing 15 Days

How Mera Peakc climbing journey starts with us?

Our journey of Mera Peak climbing begins with a flight to Lukla from Kathmandu. Then we move on to cross the enormous Zwatra la Pass and reach the village of Thuli Kharka. From here on, we cross several small Sherpa settlements of Khote, Thagnag, and Khare.

After spending a day at Khare, we move ahead to the Mera High Camp from where we will climb the summit of the Mera Peak. After successfully climbing the peak, we will return through the same path we have walked before to return to Lukla.

What to expect on Mera Peak Climbing?

Our Mera Peak climbing trip is an ideal trip for anyone who wants to get a taste of expedition life. Before setting off on our journey, we will explore the cultural city of Kathmandu for a day. We will then take a short scenic flight to Lukla and gradually walk towards the great solitude of Sherpa villages.

These picturesque villages provide us with an insight into the rich culture of the Everest region. We will then walk through the primeval mountain forests made up of huge hemlock spruces, conifers, and large-leaved rhododendron bushes of the Hinku Valley.

Being one of the less visited areas in Nepal, we will be in solitude with the purest form of nature. We will gradually gain height as we progress in our trek. Eventually, we will cross the 4600 m high Zwatra la pass and walk on a steady uphill route. Traversing Thagnag, we will stay in Khare for a day and carry out exercises with crampons, ice axes, and the fixed rope technique.

After ascending the Mera High Camp, we will set off to climb the Mera Peak from where we will witness five of the top eight thousand meters mountains. We will admire the majestic sunrise over Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, and Lhotse. We will also forget ourselves in the splendid beauty of other six and seven-thousand-meter high ice peaks.

Then we descend through the already known route for yet another adventurous flight to Kathmandu from Lukla. In Kathmandu, we will have one more opportunity for individual discovery tours and shopping.

Through our Mera Peak climbing tour, you will discover the uncontaminated nature, and authentic century-old traditions, and meet extraordinary Sherpas. You will get to pride yourself on climbing the 6461 m high mountain peak in Nepal. You will get to tell the story of seeing the grandest mountain of all with your own eyes.

Best Time to Climb Mera Peak

The best time for Mera Peak climbing in Nepal is from March to May in spring and September to November in autumn. The pre-monsoon period of spring and the post-monsoon period of autumn months are ideal seasons when the snow melts with less probability for rainfall.

Especially when ascending the summit of Mera Peak, the trail will be covered with a thin layer of snow facilitating the use of ropes, ice axes, and crampons. Besides, summiting the peak is not the only goal of our expedition. We want to witness the incredible mountains and the experience of the flora and fauna in their full glory.

Therefore for the paramount experience of the mountains, we recommend you undertake this expedition in spring and autumn.

Elevation and distance during the Mera peak Climb

The Mera peak erects at a height of 6461 m above sea level lying at a distance of around 75 km from the capital. Our journey begins and ends in Lukla which lies 367 km from Kathmandu. However, the aerial distance of Lukla from Kathmandu is only 135 km which can be covered within 25 to 30 minutes by flight.

Before summiting the Mera Peak, we will first ascend to the Mera High Camp which is located at 5500 m above sea level. From the camp, we will climb the peak the following day. Our Mera Peak climbing expedition consists of 15 days itinerary which needs you to cover 7 to 8 km each day walking around 4 to 7 hours a day.

Maximum/Minimum walk per day

In about 15 days itinerary of Mera Peak Climbing, we will hike for 10 days in total including the short hikes during the acclimatization day on day 8. Since we will be covering about 8 km each day, we will walk on average for about 5 to 7 hours every day. However, the walking duration each day differs depending on the overnight destination, terrain, pace, and altitude.

On the 7th day of the trek, we will only walk for only 3 hours covering the distance of only 3 to 5 km when trekking from Thagnag to Khare. This will be our minimum walk in the entire trekking duration of the journey.

On the 10th day, when we set off from the Mera High Camp to ascend the summit and hike down to Khare, we will cover a distance of around 17 km. We will hike for 9 to 10 hours during this day which will be our maximum walk in the hiking and climbing expedition to Mera Peak.

Difficulty and Acclimatization on Mera Peak Climbing

The Mera Peak is categorized as 1B alpine grade which means it is classified as a slightly challenging peak in Nepal. More suitable for experienced alpine trekkers, the climbing expedition needs you to manage a short steep climb of up to 40° and cross slopes with an incline of 35-40°.

Skill in using ice axes and crampons will be an added advantage when summiting this peak. In addition, you need to hike for 5 to 7 hours a day which allows you to walk very long distances with the necessary amount of altitude to acclimate.

We want to ensure that climbing the summit doesn’t require complex technical mountaineering skills. The challenge lies in the height and unpredictable weather conditions in the mountain.

Keeping these risk factors in mind, we have designed our itinerary carefully with a steady climb and a separate day dedicated to Khare to allow plenty of time for acclimatization.

Can a beginner join Mera Peak Climbing trip?

Yes, Mera Peak climbing needs only basic mountaineering skills to reach the summit. Therefore, it has been the favorable peak among travelers who have extreme motivation to conquer the high-altitude Himalayas in Nepal. Additionally, this expedition will be an ideal journey for those who want to prepare themselves for future expeditions to Everest.

The prerequisite for this trip is stamina and strength for hikes with a walking time of up to 10 hours on unpaved paths. There are no special technical requirements for trekking. But you should be able to climb slopes with an incline of up to 40° with or without rope protection.

However, it is nothing to be concerned about as our experienced Sherpa guides will give you basic mountain climbing training before ascending to the actual summit.

Preparation and training for Mera peak climbing

Before joining our Mera Peak climbing tour, we advise you to work on increasing your physical stamina and strength by training properly for at least a month before climbing. Jogging for 15 to 2 minutes daily, squatting, stepping up and down the ladder, exercising on treadmills, running and cycling can increase the strength and endurance of your leg muscles.

We also advise you to familiarize yourself with the weather and climate of the Everest region. And make sure you are in proper health and body condition. If you have any existing health condition, we suggest you seek consultation from your physician.

Our Mera peak climbing is a teahouse or lodge trekking but you need to stay for a day at a tented camp. Our team will make all arrangements for the camping but you should be prepared to forego the luxury and stay with basic amenities.

Alternate routes for Mera Peak Climbing

As an alternate route to the Mera Peak climbing, you can trek from Lukla to Paiya instead of Chhuthanga. Following this route, you will cross several Passes at an altitude of more than 2500 m. From Paiya, you will traverse Panggom, Ramailo Dada, and Chhatra Khola. From Chhatra Khola, you will then trek to Kothe following the same trail onwards as we have listed in our itinerary.

The advantage of this alternate trail is it offers scenic views of Kongde Ri, Khatang, and Tang Ragi Tu along the trail. The number of days required to complete this route is also 15.

Altitude Sickness in Mera peak climbing

On this trekking and climbing trip we will be continuously at altitudes over 2,500m. This results in the possibility of suffering from altitude sickness. Typical and initial symptoms are headaches, dizziness, and nausea. In order to reduce the risk, when planning the trip we made sure to give your body the opportunity to adapt to the altitude.

This not only includes the itinerary but also careful and attentive handling by our guides. They are trained to maintain a slow walking pace with enough breaks to drink.

Still, the high elevations and long hours of hiking can put a strain on your body. So in the occurrence of any symptoms, we advise you to consult our guide and go down immediately. For quick relief, have a tablet of Diamox or Ibuprofen.

Transportation, Meals and Drink during the mera peak climbing

During the entire period of Mera Peak Climbing, we offer you airport pick up and drop off service, all the ground and air transportation from the beginning to the end of the trek. We will pick you up at the airport and transport you to the hotel in Kathmandu in a private vehicle.

We will also arrange for your domestic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla and from Lukla to Kathmandu at the end of the journey. In case of flight delay or cancellation, we will drive you to the Ramechhap airport and fly you to Lukla.

Regarding meals and drinks, a star hotel where you will be accommodated will provide you with a complimentary breakfast every morning till you stay in the city. During the trek, you will have three times meals on the trek (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) with a hot cup of tea or coffee. After dinner, we will provide fresh seasonal fruit from the region.

When camping in the base camp, our skilled team will set up separate tents for cooking, latrines, and sleeping. Our kitchen crew will cook fresh hot meals with hot drinks during the climbing period.

Mera Peak Climbing Vs Island Peak Climbing

Both the Mera Peak and Island Peak are above 6000 m high above sea level: Mera Peak at 6461 m and Island Peak at 6,165 m. climbing these two peaks requires basic mountaineering skills and staying in tents hiking through deserted and non-tourist areas, where you will see the real mountainous Nepal as it is.

Climbing expedition of both Mera Peak and Island Peak will take you to the border between the Sagarmatha National Park and Makalu Barun National Park. Both the peaks and the trail offer unforgettable views of mountains and landscapes.

However, in terms of difficulty, the ascending Island peak is harder than the Mera peak climbing. The ascent to the Island peak requires you to climb a steeper narrow icy and snowy path with numerous crevasses in between. Therefore, it is technically more challenging than climbing Mera Peak which includes pretty much straightforward ascension.

But, the trekking part to the Island Peak base camp is easier than hiking to the Mera Peak base camp.

Communication, Gadgets charging, and Internet/wifi

Communication, gadget charging, and internet connectivity are available in the lower regions of the Mera Peak climbing trail. But at higher altitudes, at the base camp, and the summit, you may not have accessibility to these services.

Most of the lodges where we will stay for the night will have amenities for charging your mobiles, cameras, and power banks. They may also provide WIFI services but they can charge extra fees for these services.

At higher altitude villages, at the base camp and summit, you may not get a good reception on your mobile. The same goes for the electricity as well so we suggest you carry power banks to charge your devices when in the base camp. You probably don’t want to miss out on capturing the moment of your accomplishment.

Permits for Mera Peak climbing

We need a Mera peak climbing permit from the Nepal Mountaineering Association and a Makalu Barun National Park Entry Permit for this trip.

The climbing permit cost depends on the season: in spring it will cost you $250 per person, in autumn- $125 per person and in winter and summer it costs $70 per person.

The Makalu Barun National Park Entry Permit costs USD 30 per person which allows you to hike through the restricted area of the national park.

Essential Equipment for Mera Peak Climbing

Personal equipment:

• 60 liters
• A bag for personal belongings
• Sleeping bag, comfort temperature from -20 C to -30 C.
• Rug
• Trekking poles must have rings of at least 70 mm
• Classic ice ax with steel beak or ice tool
• Climbing system
• Helmet
• Carabiners – 3 pcs.
• Jumar
• Descender

Clothes and shoes:

• Triple or double climbing boots. Double – plastic or leather – very preferably with an external shoe cover
• Trekking boots
• Sneakers (for cities)
• Waterproof layer – Jacket + trousers
• Fleece suit
• Thermal underwear top+bottom
• Warm mittens
• Thick gloves
• Thin gloves
• Hat
• Woolen trekking socks

Miscellaneous:

• LED flashlight for head
• Power bank
• Sunglasses
• Ski goggle mask
• Raincoat
• Thermos – 1 liter. Preferably without a button on the lid
• Leggings
• Sun cream spf 50
• Lip Balm

Personal first aid kit: 

• Elastic bandage and/or support bandage
• Toothpaste, soap, brush, slippers, shampoo
• Towel
• Toilet paper

Trip Extension

If desired, you can extend your Mera Peak climbing trip by another exciting mountain week. After climbing Mera Peak, you will continue through the unique, wild, and frozen upper Hongu Valley via the impressive Amphu Laptsa Pass.

You will then reach the back of the Khumbu valley, where the Island Peak awaits your arrival. Island Peak is technically more difficult than Mera Peak. Finally, the path takes you past the oldest monasteries in the Himalayas down to Lukla.