We have a full day of sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley scheduled after breakfast, which will include trips to some of the most significant local historical, cultural, and religious sites. The tour guide takes us to the famous Swyambhunath “Monkey Temple,” an ancient religious complex perched atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley; the Buddhist shrine Buddhanath, the oldest and tallest stupa in the world that dominates the skyline; and the holy Hindu Pashupatinath Temple, one of the largest Hindu temples in the world dedicated to Lord Shiva.

After the tour, there will be a trip briefing, a guide introduction, and a final inspection of the climbing equipment for the hike to make sure everyone is ready for the thrilling adventure that lies ahead.

Beginning with an exciting journey from Kathmandu to Lukla, which offers breathtaking views of the Himalayas, the third day of the Mera Peak climbing adventure gets underway. After arriving, you’ll meet up with your hiking group and travel the four to five hours to Paiya. Suspension bridges over steep river gorges, dense forests, and little Sherpa towns are all visible along the way.

Acclimatisation is made possible by the steady advancement, and the experience is enhanced by interactions with local wildlife and cultures. Paiya greets you with friendly Sherpa hospitality, traditional Sherpa cuisine, and cosy accommodations.

Note: Lukla Airport may get crowded during busy times of the year. This is the reason why all planes bound for Lukla are diverted via Manthali in the autumn (October–November) and spring (April–May). From Kathmandu, Manthali is around a 4-to 5-hour journey away. To ensure that we get to Manthali in time for the flight, we will depart at 1:45 a.m. From Manthali, the flight to Lukla takes about 17–20 minutes.

Hiking from Paiya to Panggom is a demanding yet worthwhile experience. The walk starts with a short descent to a sturdy wooden bridge, setting up the challenging but exhilarating climb up to Kari La Pass.

At 2,990 metres (9,812 feet) above sea level, Kari La Pass offers expansive views of the stunning Kharikhola Valley and Cho Oyu, the magnificent sixth-highest peak in the world.

Past the pass, the trail meanders through picturesque woodlands adorned with imposing waterfalls, a home shared by a variety of creatures such as playful monkeys, peculiar birds, and even the elusive snow leopard. There are beautiful photo opportunities at every cascade along the walk that will turn into priceless memories.

Panggom village, peacefully perched at 2,946 metres (9,675 feet) above sea level, is our last stop for the day. This little Sherpa village offers an intriguing glimpse into Sherpa customs and culture. After a quick 20-minute walk from the settlement, a magnificent monastery that watches over Panggom can be seen.

We set off early once more in the morning to make it to the 3,180-meter Panggom La pass. We follow our trail, which is only signposted by Tibetan chortens, into the remote Hinku Valley, where Mera Peak initially emerges. It’s a dramatic start to our ultimate goal.

Following that, the trail meanders through agricultural areas where the local villagers and farmers go about their daily lives. We will travel to Ningsaw on more Nepali flats after lunch at Sibuje. Depending on the circumstances, our guide might travel to Ramailo Dada for an extra hour and a half.

Today’s route will primarily pass through lovely rhododendron and bamboo forests, separated from one another by a number of ascents and descents. Before we arrive to Tama Khola, we will be lost in the verdant trees for over three hours.

Here, we’ll cross the river and ascend for around 20 minutes before arriving at two newly constructed tea houses. We will have lunch at this lovely spot, which offers a restorative break in the warmth of the natural world.

Following lunch, we will continue our two-hour journey through the fascinating bamboo and rhododendron forests till we reach Chhatra Khola, also known as the Bamboo Camp.

The walk leads us to Taktor Village across aromatic pine forests and verdant bamboo groves as we proceed towards Kothe. Trails from Thuli Kharka and Chhatra Khola converge in this charming settlement, which also gives us a much-needed lunch break.

We resumed our journey after lunch, travelling by the abandoned Tashing Dingma town. The Hinku Valley unfolds before us as we follow the meandering path of the Inkhu Khola, providing a breathtaking perspective of the spectacular Mera Peak towering far below.

We continue along the ridge overlooking the river, slowly approaching Kothe. When we arrive at Kothe, we enter the Makalu Barun National Park, beginning a new chapter in our adventure.

After travelling to Thangnak today, we will stay there for two nights to allow for necessary acclimatisation. Starting our walk, we follow the peaceful trail beside the glacial river that is fed by the surrounding high peaks, which include Mera Peak and, on clear days, Kusum Kanguru.

The track is not too difficult, but it does need a slow pace because of the height gain, which gives our bodies time to acclimatise to the high altitude. When we arrive in Saurya, we are treated to a pleasant pause for lunch or tea, which gives us a much-needed rest before continuing on to Thangnak.

On the ridges above the river, we come across picturesque pastoral settings as we climb. One such place is Gondishung, a herders’ seasonal community with a historically significant old monastery. Still climbing, we soon arrive at Thangnak, noticing as we get closer to the snow line the slow reduction of tree cover, a faint echo of our climb into the mountain world.

Any walk, climb, or expedition must include acclimatisation since it allows your body to adapt to the lower oxygen levels found at high elevations.

A side excursion to the Tibetan Prayer Stones is a useful technique to facilitate acclimatisation. From the top of the ridge, this short walk behind Thangnak provides breathtaking views. The walk also helps increase your pulse and breathing rates, aiding in the adjustment to decreased oxygen levels.

In addition to offering beautiful scenery and a chance for physical activity, the walk to the Tibetan Prayer Stones is an important acclimatisation aid that gets your body ready for the demands of high-altitude trekking.

Large stones left by Sabai Tsho, a glacial lake near the path just north of Thangnak, will be encountered as we continue on the trail. We’ll arrive to the grassy Dig Kharka, which provides breathtaking views of Kyeshar Khang and Charpate Himal, by following the lateral moraine of Dig Glacier.

We travel through moraines before arriving at the Hinku Nup and Shar Glaciers’ snouts. After that, there will be a more difficult climb to Khare, where we will spend the following few nights. We’ll have a great perspective of our planned trip to Mera Peak from a ridge overlooking Khare.

We are taking a much-needed break today in Khare. It’s all about becoming acclimated and preparing for the final push to the peak. We’ll take it easy, enjoying the atmosphere of the village and improving our climbing abilities with the assistance of our reliable climbing guide. We plan to take short walks about the area to aid in our bodies’ acclimatisation to the high altitude.

Always remember to pay attention to your body. Take a break if you’re feeling under the weather or exhausted. Additionally, don’t be afraid to speak up if you have any symptoms of altitude sickness, such as a pounding headache, nausea, or difficulty breathing. Let’s talk about the next actions to take; your advisor is here to help.

We are heading to 5,350 metres above sea level today—Mera Peak Base Camp. We should arrive at Mera Peak Base Camp in three or four hours, where we will set up camp for the night. On our journey to Mera La pass, which is 5,415 metres high and rewards us with views of gorgeous landscapes and stunning mountain situations, we will be guided across the moraine above Khare and pass through some boulders.

After that, we’ll continue downhill towards Hongu and towards the Base Camp. We’ll locate a suitable camping area for you, or you can opt to stay in a lodge.

We ascend sharply to Mera La, from where we enjoy sweeping views of all the other peaks, including Mount Everest, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, and Cho Oyu, as well as the south faces of Lhotse, Nuptse, Chamlang, and Baruntse. We continue up the rock-strewn north flank past Mera La to a rocky overhang where we set up high camp.

Summit day is usually the hardest and most exciting day of the trek. It will be early in the morning, usually before dawn, and you will climb to the top. In the final section of the ascent, there is a push towards the peak. The terrain can have snow-covered slopes and/or exposed ridges. Using ropes, crampons, and ice axes may be necessary.

Achieving Mera Peak’s peak is a remarkable accomplishment. You will have time to savour and appreciate the magnificent view, which includes the five highest mountains in the world: Mount Everest, Mount Kanchenjunga, Mount Lhotse, Mount Makalu, and Mount Cho Oyu. We will begin the descent back to Khare once you have had some time to enjoy the top.

In the event that bad weather prevents us from reaching the peak or we have to take another day off to recover, we have a backup day built into the schedule. It lets us be a little more accommodating, waiting for a better weather window or extending the time it takes for a group member to recover from altitude sickness.

The extra day of freedom in Kathmandu will be added if it turns out that the spare contingency day is not needed. This will allow you to explore the city, go shopping, and visit other temples. We really hope you won’t need the additional backup day. We do appreciate your understanding, nevertheless, that its purpose is to safeguard and ensure your safety.

After a long and tiring journey back down the Hinku Valley, we finally arrive in Khote. It’s mostly downhill, however the rough moraine can be challenging. We need to take extra care when we walk to avoid twisted ankles.

Leaving Mera Peak behind, we head to Chetera (4,200m) for the evening, staying high above on the exposed hillsides west of the Hinku River. There’s a strong 600-metre ascent on a meandering, rocky trail that winds up and down through vibrant rhododendron trees.

In the spring, the rhododendron forests burst with colour, and the surrounding mountains make for breathtaking views. There will be many of chances for us to savour the beauty and tranquillity of the mountains.

Upon ascending steeply from Thuli Kharka, we arrive at the rugged Zatrwa La, situated at 4610 metres (15,120 feet). From here, we can reflect on the Hinku wilderness and the peak we just ascended. It’s important to use caution when descending from the top crags because it can get very cold.

Lastly, we arrive at the Dudh Koshi Valley’s farms and woodland. After a few days in the Himalayas, Lukla is a bustling city with diverse terrain. We had a celebratory meal with our team.

We take a lovely morning flight back to Kathmandu, allowing us one final goodbye to the Himalayas. In December through February and June through August, travelers can take advantage of direct flights from Lukla to Kathmandu, which is Nepal’s off-season.

The flight lasts for about forty minutes. We will be driven in a private tour van from the domestic airport to our accommodation in Kathmandu.

Note: Lukla to Manthali is a quick flight, arriving there in about 17–20 minutes.We then travel the remaining five to six hours (depending on traffic circumstances) back to Kathmandu from Manthali.

Due to Air Traffic Congestion (ATC), we will fly from Lukla to Manthali during the peak seasons of spring (April–May) and autumn (October–November) rather than taking a direct route to Kathmandu.

Our exhilarating journey to the Everest region is now over! Today marks the end of our 20-day Mera Peak Climbing Adventure. One of our team members will accompany you to the Tribhuvan International Airport so you can catch your trip home.

With the expectation of seeing you again soon, we bid you farewell!