Following quiet trails through villages, the first part of this trek takes us into the Hinku Valley and to the base of Mera Peak, with plenty of time built in for acclimatisation along the way. There is then the chance to summit Nepal’s highest trekking peak, Mera Peak (6476m). From the summit we are surrounded by five of the world’s 8000m peaks, Kanchengjunga, Makalu, Lhotse, Cho Oyu and Everest.
Itinerary
[+] Detailed Itinerary
1
Join tour Kathmandu
Our tour begins today at our hotel in Kathmandu. We stay in a central location to make the most of the lively cafes, bars and restaurants in the capital.
Overnight Standard Hotel
2
Kathmandu sightseeing
In the morning we have arranged a walking tour visiting the bazaars and temples of old Kathmandu, accompanied by a local Nepali guide. After lunch a pre-trek briefing will be given in the hotel where your tour leader will check that everybody is properly equipped for the trek and give you an idea of what to expect on a day to day basis while on the trek.
Overnight Standard Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast
3
Fly to Lukla; trek to Poyang.
Early morning we check out and drive to the domestic Airport for the short flight to Lukla, where we meet out sherpa team. We start out trek following the path on the south side of the airstrip and descend steeply for half an hour before meeting the main trade route coming up from the south to the Khumbu. We continue to descend to Surke before climbing up to the Chitok La and then to Poyang. Approx 5 hours walk
Note - the Lukla flight may be delayed, in which case group will be accommodated in Kathmandu hotel on B&B basis
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4 to 5
Trek via Pangkongma to Najing Dingma
After crossing the Poyang Khola we turn off the main route onto the old trade route climbing up to the ridge line overlooking the Khare Khola. We stop at Kharte for lunch and then leave the main trail start roughly contouring east and descend to subsidiary stream of the Khare Khola. Then steady climb up to the attractive farming and treading village of Pangkongma, from here there are fine views west back to Takshimdu Monastery, Lamjura and north-west to Kwangde. A climb through thick rhododendron forest and bamboo leads to Pangkongma La (3175m) before a descent to the small settlement of Shibuje. There are beautiful views from here looking south across the endless foothills rising each side of the Hinku valley and shortly after the descent Mera, with its twin vertical south face, comes into sight at the top end of this most impressive valley. The trail now drops steeply to a small bridge spanning the Hinku Khola. It is then a tough but rewarding climb to our campsite in pasture land at Najing Dingma.
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6 to 7
Trek to Chalem Kharka; acclimatisation day
Today we start with a long and steep climb which leads to the Surke La(3085m).There is viewing tower made by the Makalu Barun conservation Project, offering excellent views of surrounding mountains and passes. Shortly after we pass the trail that leads east to Tumlingtar and east Nepal and another one leading to a small village called Chosumb. We follow a third away up and cross the slope and have a lunch in Phokte. After lunch a short climb brings us to our campsite. We have a day free to help our bodies acclimatise to the altitude. There are gentle walks to nearby villages or we can just relax and enjoy the peaceful location.
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8
Trek to Khola Kharka
Today we follow the west side of the ridge before climbing through the last scrub rhododendron. The trail turns north climbing between two bluffs. Passing through more grazing country the route leads us a steep climb and a pass at about 4250m, offering marvellous mountain views east right across to Kanchenjunga and to the north some of the mountains surrounding the Hongu and Hinku villages. More hard work climbing up to around 4450m leads to a rough trail down to the banks of the main lake and camp further down near small stream.
Approximately 6 hours walking.
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
9
Trek to Khote
A steep climb leads out of the valley before the trail twists around towards the main Hinku valley. This is followed be a series of steep descents first west wards down scree, then north west through scrub rhododendron and on into fir forest. A scrambling descent of around 690m brings us down near the valley floor where we cross the Mojong Khola and on through a boulder strewn forest to a lunch spot at Rondruk Dingma. After the route follows along a fairly rough trail following the bank of the river to Khote.
Approximately 6 hours walk.
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10 to 11
Trek to Tangnag; acclimatisation day
Today we have a shorter walk as we trek to Tangnag about three and half hours along the river. We camp here for 2 nights to allow some time for acclimatisation. The location gives us some short walks continuing up the valley for excellent views of Khusum Khanggaru (6367m), Thamserku(6608m), Khang Taiga (6685m).
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
12 to 13
Trek to Khara; Acclimatisation day
The trail leads on upto Dig Kharka and then after lunch steeping upscree before turning east and gradually levelling off into the valley with the Wela La straight ahead and Mera Peak up and to the right. We spend two nights at our campsite in Khara.
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
14 to 15
Trek to Mera Base Camp: acclimatisation day
We continue along the route and finally reach the Mera Glacier. Crossing the glacier, we now go up to the Mera La Pass (5415 m). We cross the pass and camp around 100 meters below - we have reached the Mera Peak base-camp. We have finally arrived and are rewarded with views of 6000, 7000, and 8000 meter summits! We spend a day here resting and prepping our kit ready for our summit attempt.
Approximately 5 hours walking.
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
16
Advanced Base Camp
We move higher up the mountain today as we are going to camp at the advanced base camp (5750m) on a rocky island in the middle of the glacier. Here, high above, with a little luck we will have a unique view of some of the world's most spectacular mountains: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu.
Approximately 5 hours walking.
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
17
Summit Attempt
We start early in the morning. Todays walk is a long slow ascent over glaciers and snow slopes for 5 - 6 hours. We used fixed ropes and jumars for a short section to help with the steep final ascent. After a lot of hard work we reach the summit, 6461m. The exhausting ascent is over now and below us there are valleys, lower mountains and the mighty glaciers.For a short time, we feel like kings in this icy empire. After the exhausting hike this is a fantastic reward - five of the fourteen highest mountains of the world at a glance. Then, we go down again - until we get to base camp.
Approximately 10 hours walking.
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
18
Trek to Khote
Leaving base camp today we trek for about three hours down the valley to Gandishang which used to be the site of an old monastery and makes a good spot for our lunch. A little further down we pass a small bridge which was the route used on the way in up the east bank of the river, and continue on down the west bank. Entering rhododendron and fern forests we follow the undulating trail until we reach our campsite at Khote.
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
19 to 20
Return to Lukla
We start the final leg of our trek as we head back to Lukla. A day of almost constant ascent leads us to Tuli Kharka. The climb continues up to the Zaterwa La pass at (4500m). There are a series of Chhortens and Mani walls marking this pass which offers fine views across to Kwangde, Lumding Himal and Kariolung (6400m). It is about another few hours down through the forest to Lukla.
Approximately 6 hours walking, then 7 hours walking.
Overnight Basic Camping
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
21
Fly to Kathmandu
Morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu (weather permitting). Afternoon free to relax or optional excursion to Swayambunath, a large temple complex situated at the top of a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. The temple is affectionately known as the Monkey Temple due to the large number of monkeys that reside here.
Overnight Standard Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast
22
Free day in Kathmandu
Extra days are specifically included in the itinerary should there be a delay with flights from Lukla due to bad weather conditions. If we return to Kathmandu on time we will arrange a sightseeing tour visiting the Temple of Pashupatinath on the Bagmati River, the holiest Hindu shrine in Nepal; and Bodnath, the largest stupa in the country and destination of Buddhist pilgrims from all over Nepal. There will also be the opportunity for an optional visit to Bhaktapur, a city retaining much medieval character and some notable 17th century art.
Overnight Standard Hotel
Included meals: Breakfast
23
Tour ends Kathmandu
Our tour ends this morning after breakfast.
Included meals: Breakfast
