Mera Peak Climbing

Upon your arrival in the Kathmandu airport (KTM), you will be greeted by a representative from Beauty Nepal Adventure (BNA). After completing your custom formalities (Visa, etc), pick up your luggage and look for BNA representative with a BNA display board with your name(s) at the arrival gate who transfers you to Hotel. After check in and a brief rest, you might meet other participants and our climbing leader and do some preparation for the trip. Later in the evening we organize a “Welcome Dinner” at an excellent traditional Nepalese restaurant where we enjoy a Nepalese cultural program along with a fine meal. Included meal: (D)Dinner.

After breakfast, we can enjoy a free day on our own or participate in a sightseeing program organized by Beauty Nepal Adventure. The sightseeing program is focused on to introduce some highlights and UNESCO World Heritage sites of Kathmandu such as Durbar square, Swoyambhunath, Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath. After some hours’ sightseeing, we get to the office and get our equipments checked by the climbing leader, prepare things as per need, introduce with fellow participants, and after Beauty Nepal Adventure briefs us about the trip, we get chance to ask questions we might have regarding the trip. Overnight at hotel. (B)

Early morning after breakfast, we get transferred to domestic airport to fly to Lukla. After an adventurous 40-minute flight above breathtaking green and white mountains, we reach Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla. This is one of the most beautiful air routes in the world culminating in a dramatic landing on a hillside surrounded by high mountains peaks. At the airport, we meet our other crew members. We get time to stroll around while the guide divides and manages baggage to be carried by porters. We start our trek down from Lukla. It will make sense to fly up to Lukla for acclimatization and walk down. We walk through the jungle down to Surke then a bit ahead we have lunch at Pakhapani or ahead nearby. Continuing ahead through many traditional villages, jungles, and hills, we gradually reach the vicinity of Paiya for the first night’s camp. We see number of peaks from here such as Knogde Ri, Khatang, Tang Ragi Tu and other peaks above 7 thousand meters from Paiya. Overnight at Paiya. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we march a little down until we reach wooden bridge and then carefully we have to go ahead through the slippery trail to cross Kari La Hill (pass). We have our lunch in the village ahead and start up walking through the rhododendron and bamboo forest through the narrow mountain trail. We need to keep our cameras ready with full charge to catch the outstanding views of Dudhkoshi River valley and Dudh Kund Himal before reaching the farming and trading village of Pangkongama for night’s rest. (B,L,D)

The trail descends the rock-strewn path leading to the rhododendron forest. We come across a lot of Mani walls through the trail. Passing again through hills, ridges and teahouses, we start downwards and have lunch around there in village nearby. Mesmerizing views of the south face of Mera Peak (6064m/19890ft) and Naulekh Peak awaiting our insight ahead. The trail zigzags through forested areas and then descends steeply. We experience the most interesting and charming feelings as we walk past forests of pine and rhododendron to reach Nigmsa (Shibuche) where we camp for the night’s rest. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we start up though a steep and slope trail through narrow and typical mountain trail, a bit complicated ahead through rhododendron and bamboo forests, we pass in the course of landslides and down we reach to the stream. By the side of the crystal clear stream we have our lunch today. Straight ahead and up through the rhododendron forests we may encounter wild animals if we are lucky. A little down through the bamboo jungle and past a nice stone cave by the side of a river, we will camp for the night’s rest. Overnight at Chhatra Khola. (B,L,D)

Chirping birds wake us up early in the morning. We start after breakfast and reach a fine vantage point of the Hinku Valley where we line around in the splendor of nature surrounding us. Straight through the bamboo and pine forest in the narrow trails while enjoying the views of Mera and the Hinku Valley, there is possibility of encountering with mountain wild animals like sloth bear, jungle cat, etc., among the tall pine trees. Past Tashing Dingma we find shops and teahouses where we have lunch. We continue ahead by the ridge of the river in the Hinku valley all the way up and reach Kothe where we have the night’s rest in a camp. Overnight in Kothe. (B,L,D)

Today is another short-trek day in which we trek along the ridge of the Hinku Khola in the shadow of Mera Peak. We take lunch at Gondishung, the summer herders’ settlement in the west bank of the Hinku Drangka. Beyond Gondishung we pass a 200 year-old Lungsumgba Gompa where we can find Mera peak scripted in rock along with its route to reach Mera. We pray for our successful ascent of Mera Peak in the boulder of the Gompa offering incense. A short walk takes us to Thagnag, which is a summer grazing area with the primitive lodges and shops. Overnight in Thagnag at the camp. (B,L,D)

Today is our rest day. It is not recommend to stay idle although it is a rest day instead we have to stay active to be ready for next day’s adventure. So after breakfast, we hike for about 3 hours up to Charpate Himal Glacier. Seen very close from the Thangnag, Charpate Himal is regarded holy by the Sherpa community and is worshiped by traditional Sherpas of the mountains. We will observe Mera North very close and outstanding from here. After an hour’s pleasant hike downwards, we will be back at the camp at Thangnang. Overnight at Thangnang. (B,L,D)

We head towards Mera Base Camp at Khare. We follow the lateral moraine of Dig Glacier to Dig Kharka, which offers spectacular views of Charpate Himal. The trail climbs through moraines and to the snout of the Hinku Nup and Shar Glaciers and then climbs more steeply to our camping spot at Khare. The camping experience at Khare is something that would cherish us throughout our life. It is pleasure to view beautiful North face of Mera Peak from our campsite at Khare. Overnight at Khare. (B,L,D)

Today after breakfast, we walk through boulder strewn course to reach Base Camp of Mera Peak. We have to march through steep route (about 260 meters ) and it takes around 2 to 3 hours to reach Base Camp. Upon reaching there after a short rest accompanied with our lunch, we start ice climbing training with our climbing guide. Inexperienced climbers need to learn much more today. After about 2-3 hours training, we might choose to go to Mera La. However, as we will be taking the route to High Camp through Mera La the next day, we might opt to rest at our camp at Base camp today admiring the eye-catching views the area offers. (B,L,D)

We take the route through Mera La to reach the Mera High Camp today. You need to walk through rock-strewn area for about two hours while making your way to Mera High Camp and this can be a bit hazardous if it has recently snowed, as there are a number of crevasses here. We make our way to the top of the rock band, which is marked by a large cairn. We set up a high camp and enjoy rest of the day the sunrise and sunset view along with the Mt. Everest, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and south face of Lotshe, Nuptse, Chamlang and Baruntse are outstanding and seems like they are piercing the skyline. We overnight in Mera High Camp. (B,L,D)

This is really a big day. Our crew will wake up around 1 a.m. for preparation. You should also wake up around 2.30 am and you will have very early breakfast today. After breakfast, your group will put on crampons and rope and set up for special journey to the summit. If you are a well-acclimatized group, it takes around 4-6 hours to reach the summit of Mera central for you. From the summit can be seen the magnificent views of Mt. Everest (8,848m/29,021ft), Cho-Oyu (8,210m/26,928ft), Lhotse (8,516m/27,935ft), Makalu (8,463m/27,760ft), Kangchenjunga (8,586m/28,165ft), Nuptse (7,855m/25,765ft), Chamlang (7,319m/24,010ft), Baruntse (7 ,129m 23,383ft) Ama Dablam (6,812m/22,343ft) Kangtega (6,779m/22,235) and many peaks over six thousand. After achieving the summit, you retrace your steps down to high camp. After having a rest accompanied with some hot soups/tea at the high camp, we will continue down to Khare for the night’s rest. You will really find this day really long but inspirational one for your life! Overnight at Khare. (B,L,D)

There is no such guarantee that we can get quite a favorable weather on our planned day for the summit (day 13), so this day is used as a contingency in case if we are unable to summit the Mera on day 13 due to bad weather condition or some other reasons. If weather became exceptionally unfavorable we wisely have to postpone the program of summiting the peak on day 13 for toady (Day 14). Sometimes somebody in the group may get some problems in acclimatizing well enough to make the ascent; the day can be used in that condition too. If the trip goes smoothly, we do not need this spare day. (B,L,D)

After a great success of the expedition to Mt. Mera we descend to Hinku valley to Kothe for our overnight stop at camp. Leaving behind the outstanding Himalayan background, you arrive Kothe. The night we enjoy with local wines and foods and relax at the camp and overnight. (B,L,D)

Today, we again climb up about two hours through the lush forest on the west side of the Hinku Valley to Thuli Kharka. It’s nice walk through the red Rhododendron forest with beaten trail of Himalaya of Nepal. We observe the wide range of Mera peaks, Mera North, Mera Central, Mera South from Thuli Kharka. Overnight in Thuli Kharka. (B,L,D)

Two hours up from Thuli Kharka we walk to reach Zatrwa La pass. After crossing the pass we see beautiful view of Lukla valley. Cho yu, Kongde peak, Numbur Himal, Kusum Khangru and so many others. From Zatrwa La we walk all the way down to Chutanga and then straight forward easy walk takes us to Lukla village where we conclude the trekking and this evening we enjoy the last dinner in mountain with our crew. Overnight in teahouse. (B,L,D)

The flight time to Kathmandu are scheduled in the morning normally because Lukla suffers a lot of wind in afternoon. We fly back to Kathmandu after our long mountain journey. The early morning flight drops us at Kathmandu. We can rest and relax throughout the day in our hotel or if interested to take some Nepalese souvenir for friends and relatives, we can visit some nearby shops or venture out in Thamel for typical Nepalese goods which can be assisted by our guides too if you like. If you want to explore any other areas of Kathmandu take the time to do that today! Remember,Beauty Nepal Adventure hosts a fantastic celebration dinner tonight in the occasion of successfully completing your trip!! Overnight in Kathmandu. (B,D)

You are saying good bye to the mountains of Nepal as your journey in Nepal comes to an end today. There is nothing to do but trade e-mails with your travel companions and organize your photos. If you have more time you can do some shopping or sightseeing. Approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight, a representative from Beauty Nepal Adventure drops you to the airport and says good bye. On your way home you’ll have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.(B)