Mera Peak Expedition

Arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM) and transfer to your hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu. You will be met by your Super Trekkers expedition representative and transferred to the hotel.

The afternoon is dedicated to your pre-expedition briefing with your expedition leader — covering the route and logistics, altitude safety protocols, gear inspection, and permit paperwork. Use this time to rent any remaining equipment from Thamel's well-stocked climbing gear shops.

Welcome dinner with your team in the evening — the perfect chance to meet your Sherpa climbing guide and fellow climbers before the adventure begins.

Overnight: Kathmandu hotel (3-star, twin sharing)
Meals: Dinner (welcome dinner)

An early transfer to the domestic terminal for your 35-minute mountain flight to Lukla's Tenzing-Hillary Airport — one of the world's most dramatic runways, perched at 2,840m on a Himalayan hillside. In peak season (April–May), flights may operate from Ramechhap/Manthali Airport (3 hours from Kathmandu by road) to reduce congestion.

From Lukla, the trail immediately diverges from the busy Everest Base Camp route, heading south into the quieter Hinku Valley. Trek through pine and rhododendron forests, passing small Sherpa homesteads, to reach the high pastures of Chutanga.

Today's altitude gain is significant. Drink plenty of fluids, walk at a steady pace, and avoid overexertion on this first day at altitude.

Trek Distance: ~12km | Trek Time: 4–5 hours
Altitude Gain: +260m (Lukla 2,840m → Chutanga 3,100m)
Overnight: Teahouse, Chutanga
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A challenging and scenically magnificent day crossing the Zatrwa La Pass (4,600m / 15,092ft) — the dramatic gateway between the Dudh Koshi Valley and the Hinku Valley.

The ascent to Zatrwa La is steep and demanding, gaining nearly 1,500m from Chutanga. As you approach the pass, the landscape opens into wide alpine meadows with the first panoramic views of Mera Peak's north face ahead, and the Everest massif behind you. Prayer flags mark the pass summit.

The descent into the Hinku Valley is equally steep — take your time on the loose rocky trail. Reach the high pasture camp at Thuli Kharka, where yak herders camp seasonally.

This is the most physically taxing day of the approach route. Adequate hydration and a slow, steady pace are essential for altitude acclimatisation.

Trek Distance: ~14km | Trek Time: 5–6 hours
Altitude: Chutanga 3,100m → Zatrwa La 4,600m → Thuli Kharka 4,300m
Overnight: Teahouse / Camp, Thuli Kharka
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Today's trail descends deep into the Hinku Valley, delivering a dramatic landscape transition from windswept alpine pastures into a lush, forested valley carved by glacial rivers. The altitude drops as you descend — a welcome relief that aids acclimatisation.

The path winds through birch and rhododendron forests, crossing suspension bridges over roaring glacial streams. The remoteness of the Hinku Valley is palpable: you will encounter very few other trekkers on this trail, sharing the path only with local Sherpa villagers and the occasional yak train.

Kothe is a small Sherpa settlement with basic teahouses and is one of the last points with reliable mobile network connectivity before the upper valley. Rest well — the altitude begins climbing again tomorrow.

Trek Distance: ~16km | Trek Time: 6–7 hours
Altitude: Thuli Kharka 4,300m → Kothe 3,691m (net descent)
Overnight: Teahouse, Kothe
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

A shorter but purposeful day ascending the Hinku Khola river valley upstream through increasingly dramatic high-altitude scenery. The trail follows the river north, gaining altitude steadily as the valley narrows and the landscape transitions from forested lower slopes to open glacial terrain.

Mera Peak's summit block becomes clearly visible ahead for the first time on this day — a powerful motivator. Baruntse (7,129m) and Mera La (5,415m) frame the upper valley skyline.

Thaknak sits at the edge of the permanent glacial zone and is the point at which the expedition character shifts from trekking to climbing preparation. Use the afternoon to rest and begin checking your technical equipment. Appetite may decrease at this altitude — make a conscious effort to eat and drink adequately.

Trek Distance: ~8km | Trek Time: 3–4 hours
Altitude Gain: +667m (Kothe 3,691m → Thaknak 4,358m)
Overnight: Teahouse, Thaknak
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Thaknak to Khare — Crossing the 5,000m Mark

A significant milestone day: crossing the 5,000-metre altitude threshold for the first time. The trail from Thaknak crosses the Mera Glacier moraine — a landscape of boulders, glacial debris, and permanent ice — before arriving at Khare, the last permanently inhabited settlement on the route.

Khare (5,045m) is the expedition base camp. From here, Mera Peak's full summit block dominates the skyline. The raw, elemental landscape — permanent snow, boulder fields, and icy winds — makes the scale of the challenge ahead unmistakably real.

This evening your Sherpa climbing guide will conduct a full gear check, fitting you with crampons, harness, and ice axe, and inspecting all personal climbing equipment. Eat a hot dinner, drink plenty of fluids, and rest as much as possible — tomorrow is your critical acclimatisation and training day.

Trek Distance: ~7km | Trek Time: 3–4 hours
Altitude Gain: +687m (Thaknak 4,358m → Khare 5,045m)
Overnight: Teahouse, Khare
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Khare — Acclimatisation Day & Mountaineering Training

This is the most important day of the entire expedition. A mandatory rest and practical mountaineering training day with your NMA-licensed Sherpa climbing guide.

Morning acclimatisation hike: A guided ascent to approximately 5,400m above Khare — higher than your sleeping altitude — and return. This "climb high, sleep low" protocol is the single most effective acclimatisation technique at altitude. The hike takes 2–3 hours and provides the first taste of glacier walking.

Afternoon technical training session covers all skills required for summit day:

• Crampon fitting and movement technique on snow and ice
• Ice axe arrest (self-arrest) technique
• Harness fitting and safety check
• Fixed-rope ascending technique using a jumar (ascender)
• Belay device setup and rope management
• Summit day protocol, turnaround times, and emergency procedures

Summit day briefing in the evening: weather forecast review, departure time (2–3am), pacing strategy, and cold weather protocols.

All participants must complete this training day regardless of prior experience.

Overnight: Teahouse, Khare
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Khare to Mera High Camp — Glacier Ascent

The penultimate push before the summit. A long, demanding climb from Khare up the Mera Glacier to High Camp at 5,780m — the highest you will sleep on this expedition.

The trail from Khare to the glacier is rocky and steep. Once on the glacier itself, the team ropes up together and moves as a single unit, navigating crevasse zones under the guidance of your Sherpa lead climber. The gradient is sustained at 25–35 degrees for much of the upper glacier section.

As altitude increases, so does the panorama: the Hinku Valley falls away thousands of metres below, and the surrounding ring of Himalayan giants — Baruntse, Mera La, Chamlang — fills the horizon.

High Camp is a small, exposed collection of tents on the upper glacier. Arrive early afternoon, melt snow for water, eat a full hot dinner, and be in your sleeping bag by 7pm. Your alarm is set for 2–3am for summit day.

Trek Distance: ~8km | Trek Time: 5–6 hours
Altitude Gain: +735m (Khare 5,045m → High Camp 5,780m)
Overnight: Tented high camp (sleeping bag rated to -20°C essential)
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

★ SUMMIT DAY — Mera Peak (6,461m / 21,193ft) & Descend to Khare

The summit of the entire expedition. Every training session, every acclimatisation day, every 5am start has been building to this moment.

2:00–3:00am: Wake, hot drink, crampons on, ropes checked.

Pre-dawn ascent: The summit push begins in darkness, headtorches illuminating the glacier ahead. The final 700m of vertical gain from High Camp to the summit involves sustained climbing on 30–45 degree snow slopes, with fixed ropes protecting the steeper upper section. Your Sherpa guide leads, paces, and supports every step.

Mera Peak Central Summit (6,461m): On a clear day, the view from the top is among the most extraordinary on earth. Five of the world's ten highest mountains surround you in a complete panorama — Everest (8,849m), Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,485m), Cho Oyu (8,188m) — plus Ama Dablam, Baruntse, Chamlang, and dozens of lesser-known but no less spectacular peaks. Allow yourself to absorb this view completely.

Descent: Begin descent by mid-morning to avoid afternoon weather deterioration. Descend from High Camp back to Khare — a long, tiring but triumphant walk. Total summit day: 11–12 hours, approximately 12km.

Altitude: High Camp 5,780m → Summit 6,461m → Khare 5,045m
Overnight: Teahouse, Khare
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Contingency Day — Reserve Summit Window at Khare

This day serves two equally important purposes:

1. Reserve summit window: If adverse weather or individual medical conditions prevented the summit attempt on Day 9, today provides a second opportunity. Your guide will assess weather forecasts and team fitness to determine whether a second summit attempt is viable.
2. Rest and recovery: If Day 9 was a successful summit, today is devoted to rest and recovery at Khare before the long multi-day descent begins. Post-summit fatigue at altitude is real — a recovery day prevents injuries and illness during the descent.

The contingency day is not a luxury addition — it is a core part of what makes this itinerary achieve a 95% summit success rate rather than the 70–75% rate achievable with rush itineraries.

Overnight: Teahouse, Khare
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Khare to Thuli Kharka — Long Descent via Kothe

A long descending day through the Hinku Valley, but the mood is entirely different from the ascent — celebratory, relaxed, and filled with the satisfaction of a summit achieved. The altitude drops steadily as you retrace the valley south, and with it comes the welcome sensation of thicker air and stronger legs.

Pass back through Kothe — where you may recognise the teahouse owners from your ascent — and continue south up to Thuli Kharka. The day is physically tiring despite the net descent, as significant re-ascent is required in the final section to reach Thuli Kharka's high-pasture elevation.

Trek Distance: ~20km | Trek Time: 8–9 hours
Overnight: Teahouse, Thuli Kharka
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Trek to Lukla via Zatrwa La Pass — Final Mountain Day

The final trekking day of the expedition — a fitting farewell to the Hinku Valley. Cross Zatrwa La Pass (4,600m) for the last time, pausing at the summit to look back at the Hinku Valley that has been your home for nearly two weeks, and at Mera Peak's summit, where you stood just days ago.

The descent to Lukla is long but well-marked. As you drop from 4,600m to 2,840m, the air progressively thickens and the warmth of lower altitude becomes a physical luxury after days above 5,000m.

Arrive in Lukla in the late afternoon. Celebrate the expedition with your team, Sherpa guides, and porters over dinner at a Lukla teahouse. A well-earned sleep at 2,840m before the flight home tomorrow.

Trek Distance: ~18km | Trek Time: 5–6 hours
Overnight: Teahouse, Lukla
Meals: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner

Fly Lukla to Kathmandu — Summit Celebration Dinner

Early morning flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu — the same 35-minute mountain flight that began the expedition, now carrying you home as a Mera Peak summiteer.

Transfer to hotel in Kathmandu. Time to shower, rest, and begin processing the experience. The afternoon is free for shopping in Thamel for souvenirs, final gear returns, or simply resting.

In the evening: Summit Celebration Dinner with your Super Trekkers team and Sherpa guides. Your Mera Peak Climbing Summit Certificate — issued by the Nepal Mountaineering Association — will be presented this evening. This is your official record of having summited Nepal's highest trekking peak.

Overnight: Kathmandu hotel
Meals: Breakfast / Dinner (farewell dinner)

Departure from Kathmandu — Expedition Ends

Transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight home. The Mera Peak Expedition ends here — but the experience, the friendships formed on the trail, and the view from Nepal's highest trekking peak will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Please ensure your departure flight is scheduled for afternoon or later to allow adequate time from hotel to airport.

Our team is available to assist with any onward travel arrangements, Kathmandu extensions, or future expedition planning.

Meals: Breakfast