18 Days
Daily Tour
10 people
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Mera Peak stands as the highest trekking peak in Nepal at 6,476 meters, first climbed on May 20, 1953, by Colonel Jimmy Roberts and Sen Tenzing, just weeks after Everest itself was summited for the first time. This trip follows the remote Hinku Valley through Makalu Barun National Park, a route that sees fewer than 500 trekkers a year compared to the tens of thousands who walk the main Everest Base Camp trail. Along the way, the landscape shifts from rhododendron forest and traditional Sherpa and Rai villages to high glaciers and a final snow dome ascent.
This itinerary is built around a dedicated training day at Khare, where rope handling, crampon practice, and ice axe technique get real hands-on attention before the summit push begins. Two reserve days are built into the schedule as well, giving weather genuine room to cooperate on a route where the summit push depends entirely on clear conditions.
Licensed climbing guides holding Nepal Mountaineering Association certification manage this trip from Kathmandu through the summit and back, with daily health monitoring tracking your oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and temperature throughout. From the summit itself, five of the world’s highest peaks come into view in a single sweep: Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, and Cho Oyu.
A flight to Lukla opens the trip, followed by a quieter trail through Paiya, Panggom, and Ningsow that stays well clear of the crowded EBC route. The path enters Makalu Barun National Park before climbing steadily through Kothe and Thaknak, where the forest gives way to alpine terrain, and Mera Peak first comes into view.
Khare serves as both the last village and the training ground, where a full day of technical instruction prepares you for the glacier and snow dome ahead. From Khare, the route climbs to Mera High Camp at 5,800 meters, set directly on the moraine beneath the peak, before the pre-dawn summit push itself.
After the descent, the trail crosses Zatrwa La Pass on the return route, rejoining the main trail network before the final flight back from Lukla to Kathmandu.
Your journey begins the moment you step off the plane at Tribhuvan International Airport, where the Kalapatthar team greets you and transfers you by private vehicle to your five-star hotel in the heart of Thamel. That evening brings a welcome dinner where you meet your guide and fellow climbers for the first time, followed by a full expedition briefing covering permits, climbing safety protocols, and a careful review of your gear checklist.
An early morning flight carries you to Lukla, a short 35-minute hop with wide views of the Himalayan range on a clear day, before the trail immediately turns away from the crowded main route. From Lukla, the path climbs gently to Paiya through forest trail and small villages, following the quieter approach that defines this entire trip.
The trail continues through rhododendron forest and open ridgeline, with distant mountain views appearing on clear days as the path winds through small Sherpa and Rai villages. Traditional stone houses and terraced farms mark the way toward Panggom.
The remote trail crosses hills and river valleys with fewer settlements as the route pushes deeper into the Hinku Valley. Dense forest and occasional clearings offer glimpses of distant peaks along the way.
The trail enters Makalu Barun National Park, known for its rich biodiversity and protected wildlife, descending gently toward the river with several suspension bridge crossings along the way.
The trail follows the Hinku Valley northward, with Mera Peak and its surrounding summits appearing ahead for the first time as the forest transitions from rhododendron and pine to alpine scrub.
A gradual ascent through yak pastures and alpine terrain delivers wide views of the Hinku Valley, with local herders and their yaks and dzopkyo visible on the surrounding slopes.
The trail climbs steadily toward Khare, the staging village for Mera Peak, with the south face of the mountain visible ahead for much of the day.
This is where the trip shifts from trekking into genuine mountaineering. Your climbing guide leads a full day of hands-on instruction covering crampon technique, ice axe use, rope handling, and jumar ascent practice on a nearby snow slope.
The trail leaves Khare and climbs steeply along the Mera Glacier, with the landscape shifting noticeably as the glacier spreads out below and the peak rises directly ahead.
A 1:30 AM wake-up and a light breakfast set the stage for departure at 2 AM sharp. The climb ascends the Mera Glacier before reaching the snow dome itself, a steep 50-degree face climbed on fixed ropes using your jumar over roughly 200 vertical meters.
This day serves as a weather buffer if the summit attempt was not possible on Day 11 due to high winds or storms. If the summit was successful, it becomes a genuine rest day at Khare instead.
A second reserve day provides additional weather buffer, genuinely useful in a valley this remote. If the summit was already successful, the team descends from Khare back down toward Kothe.
The trail leaves the Hinku Valley behind and climbs steeply toward Thuli Kharka on a ridge, with wide views of the surrounding peaks opening up along the way.
An early start carries you up to Zatrwa La Pass, the high point of the return route, before a long, steep descent back toward Lukla through rocky and forested terrain.
A final short flight carries you from Lukla back to Kathmandu, with the Himalayan range visible below on a clear morning, closing out the trekking and climbing sections of the trip.
Built in specifically to absorb the weather delays that regularly affect Lukla flights, this day either serves as a genuine buffer or opens up free time in the capital.
Your trip concludes with a private vehicle transfer to Tribhuvan International Airport, carrying home the memory of summiting the highest trekking peak in Nepal.
This Kalapatthar package runs for 18 days total, including arrival, the trekking section, the climbing section, two reserve days, and your return to Kathmandu.
The trip is rated strenuous with daily walking of 4 to 7 hours, reaching 6,476 meters at the summit, and requires good physical fitness along with basic mountaineering skills.
Prior high-altitude trekking experience above 5,000 meters is strongly recommended, but technical climbing experience is not required, since training is provided at Khare.
Mera Peak North summit at 6,476 meters is the highest point, making it the highest trekking peak in Nepal, with Mera Central at 6,461 meters as the standard climbing objective.
Yes, altitude sickness becomes a genuine risk above 4,000 meters, and this trip reaches 6,476 meters. Guides run twice-daily health checks and follow strict descent protocols if symptoms appear.
Three permits are required: the Makalu Barun National Park Permit at NPR 3,000, the Khumbu Municipality Permit at roughly NPR 2,000, and the Mera Peak Climbing Permit, which runs USD 175 to USD 350 depending on season.
Yes, a licensed climbing guide holding Nepal Mountaineering Association certification is legally required for any Mera Peak summit attempt.
Accommodation runs as teahouses up to Khare, followed by full camping support at Mera High Camp with two-person tents, a dining tent, and a kitchen tent.
Dal bhat, fried rice, and Tibetan bread remain available at teahouses along the trekking section, while the Kalapatthar kitchen team prepares all meals at High Camp using fresh supplies.
Yes, comprehensive travel insurance covering high-altitude climbing above 6,500 meters and emergency helicopter evacuation is mandatory before departure.
Wi-Fi remains available at some teahouses up to Kothe for a small fee, but connectivity disappears entirely at Khare, High Camp, and on summit day itself.
This trip is not recommended for complete beginners, though Mera Peak is genuinely less technical than other 6,000-meter peaks, making it a reasonable first major climb for fit, well-prepared trekkers.
Booking three to four months ahead is strongly recommended for spring and autumn departures, when permits, climbing guides, and teahouses need to be arranged well in advance.
Based on Himalayan Database records and operator data from 2015 to 2025, overall success sits around 70 to 80 percent, with autumn seeing the highest rates and spring running slightly lower.
The Hinku Valley sees fewer than 500 trekkers annually compared to over 30,000 on the EBC trail, offering genuine solitude, remote forest and village scenery, and a gentler acclimatization curve.
Contact Kalapatthar Trek & Expedition directly with your preferred travel dates and group size to receive a personalized quote and full pre-departure support.
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