Mera Peak 17 Days

Mera Peak is a trekking peak in the Hinku Valley, listed at 6,476m. It is one of the highest peaks that can be climbed without technical rock or ice skills, and the summit gives panoramas of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Kanchenjunga on a clear day.

After arriving in Kathmandu you fly to Lukla, then cross the Zatrwa La (4,600m) into the remote Hinku valley. You walk via Chutanga, Kothe and Tangnang to Khare, take an acclimatisation day, practise on the glacier at Mera Base Camp (5,300m), sleep at High Camp (5,780m), and summit on Day 12 before returning by the same valley.

The Hinku valley has far fewer trekkers and fewer lodges, and the first days cross a pass rather than following the main trail. The scenery is wilder, but facilities are more basic.

Start around 1am from High Camp. Expect about 6 to 8 hours up, a short time on the summit and a long descent back to High Camp or Khare. A strong day for most fit climbers, but very cold.

No steep ice or rock climbing is needed, but you will cross glaciers in crampons roped together, so you need basic mountaineering skills, which we teach at Mera Base Camp. The challenge is altitude and cold, not technique.

You do not, but previous multi-day trekking above 4,000m is a significant advantage. If you have never been to altitude, plan some time on high ground before the trip, or consider another trek first.

You should be able to walk 5 to 7 hours a day for two weeks, carrying a daypack, then manage a long summit day. Three months of regular cardio and hill hikes is a sensible start.

It is longer and higher, with a more remote approach and the highest camp above 5,700m, but its summit slopes are less steep than Island Peak's headwall. Many climbers describe Island as more technical and Mera as more demanding on endurance and altitude.

Two climbers per guide. The guide leads on the glacier, sets the pace and decides whether the team continues. Their decision is final.

We spread the ascent over several days, with an acclimatisation day at Tangnang (4,350m) before Khare and Base Camp. Sleeping height rises gradually, and High Camp at 5,780m is the biggest single gain. Your guide checks your oxygen saturation daily.

Persistent headache, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness at rest, poor sleep or loss of appetite. Report early. Descending is the most effective treatment, and the guide has the final say.

We wait if there is time, or turn back if conditions are unsafe. Extra days on the mountain are charged at INR 6,000 per day, covering your stay and three meals, and are not guaranteed to produce a better window.

Night temperatures at 5,780m are commonly minus 15 to minus 25°C, often with wind. Bring a warm sleeping bag, insulated boots and a good down jacket. Rental of a sleeping bag and down jacket is available.

A Mera Peak climbing permit from the Nepal Mountaineering Association, plus the trekking and national park permits listed in your package. We arrange them once we have your passport scan.

Climbing boots, harness and helmet are in the package, with a baggage allowance of 20 kg (44 lbs) per person. Confirm the full technical list with us, including crampons, ice axe and ascender, before you pack.

Yes. A sleeping bag or a down jacket is about INR 100 per item per day.

Permits are currently issued to climbers aged 17 and over, and younger travellers must follow Nepal's guardian rules. Please confirm before booking.

Lukla flights usually depart from and return to Ramechhap, about 5 to 6 hours by road from Kathmandu, depending on road conditions. Transport is included, and so is your return flight.

Basic teahouses until Khare, then tents at Mera Base Camp and High Camp, where meals are prepared from dried and instant food by your guide's team. Teahouse meals earlier in the trek include dal bhat, noodles and eggs.

No. Treat water with tablets or a filter, or buy bottled water, which costs about INR 100 to 300 and is only available at some stops. On the mountain your guide boils water.

Budget USD 300 to 400 (INR 25,000 to 40,000) for extras and tips. The Hinku valley has few shops and no reliable ATMs, so take cash from Kathmandu. Tipping about 10% of the trip price is customary.

Mountaineering cover for a trekking peak above 6,000m, emergency medical treatment and helicopter evacuation. Standard trekking cover often stops at 4,000m. Send a copy of your policy before you arrive and see the insurance section of our terms.

Your guide contacts our Kathmandu office, which coordinates with your insurer and a helicopter operator. A rescue can cost USD 5,000 or more and you are responsible for medical and evacuation costs. Keep a hospital report after treatment.

Licensed climbing guides, porters and drivers employed by Himalayan Wonders Adventure Pvt. Ltd., our Nepal operator. Read about them on our team page.

We rebook you on the next flight. A chartered helicopter may be possible at USD 600 or more (INR 65,000 or more), with a USD 150 refund of your flight fare (INR 10,000 for Indian nationals). Extra hotel nights are INR 3,000, 3,500 or 4,500 for single, double or triple rooms. Add two to four buffer days at the end.

Pay a deposit before you travel. Indian guests pay by bank transfer or UPI, since we do not take credit cards in India. Guests outside India can pay by transfer or online card (4.5% processing fee). You settle the balance at our Kathmandu office on arrival in INR, USD, EUR, GBP or another major currency, at the NPR conversion rate on the date of payment (local conversion charges apply); cards used in Nepal add 13%, so cash is cheaper.

50% is refundable for 30 days after you book, and after that it is not. The deposit remains valid for 365 days and can be moved to any trek or climb we offer. If you do not contact us and do not arrive, it is forfeited.

Yes. Rescheduling is free as many times as you need with at least 6 weeks' notice. With 2 to 6 weeks' notice a fee of INR 5,000 (Indian guests) or USD 100 (other guests) applies, and any change needs at least 14 days' notice. You pay any price increase between the old and new date.

We cannot refund unused days or services, because the guides and porters are paid for the whole period. We help you return, but extra hotel nights, meals and flight changes are your cost. Some insurers reimburse unused days, so check your policy.

There is no single supplement for rooms. Rooms are shared by gender, and couples, families and friends share together. If you climb solo, meaning you are the only person booked on a fixed departure or you are not joining a group, an additional INR 20,000 is mandatory. It covers your solo climb arrangements and a dedicated porter. We tell you at booking, or as soon as it arises.