At 6,476 m, Mera is the highest of Nepal's officially designated trekking peaks — and, despite the altitude, one of the most attainable. There is no steep headwall here: the ascent is a long, glaciated snow plod that asks for stamina and good acclimatisation far more than technical skill. What makes Mera unforgettable is the approach and the view. Rather than the busy Everest highway, the trail slips south-east over the Zatrwa La into the wild, thinly-trekked Hinku valley, winding through rhododendron forest and remote Sherpa hamlets before the world opens up on summit morning. From the top, five of the planet's six highest mountains — Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Kangchenjunga — stand in a single, staggering line across the horizon.
After the mountain flight to Lukla, leave the main Everest trail almost immediately, climbing south through forest to the quiet clearing of Chutanga below the Zatrwa La.
A short acclimatisation day with an optional hike up towards the pass, plus a first review of climbing gear and technique before the crossing.
A demanding day over the Zatrwa La (4,600 m), the gateway into the Hinku valley, with sudden views of Mera and the Hinku peaks before dropping to the huts at Thuli Kharka.
Descend through rhododendron and pine forest into the deep, green Hinku valley, following the river down to the riverside lodges at Kothe.
Climb gently up the valley past the sacred painted rock and gompa at Gondishung to the summer grazing settlement of Thaknak, with Mera now looming ahead.
An important rest and acclimatisation day. Hike up towards the moraine and the glacial Sabai Tsho lake to gain height before sleeping low.
A steady climb over lateral moraine brings you to Khare, the base for Mera, set beneath the tumbling ice of the Mera glacier.
A full mountaineering skills day on the glacier above Khare — crampons, ice axe, roped travel and fixed-line technique — combined with a valuable acclimatisation climb.
Rope up to cross the lower Mera glacier and climb to the exposed high camp on a rocky rib beside the ice, with the summit slopes rising directly above.
A pre-dawn start up the broad, glaciated summit slopes — long and lung-testing but never steep — to the summit and its unrivalled line-up of Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Kangchenjunga. Descend all the way back to the comfort of Khare.
A spare day held back for weather or a second attempt. If Mera was climbed on schedule, the descent simply begins a day early.
Retrace the valley down through Thaknak, losing altitude quickly and returning to the greenery and thicker air of Kothe.
Climb back up the far side of the Hinku valley through forest to the huts at Thuli Kharka, poised below the Zatrwa La for the return crossing.
A final big day back over the pass, then a long descent through forest to Lukla for a celebratory evening with your climbing crew.
The morning mountain flight returns you to Kathmandu, with the afternoon free to rest and celebrate.
A spare day to protect against the Lukla flight delays common in the mountains. If not needed, enjoy sightseeing or souvenir shopping in the valley.
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight, or extend your stay with more of Nepal.
Choose the package that fits your style and budget. All are guided and fully tailorable — prices are per person and vary with group size and season.
Guaranteed departures. Don't see a date that suits you? Private departures can be arranged year-round.
No — Mera is a non-technical snow climb with no steep headwall, which is why it suits fit first-time mountaineers. The real challenges are the altitude (6,476 m) and the long summit day, so acclimatisation and endurance matter most. Crampon and rope training is provided.
Mera is higher but far less technical; Island Peak is lower but has a steep fixed-rope headwall and airy ridge. Mera is the better choice if you want the altitude experience without steep climbing — many climbers do both.
The Hinku valley approach and the height of the peak demand a careful, gradual acclimatisation profile with built-in rest and contingency days. Rushing Mera is the main reason climbers fail to summit or fall ill.
An NMA peak-climbing permit for Mera plus the Makalu Barun National Park entry permit — both arranged and included in the package.
Yes, and it must specifically cover helicopter evacuation at altitude. Standard policies often do not — check the fine print before you travel.
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