Mera Peak Climbing
Everest, Hinku Valley
Sixteen days up Nepal's highest trekking peak at 6,476 m, through the remote Hinku Valley. Climbing training, a contingency day, and five 8,000 m peaks from the summit.
- Duration
- 16days
- Max altitude
- 6,476m
- Difficulty
Strenuous
- Best seasons
Spring — March to May
Autumn — September to November
[PRICE TBC]
Day by day
The route
Day 01
Kathmandu → Lukla → Paiya
An early flight to Lukla, then straight off the Everest Base Camp trail onto a much quieter route toward the Hinku Valley. Forest, suspension bridges and small villages to the settlement at Paiya.
- Altitude
- 2,730m
- On foot
- 4–5 hrs· 8 km
Mountain flight, then forest and suspension bridges
Day 02
Paiya → Panggom
Down through forest, across several streams, then a gradual climb to the Sherpa village of Panggom — stone houses, prayer flags and cultivated fields still worked much as they have been for generations.
- Altitude
- 2,846m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 8 km
Forest descent, stream crossings, gradual climb
Day 03
Panggom → Ramailo Danda
A gradual climb through rhododendron and pine to the ridge at Ramailo Danda, where the views start to open out and the first distant Himalayan peaks appear on a clear day.
- Altitude
- 3,200m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 10 km
Gradual forest climb to a ridge
Day 04
Ramailo Danda → Chhetra Khola
Across forested hillsides and then down into the Hinku Valley proper, over streams and suspension bridges to the quiet riverside settlement of Chhetra Khola.
- Altitude
- 3,150m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 12 km
Hillside traverse, then a valley descent
Day 05
Chhetra Khola → Kothe
Following the Hinku River up through forest, with the mountain views getting steadily better. Kothe sits by the river and marks the start of the higher country.
- Altitude
- 3,691m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 10 km
River valley climb through forest
Day 06
Kothe → Thagnak
Forest gives way to alpine terrain as the valley opens. Thagnak is a small settlement in a spectacular position, ringed by glaciers and high peaks.
- Altitude
- 4,358m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 8 km
Valley ascent, forest into alpine
Day 07
Acclimatisation day in Thagnak
A day to let the body catch up. An optional hike to nearby ridges or toward the Hinku Nup Glacier gives views of Mera Peak and Kusum Kanguru before returning to Thagnak.
- Altitude
- 4,358m
Rest day with optional acclimatisation hikes
Day 08
Thagnak → Khare
Short but steep, across glacial moraine to Khare — the last settlement before the climb. Mera Peak now fills the skyline.
- Altitude
- 5,045m
- On foot
- 3–4 hrs· 6 km
Steep glacial moraine
Day 09
Acclimatisation and climbing practice at Khare
A short acclimatisation hike in the morning, then an afternoon learning the equipment — crampons, harness, jumar and ropes — with your climbing guide. This is where a first-time climber gets comfortable before summit day.
- Altitude
- 5,045m
Short hike, then climbing training
Day 10
Khare → Mera High Camp
Onto the Mera Glacier and up to High Camp, in tents. On a clear day the view already takes in Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu and Kanchenjunga.
- Altitude
- 5,800m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 4 km
Glacier travel to a tented high camp
Day 11
Mera High Camp → summit → Khare
A start before dawn and a climb across the glacier as the sun comes up. The summit at 6,476 m gives one of the finest panoramas in Nepal — five of the world's highest mountains at once — then a long descent all the way back to Khare.
- Altitude
- 5,045m
- On foot
- 8–10 hrs· 12 km
Glaciated summit climb, then a long descent
Day 12
Contingency day
A reserve day held back in case weather or conditions push the summit attempt later. If it is not needed it simply gives the expedition more room.
Reserve day — location depends on progress
Day 13
Khare → Kothe
Back down through the Hinku Valley on familiar trails, with the scenery changing again and the considerable comfort of thicker air.
- Altitude
- 3,691m
- On foot
- 5–6 hrs· 12 km
Valley descent
Day 14
Kothe → Thuli Kharka
Out of the valley, climbing steadily through forest and open hillside to Thuli Kharka and its wide mountain views.
- Altitude
- 4,300m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 12 km
Steady climb out of the valley
Day 15
Thuli Kharka → Zatrwa La → Lukla
Over the Zatrwa La at 4,610 m for one last panorama, then down to Lukla and an evening with the team to mark the end of the expedition.
- Altitude
- 2,845m
- On foot
- 6–7 hrs· 10 km
Pass crossing, then a long descent
Day 16
Lukla → Kathmandu
An early flight back to Kathmandu with a last aerial view of the Himalaya. In peak season this often routes via Manthali (Ramechhap) because of congestion at Kathmandu airport.
- Altitude
- 1,350m
- Driving
- ~35 min flight
Mountain flight
Maptoolkit · © OpenStreetMap contributors
What’s included
Licensed female guide
Experienced and licensed, with all salary, meals and accommodation covered.
All meals on trek
Full board — breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus two servings of tea, coffee or another hot drink each day.
Accommodation
High-rated teahouse stays throughout the trek.
Transport
All transportation related to the trek.
Permits and taxes
All necessary government and local permits, paperwork and taxes.
Trekking essentials
Trekking poles, microspikes or crampons, and seasonal fruit on the trail.
What’s not included
Travel insurance
Strongly recommended for high-altitude treks, and required for helicopter evacuation cover.
Personal expenses
Wi-Fi, laundry, battery charging, bottled or hot water, hot showers.
Alcoholic and personal drinks
Tips for your guide
You can add
A porter
Hired from the region you are walking through, so the work and the money stay in the villages on your route — and you walk with a lighter pack and someone who knows the ground.
[PRICE TBC]
Permits
NMA Peak Climbing Permit · Sagarmatha National Park · Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality — arranged for you. Restricted areas require a licensed guide by law.
Safety
Our altitude protocol
Altitude is the thing most people worry about, so here is exactly what we do about it. This is our operating protocol, not medical advice.
A guide trained in mountain safety and first aid
Licensed, and trained specifically for the conditions on these routes.
Daily health monitoring
We record your SpO2 and heart rate each day with a pulse oximeter, alongside an AMS assessment, and keep it in a wellness log you can see.
A first aid kit on every trek
Essential emergency supplies, including altitude sickness medication.
Pre-trek safety briefing
Altitude awareness, pacing, weather and emergency procedures — before you start walking, not on the trail.
Emergency coordination
With local health posts, rescue services and helicopter evacuation. The evacuation itself is covered by your travel insurance.
Mera Peak is the highest of Nepal’s trekking peaks at 6,476 m, and the usual answer for someone who wants a Himalayan summit without a technical climbing background. The route runs up the Hinku Valley, well off the Everest Base Camp trail, and sees very few people.
Sixteen days, built around acclimatisation: two rest days, climbing training at Khare, and a contingency day held back for weather. No previous climbing experience is needed, but this is a glaciated summit at altitude and it asks for real fitness.
Questions
Before you go
Why is Mera Peak so popular?
At 6,476 m it is Nepal's highest trekking peak and one of the best choices for a first Himalayan climb — a remote trek with a summit that gives some of the finest mountain views in the country.
When is the best time to climb Mera Peak?
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) give the most stable weather, the clearest skies and the best chance of reaching the summit.
Do I need previous climbing experience?
No. Mera Peak suits beginners with good fitness. Your climbing guide trains you on crampons, harness, ropes and the rest of the equipment before the summit attempt.
Which mountains can you see from the summit?
On a clear day, Everest (8,849 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,485 m), Cho Oyu (8,188 m) and Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) — five of the world's highest peaks.
What is the accommodation like?
Simple family-run teahouses with twin-share rooms and freshly cooked meals along the trekking route, and expedition-style tents at High Camp.
How is this different from Everest Base Camp?
The route follows the remote Hinku Valley — quieter trails, far fewer trekkers, and a real sense of wilderness.
How cold does it get?
At High Camp and on summit morning temperatures often fall to between −15°C and −20°C, so proper layering and warm clothing matter.
Not sure this is the right trek?
Book a free call with someone who has walked it. We will tell you honestly if another route suits you better — that happens often, and it is the whole point of talking first.