Mera Peak and Amphu Lapcha Pass trek – Detailed Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival at Kathmandu (1350 m).
Upon your arrival in Kathmandu airport, you will be greeted by one of our trek leaders and will be transferred back to your hotel. Rest and relax till evening. One of our team leaders will escort you to your welcome dinner at a typical Nepali restaurant. Enjoy the meal over a great conservation and a short briefing about your trip to Mera and AmphuLapcha pass trek. Overnight at hotel.
Day 02: Rest and trip preparation day.
Upon your request, we will organize a guided tour in and around the Kathmandu valley. There are many historical and world heritage sites to visit in the city. This is a rest and packing the day as well, so we make the necessary permits for Mera peak climbing and trekking to AmphuLapcha on this day. In the Evening, we organize a small meeting to brief you about your trip. The climbing guide will be present at the meeting so you can ask him some questions about your trip. Overnight at hotel.
Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Lukla and explore around Lukla (2880 m) | 35 minutes flight.
Early morning breakfast at the hotel in Kathmandu. We drive to the domestic airport to catch a scenic flight to Lukla. After flying above the stunning green hills and white snow-capped mountains we reach our destination. This is one of the most amazing air routes in the world culminating in a landing on the hillside surrounded by the high Himalayas. Rest of the time will be allocated for rest and acclimatization. We walk around the villages and stay overnight at a hotel in Lukla.
Day 04: Trek from Lukla to Chutanga (3,430 m) | 4 to 5 hrs walking.
As our first-day trek is an easy walk which leads eastwards, the path from here is less frequented than the other main trails from Lukla. Our walk follows a number of hamlets and wood yards until we reach a thick forest of silver fir, birch, pines and rhododendron trees and bushes on the hillside below NauLekh also known as Kalo Himal Ridge. From this portion onwards, we strictly follow the guide or the group as there are many paths leading away from the main trail. There are many small streams with numerous places en route, the whole of this area referred to as Chutanga which is a summer pasture. We explore the surroundings of Chutanga and stay overnight at the guest house in Chutanga.
Day 05: Trek from Chutanga to ThuliKharka (4320 m) via Zwatra la (4600 m) | 5 to 6 hrs walking.
After an early morning breakfast, our adventure begins with a steep climb to cross the Kalo Himal Ridge in the NauLekh range which separates the Khumbu from the Hinku Valley. A steep uphill climb brings us to a cairned notch in the ridge with a collection of Buddhist prayer flags at 4,450 m. This small pass is called the Zatrwa-La and from here the path traverses across a boulder slope, round a corner and climbs once again to the Zatrwa-La at 4,600 m. In case of bad weather, it becomes quite difficult and misleading to find the path of our route, so have to be careful. If the weather is fine, the views across the Dudh Koshi River towards Karyolung and the Lumding Himal are very impressive as well as the scenery across the rolling foothills of the Hinku Valley is breathtaking. From here in less than an hour, we reach ThuliKarkha. Overnight at guest house in ThuliKharka.
Day 06: Trek from ThuliKharka to Kothe (3600 m) | 5 to 6 hrs walking.
We follow a delightful descending trail across three ridges, before dropping steeply down to the Hinku River and a final uphill to Kothe through lush rhododendron forests on the west side of the Hinku Valley. Rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal and on our journey, we get to admire beautiful hills dotted with rhododendrons. Overnight at guest house in Kothe.
Day 07: Trek from Kothe to Thaknak (4,350 m) | 4 to 5 hrs walking.
We trek along the ridge of the Hinku Khola in the shadow of Mera Peak. We have our lunch at Gondishung, the summer herders' settlement on the west bank of the HinkuDrangka. Making our way beyond Gondishung, we pass a 200-year-old Lungsumgba Gompa where we can find Mera Peak scripted in rock along with its route to reach Mera. A short walk takes us to Thaknak, which is a summer grazing area with primitive lodges and shops. Overnight at guest house in Thaknak.
Day 08: Trek from Thaknak to Khare (5,045 m) | 3 to 4 hrs walking.
Leaving Thaknak, we follow the lateral moraine of Dig Glacier to Dig Kharka, which offers spectacular views of Charpate Himal. The trail climbs through moraines to the snout of the HinkuNup and Shar Glaciers and then climbs more steeply to Khare. From here, we can view the Northern face of Mera Peak which will be an amazing experience. After lunch, one can engage in hikes in the surroundings of Khare. Overnight at guest house in Khare.
Day 09: Rest and Acclimatization day in Khare.
After breakfast, we will carry out the last minute checking of the gears for the climb, and then arrange if any equipment is necessary to rent. Thereafter, we shall provide training on peak climbing techniques and proper ways of using climbing gears such as the ice axe, climbing boots, and crampons, harness, ascender, etc. The training will also include using ropes to climb up and down. Although it is not mandatory to have prior training for Mera Peak Base Camp, we strongly believe that some training experience will boost your confidence and your climbing skills to increase the chances of scaling the summit as well as to fully enjoy the experience without any difficulties. Overnight at guest house in Khare.
Day 10: Trek from Khare to Mera Base Camp (5300 m) | 3 to 4 hrs walking.
After breakfast, we trek through a boulder-strewn course on a steep trail to reach Mera Peak Base Camp. Upon reaching the base camp, we rest for a while. If anyone feels the previous training was not sufficient and wants to train more to build confidence, additional training can be provided regarding the climb. Rest of the day would be to rest and prepare for the next day. Overnight at Mera Peak Base Camp.
Day 11: Climb from Mera Base Camp to High camp (5,780 m) | 4 to 5 hrs climbing.
We take the route through Mera La pass to reach the Mera High Camp today. Our path is along a rocky trail, which can be hazardous if it has recently snowed, as there are a number of crevasses here. We make our way to the top of the rock band, which is marked by a large cairn. We set up a high camp while enjoying excellent views of Mt. Everest, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Cho-Oyu, south face of Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Nuptse, Mt. Chamlang and Mt. Baruntse. Overnight at Mera High Camp.
Day 12: Mera High Camp to Summit (6,461 m) and back to Khare (5045 m) | 8 to 9 hours.
This is a very important day for us as we will be summiting over the Mera Peak. We wake up around 2 in the morning for breakfast. Our morning is going to be very cold but soon we warm up as we continue up the glacier and onto a peculiar ridge. The first rays of the sun hit the big peaks in an amazing red glow. The route is still non-technical as we slowly climb higher into the ever-thinning air. The slope steepens for a section behind the ridge and the summit comes back into view. At the foot of the final steep summit cone, we may attach a fixed rope to secure us from falling depending on the conditions. The summit is only a few meters away from here. Walking past the summit, we take in an amazing view of the mighty Himalayas including Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Mt. Cho-Oyu (8,210 m), Mt. Lhotse (8,516 m), Mt. Makalu (8,463 m), Mt. Kangchenjunga (8,586 m), Mt. Nuptse (7,855 m), Mt. Chamlang (7,319 m), Mt. Baruntse (7 ,129 m) and many others. Later, we retrace our steps back to the high camp where we rest for a while before descending to Khare. Overnight at guest house in Khare.
Day 13: Reserve Day for any Contingency.
There is no guarantee that we will have favorable weather on our planned day for the summit. So that, this day is set aside as a contingency in case we are unable to summit over Mera on day 12 due to bad weather conditions or any other unanticipated reason.
Day 14: Trek from Khare to Seto Pokhara via Honku Valley (5035 m) | 5 to 6 hrs walking.
We head up towards the upper yak pastures of this incredible remote valley. All morning the great flanks of Chamlang dominate on our left, and the spire of Baruntse comes into view beyond. The terrain is remarkably benign, especially considering we are actually heading directly into the very epicenter of the highest group of mountains in the world. The valley floor remains broad and straight, only gradually rising to the blind alley of peaks ahead. It is almost a shock to realize that the two majestic mountains we are heading straight towards are none other than Everest and Lhotse. Overnight at SetoPokhari.
Day 15: Trek from SetoPokhari to AmphuLapcha Base Camp (5650 m) | 5 to 6 hrs walking.
We trek through the high altitude route from SetoPokhari to AmphuLapcha Base Camp. This is one of the remotest parts of the Himalayas. We rarely meet any trekkers en route except if it is a very high touristic season. We climb steadily up to and just beyond SetoPokhari (White Lake), the first of a series of lakes that occupy the upper Honku Basin. Along with our way, we experience the wilderness of the Honku Valley. On the right is Chamlang (7321 m) with hanging glaciers on its South-West and North-West faces, the Honku Valley offers true mountain wilderness. Overnight in AmphuLapcha Base Camp.
Day 16: Trek from south base camp to North Base Camp (5300 m) | 6 to 7 hrs walking.
Starting from the South base of AmphuLapcha, we begin an early morning climb. The climb involves steep sections on rock and ice. It`s better to tackle the pass early in the morning when the snow is stable, i.e., before sunlight melts the snow and the trail becomes slippery. We use climbing ropes wherever necessary. The last sections of the climb to AmphuLapcha winds up through snow shelves. On the other side, to a steep descent awaits to endeavor on fixed lines leading down to the moraine. Reaching the AmphuLapcha North Base Camp, we camp and spend the night there.
Day 17: Trek from AmphuLapcha Base Camp to Pangboche (3930 m) | 5 to 6 hrs walking.
We walk downhill along the moraine to arrive at Chukkung, the starting point for the Island Peak climbing. The wilderness of the remote Hinku Valley now introduces us to the civilization of Khumbu Region. The Imja Khola joins the Dudh Koshi River a little above the Pangboche Village. There is a famous monastery at Pangboche believed to have been the oldest in the Khumbu region. To reach Pangboche after a few long days of hard mountaineering and trekking is a delight. Spending a night in the comfort of the lodges in this occupied village gives us a warm feeling and is definitely well deserved. Overnight at guest house.
Day 18: Trek from Pangboche to Namche Bazaar (3445 m) | 5 to 6 hrs walking.
Descending out of the alpine desert and back into the greenery of pine forests is what our eyes love today. The path leads to a steep uphill climb into Tengboche. After making a brief visit to the Tengboche Monastery, we make a steep descent and the trail leads us back along the Dudh Koshi River. We keep a lookout for wildlife such as mountain goats, snow leopards, colorful pheasants, etc., while we pass through the forest by the trail. After passing a Chorten, we reach the army camp at Namche Bazaar where we want to take a long last look back to Lhotse, the tip of Everest and Tengboche. The final steep climb traverses to the hillside taking us to Namche Bazaar. We take a nice hot shower and have very relaxed sleep in our room in Namche Bazaar. Overnight at guest house in Namche bazaar.
Day 19: Trek from Namche Bazaar to Lukla | 6 to 7 hrs walking.
The trail descends steeply downward so we need to walk slowly and under control as our shaky legs continuously battle the rocky terrain. After crossing the suspension bridges over the fast flowing Dudh Koshi and its tributaries, the trail becomes more into a smoother level. We snap a mixture of open plains, rhododendron and pine forests and in-distance snow-covered peaks. We walk through the Sherpa villages' noticing impressive faith in Buddhism and culture decorated with prayer stones and prayers flag while we walk through the villages. On arrival in Lukla, we check in to a nice hotel for our comfortable stay. Overnight at hotel in Lukla.
Day 20: Flight back from Lukla to Kathmandu | 35 minutes flight.
After a healthy breakfast at Lukla, we take a scenic flight back to Kathmandu and upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred back to the hotel. Rest and relax till evening. One of our team leaders pick you up from the hotel and take you for a farewell dinner. Enjoy your meal with your team including guide and one of our team leaders. Overnight at hotel.
Day 21: Final departure.
After breakfast, we will drop you to the International airport for your flight back home. We wish you have a safe and sound flight. See you again in the future.
Note: The above information is just a guide and standard pattern of what we provide. The trip can be tailored at your request to accommodate your specific requirements. On adventure trips of this type, weather, transport or a multitude of other factors are beyond our control and can result in a change of itinerary. It is, however, very unlikely that the itinerary would be substantially altered; if alterations are needed the person in charge will make a decision what is the best alternative, taking into consideration the best interests of the whole group. If a change does arise, we do everything we can to reduce its effect, but we cannot be liable for the results of changes or delays.
