15 Days Mera Peak Climbing — Self-Launched

Book a morning Summit Air or Tara Air flight from Kathmandu (Ramechhap/Manthali in peak season) to Lukla (roughly £150–190 one way; buy directly from the airline or a Thamel agent a few days ahead). Eat breakfast in Lukla, pick up your TIMS card and Khumbu/Makalu Barun permit checks, then walk an easy 3–4 hours down and along the ridge to Paiya. Overnight in a basic teahouse.

🚌Summit/Tara Air flight Kathmandu–Lukla, ~£160 one way

🛏Paiya teahouse (shared twin, ~£6)

• →Kathmandu–Lukla flight
• →TIMS card & Makalu Barun National Park permit
• →Easy 3–4hr acclimatisation walk to Paiya

A solid 6-hour day climbing steadily through forest and rhododendron to Panguam. Walk at your own pace, dal bhat lunch at a trail teahouse. Distances here are short but slow — aim to arrive by mid-afternoon.

🚌On foot

🛏Panguam teahouse (~£6)

• →6hr trek to Panguam (~2,850m)

A gentler 4–5 hours, mostly gentle downhill through bamboo and pine to Nagindingma. Arrive early, then wander the village and nearby monastery with the afternoon free.

🚌On foot

🛏Nagindingma teahouse (~£6)

• →4–5hr gentle downhill trek
• →Village and gompa exploration

The first really demanding day: 7–8 hours up rocky, exposed trail into the upper Hinku Valley. Start before 7am, carry 2–3 litres of water and snacks. Guide isn't essential yet — the trail is well worn — but a porter makes this far more enjoyable.

🚌On foot

🛏High Camp teahouse (~£6)

• →7–8hr demanding uphill trek
• →Rocky trail and valley viewpoints

Another 7-hour climb through rocky trail and alpine meadows. Keep the pace slow and hydrate — you're now above 3,500m and this is where altitude starts to bite.

🚌On foot

🛏Higher Camp teahouse (~£6)

• →7hr uphill trek through Green Meadows
• →Alpine meadow viewpoints

6–7 hours descending and traversing into Kothe, with the first proper wall of Himalayan peaks opening up. Kothe is a windswept summer settlement with a handful of lodges — pick one with a stove-lit dining room.

🚌On foot

🛏Kothe teahouse (~£6)

• →6–7hr trek to Kothe
• →Himalayan panorama from Kothe

A short 3–4 hour slow climb along the valley to Thaknak (4,350m). Use the spare afternoon to rest, drink water and check your kit — this is a key acclimatisation stop.

🚌On foot

🛏Thaknak teahouse (~£7)

• →3–4hr slow uphill trek
• →Snowy peak views from Thaknak

Three easy hours to Khare (5,045m), the base village for Mera Peak. In the afternoon find your climbing guide here — Khare is where all the local IFMGA/SNP-certified guides and Sherpa climbing crews are based. Agree a rate for the summit push plus crampons, harness, ice axe and boot hire.

🚌On foot

🛏Khare teahouse (~£8)

• →3hr trek to Khare
• →Hire a local climbing guide in Khare
• →Rent climbing gear (crampons, harness, axe, boots)

Rest day at 5,000m. Take a short walk up to 5,300m and back down, practise fixed-rope technique and jumar with your guide, then sit in the lodge and acclimatise. Do not skip this day.

🚌On foot

🛏Khare teahouse (~£8)

• →Acclimatisation hike to ~5,300m
• →Fixed-rope and crampon skills practice
• →Village and lodge time

A 3–4 hour walk up moraine to Mera Base Camp, with an afternoon skills session on the glacier edge. Carry a warm sleeping bag (rated to −15°C) — base camp is cold and exposed. Some teams push on to High Camp the same day if feeling strong.

🚌On foot

🛏Base camp lodge/tented camp (~£8)

• →Trek to Mera Base Camp
• →Glacier skills and rope practice

Alpine start, usually 2–3am, roped to your guide across the Mera Glacier, up to the summit ridge — the high point is a stunning balcony looking at Everest, Makalu and Cho Oyu. 6–9 hours up, 4–5 down. Then descend to Khare. Be prepared to turn around; your guide makes the call.

🚌On foot

🛏Khare teahouse (~£8)

• →Summit climb of Mera Peak (6,476m)
• →Descent to base camp and Khare

A relaxed 5-hour descent back down the valley to Kothe — knees take the strain today. Big appetite, big dal bhat.

🚌On foot

🛏Kothe teahouse (~£6)

• →5hr descent to Kothe

6–7 hours retracing the lower valley to Chetarwa, through rhododendron forest and yak pastures. A good day for spotting danphe pheasants and chatting to herders.

🚌On foot

🛏Chetarwa teahouse (~£6)

• →6–7hr valley trek
• →Rural village life in Chetarwa

Final 6–7 hours back to Lukla. Find your lodge, order the last big dinner, and confirm tomorrow's flight. Flights from Lukla are weather-dependent — build in a spare day if you have time.

🚌On foot

🛏Lukla guesthouse (~£10)

• →6–7hr trek down to Lukla
• →Celebration dinner in Lukla

Morning flight back to Kathmandu (roughly £150–190). Check into a Thamel hostel or guesthouse, hot shower, then a proper meal and a bakery coffee. Himalayan Java and the Thamel bakeries will feel like luxury.

🚌Summit/Tara Air flight Lukla–Kathmandu, ~£160

🛏Thamel hostel dorm (~£8)

• →Lukla–Kathmandu flight
• →Thamel evening