Mera Peak Climb — Self-Launched Solo Trek
21 days · Nepal
Exodus charges £3,745
No-markup version: ~£2,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Exodus's 21-day Mera Peak Climb (6,476m) — the highest trekking peak in Nepal. Instead of a fully guided group departure, you fly to Lukla yourself, walk the remote Hinku Valley circuit through rhododendron forest, Sherpa pastures and high passes, acclimatise at Tangnag and Khare, hire a certified climbing guide and porter in Khare for the summit push, and camp at High Camp before the non-technical roped ascent. Built-in contingency and acclimatisation days are kept so you have the same summit odds. Cost estimates are approximate backpacker rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Kathmandu — trek briefing & permit prep
Kathmandu
Land at Tribhuvan International Airport and make your own way (taxi, ~£5) to Thamel, where budget guesthouses and hostels cluster. Do this independently: you'll need a Nepal TIMS card and a Mera Peak climbing permit from the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) in Kathmandu — apply online via the NMA portal or visit the office on your first full morning. Buy or rent any missing kit and load a local SIM (Ncell/Nepali Telecom, ~£3). Aim for an early night before the long transfer south.
🚌Airport taxi to Thamel ~£5; walking in Thamel
🛏Budget guesthouse in Thamel (e.g. Hotel Horizon or similar), ~£10-15 dorm/private
- →NMA permit & TIMS card collection
- →Kit hire/shopping in Thamel
- →Trip briefing with your hired guide agency
Drive to Manthali (or Ramechhap) and fly to Lukla; trek to Piuyan
Lukla to Piuyan
Leave about 3am for the 4-hour shared jeep/minibus transfer to Manthali Airport (this is the standard seasonal diversion from Kathmandu for Lukla flights). Your guide agency will book the Lukla flight for you (~£165 one-way). Fly into Lukla and start trekking south, descending to Surke then climbing steeply over the Chutok La pass, contouring into a side valley to tonight's teahouse at Piuyan. ~10 km walking.
🚌Shared jeep Kathmandu-Manthali ~£15; Lukla flight ~£165
🛏Teahouse, Piuyan (2,780m), ~£6-9
- →Scenic Lukla flight
- →Trek over Chutok La
Climb through terraced farmland to Pangkongma
Pangkongma
A steady climb eastwards over the Khari La pass, then winding up through terraced farmland to the trading village of Pangkongma. Great backward views of Numbur and Karyolung. ~11 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Pangkongma (2,850m), ~£6-9
- →Khari La pass crossing
- →Farmland village walk
Cross Pangkongma La; descend to Hinku Khola and climb to Nashing Dingma
Nashing Dingma
Climb through bamboo and rhododendron to the Pangkongma La pass (3,170m), where you first glimpse Mera's south face. Long steep descent to the valley floor, lunch at a riverside lodge, cross the Hinku Khola suspension bridge, then a 2-hour climb up the east side to Nashing Dingma. ~9 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Nashing Dingma (2,963m), ~£6-9
- →Pangkongma La pass
- →Hinku Khola suspension bridge
Steep climb over Surkye La to Chholem Kharka
Chholem Kharka
Rolling up-and-down trail that steepens toward the Surke La — your first real taste of altitude. Tea stop in a teahouse just beyond the pass, then continue to the summer grazing settlement of Chholem Kharka. Optional afternoon ridge hike. ~7.3 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Chholem Kharka (3,600m), ~£6-9
- →Surke La crossing
- →Chholem ridge scramble
Over two cols to the Panch Pokhari lakes and Khola Kharka
Khola Kharka
Above the tree line and into wilder herding country. Stone steps to a 4,300m col and a second at 4,470m, with Kanchenjunga and Jannu far to the east on a clear day. Descend to the holy Panch Pokhari lakes, then a short walk to the Khola Kharka teahouse. ~7.4 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Khola Kharka (4,270m), ~£6-9
- →Two 4,300m+ cols
- →Panch Pokhari sacred lakes
Khola Kharka to Kote (no lodges en route)
Kote
A long morning with no teahouses until Kote, so carry snacks and plenty of water. Steep 30-minute climb on stone steps to prayer flags, views to Numbur, Pikey Peak and Lamjura Pass, then a steep descent to the Mojang Khola, further down to the Hinku Khola, and a rolling trail to the bridge into Kote. Late lunch and free afternoon to explore the village. ~9.2 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Kote (3,600m), ~£6-9
- →Stone-step ascent to prayer flags
- →Hinku Khola valley walk
Up the Hinku Valley to Tangnag
Tangnag
Beautiful valley hike following the Hinku Khola upstream past landslide areas, with the three peaks of Mera in view and Kyashar, Kusum Kanguru and East Peak ahead. Tea at Saure, then on to Tangnag for a late lunch. Two nights here. ~13.4 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Tangnag (4,350m), ~£7-10
- →Hinku Valley trek
- →First views of Mera's three peaks
Acclimatisation day at Tangnag
Tangnag
Morning ridge hike south of Tangnag to ~5,000m for views of Kusum Kanguru, Kyashar, East Peak and the Mera La, then return for lunch and rest. Climb high, sleep low — this day is key to your summit odds. ~6 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Tangnag (4,300m), ~£7-10
- →5,000m acclimatisation ridge hike
Half-day hike to Khare base camp
Khare
Short 3-4 hour ascent past Dig Kharka to Khare, the Mera Peak base camp at the site of the old glacier. Steep climb out of Tangnag to prayer flags overlooking the Kyashar glacier, easier along the valley, then a final steeper pull to the lodges. Lunch in Khare and a free afternoon watching Mera, Charpati Himal and Kyashar. ~7 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse/lodge, Khare (5,000m), ~£8-12
- →Arrive Mera Peak base camp
- →Kyashar glacier viewpoint
Khare — ice axe and crampon practice; hire your climbing guide
Khare
Acclimatisation day with glacier training and cold-skills practice; hire any remaining gear locally at Khare. Independent travellers can hire a certified climbing guide and a porter here for the summit section (roughly £250-450 for guide, ~£150 porter, split across your private team) — this is instead of the operator's 1:3 included staff. Pay the Mera Peak climbing permit fee to the NMA (booked in Kathmandu) and the Khare/Makalu Barun park fees.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse/lodge, Khare (5,000m), ~£8-12
- →Glacier skills & ice axe/crampon practice
- →Arrange private climbing guide & porter
Trek to 'crampon point' for acclimatisation; sleep back at Khare
Khare
Walk up toward the snow line and the crampon point above Khare to gain altitude and test your kit, then return to Khare to sleep low. ~8 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse/lodge, Khare (5,000m), ~£8-12
- →Crampon-point acclimatisation walk
- →Roped travel rehearsal
Trek to High Camp
Mera High Camp
Move up to High Camp (5,800m) with your guide and porter. With an independent trip you carry/camp with your own gear; a full-service camping arrangement (tent, cook, food) can be arranged at Khare for ~£60-90 per day. Dinner and early night at altitude. ~6 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Camping at High Camp (5,800m), ~£60-90 for tent/cook/food package
- →Trek to Mera High Camp
- →Camp at 5,800m
Summit Mera Central (6,476m) and return to Khare
Mera Peak to Khare
A big 12-13 hour day: start before dawn, rope up with your guide and cross the glacier in the dark, weaving around crevasses to the summit at 6,476m. From the top, the reward is five of the six highest mountains in the world — Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu and Cho Oyu. Descend all the way back to Khare. ~13.5 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse/lodge, Khare (5,000m), ~£8-12
- →Mera Central summit ascent
- →Glacier crossing with guide
Contingency day for the climb
Khare
Reserved weather/contingency day — use it to rest and buffer against bad weather or permit/mountain conditions before descending. If you summit on Day 14, spend it recovering in Khare.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse/lodge, Khare (5,000m), ~£8-12
- →Contingency / rest day
Retrace the valley from Tangnag to Kote
Kote
Descend back down the Hinku Valley through Tangnag to Kote, losing altitude fast now that the climb is behind you. ~14 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Kote (3,600m), ~£6-9
- →Hinku Valley descent
Climb out of the valley toward Zatrwa La to Chetrabu
Chetrabu
Steep climb out of the valley toward the Zatrwa La, a different return route from the outward pass. Overnight at Chetrabu. ~8.5 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse, Chetrabu (4,225m), ~£6-9
- →Zatrwa La approach
Return to Lukla over the Zatrwa La pass
Lukla
Cross the Zatrwa La pass and descend to Lukla, the classic finish of the trek, for a celebratory meal in the gateway village to Everest. ~12 km.
🚌On foot
🛏Teahouse/lodge, Lukla (2,800m), ~£7-12
- →Zatrwa La crossing
- →Arrive Lukla
Fly to Manthali and transfer to Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Morning Lukla-Man Ramechhap/Manthali flight (~£165, book in advance) then a shared jeep back to Kathmandu. Expect and plan for possible Lukla flight delays — carry a spare buffer day if you have a tight onward connection.
🚌Lukla flight ~£165; shared jeep Manthali-Kathmandu ~£15
🛏Budget guesthouse in Thamel, ~£10-15
- →Lukla flight
- →Return to Kathmandu
Free day in Kathmandu
Kathmandu
A free day for individual sightseeing: Boudhanath Stupa, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) and Durbar Square, all easily reached by taxi or on foot. Great chance for a long-overdue hot shower and a proper meal.
🚌Local taxi/on foot ~£5-10
🛏Budget guesthouse in Thamel, ~£10-15
- →Boudhanath & Pashupatinath
- →Swayambhunath & Durbar Square
Adventure ends in Kathmandu
Kathmandu
Trip ends after breakfast. Make your own way to the airport for your onward flight. If you have time, consider a Stupa-to-Stupa walk or a day trip to Bhaktapur before you fly.
🚌Taxi to airport ~£5
🛏None
- →Onward departure
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,180 | £3,745 |
| Duration | 21 days | 21 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,565 per person (42%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,180
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Mera Peak Climb — Self-Launched Solo Trek cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,180 per person for 21 days in Nepal. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £3,745 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,180 — a saving of roughly £1,565 (42%) per person.
How long is the Nepal trip?+
This itinerary runs 21 days, covering 21 day-by-day stops through Nepal.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, backpacker trip through Nepal, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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