Nepal Highlights - Trekking to the Mera Peak

Moderate-difficult 25-days trekking across the originally Nepal:
from subtropical rice-fields to the unique eight-thousands-viewpoint at the Mera Peak Basecamp (Climbing Mera Peak 6.461m optionally possible)

outside tourist routes through the original Nepal
    ... from valleys affected by hindu people up into the buddhistic land of the sherpa people
    ... from subtropical rice-fields to the high mountains
    ... through the wild and uninhabited Himalaya
    ... through original villages and valleys
       to the unique eight-thousands-viewpoint at the Mera basecamp

Impressing + Challenging high-mountain climb at the end optionally possible:
Mera Peak 6.461m,

Before the Trek: Centrally situated hotel*** After the Trek: Comfort Hotel *****

tested DAKS mountainguide (speaking English & German)

dates/prices/trip-services

Welcome to our big Nepal-Trekking Highlight!
„Highlights“ is a trip for people who have already a lot of hiking experience in the mountains and are looking for a new challenge, something unusual and adventurous that will remain unforgettable for everyone.

On this Trek, not only the high Himalaya-summits call but also historical sites e.g. monasteries and temples of an old, still unspoilt civilisation attracts the tourist in a fascinating country of high mountains.
We start in subtropical heat, 400m high, and reach heights of over 5.000 - the summits being even over 6.000 meters - with significantly cooler temperatures.
Tthis trek has the characteristic features of a classic expedition: Sherpas, porters and tents.
On this tour we will also have a privileged view on Mount Everest, the highest mountain of the world, but our tour won't follow the well-known tracks. It will lead us through barren, uninhabited areas, over glaciers and snow-covered mountain-passes.

This trek is impressive and exciting!

During the tour, we may climb impressive summits, such as Mera Peak, 6.461 m and - if everything works out - Island Peak 6.189 m. Experienced Sherpas and our DAKS guide will help with technics and safety if necessary.

The tour:

day 1/2: Flight from Frankfurt (or other European airports) to Kathmandu. There we are taken to our centrally situated hotel * * * and may be we will have some time to take a short sight-seeing tour through the industrious old part of Kathmandu: Narrow alleys, interesting palaces, temples and bazaars ...

Through the wild, unspoilt Nepal

day 3: Flight Kathmandu - Tumlingtar (410 m), Trek to Kartigeghat (360 m, 3-4 h)
The flight to Tumlingtar presents unrivalled views passing the 8.000-meter-high mountains like Everest and Makalu, then down into the green Arun Valley to a small, grassy landing field. Here, we meet our Nepal Sherpaguide, the kitchen staff and the porters.

About noon, we start our trek with a lovely-hike through the subtropical Nepal - with bananas - and orange trees. During the day temperatures will be hot with, 35°-40°C and cooler with 20°-25° degrees at night! Rising early we will be able to enjoy the scenery during our hike at more pleasant temperatures. The Arun-River tempts to take a cooling bath again and again

day 4: Kartigeghat (360 m) – Ghote Bazar (1.000 m, 5-6 h)
Further on, our way leads through abundant nature: paddies, bamboo-forests, orange groves,... the variety at plants and colours is unique.

In these first days, we hike through a never-ending area characterized by Hinduism - again and again we pass through small villages with the typical, very simple cottages constructed of timber and roofs made of braided mats. We learn that we must pass the numerous prayer wheels and memorials clockwise, If not it would mean bad luck! Arriving in Ghote Bazar, a mountain-brook invites you to take a refreshing bath in its clear and still clean.

day 5: Ghote Bazar – Phedi (1.606 m, 5 h)
We climb through fertile mountain-valleys and cross adventurous bamboo-bridges and slowly continue further.

Vast paddies still characterize the countryside. Daily temperatures are still very high - with night temperatures at 12o a little, cooler. Phedi the mountain-brook at our day's destination is also already clearly cooler: Only the toughest will take a bath here -while most, however, will prefer a "normal" wash with a limited amount of water.

day 6: Phedi – Gurase (3.000 m, 6 h)
We climb through dense forests. In the beginning, we gain height quickly - 900 meters altitude in about 1 1/2 hours. Shortly before lunch , we can - if open -see some interesting Gompa (Buddhist cloister) views. Orchids, that bloom in the spring in many different colors, grow here in this region.

day 7: Gurase – Guidel
(2.030 m, 6-7 h) After circa 1 1/2 hours ascent we reach the Salpa Rupina Pass (3.349 m) and get to the border between the Solo district and Sherpa-land. After a circa 2- hour descent through extensive mountain-forests we reach the first Sherpa villages. Everything seems different: houses of stone, windows partially glass and various fields. Now, there are lots of tasty potatoes and vegetables. Descending even further we reach our destination for the day, the Rai village Guidels, in the afternoon where we camp in the middle of the schoolyard.. The upper Hongu-Tal is mainly inhabited by the Rai’s - a group of people predominantly Hindu.

day 8: Guidel – Bung – Boskom Gompa (2.600 m, 6-7 h).
At dawn, our one-hour hike takes us on a steep descent to a suspension bridge leading across the Hungu Khola River (1.450 m), the sources of which is our destination. The following ascent through the extensive, beautiful area of the village of Bung is less steep and very interesting: Fields, water-buffalos and cows, colourful gardens, scattered picturesque houses and curious children over and over again - until we arrive at our at noon-resting place in the upper part of the village (1.800 m). Then we climb further up and reach the specially-beautifully-situated temple of Boskom Gompa. If we are lucky, we will come across a travelling Lama here - and we can be present at a Buddhist church service

day 9-10:
Boskom Gompa – Chalem Karka (3.580 m, 5 h),
Chalem Karka – Panch Pokhris (4.300 m, 6 h).
We leave the populated areas. The fresh air is pleasant.

A long mountain-ridge leads us above 4.000 meters for the first time, then from a prominent mountain-saddle (4.450 m) we see some crystal-clear lakes: the Panch Pokhris, sacred lakes, destination for thousands of pilgrims, - seat of the water-spirits

day 11-13: Panch Pokhris – Khote (3.614 m, 7 h), Khote – Tagnag (4.360 m, 5-6 h), rest day Tagnag
The mountain-scenery becomes more fascinating. The impressive giants of snow and ice get closer every day and loom up into the sky.. We now hike into the upper Hinku Valley. After a night in Ghote, we ascend from the valley slowly northward. There are some alpine pastures and we reach the Lodges of the Alm Tagnag at the end of the high valley - almost like a one small settlement. Here, frequently, groups from around the world meet.
This is also where we will have another day of rest to get better acclimatisation – may be we hike to a quiet glacier lake ...

day 14: Tagnag – Khare (4.950 m, 5 h)
Past Lake Sabai and the Dig Glacier, we hike through moraine countryside up to a beautiful resting place, situated circa 30 minutes below the usually overcrowded Alpine Pasture Khare.

day 15: Khare – Mera Peak Basecamp (5.300 m, 5-6 h) Mera-8
We continue and reach the Mera Glacier. Crossing the glacier, we now go up to the Mera La, a pass mounting to 5.415 m. We cross the pass and camp circa 100 meters below - we reached the Mera Peak base-camp. We finally arrived, on our viewpoint amid 6.000, 7.000, and 8.000 metre (26.000 foot) summits!

day 16: Rest day or day trip into the upper Hongu-Tal
Today we will do: take a rest, enjoy the fantastically panorama... and take time for the height-adaptation to the body.
Maybe we will cast a glance into the upper Hongu-Tal today (who would like to do it) - looking, where the "Great Trek" leads (see: The great Nepal Trekking ).

day 17: Mera Peak Basecamp – Mera-Highcamp (5.800 m, 5-6 h).
Today we rise up to the highcamp of the Mera Peak, about 5.800 meters height and situated on a rocky island in the middle in the glacier. Here, high above, with a little luck we will have a unique view on the most spectacular mountains: Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, ...
Only reluctantly we separate from this cold however spectacular place ... we wish much luck to the summit-aspirants ... and turn back, down to the basecamp.

(Mera-Peak Aspirants): We will overnight here in the highcamp and with a little luck we will have a dreamlike picturesque sunset.
Although it becomes bitter-cold in the evening, most hikers remain sitting outdoors in their down-jackets until it turns too dark to watch this event.

Mera Peak – the glacier-mountain
Tag 18: Mera-Highcamp – Mera Peak 6.461 m – Basecamp
(5-6 h Ascent und 3-4 h downward).
The day of conquering the summit!
We start early in the morning. Here and there, we can look into deep crevasses. Until we reach the altitude of 6.461 m, the summit of the Mera, we will have climbed upward over glaciers and snow slopes for 5 - 6 hours.     Sometimes, the track is hardly passable for the last 30 - 40 meters to the summit, because it gets steeper and the slopes are often frozen. -Then the guides fix a rope which you can follow easily and safely until you reach the summit. mera-36

The exhausting ascent is over now and below us there are valleys, lower mountains and the mighty glaciers. For a short time, we feel like kings in this icy empire.
After the exhausting hike this is a fantastic reward - five of the fourteen highest mountains of the world at a glance - shining glacier giants in front of a blue-black sky.

Then, we go down again - at the Mera La we meet the group members remained at the basecamp (they had a calm and rest half day). Altogether we now walk down to the Camp below Khare.

day 19-21: Khare – Khote, Khote – Thuli Kharka, Thuli Kharka – Zatrwa Pass (4.590 m) – Lukla.
In three daily stages we move now to Lukla - first on well-known ways to Khote. Here the way branches. Now the way leads uphill rising up to the camp nearby Tuli Kharka (4.250 m).
In the morning we climb the 4.600 m high Zatrawa pass.
A long descent leads us, past at the settlement Chulanga, to Lukla (2.800 m) - the finish point of our Trekking.
We enjoy a last evening in the Khumbu and a merrily celebration with our crew.

day 22: flight from Lukla to Kathmandu
Our flight from Lukla back to Kathmandu is booked for the morning.
Our next stop will be at the comfortable five-star Hotel*****, to relax at the pool, to enjoy a glass of beer etc.,...   .

day 23: The old royal-cities Patan and Bhaktapur.
Today we will visit the royal-city of Bhaktapur. The city with a well-preserved medieval city centre - russet brick-roofs, carved wooden facades and skilfully embellished brick-walls give the city the particular charm.    Afterwards, we are going to visit the royal-city of Patan - narrow alleys, palaces, temples and bazaars... There will be time for private excursions and a last opportunity to buy some souvenirs in the colourful bazaars of Kathmandu.

day 24 – 25:    return flight
The return flight leaves in the evening and arrives at the next day the European airport

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Nepal Highlights - Trek to the Mera Peak