Island Peak and Mera Peak Climbing 

Your journey begins the moment you land at Tribhuvan International Airport, where our team greets you and takes care of the transfer to your hotel, a straightforward 30–40-minute drive.

Once you've had a chance to settle in, the evening brings your first team briefing: guides walk through your documents and medical forms, check over your climbing gear, and make sure you have everything you need, including crampons, harness, and ice axe before the trek even begins. In the evening you will meet your guides, who'll share the next 25 days with you. Overnight at a comfortable hotel in Kathmandu.

With the beginning of another day on the way, today focuses on the practical starting point that keeps the expedition running smoothly. Today is for checking your permit and insurance documents and for a detailed safety briefing covering the route ahead, seasonal weather patterns, and emergency procedures specific to high-altitude climbing.

Your guide also does a hands-on review of your personal gear, flagging anything missing or inadequate, with plenty of rental and purchase options nearby in Thamel. With logistics settled, the rest of the day is yours: pack at your pace, wander Kathmandu's streets, or simply rest before tomorrow's flight. Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.

Your journey begins with one of Nepal's most scenic mountain flights to Lukla. During the peak spring and autumn trekking seasons, flights to Lukla may operate from Manthali Airport (Ramechhap) instead of Kathmandu. If so, you'll leave Kathmandu early in the morning for the drive to Manthali before boarding your flight.

After landing at Lukla (2,860 m), you begin a gentle 7–8 km trek that takes 3–4 hours to Chutanga (3,175 m). The trail passes through pine and rhododendron forests, giving your body its first opportunity to adjust to the increasing altitude. You will spend the night at a teahouse in Chutanga.

This is the first genuinely demanding day of the trip, a 6–9-hour push over rocky trail, loose glacial terrain, and a rare snowfield up to the Zatrawala La Pass. The climb is steep and sustained, but the reward is a breathtaking panorama across glaciers, valleys, and distant Himalayan giants that makes every step worthwhile.

From the pass, a shorter descent leads to the high plateau camp at Zatrabok, where you'll get your first panoramic glimpses of both Mera and Island Peak, the two summits that anchor this entire expedition. Overnight at camp or teahouse, with the altitude and effort of the day catching up quickly once you stop moving.

After yesterday's tough pass crossing, today brings welcome relief in the form of a long descent, 10–12 km and 5–7 hours, following the Hinku River down through rocky trails and open alpine scenery. Losing elevation gives your body recovery time; the itinerary builds it in a planned way after a demanding climb like Zatrawala La.

The trail eases as you go, eventually opening into the peaceful village of Kothe, tucked into the Hinku Valley and known for its quiet, welcoming atmosphere. It's a good day to eat well, hydrate, and let your legs recover before the terrain climbs tomorrow. Overnight at a teahouse or camp in Kothe.

Back into climbing today with a steady 10–12 km ascent taking 5–7 hours through alpine meadows and increasingly rocky terrain. The trail passes close to glacier ice as you gain altitude, and Mera Peak itself starts to take over the skyline, growing larger and more real with every hour.

You will see the Hinku Valley opening around, offering some of the trip's most rewarding scenery before the climbing turns challenging. This section is also where the emotional shift is likely to happen for most climbers: the moment the mountain stops being an ethereal dream and starts feeling close. You will spend the night at a teahouse or camp in Thangnak.

Today is an acclimatization day rather than a full rest day; you can go for a short hike, following up to 200–400 meters before returning to Thangnak to sleep at the same elevation as the previous night.

Guides typically use the extra time effectively, running hands-on training in glacier travel, rope handling, and basic crevasse-rescue technique, skills that matter for both Mera and Island Peak later on in the trip. It's a low-key day physically but an important one for both your body's adjustments and your technical preparedness. You will spend the night at a teahouse or camp in Thangnak.

Today's route climbs 8–10 km over 4–6 hours across rocky ridges and increasingly glacial terrain, crossing the 5,000 m mark for the first time on the trip. The landscape shifts majorly here, rockier, starker, and more exposed, with sweeping views of the Mera massif, Baruntse, and the surrounding giants opening up as you gain height.

Khare itself is the last proper stop before the high camps begin, and it serves as a natural starting point where climbers frequently do final gear checks and rest up. The thinner air makes itself known on this route, so a steady, unhurried pace matters more than speed. Overnight at camp in Khare.

The day is shorter in distance, at 5–6 km and 3–4 hours, but every meter now carries more weight due to the altitude. The route follows ridges and glacier approaches with expansive views over Mera Peak and both the Honku and Hinku valleys extending down.

Once at base camp, you'll check your climbing gear, go over the summit plan with your guides, and receive basic training on glacier travel and snow climbing techniques. You spend the rest of the day preparing for the climb ahead. It's a day that feels like the calm before the real climbing begins. Overnight in tents at Mera Base Camp.

The trek to Mera High Camp is quite steep, but it is only 5–6 km long and takes 3–5 hours. You will be crossing rock, glacier, snowfield, and loose scree on the way, while enjoying views of Mera Peak, Baruntse, and Chamlang at every step. Your guides fix ropes along the trickier sections and carry out a final glacier safety check ahead of tomorrow's summit push.

At camp, the atmosphere grows a little more intense; everyone spreads out their gear, charges their headlamps, and checks their boots twice as the team gathers for the final weather and summit briefing. Overnight in tents at Mera High Camp, with an early pre-dawn wake-up ahead.

Today's summit day starts in the early morning with a pre-dawn departure covering roughly 3–4 km to the top, with the full round trip typically running 10–14 hours depending on pace, weather, and the climber's feeling. The route crosses glacier terrain and steep snow slopes on crampons and rope, demanding steady legs and a clear head at altitude.

Reaching the top of Nepal's highest trekking peak delivers a genuinely rare payoff: a 360-degree panorama taking in Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Makalu, and Baruntse all at once. After summit photos and a well-earned pause, the group descends back to Mera Base Camp to rest. Overnight in tents.

With the first summit behind you, today's 12–14 km, 4–8 hour descent past rocky glacial terrain and mountain rivers feels like an entirely different day: gentler, quieter, and easier on tired legs. Honku Valley opens up as you descend, offering a real change of scenery and pace after the intensity of summit day.

Wildlife sightings and a more relaxed rhythm make this a good day to reflect on Mera Peak while your body starts recovering ahead of the next phase of the trip: the crossing toward Island Peak via Panch Pokhari and the Amphu Lapcha La Pass. Overnight in tents in the Honku Valley.

Today's 10–12 km trek, which takes 5–8 hours, crosses rocky glacial terrain and open alpine terrain on the way to Panch Pokhari, the sacred five Hindu alpine lakes that hold spiritual significance for local communities. Mera, Baruntse, and Chamlang remain visible throughout the day, keeping the scenery dramatic even as the trail turns remote and quiet.

After getting so far off the standard Everest routes, the day takes on a real sense of solitude and discovery. It's also a chance to reset mentally and physically before the acclimatization day and challenging pass crossing that comes just ahead. We will spend the night in tents at Panch Pokhari.

A planned rest day is in the schedule, helping to lower the risk of altitude sickness before the demanding Amphu Lapcha La Pass.

The pace today is fairly light: short hikes to nearby viewpoints around the sacred lakes, thorough gear checks, and gentle exercise to stay active without real strain.

Beyond the physical benefit, it's also a beautiful place to spend an extra day—remote, quiet, and steeped in local spiritual significance.

Guides use it to brief the group on the technical crossing ahead, making sure everyone understands the route and safety steps. Overnight in tents at Panch Pokhari.

Today's 8–10 km climb takes 3–5 hours, crossing rocky glacial terrain and glacial streams to reach base camp for the key challenge ahead: the Amphu Lapcha La Pass. Mera Peak, Baruntse, and Chamlang stay in view the whole way, a perfect backdrop as the terrain gets more serious and technical with each kilometer.

At base camp, the guides lead a thorough briefing on rope techniques and glacier safety, ensuring everyone clearly understands what tomorrow's traverse will require.

You can feel the change in the air, the mood blending excitement with sharp focus, as the team prepares for one of the region's most rewarding alpine crossings. Overnight in tents.

Widely considered the toughest and most rewarding day of the entire expedition, this 10–12 km crossing takes 8–12 hours over steep glaciers, snow, and rocky ridges; you navigate all of it on crampons, ice axes, and fixed ropes.

The technical demands here exceed anything encountered on the Mera Peak side of the trip, requiring real focus, steady nerves, and close coordination with your guides throughout. Once across the pass, the route descends through rocky glacial terrain and alpine trails into Chhukung, a welcome sight after such a demanding push.

Crossing into the Everest region proper marks a genuine turning point in the expedition. You will spend the night at a teahouse or in tents in Chhukung.

A moderate 5–6 km trek of 3–4 hours crosses rocky glacial terrain and open alpine meadow, with Island Peak, known locally as Imja Tse, coming into full view alongside Lhotse and Ama Dablam. After yesterday's pass crossing, today feels almost restful, giving the group time to settle in at base camp and start preparing for the second summit push of the trip.

Final gear checks, rope practice, and a detailed summit briefing round out the day, ensuring everyone is technically and mentally ready for the climbing ahead. There's a different energy here than at Mera Base Camp, sharper, more focused, and aware that Island Peak's technical demands are greater. Overnight in tents.

A 3–4 km climb of 3–5 hours over rocky ridges, rocky glacial terrain, and snow slopes positions the climber for an early start on summit day. Though shorter than some previous stages, the terrain demands care and steady footing, especially with the altitude now firmly above 5,500 m.

Once at high camp, the final preparations begin: you lay out and double-check gear, practice rope procedures one last time, and the guides review the summit route in detail. The atmosphere tends to be quieter and more focused here than at previous camps, everyone conserving energy for what's ahead. Overnight in tents at Island Peak High Camp.

The second and final summit day begins before dawn, with roughly 3–4 km to the top and a round trip that typically runs 8–12 hours depending on conditions. The route is more technical than Mera Peak's, climbing steep snow and ice, rocky ridges, and glacier sections with crampons, an ice axe, and a fixed rope throughout.

The effort pays off at the summit with sweeping views of Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse, and Ama Dablam, a fitting final reward after three weeks of climbing and trekking. With two Himalayan summits now complete, the descent back to base camp carries a real sense of accomplishment. Overnight in tents, with the return trek to Lukla beginning tomorrow.

With both summits behind you, today marks the beginning of the return journey: a moderate 12–14 km descent of 6–8 hours through alpine meadow, forest, and traditional Khumbu villages. The scenery softens significantly as you lose altitude, with Ama Dablam and Thamserku providing a striking backdrop for much of the walk.

Pangboche itself is worth the arrival, home to an ancient monastery and known throughout the region for its warm Sherpa hospitality. After weeks at high altitude and in tents, the descent into thicker air and a proper teahouse bed tends to feel like real luxury. You will spend the night at a teahouse in Pangboche.

Today's 10–12 km trek, taking 5–7 hours, winds through pine and rhododendron forests with Ama Dablam, Taboche, and Kangtega providing mountain scenery along the way. The trail feels easier now, both physically and mentally, as the technical climbing is well behind you and the pace settles into a comfortable rhythm.

Arriving in Namche Bazaar, the hub of the Khumbu region, brings small but meaningful comforts: shops, cafés, and the first real hot shower in what may feel like a very long time. It's a good place to restock, relax, and start processing the scale of what the group has just accomplished. Overnight at a teahouse in Namche Bazaar.

Today marks the final trekking day of your expedition as you follow the familiar trail back to Lukla. The route covers approximately 18–20 km and takes 6–8 hours, descending through Monjo and Phakding before crossing the Dudh Koshi's suspension bridges one last time.

With the technical climbing and high passes behind you, the trek offers time to reflect on your journey through the Hinku and Khumbu valleys, your successful summits of Mera Peak and Island Peak, and the crossing of Amphu Lapcha La Pass. After arriving in Lukla, settle into your teahouse and enjoy a well-earned rest before tomorrow's flight to Kathmandu.

A short 30–40-minute flight follows the route back to Kathmandu, offering one last aerial view of the Khumbu region and the peaks you have been among for three weeks.

After arriving in Kathmandu, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. You can relax, explore the city, or simply unwind after your expedition. Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.

This free day serves as both a buffer for possible Lukla flight delays and an opportunity to explore Kathmandu before your departure if everything runs on schedule. Visit Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath, or Pashupatinath Temple; browse the shops and cafés in Thamel; or simply relax after your expedition. Use the day to unwind, pick up souvenirs, or discover more of the city's cultural heritage before your journey home. Overnight at your hotel in Kathmandu.

Your guide transfers you to Tribhuvan International Airport for your onward flight, bringing your Mera Peak and Island Peak climbing expedition to a close. Depart Nepal with lasting memories of two Himalayan summits, the technical crossing of Amphu Lapcha La Pass, remote mountain landscapes, and the warm hospitality of the Sherpa communities.