The Mera Peak Climbing and Amphu Lapcha Pass Trek is a thrilling 21-day adventure that combines high-altitude trekking with peak climbing—perfect for trekkers looking to push their limits. This journey takes you to the summit of Mera Peak (6,476m), Nepal’s highest trekking peak, and across the challenging Amphu Lapcha Pass, deep within the remote Hongu Valley.
The trek begins in Lukla, following quiet trails through the Hinku Valley, passing rhododendron forests, mountain villages, and alpine meadows. As you ascend into the Hongu Valley, the landscape transforms into a spectacular world of glaciers and frozen lakes. After acclimatizing, you’ll make the ascent of Mera Peak, a non-technical climb but one that demands strong physical fitness. The views from the summit are unmatched, offering a panoramic sweep of five of the world’s highest mountains, including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, and Kangchenjunga.
Trip Info
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Hotel/ Tea hours/ camping
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Autumn/ Spring
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6450m
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Car/Flight/ Jeep/ Tourist Bus
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5/6 hours
Overview
Mera Peak Climbing and Amphu Lapcha Pass of 21 days is a combination of trekking and climbing adventure that takes you to the summit of Nepal’s highest trekking peak. Climb Mera Peak and cross the Amphu Lapcha Pass in the wild Hongu valley. This once-in-a-lifetime adventure leads you to one of the least-visited trails in the Everest region.
Trip Highlights
- Climb Nepal's highest trekking peak, Mera Peak (6,461m).
- The daring crossing of Amphu Lapcha one of the most challenging mountains passes in the Himalayas.
- Within 21 days trek across glaciers, high altitude mountain lakes, pristine rhododendron forests, and traditional Sherpa villages.
- Visit the bio-diverse Makalu Barun National Peak and Sagarmatha National Park.
- Walk past three dramatic mountain valleys - Hinku, Hongu, and Dudh Koshi river valleys.
Itinerary
Arrival in Kathmandu. Our Airport Representative will meet you at the Tribhuwan International Airport. A drop to the Hotel by private tourist vehicle is arranged. You can either take a rest or meet us at our office and learn about the detailed arrangement of the Trek. Overnight stay at the hotel.
After breakfast, you will be introduced to the trek leader/guide at the hotel. This pre-trip meeting is for briefings on the trek and other necessary details. Please bring along your passport and three passport-sized photos, and a copy of your travel insurance policy. You can use your free time to rest or explore around for some last-minute shopping.
We start the day with an early morning flight to Lukla via the domestic airport. It’s a scenic flight of around 35 minutes in a small airplane. After landing at the Tenzing-Hillary airport, we meet the rest of the team and get briefings on the journey ahead. The trek to Chutanga marks the beginning of the journey. It’s a 5/30 hours walk through pine and rhododendron forests. Overnight stay in a tented camp.
You trek steeply ascending paths to cross Zatrawala Pass. From here you can enjoy the spectacular views of Numbur Himal, Kongdi Ri, Karyolang peak, and many other mountains and peaks. Now you walk along the leveled trail for almost one and a half hours and then the trail turns downhill and you trek through this descent path all the way to Zatrabok. This is a campsite surrounded by hills.
Kothe is mostly downhill leading through rhododendron and juniper forests. Views of Mera, Nauleku, and other massifs keep company during the walk.
The trek to Kothe is mostly downhill leading through rhododendron and juniper forests. Views of Mera, Nauleku, and other massifs keep company during the walk.
Passing Kharkas or grazing fields of Gondishung, we head to the small monastery beneath an overhanging rock formation. Ahead, the valley narrows as we move close to the western peak of Mera. After walking for about five hours, we reached Thangnak, where we set camp for the night.
Acclimatization at Thangnak is essential as the gain in altitude demands some time for the body to adjust. We climb to the glacier (5000m) in the morning hours, where rear views of Mera peak are spectacular. After getting back and taking our lunch, we may as well venture to Sabai Tsho, a glacial lake. Overnight stay at Thangnak in a tented camp
The trek to Khare takes about 5-6 hours from Thangnak. The trail gets steep and bends along the valley to pass along the moraine of the Dig glacier to reach Dig Kharka. Spectacular views of Charpati Himal and other peaks, including Peak 35 which has not been scaled yet, can be viewed. We ascend along the last section of the trail to reach the base camp at Khare, where we stay overnight in a camp.
The walk today is a short one, which starts with a gradual ascent to the Mera glacier. It’s steep in the beginning but eases out as you move higher to reach a long flat trail leading to the Mera La (5400m). A short descent leads to the Mera base camp, where we camp and rest for the day.
We ascend to the Mera High Camp along flat trails atop the glaciers. The views are outstanding from here. We set up our tent and prepared for the next day’s ascent. Overnight stay in a tented camp.
At around 1 or 2 am, we head for the summit, as it's best to return back before the afternoon. It’s an easy climb though the final ascent requires an ice axe, crampons, and ropes. As we climb, magnificent sunrise views of Kanchenjunga, Everest, and Makalu can be viewed. The summit is a fantastic viewpoint with Everest, Cho Oyo, Lhotse, Makalu, and many other peaks ready to be photographed. The descent back to the Base Camp is a slow and careful one, and we take a good rest after these 8 - 10 hours of strenuous days.
The trail passes along yak pastures at great altitudes today. We walk through these remote valleys with incredible views of Chamlang and Baruntse. The Honku valley is our camping site for the night.
We take a rest day in the beautiful surrounding of Panch Pokhari. It’s a day set for acclimatization as well, so you are suggested to stay active and can venture around the campsite. Overnight stay in a tented camp.
The Amphu Lapcha pass is one of the most challenging in the Khumbu region. We climb through the Honku valley along this remote trail and can view the hanging glaciers of Chamlang. After a 6-7 hours trek, we reach the Base camp where we stay overnight.
The Amphu Lapcha pass is situated beneath a huge rock formation that connects Nuptse and Lhotse. Views of Amadablam from here are well known. We further move downhill to reach Chhukung, a small village where we stay overnight.
Descending to Imja River and crossing the forest to Tengboche, we continue along the rhododendron and juniper forests. Crossing the Dudh Koshi, we descend through pine forests rich in wildlife to Sansa. Further ahead, we pass a chorten marking the entrance to Namche Bazaar. Overnight in a lodge.
Descending to Imja River and crossing the forest to Tengboche, we continue along the rhododendron and juniper forests. Crossing the Dudh Koshi, we descend through pine forests rich in wildlife to Sansa. Further ahead, we pass a chorten marking the entrance to Namche Bazaar. Overnight in a lodge.
The last day of the trek continues with the steep downward trail. Trekkers need to walk really slowly very controlled and in a balanced manner on the steep rocky terrain until reaching the suspension bridge over Dudh Koshi, passing through the open plain, and rhododendron forest while enjoying the distant view of snow-covered mountains. Finally, Lukla is reached.
This is the day when the Mountain flight from Lukla to Kathmandu is enjoyed once again. On reaching Kathmandu it is time to enjoy shopping and walking around the city. The evening is to celebrate for successful completion of the trip.
It’s a leisure day which you can use to rest after a long journey or stroll around the capital. You may want to take home souvenirs for your loved ones. It is also a good idea to visit the world heritage sites in Kathmandu itself, for which Alpine Treks Nepal can make arrangements as per your wishes.
After completing your incredible adventure, it's time to say goodbye. Depending on your travel plans, you will be transferred to Tribhuvan International Airport for your flight home or continue onward to your next destination. Safe travels and thank you for exploring Nepal!
Cost
Cost Includes
- Airport pick-up and drop.
- 3 nights Hotel in Kathmandu.
- All accommodation during the trek in the best hotels/tea houses in the area (differing according to the price you wish to spend).
- Sanitation: The accommodation we provide will be neat and clean with warm hospitality and quality services.
- Single Accommodation: You won’t have to share your accommodation with anyone else so your privacy is protected.
- All foods during the trek: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner; any items on the menu as much as you wish to consume.
- We provide hygienic and safe meals to re-energize you.
- We request you not to waste your meals for it is difficult to transport food in the rural area.
- You are not allowed to share your meals with anyone else from another group.
- All required camping equipment.
- All meals during tent-camping.
- Domestic flights (Kathmandu – Lukla – Kathmandu).
- All required land transportation as mentioned in the itinerary.
- Professional and Highly experienced English-speaking Trekking Guide licensed by the Government. Including their lodging and food.
- Local Staff: Our guides are locals of the region which ensures that you will surely get to explore a bit more during the trek than with any other guides.
- Experienced: With the experience of more than a decade of working in this field, our trekking guides possess excellent knowledge of briefing during the trek as well as they are experts in handling all kinds of critical situations that might occur during the trek.
- Porters (1 porter for 2 trekkers with a max load of 25 KG). Including their lodging and food.
- Local Staff: The porters we hire belong to the same region where we trek in order to provide employment opportunities to the locals as well as to make you explore every prospect of the region.
- Well-experienced ice climbing guide (Climbing service charge, insurance, food, personal equipment).
- Group Climbing gear fixed rope, main rope, ice axe, zoomer, harness, the figure of eight, carabineer.
- Four seasonal a duffer bag, t-shirt, and trekking map.
Cost Excludes
- Nepalese visa fee (Visa Information).
- International airfare to and from Kathmandu.
- Excess baggage charges.
- Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu.
- Extra night accommodation(s).
- Travel Insurance and Rescue Cost.
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.).
- Personal trekking and climbing gears.
- Tips for guides and porters.
FAQs
Mera Peak is considered a moderately difficult climb. It requires a good level of physical fitness and previous trekking experience is recommended. Some technical climbing skills may be required, especially towards the summit.
While previous climbing experience is not mandatory, it is highly recommended to have prior trekking experience at high altitudes. Basic mountaineering skills, such as using crampons, an ice axe, and rope, are essential. It is advisable to climb with an experienced guide or join a reputable trekking agency that provides skilled guides.
You will need a climbing permit issued by the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and a Sagarmatha National Park permit. These permits can be obtained through a registered trekking agency or the NMA office in Kathmandu.
