Mera Peak Climbing and Amphu Lapcha Pass Trek

Your adventure begins with a scenic drive from Kathmandu to Manthali, a small town in the Ramechhap district. The journey takes around 5 to 6 hours, winding through the lush hills, terraced farmlands, and rural villages of Nepal. Manthali serves as the gateway for flights to Lukla, offering an alternative to the busy Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. After reaching Manthali, you will check into a local lodge and rest for the night, preparing for your early morning flight to Lukla.

A thrilling morning flight takes you from Manthali to Lukla, known as the gateway to the Everest region. After landing, you’ll start your trek to Paiya. The trail takes you through lush forests and charming villages, with stunning mountain views along the way. After approximately 4 to 5 hours of trekking, you’ll arrive in Paiya, where you can relax and enjoy a warm meal.

Today’s trek will take you from Paiya to Panggom. The trail climbs gradually through rhododendron forests and offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Expect to trek for about 4 to 5 hours before reaching Panggom, a picturesque village known for its welcoming locals. Settle in for the night and enjoy the serene mountain atmosphere.

You’ll continue your journey today, trekking from Panggom to Ningsow. The trail descends into valleys and crosses several streams, providing an authentic experience of the region’s natural beauty. After about 4 to 5 hours of trekking, you’ll arrive in Ningsow, a small settlement where you can rest and recharge for the next leg of your journey.

Today’s trek is a steady ascent towards Chhetra Khola Camp Site. The trail winds through dense forests, and you’ll cross the Chhetra Khola River before reaching the camp site. This leg of the trek takes about 5 to 6 hours. Upon arrival, enjoy the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and prepare for a restful evening.

Continuing your ascent, today you’ll trek to Kothe. The trail becomes more rugged as you gain elevation, offering glimpses of majestic peaks along the way. After approximately 6 to 7 hours of trekking, you’ll arrive in Kothe, where you can enjoy the peaceful surroundings and prepare for the challenges ahead.

Today, you’ll trek from Kothe to Thangnak, gaining significant altitude. The landscape becomes more dramatic, with towering mountains and glaciers. This trek takes around 3 to 4 hours, and upon arrival in Thangnak, take some time to acclimatize while enjoying the stunning views of the Mera Peak region.

A day of acclimatization is planned to explore the surroundings and hike up to Thannag Ri (5,100m). It takes about 3 hours 30 minutes for up and down.

The trek from Thangnak to Khare is steep, but the scenery is breathtaking. You’ll traverse rocky terrains and navigate glacial landscapes, reaching Khare after about 3 to 4 hours of trekking. This is your last stop before your summit attempt, so take time to rest and prepare.

Today is dedicated to acclimatization and training for your upcoming summit attempt. Spend the day familiarizing yourself with the climbing equipment and techniques under the guidance of your experienced guides. Take short hikes around Khare to help your body adjust to the altitude.

After breakfast, you’ll trek to Mera High Camp, a critical point for your summit attempt. The trail is challenging, requiring careful navigation of rocky and snowy terrain. After approximately 5 to 6 hours of trekking, you’ll arrive at High Camp, where you can rest and prepare for the next day’s ascent.

The summit push for Mera Peak begins at 2 AM. After having our breakfast, we leave our camp and head out in the darkness. Our headlights light the way as we rope up using a man-rope. After the group is secured we hike up. The glacier. In the initial phase, no technical climbing is required. The high altitude and extreme cold are the only two factors that make climbing difficult.

A steep incline at the last 40 to 50 meters to the summit is the most difficult section of the climb. We ascend the incline using a fixed rope and jumars and reach the summit latest by 10 or 11 AM. It is amazing to stand on the summit with Mount Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8516m), Makalu (8481m), Kanchenjunga (8586m), Cho Oyu (8201m), etc. soaring close to us.

We spend a couple of minutes at the summit savoring our victory and taking pictures. Later we descend via the same route. After reaching the Mera High Camp we rest for a while and have our meal.  Later we walk down to Khare and take the trail radiating eastwards. We follow the path leading to Khongma Dingma, our stop for the night. Overnight at a tented camp in Khongma Dingma.

A reserve day in case bad weather spoils our summit bid. This buffer day will also be useful in case our flight gets canceled or delayed or any unforeseen emergency leads to losing a day from our itinerary. If everything runs per schedule, you can utilize this day to explore villages en route or Kathmandu.

The ascent of Mera Peak will leave you physically drained. A rest day at Khongma Dingma will allow us to rest and recharge our energy for the difficult crossing of Amphu Lapcha Pass.

The scenery is stunning as we walk past the yak pastures flanked by towering snowcapped peaks. We head towards Seto Pokhari ascending a snowy moraine. Overnight stay will be arranged at a teahouse near the beautiful Seto Pokhari, a glacial lake. Baruntse and Chamlang Himal look marvelous. Overnight at a tented in Seto Pokhari.

Dramatic scenery enthralls us as we trek towards Amphu Lapcha Base Camp South. The sight of Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, and enchanting lakes along the Hongu basin keeps us mesmerized. We cross the Hongu Pokhari before finally arriving at the Amphu Lapcha Base Camp. Overnight at Amphu Lapcha Base Camp.

Leaving the base camp you head along a snowy trail to the mountain pass of Amphu Lapcha. The Upper Hongu Valley is one of the wildest and harshest places in the Nepal Himalaya. The pass covered with serac cliffs and ice shelves is one of the most challenging mountain passes in the Himalayas. It requires technical climbing to get over the pass. You climb over the ice shelves which rise to about 20 feet. From the top one can enjoy incredible views of Mera Peak, Lhotse, Chamlang, and Hongu Basin before rappelling down a rocky cliff.  

After you get to even ground you trek past the Imja Glacier and the Imja Valley. Enjoying splendid views of Island Peak you walk down to Chhukkung, your stop for the night. Overnight at a teahouse in Chhukkung.

Today, you’ll trek from Chhukung to Namche Bazaar, retracing some of your steps through stunning landscapes. The trek will take approximately 6 to 7 hours, and upon arrival in Namche, you can explore this vibrant town, known as the gateway to the Everest region, filled with shops and local culture.

The final day of trekking retraces your steps through the familiar trails of the Sagarmatha National Park, passing by Monjo, Phakding, and several scenic suspension bridges. As you descend, you’ll feel the increasing oxygen levels, making the walk easier compared to the high-altitude sections.

Upon reaching Lukla, you can celebrate with your trekking team, enjoy a relaxing evening, and reflect on the incredible journey you have just completed.

Early in the morning, you will take a short yet thrilling flight from Lukla to Manthali, where the vast Himalayan landscapes slowly transition into rolling hills and river valleys. After landing in Manthali, you will embark on a 5 to 6 hour drive back to Kathmandu, enjoying the lush scenery of rural Nepal along the way.

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be transferred to your hotel, where you can finally relax, enjoy a celebratory meal, and reflect on your epic Everest Three High Passes Trek with Cime Himalaya Trek & Expedition.