My partner and I had the most amazing experience with this local travel specialist. We completed the three high passes + EBC trail, with my partner even going on to summit Island Peak (successfully!). Our guide Kanchha Tamang made sure we had the best experience - a well planned itinerary to ensure we acclimatised properly, looking out for any signs of AMS, looking after us when we both got sick with viruses on the trail. We had flexibility to change our itinerary a bit to maximise our chance of the best views as we were walking quicker than expected. Kanchha always made sure we had fun, made great memories, learned lots about the culture and history of the regions we were in, and supported us so well through what can be a pretty challenging few weeks on the trail. We miss him already!
Special shout-out to our amazing porter Jiban, without whom the trek would not have been possible and for whom we are so grateful. And another special mention to Rajendra who managed our trip and who goes truly above and beyond for his clients. When we mentioned to Kanchha we were interested in exploring Pokhara after our trek had finished, he called Rajendra who then arranged everything for us (flights, accomodation, recommendations for activities, booked us in for paragliding). When we got stranded in Lukla for a few days due to grounded planes, it is due to the tireless efforts of Kanchha & Rajendra that we were able to get out of the mountains on a helicopter and continue our holiday.
Trekking and HikingClimbing
Tour Type
Private Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel, Tent, Guest House
Age Range
18-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Everest Base Camp - 3 Passes tre
Everest Base Camp - 3 Passes trek, Island Peak, Kathmandu, Phakding, Lobuche, Everest Base Camp, Chukhung, Island Peak Base Camp, Dingboche, Tengboche, Namche Bazar, Lukla, Thame, Lungden, Gokyo, Thangnak, Dzonglha
From the autumn 2016 season the Mera Peak trek/climb by this tour operator changed from a camping based itinerary of previous years to lodge or tea house based accommodation. I/we departed in October 2016. Before commencing the trek Id convinced myself that the trek in to Mera would be broadly similar to the Everest Base Camp trek, I was very wrong. There is no gentle start and long days requiring sustained effort are the theme pretty much throughout. The route taken for the first few days is very quiet and had a feel of "going around the houses" for me. That quieter route also makes for much more basic lodges than those found on EBC for example but they were all adequate. The longer approach route does however allow for excellent acclimatisation, a major key to success. All the approach routes converge in Kote and it is then a straight shot up the now rocky Hinku valley. I didnt find the approach trek in to be very scenic and that wasnt helped by day after day of cloud cover. I wonder if a November departure would be worthwhile for clearer skies. Khare, which I thought of as base camp village, was a surprsingly busy place with climbers from all over the world either preparing for or returning from Mera. Stories of six groups having been beaten back by high winds the previous day brought about a realisation that nature could quite easily scupper our plans. Having left Khare and reached the snow line, those of us that brought our own mountain boots and crampons were reunited with them by virtue of some porters that had gone ahead of us. I was now using mountain boots and crampons on snow for the first time, I found I tired far quicker than I cared to admit at the time. After a short but steep climb things level out and then it was a relatively short walk to Mera La camp for the night. The sunset and night time stars were very nice. We were now in tents for the first time. I wish I hadn't binned off my Thermarest mattress as a weight saving effort for the Lukla flight. Foam mattresses were provided but I could still feel the cold coming up from the ground. The next day was a short one from Mera La to High Camp. It however is one of those sections where the destination never seems to get any closer despite feeling you're working like a steam train at full speed. The amusement of high camp's precarious position soon passes as you try to concentrate on getting some sleep for the upcoming 0030 wake up call. I got no real sleep. We then started our torch lit climb through the night in deeply sub zero temperatures. It was hard going, really hard going, there was little talking amongst us. It was just heads down and endure it. The group were imposing more rest stops on the guides than they wanted but I don't think there were any negative consequences when all said and done. My fingers were numb with cold. The sun slowly rose and Mera central summit could now be seen ahead. We left our rucksacks at the foot of the summit and using our Jumars went up the surprisingly short roped section fixed by our guides, it was easy and I was on the summit in a minute. It had taken around 7 hours from leaving High Camp with no sleep (for me) since Mera La the previous day. It was bitterly cold on the summit and very windy, there wasn't any open celebration. There now followed an extremely long walk all the way back down to Khare village with only a short pitstop at High Camp along the way. It was exhausting. Availability of water was a problem too since much if not all of our water was still frozen despite the now blazing morning sun. I was gasping for a drink. Ngima our leader had some warm water in a flask and I will definitely take a small flask when I find myself back on a high mountain again. What now remained was the trek "home" to Lukla. The third day of decent involved far more steep climbing than we were in the mood for but we gt where we were going. Conditions on the Zatrwa pass werent as bad as they could be. During our trek trail crampons or shoe grips weren't necessary. There were only a couple sections of ice a few paces long. The decent from the pass is long and steep, thankfully the national park authority have been building a stone staircase which makes things a little easier but you still have to watch your step. There is the potential for an overnight stay a few hours short of Lukla but depending on progress it can be skipped and we pressed on for Lukla and some comfort... relatively speaking
ClimbingTrekking and Hiking
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping, Lodge, Tent
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Kathmandu, Tangnag, Mera Peak Ba
Kathmandu, Tangnag, Mera Peak Base Camp, Mera La, Mera Peak High Camp, Mera Peak, Zatrwa La Pass, Lukla, Piuyan, Pangkongma, Nashing Dingma, Chholem, Sukye La, Kothe
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