Mera & Island Peaks Climbing (6,476m & 6,160m) - 27 days

Mera Peak (6,476m) was first climbed in May, 1953 by J.O.M. Roberts and SenTenzing.  Our ascent will follow the glacier that leads to Mera La (17,767') and on to high camp where we will prepare for our early morning summit.  From high camp, we can take in a sweeping view of Kanchenjunga, Chamlang, Makalu to the east, Everest and Lhotse to the north and Ama-dablam, Cho-Oyu and Kangtega to the west. This view is undoubtedly one of the most stunning in all of Nepal. With good conditions, we will summit Mera Peak the following morning.  

Island peak (6,160m) is also officially classified as a group “B” trekking peak by Nepal Mountaineering Association also known as “Imja-Tse, looks like an island in a sea of ice and that is why it is called Island peak. It's situated at the top of the Imja Khola valley in the Khumbu region. To climb the peak is semi-technical and straight forward so that the climber must be proficient in using materials like ice axe and crampons. The most difficult section is a mixed rock and ice wall at the slope of around 45 degree leading to the narrow summit ridge. 

This trekking trip is organized on camping accommodation based and trekking approach/route is much quieter than main Everest trekking route. People, who love to trek to remote areas with very few tourists, this is perfect trekking route. 

Journey 
Our approach to the peaks begins with a spectacular mountain flight to Lukla (gate way of Everest region).We slowly make our way south through the terraced fields that line the Dudh Kosi to Puiyan and on to Pangum.

We keep to the well-made track on the western valley wall and from Sibuche, catch our first view of the triple summit of Mera Peak. Our gradual acclimatisation program means we will stop at the hamlet of Niumso and use a gorgeous bamboo-surrounded forest camp at Chetra Tenga before heading up to the village of Khote. 

As we approach the tiny village of Tagnag. We take the opportunity to do a side trip from Tagnag, perhaps a day walk on the flanks of Kusum Kanguru RI, to help our bodies acclimatise. A trail to Khare is Rocky outcrops, moraine ridges and stunning side valleys allowing us some further days of exploration and acclimatization. At Khare, we do some basic training on rope and play with some climbing gears and we head up to Mera La next day then to high camp and we do the final summit push on MeraPeak. We will continue north through the uninhabited Hunku Valley with almost constant views of magnificent mountains. After crossing AmphuPass (18,958'), we will establish camp at the base of Imje-Tse.  Named "IslandPeak" first climbed by a team preparing for an Everest ascent in 1953. IslandPeak has an impressive, highly glaciated West Face, which rises from the Lhotse Glacier. 

From base camp, we will ascend a steep, grassy slope and small rocky steps to high camp.  It is necessary to climb a steep, exposed 300' snow and ice ramp to the summit ridge. Fixed ropes will be used at this point in an otherwise non-technical snow climb to attempt the summit and we get into the lower section of the Everest main trail. We trek out via several Sherpa villages i.e. Dingboche, Tengboche, Namche where we have opportunity to visit the most scared Buddhist monasteries and views throughout the way is stunning. 

TRIP HIGHTLIGHTS

• Trek and climb with friendly and famous Sherpa Guides and Summit on Mera Peak and Island Peak as the 1 goal.
• Climb over one the toughest high pass ‘Amphu-Lapcha’ 5,846m
• Stunning views of Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Kanchenjunga and Mt. Amadablam and more
• Build a strong foundation for big mountains
• Develop high altitude expedition skills
• Trek through forest and remote villages

Fitness
 
Most of our trekking peaks are over 6,000m; therefore we count it as tough trip. Your tough level of fitness is really important for this trek. So we strongly suggest preparing yourself in good physical fitness level. You do not need to be an athlete but a good level of overall fitness is important. Being fit will certainly improve your chances of reaching your chosen summit.As an indication, you should be able to walk 8 km / 5 miles with a maximum height gain of 800m / 2,000ft with a 10kg rucksack in 5 hours or less.
 
In order to get ready for this challenge, you need to be trained at least for about 4 to 6 months to prepare yourself as strong candidate. You can go to fitness center every morning for about 2 hours, do hiking every weekend with increasing weights on your pack (i.e. 7kg, 10kg, 13 kg, 16kg and up to 20kg).Manage some time for cycling for couple of hours for 3 or 4 times a week. However during climbing, there might be little symptoms of altitude illness like mild headache, fatigue etc. but take it as normal and just drink a lot of water (4 – 5 liters) every day. On this trek, youneed to be able to hike 6 – 10 hours over hilly terrain up to 6,000m of altitude with daypack. 
 
Experience Required
 
All of our trekking peaks climbing trips are accessible to experienced trekkers and those who have done some climbing trips in European mountains in order to take another challenge on the Himalaya's Mountains. This trip will be helpful if you want to gain some knowledge about the mountaineering and have future plan to climb BIG Mountains.
 
If you have any previous mountaineering experiences and well knowledge about playing with mountaineering gears, good with rock climbing and ice climbingwill increase the chances of reaching to thesummit but previous trekking and mountaineering experiences is not mandatory and also doesn’t require any technical experience. Note that if you are participating on one of the technical climbing peak then you must have well knowledge aboutplaying with mountaineering climbing gears (i.e. crampon with boot, Ice axe, harness, ropes, jumars, prussiks, abseiling, moving past knots, anchor etc.).Crampons are use for maximum grip and harness and ropes are use for maximum safety during climbing. But for those who have no mountaineering experience and skill but have gottough level of fitness, you will be have basic training session by our guides about how to use the climbing gears during rest/acclimatization day.So we always make it sure regarding the safety of the team and successful climb of the peak.