Mera Amphu Lapcha Island Peak Trek

On the 2nd day, you join the group for a small meeting at the company office. There, you will be introduced to your trek guide and get more detail about the trek. You will get your climbing gear as well. If you need additional supplies for the trek then you can buy them at the shops in Kathmandu. You can also choose to explore the UNESCO world heritage sites in the city.

Today, we make our way towards the Himalayas. From Kathmandu, you take a scenic 35 min flight to Lukla and land in Tenzing-Hillary Airport. You meet the rest of the crew at Lukla and then start the trek. The trail leads through the pasturelands and then passes the rhododendron and pine forests to reach Chutang.

The trail from Chutang enters further into the valley and keeps ascending. After crossing the tree line, you can see the alpine vegetation all around you. The trek goes along the border of Makalu Barun National Park and is quite steep. At the end of the valley, you arrive at Zatrwa La Pass. It is the highest pass in the lower Everest Region.

You ascend to the top of the pass and then quickly descend down. The descend ends at Thuli Kharka which has got a few teahouses. After a brief rest here, the trek continues with a brief descent and then steadily climbs to another small pass. You make your way through thinner forests and enter the Hinku valley. The trail then passes through pine and bamboo forests and end’s today’s trek at Kothe. You can see the first view of Mera Peak (6461m) from here.

The trail moves further into the valley and passes through the yak pasturelands used in the summertime. You slowly ascend on the route and then make your way past the spiritual cave monastery. The trek continues as you pass through pasturelands along with the Himalayas on the distant horizon. In the end, you arrive at Thangnak which will be your first site for acclimatization.

In such long treks with high altitude, trekkers need to stop for a while and get used to the high altitude conditions. On this day, you can hike around Thangnak and gain altitude to view peaks of the Hinku valley such as Kusum Khangkaru (6,367m), Mera La (5,415m), and Kyasar (6,720m). You can also visit a lake situated north of the village.

After Thangnak, you cross the boulders left by Sabai Tsho and admire the views of Charpate Himal with the glacial lake. The trail keeps ascending through the moraines to the snout of Shar glaciers and crosses Dig Kharka before reaching Khare which is the last settlement on today’s trail.

Today you cross Mera La Pass (5415m) and ascend to the Mera High Camp. The trail takes you through a boulder-strewn path and provides spectacular views from the top of the pass. The high camp lies next to a huge rock and offers fantastic views of mountains like Lhotse Shar (8,343m), Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Makalu (8,463m), and Nuptse (7861m).

The climb to the summit starts very early in the morning. You make a steep long climb and carefully walk across the crevasses to reach the top of Mera peak. From the top, you can enjoy the view of Cho Oyu (8,188m), Mt. Everest (8,848m), Makalu (8,463m), Pumo Ri (7,165m), and many other mountains. After a brief stay at the top, you retrace your steps back to the base camp.

The trek route takes you through the Hinku valley where the three valleys of Kusum, Thamserku, and Thamarteka meet. The trail ascends through the Hinku valley providing excellent views of the surrounding mountains and alpine landscapes. In the end, you camp on a site near the Kalo Pokhari.

You make steep ascents and descents today in order to reach the Panch Pokhari. Trekking north alongside the Hunku Pokhari, the trek heads through the Hunku Glacier before arriving at Panch Pokhari. These lakes are holy and are sacred sites for the pilgrims. From the top of Panch Pokhari, you also get good views of mountains in the Everest, Mahalangur, and Makalu ranges. You find a spot near the lakes and make camp.

This is another day for rest and acclimatization. Next up, you will be crossing one of the most challenging passes in the region so, it is compulsory to gather your strength and energy. During this time, you can hike around the Panch Pokhari and observe the surrounding landscapes, vegetation, and scenery.

From Panch Pokhari, you move towards the most remote parts of the region. The trail ascends along the beautiful Hinku valley offering the true beauty of the wilderness in the mountains. The entire trek follows the trails along the Amphu Lapcha Glacier. In a short period of time, you find yourself at the Amphu Lapcha La Base Camp.

You wake up early in the morning to cross Amphu Lapcha La Pass (5845m), one of the highest and most challenging passes in the region. The route is often covered with snow and ice which makes it difficult. After you reach the top, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Himalayas like Everest (8,848 m), Lhotse (8,414m), Baruntse (7,219 m), and Hinku Valley. Descending down the pass you enter the Chhukung valley and march towards Chhukung village.

Leaving Chhukung, you continue the trek towards Island Peak high camp. The trail is a steep climbing towards southeast. As the trek progresses, you will have wonderful views of Nuptse (7,861m) and Lhotse (8,414m). Once you reach the high camp, you take a good amount of rest and sleep as tomorrow you will head towards the summit of Island Peak (6189m).

Today, you start ascending to the summit passing a high pass. In the midday, a strong wind blows in the area that is why it is better to start as soon as possible. You will use your climbing gears and be guided throughout this icy journey. Once on top, you can enjoy the majestic view of Everest (8,848m), Nuptse (7,861m), Lhotse (8,414m), and many other Himalayas. Then, you descend and make your way back to Chhukung.

From Chhukung, the trail gradually descends towards the village of Dingboche. You will trek downhill most of the way and walk through the alpine forest leaving behind snow and ice. On the way, you can see the summer huts made for keeping the livestock in summer. Upon arrival at Dingboche, you can visit the Dingboche Monastery. You can explore around the village and witness the lifestyle of the Sherpa locals.

Leaving Dingboche behind, we continue our downhill trek passing Somare and Pangboche en route. The trail goes through lush rhododendron forest again along Imja Khola to Debuche. Along the way, you get a nice view of Ama Dablam (6,856m). It has been a long trek and while the trek today is mostly downhill it might feel long so get some good sleep and rest well.

The trail descends from Debuche and rises through the forest to Tengboche. Tengboche is home to Tengboche Monastery, the biggest monastery in the Everest Region. You can make a short stop here and visit the monetary. Then, you descend to Phunki Thangka and then walk along the border trail to reach Namche Bazaar. In Namche, you can explore the local markets, souvenir shops, Buddhist monasteries, Sherpa museums, etc.

The trail quickly descends through the woods and then follows the Dudh Koshi River to Jorsalle and thus stepping out of Sagarmatha National Park. The trail from Monjo to Phakding goes through lush rhododendron and magnolia forest. From Phakding the trail will ascend gradually. You cross a number of suspension bridges and walk past many Sherpa villages to reach Lukla. In the evening, you join the crew for a farewell dinner

You take an early morning flight from Lukla and fly back to Kathmandu. The weather in Lukla is unpredictable that’s why we catch an early morning climb. Our company van will pick you at the airport and take you to the hotel in Kathmandu. For the rest of the day, you can choose to stay at your hotel or explore the nearby areas.

As the Mera Amphu Lapcha Island Peak Trek comes to an end, you make preparations to head to your next destination. A company representative will help you gather your belongings and complete the necessary formalities before the scheduled flight.