Mera Peak (6476m) is one of the highest climbing peaks in the world. It has three main summits: Mera North (6476m), Mera Central (6461m) and Mera South (6065m).
The Mera Climbing (people also call it Expedition) takes you to the true summit of Mera North. On clear days, you can see some of the highest mountain peaks from Mera including Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Kanchenjunga, and Cho Oyu.
The climb to Mera Peak is a great introduction to the mountain climbing experience. It requires basic mountaineering skills on the last part of the expedition. However, it is technically less challenging than Island Peak Climbing.
The cost of your Mera Peak Climbing depends on a number of factors:
- Routes you choose
- Duration of your expedition
- Permits to enter the region
- Accommodation during your trip
- Meals and Drinks along the route
- Modes of Transportation you use to reach to the Everest region
- Tent Accommodation and meals
- Field staff who go with you along the route
- Equipment and gears important for climbing
- Miscellaneous expenses during the expedition
Let us help you make an informed decision on your estimated budget for a Mera Peak Climbing.
Listed below are the determining factors with the costs associated with each of them.
Duration of the Trek
The duration of the trek is very important because it greatly influences the overall cost of your Mera Peak Climbing.
The shortest route takes 15-16 days. However, it is not suggested for novice trekkers or people who are not used to high altitude regions.
If you are a seasonal mountain climber and looking for a challenge then the 16 days Mera Peak Climbing is perfect for you. You can check the detailed Mera Peak itinerary and detailed information in our official website.
The longer route takes 18 to 24 days. The 19 days Mera Peak Climbing is great as it is professionally designed for a comfortable and successful climb. It ensures your safety and success.
This extra 3 days will cost you around $150 more.
Routes
The route chosen for the trek can determine the duration, permits required, and modes of transportation. There are a few choices for Mera Peak Climbing.
Route1: You fly to Lukla. After this, you trek through Zatr La Pass (4610m) to Tagnag to Mera Base Camp. This is one of the shortest routes but can be very tough for the inexperienced climbers.
The average cost on this route comes around $2000.
Route 2: You fly into Lukla. From here you follow the Everest Base Camp trek route upto Namche Bazaar. And diverge to Mera Base Camp from Namche Bazaar. From there to the summit and back.
The average cost on this route comes around $2200. The cost of tea houses and lodges on the Everest Base Camp trek route is slightly higher.
Route 3: You fly into Lukla. From here you trek through the remote and beautiful region to Hinku valley. From there, you can trek to Tagnag to Mera Base Camp and descend back the same trail.
This is one of the most recommended routes to Mera Peak. It gives you enough days to acclimatize and is one of the highly chosen route.
The average cost for this route comes around $2800. The price is high because of the length of this route which averages around 18-22 days.
Note: Instead of flying to and from Lukla- Kathmandu, you can choose to take the bus transport to Jiri.
Jiri can be the start of your actual trek. Once in Jiri, you trek through the Solukhumbu region to get to Lukla. This helps to gradually acclimatize to the altitude of Lukla. From Lukla, you can choose one of these three routes. This way you can reduce the cost of Lukla flight.
Mera Peak Permit Cost
Once you decide the route, you will need to have one or more of these permits
Local Area Permit: This permit costs around Nrs. 2000 ($20). You can purchase at Lukla on arrival.
Sagarmatha National Park Entry permit: This permit cost is as follows:
Locals: Free
SAARC nationals: Nrs. 1500 (Nrs. 165 vat charge), approximately US$ 15
Other nationals: Nrs. 3000 (Nrs. 390 vat charge), approximately US$ 30
Makalu Barun National Park Entry Permit: The cost is as follows:
Locals: Free
SAARC nationals: Nrs. 1500 (Nrs. 165 vat charge)
Other nationals: Nrs. 3000 (Nrs. 390 vat charge)
Season cost variation for the expedition:
The cost for expedition is as follows:
For Foreign Nationals:
March-May: $250
Sep-Nov.: $125
Dec.-Feb.: $70
June-Aug.: $70
For Nepali Nationals:
March-May: Nrs. 4000
Sep-Nov.: Nrs. 2000
Dec.-Feb.: Nrs. 1000
June-Aug.: Nrs. 1000
Note: You do not have to worry about which permits to get. Allow us to take care of your permits and legal preparations.
All trekkers must go through a trekking agency to climb Mera Peak. This is according to the government regulations when climbing different peaks in Nepal.
To plan your Mera Peak Climbing, you can drop us a mail.
Accommodation Cost
The choice for accommodation in Kathmandu is limitless. The cost for your accommodation here can range from $15- $250 per night. This range is due to the presence of basic lodges to 5- star hotels. Depending on your choice, the cost of accommodation can change.
From Lukla to Khare, your choice of accommodation gets limited to tea houses. You will either stay in shared rooms with two bed or dorm rooms. The cost for these rooms range from $2-$6 per night.
This range is due to your negotiation skills, group size, season, and so on.
On luxury treks to Mera Peak, the accommodation cost is slightly higher. You get your own room with the same basic facilities- a bed, clean mattress, sheet, and blanket.
At Mera Base Camp you will camp for the night and head towards Mera High Camp the next day. You will again camp at Mera High Camp for the night and climb the Mera Peak with the break of dawn.
You can choose to rent or buy your own tent. A good, durable and suitable for the trek tent can cost around $120-$200. This range is due to the brand, quality, durability and the number of people it fits (size).
Meals and Drinks Cost
Like accommodation, your choice for meals and drinks are endless in Kathmandu. Hence, the cost associated with it depends on your choice. A basic meal can range from $2 to $30.
From Lukla to Khare, your choice for meals and drinks are slightly moderate. Most of the tea houses, restaurants, and cafes on the trails have some basic menu. These menus can include dal-bhat-tarkari (steamed rice, lentils and seasonal vegetables), roti (flatbread), noodles, fried rice, momos (stuffed dumplings), and so on. The prices for these can range $2-$6 per plate.
There is a cafe in Namche Bazaar that offers good, fresh bread and pastries as well.
For drinks, your choice will include tea, coffee, hot and cold flavoured drinks, soups, soft drinks, hot and cold water.
The costs for these can vary from $.5- $4 per glass or cup.
From Khare to Mera Base Camp and back, your choices for both drinks and meals are limited to the things that have been bought and carried on the back of the porters. Our cook will prepare and serve the hygenic food for you.
Camping Meals Cost
The cost of the camping meals depend on what you and the group purchase:
Rice: Nrs. 150-300 per k.g. ($1.5-$3)
Lentils: Nrs. 90-120 per kg ($.9-$1.2)
Seasonal Vegetables: 40-60 per kg ($.4-$.6)
Tea: Nrs. 250-2000 per kg ($2.5-$20)
Coffee: Nrs.160-2000 per 250gm. ($1.6-20)
Fruits: Nrs.50-300 per kg ($.5-$3)
These range in prices is due to the quality, brand, and season.
Modes of Transportation
The only direct way from Kathmandu to Lukla is by air. The cost of flight tickets varies depending on availability, early booking, season. The cost ranges from USD $147- $177.
You can also choose to take a bus from and to Kathmandu- Jiri. From Jiri, you can trek to Lukla. Cost of Bus transportation from Kathmandu-Jiri is Nrs. 500-700 ($5-7).
Note: You may have to buy your bus tickets a day in advance if you don’t want to end up standing on long queues. The bus journey is 10 hours long and the flight is 25-30 minutes. Each has their own unique adventure and excitement.
Cost of Field staff
A trek to Mera Peak is a wonderful and challenging off the road trek. With the support of your field staff, you can summit the peak comfortably and successfully. Some of the field staff required are:
Guide: A professional and experienced guide can help enhance your trekking experience. As the trek to Mera Peak takes you through unmarked trails, a guide can help ensure your safety and trekking routes.
A guide can also provide information on the surrounding peaks, landscapes, flora and fauna. A guide for your Mera Peak climb costs around $25 per day.
Experienced Mera Peak climbing guide: A climbing guide is experienced in climbing and summiting mountain peaks. A climbing guide will help you through the final push of the Mera Peak climb.
A climbing guide assists on the technical aspects of your trek. Sometimes they are your basic mountaineering training instructors.
The guide, assistant guide and porter, a climbing guide will help you with the climb. They also assist you with ropes and ladders that may be required while ascending or descending the peak.
The cost of an experienced climbing guide is $325 for each peak.
Assistant Guide: An assistant guide is usually someone on the way to becoming a fully licensed guide. S/he will have less experience than a guide but will help improve your overall trekking experience.
S/he will assist the guide and also help set up camp. An assistant guide is useful for large groups as a single guide may not be able to take care of all the individual requirements of each member of the group. The cost for the Assistant guide ranges from $18-$22 per day.
Porter: A porter will help lessen your burden. There is usually more than 1 porter depending on the size of the group. A porter will carry all your trekking equipment and supplies that you do not require on the particular day. Each porter will carry around 25 kgs in weight.
You will be carrying your day backpack which should have all the things you need during the day.
The cost for a porter is $15 per day.
Note: The size of the group also determines your overall expense on-field staff. Some of the cost for field staff can be on a shared basis.
Equipment and Gears
The cost of equipment and gears depend on you. You can choose to rent them or purchase them. You can also reuse the equipment and gears you already have.
Besides the regular equipment and supplies needed for a trek, the Mera Peak Climbing requires the following type of equipment:
- Climbing harness: $50-$60
- 5 meters or more of 6mm climber’s accessory cord: $5-$10 per meter
- Figure 8 or Abseil belay device: $8-$36
- 1 large mitten sized ascender (large Petzl) and arm length leash: $25-$70
- 2 locking carabiners, 1 large and 1 small: $8-$12 each
- 4 regular carabiners: $8-$12 each
- Ice axe with a leash: $80-$150
- Crampons – must fit your boots perfectly. Steel crampons with anti-balling (anti-bot) plates are the most recommended: $8- $15
- Adjustable trekking poles: $20-$60
- Helmet: $40-$200
- Ski goggles: $80-$150
- Glacier sunglasses with side shields: $50-$65
- Oximeter: $14-$22
Note: The range of prices is due to the brand and quality of the product.
The cost for rent is $1- $10 per item per day. You can ask for bulk discounts and negotiate a bit further as well. Do check for the authenticity and quality of the equipment before you purchase or rent them. You can easily purchase or rent them from Kathmandu and Lukla. It is cheaper in Kathmandu.
Miscellaneous expenses
Tipping: Most of the sectors related to hospitality and tourism do expect some tip for a service well done. If you are happy with the services you’ve received you can show some gratitudes to the field staff and at the tea houses, restaurants, and cafes.
Basic Mountaineering Training: This is recommended for individuals who do not have prior mountaineering experience. This training includes both theory and practical. You learn to use crampons, fixed ropes, and ice axe. Plus, you will learn about high altitude sickness, first aid and so on. This usually lasts for a month to 40 days. The costs for these are as follows:
Locals: Nrs.10000-15000
SAARC nationals: $185
Rest of the world: $3000
Note: These costs are for training programmes conducted in Nepal.
Charging fees for electronic gadgets: The tea houses on the trails could charge you for charging your electronic gadgets. The cost can range from $2-$6 per hour. This range depends on the availability of sockets, electricity, season, negotiation skills.
Hot showers: The tea houses also charge for hot showers on the trail. This is not included in your accommodation cost. The hot showers cost around $2-$6. The charges depend on the availability of fuel, season, and negotiation skills.
Total Mera Peak Climbing Trek Cost
Depending on the above-mentioned factors the total Mera Peak Climbing Cost can be as follows:
Budget: $2050
Average: $2250
Luxury and relaxed: $2990-3500
Travel Insurance
Having a travel insurance that covers treks and high altitude climbs like Mera Peak Climbing is strongly recommended. This is for your safety and is also a must-have for many professional and reputed trekking agency to accept you.
A good travel insurance for your Mera Peak Climbing can cost around $125-$280.
The price and conditions of travel insurance vary. The basic rule of thumb for the average cost of a travel insurance is:
4%-10% of your total, non-refundable travel cost.
An average Mera Peak Climbing costs around $2500, so your travel insurance will cost 4-10% of $2500, i.e. $250.
If you already have travel insurance, do confirm that it covers high altitude climbs and emergency helicopter evacuations in foreign countries like Nepal. It is also recommended to get travel insurance from your home country.
Additional Tips on Mera Peak Climbing Cost
- Carry enough cash to cover all your expenses on the trek. The ATMs’ on the trails are not reliable. Most of the shops, tea houses do not accept cards.
- Have some extra cash to buy souvenirs along the way. You may be surprised by the variety of the local handicrafts on the trail.
- You will come across some ancient temples, monasteries and stupas along the trails. You can choose to make donations here.
- Make sure to check what is included in your trekking package.
- Compare prices of trekking packages of different agencies before confirming. This way you can make the right and informed decision.
- If possible, get to know your field staff before your actual trek. This way you can confirm that they are professional and licensed. You can also start getting comfortable with them.
- You will also see lots of yaks, mules and horses along the way. If you feel adventurous or just want to try something different, you can ride them for a cost.
Final Say,
The Mera Peak climbing is a great and exciting adventure in the high altitudes. It is an ideal introduction to mountain peak climbing in the world.
You can meet professional mountaineers and summit climbers during May on the trails of Mera peak as well. It is great to enjoy their aura and energetic ambience.
The costs for any trek including the Mera Peak Climbing depends on a number of things. You can choose a trekking package that suits your requirements and budget.
Some of the factors can be modified according to your needs. Feel free to contact us for any information for this and everything else related to treks to Nepal.
