Peaks and Passes of Nepal - Mera to the Rolwaling
Holiday Itinerary
Day 1: Rendezvous at the group hotel in Kathmandu. Complimentary airport transfers are provided. KE Land Only package services begin with the evening meal.
Day 2: An early start for the dramatic flight through the mountains to Lukla (2840m). We spend the remainder of the day resting and acclimatising. Basic Lodge.
Day 3: A short and easy day of trekking off the beaten track, up through thinning forest to the grazing area of Chutanga (3050m). Camp.
Day 4: Acclimatisation day. We make a trek up to around 4000 metres giving views over the Dudh Khosi Valley and across to the Atwra La pass. We return to Chutanga. Camp.
Day 5: A long day mostly uphill to cross the Zatrwa La (4600m) and descend to Tuli Kharka a high pasture above the Hinku valley. Camp (4320m).
Day 6: We follow a delightful descending trail across three ridges, before dropping steeply down to the Hinku River and a final uphill to Gotay (3600m). Camp.
Day 7: Following the west side of the Hinku River, we trek via the Yak herders' summer settlement of Gondishung and its Buddhist shrine to Tagnag (4350m). Camp.
Day 8: A day for acclimatisation. We trek up above camp to around 5,000 metres for views across to the Mera La and return to Tagnag. Camp.
Day 9: We ascend an ablation valley beside the Dig Glacier to Kare, the basecamp area for Mera Peak. Camp (5000m).
Day 10: A day for further acclimatisation. We follow the ridge above camp to around 5500 metres and return to Khare. Camp.
Day 11: Leaving our base camp we trek up onto the glacier and traverse to the Mera La. We make camp 100 metres below the pass on the Hongu side. Camp (c.5300m).
Day 12: We continue our ascent of the North flank of Mera Peak to a spectacular eyrie nestled below a rocky outcropping on the ridge. Camp (5800m).
Day 13: We make the technically easy ascent of Mera Peak (6476m). The summit view includes 5 of the World's 6 highest mountains. Descend to the Hongu Valley. Camp (5200m).
Day 14: After descending to the Hongu River we trek up valley to a camp beside a large frozen lake. (5000m).
Day 15: Passing beneath the giant west face of Chamlang we follow the Hongu Khola and finally the Hongu Glacier to the holy site of Panch Pokhri (five lakes). Camp (5400).
Day 16: A rest day. The guides and Sherpas ascend the Amphu Labtsa to establish fixed lines and prepare the pass for tomorrow's crossing. Camp.
Day 17: Scree slopes and an icefall are tackled to gain the Amphu Labtsa (5700m). We now descend fixed ropes to the Imja Glacier and trek to our base camp for Island Peak.
Day 18: A contingency day in case of delays to our schedule do far. May be used as a rest day or to split the ascent of Island Peak over two days with a high camp.
Day 19: An early start for the ascent of Island Peak at 6187m. / 20,299ft. After taking in the spectacular 360 panorama from the summit we descend to our base camp and then trek down valley to the lodges at Chukung. Camp.
Day 20: After crossing the stram and negotiating a couple of side gullys, we make a steady climb to the Kongma La (5400m. / 17,717ft.) where we have more spectacular views including Makalu and an unusual perspective on Ama Dablam. We then descend to Lobuche (4910m. / 16,110ft.) on the main Everest trail. Camp
Day 21: We walk beside the Khumbu glacier and cross a tributory dry glacier to reach the Yak pastures at Gorak Shep. (5140m. / 16,865ft.) . If the weather is clear we have the option of making the 2 hour round trip to the summit of Kala Paatar for classic views of Everest. Camp.
Day 22: Today we trek to Everest Basecamp following first the moraine then the Khumbu Glacier itself. We then retrace our steps to Gorak Shep and continue down to Lobuche. Camp.
Day 23: Turning away from the Everest trail we follow a less-used path which contours around the hillside and then climbs to the Yak pastures of Dzongla (4830m. / 15,847ft.) below the stupendous face of Cholatse. Camp.
Day 24: Crossing the Cho La (5420m. / 17,783ft.) we have excellent views of nearby Lobuche Peak East and of Ama Dablam. We descend to the Ngozumpa Glacier and cross this to reach the lakeside settlement of Gokyo (4790m. / 15,715ft.). Camp
Day 25: An early start for a long but spectacular day, crossing the Renjo La (5340m. / 17,520ft.) to reach Marulung (4210m. / 13,813ft.) in the Thame Valley. Camp.
Day 26: Something of a rest day today starting with an easy descent for 2 - 3 hours beside the Bhote Khosi following an ancient trade route with Tibet o the important Sherpa town of Thame (3820m. / 12,533ft.). We have the afternoon to rest and recouperate or maybe do some laundry.
Day 27: Leaving Thame we begin climbing again, following a trail high on the valley side above the Thame Khola to reach summer Yak pastures at 4350m. / 14,272ft. Camp.
Day 28: We climb over boulders and beside a small glacier to reach a steep gully leading up to the permanent snows of the Tesi Lapsa. We make a camp just below the crest of the pass at 5700 metres (18,700 feet).
Day 29: We make the short and direct climb to Parchemo's summit, where the views include Mount Everest. Returning to the Tesi Lapcha we descend beside the Drolambu icefall to a camp at Tesi Lapcha Phedi. ( 4800 m. / 15,748 ft).
Day 30: Trekking accross the glacier to the other side we have to make a steep climb and descent to negotiate a cliff before some easier trakking beside the morraine of a glacial lake to reach our camp at Tso Rolpa.
Day 31: We trek down the valley on an increasingly good trail, passing the summer settlement of Na Goan before reaching Beding, the main village in the Rolwalling Valley. We camp by the school above the village. (3694m / 12,119ft).
Day 32: Moving down the Rolwalling everything becomes greener as we trek through the villages of Ramding and Nyimare and then through dense forest to the village of Simigaon (1996m / 6548ft) where we camp near the monastery.
Day 33: We start the day with a steep descent to a bridge over the Bhote Kosi. We now turn south and follow this river which flows down from Tibet, as far as the town of Manthali (1200m. / 3937ft.). Camp.
Day 34: For our final day of trekking we follow an excellent trail passing through several villages to reach the end of our trek and the start of the road at Singati. We make our final camp.
Day 35: We have a 7 - 8 hour drive to Kathmandu where we check into our hotel and take a welcome shower. This evening we will go out to celebrate in one of Kathmandu's famous restaurants. Overnight at the group hotel.
Day 36: KE Land Only package services end after breakfast. Complimentary airport transfers are provided.
Altitude
This holiday involves going to very high altitude. During the course of your trip you will be spending at least one night above 4000 metres and/or trekking to 5000 metres or above. This is not something that you should worry about; the human body is quite capable of adapting to a very wide range of altitudes, but it is important that we follow some simple rules in order to acclimatise successfully. Before coming on this holiday you should read the advice on trekking at high altitude.
