Altitude and AMS safety
You'll sleep above 5,000 metres for four nights on this itinerary, and above 3,500 metres for most of the trip, so acute mountain sickness is a real consideration, not a box-ticking mention. Our guides are trained in AMS recognition and carry a Gamow bag and pulse oximeter on route. The itinerary is built with acclimatisation in mind: the Panggom to Ningsow section climbs and drops repeatedly rather than gaining height in one line, and the full rest day at Khare exists specifically to let your body adjust before you touch the glacier.
Symptoms to watch for are headache, nausea, loss of appetite and disturbed sleep. Mild symptoms are common and usually manage with rest, fluids and a slower pace the next day. Anything worsening, especially confusion, loss of coordination or breathlessness at rest, means descent, no exceptions. We strongly recommend travel and rescue insurance that explicitly covers mountaineering up to 6,500 metres and includes helicopter evacuation. Many standard travel policies cap altitude coverage at 4,500 metres, which is useless here, so read the fine print before you buy.
Training and preparation
Start preparing at least three months out if you can. Focus on:
Cardiovascular endurance: hill walking, running or cycling, 3 to 4 sessions a week, building toward back-to-back long days
Leg strength: stairs, squats and lunges with a loaded pack, since sustained descent is often harder on the body than the climb up
Load-carrying practice: walk with a 8 to 10kg daypack on training hikes so the weight feels normal by the time you're on the mountain
Basic gear familiarity: if you can borrow crampons and practise walking in them beforehand, even on flat ground, summit day will feel far less foreign
We don't expect climbing experience, but we do expect honesty about fitness level when you book. It's the single biggest factor in whether someone enjoys this trip or simply survives it.
What to pack
Beyond standard trekking kit, plan for genuine high-altitude mountaineering gear: a -20°C rated sleeping bag (we provide four-season bags as part of your package), plastic or hybrid mountaineering boots compatible with crampons, a climbing harness, ascender and descender (we supply technical hardware), a headtorch with spare batteries for the pre-dawn summit push, glacier glasses or goggles, and layered insulation including a down jacket rated for extreme cold. Khare has a small selection of gear-hire shops if you're missing anything, but quality and sizing are inconsistent, so bring your own boots and harness if at all possible.
Cost and what's included
Our all-inclusive price starts from USD 2,690 per person. That covers airport and hotel transfers in Kathmandu, deluxe twin-share accommodation with breakfast, a farewell dinner, private transport to and from the trailhead, full board on the trek, a government-registered climbing guide and Sherpa porter support at one porter per two trekkers, all permits and park fees, a four-season sleeping bag and duffel bag, and a dedicated first aid kit.
Not included: international airfare, your Nepal visa (easily arranged on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport with USD cash and two passport photos), lunch and dinner in Kathmandu outside the welcome and farewell meals, any extra nights caused by early arrival, late departure or an early return from the mountain, and travel and rescue insurance, which we require but don't sell directly.
If the price sits above some quotes you'll see online, ask what's missing from theirs. A genuinely qualified guide, a real acclimatisation day, and a rescue-capable insurance requirement all cost something, and cutting them is usually how a cheaper number gets reached.
Mera Peak versus Island Peak
Both are classic Nepal trekking peaks, but they suit different climbers. Mera Peak is higher (6,476m against Island Peak's 6,189m), remoter, and involves a longer, quieter approach through the Hinku Valley. Island Peak sits inside the busier Everest Base Camp corridor, is shorter overall, and has a steeper, more exposed summit section despite its lower altitude. If solitude and altitude are the draw, choose Mera. If you'd rather combine a peak climb with the classic Everest Base Camp experience, Island Peak or one of our combined itineraries fits better.
Ready to stand on top of Nepal's highest trekking peak? Get in touch and we'll walk you through dates, group availability, and how to prepare, or ask about booking this as a private departure on a date that suits you.
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