We will meet you at Kathmandu International airport and transfer you by private coach to the very comfortable and 'famous' Kathmandu Guest House situated in the very centre of the Thamel tourist district. After you have booked in to your room (sole occupancy of a garden facing en-suite room) and freshened up we will have a meeting to introduce everyone and have a quick presentation about the trip. A group dinner will follow at the hotel and after this most people will turn in for a much needed sleep after their long journey to Nepal

We have organised two brilliant tours for you today to absorb your new surroundings and to immerse yourself in the Nepalese culture yet still allowing you to have a relaxing day with some free time to explore this amazing city. After breakfast we are taken by private bus to the Monkey Temple at Swayambunath where our expert local guide will give us a fascinating tour of this stunning place and also point out the distant Himalayan Peaks from our elevated position. We return to the Kathmandu Guest House for lunch at Café Bahal and then in the afternoon take an exhilarating rickshaw ride around the city’s famous Durbar Square where again we will have an expert tour guide.

Before dinner we will give you a short multi media presentation about your trek outlining some of the health and safety issues and looking at altitude sickness. This is a great opportunity for any questions that any group members have to be answered. We have dinner this evening at the famous 'Rum Doodles' where you will experience great food in appropriate surrounds as the walls are adorned with Everest memoribilia including the Everest Summiteers board signed by the many who have scaled this lofty height

An early start today for our flight to Lukla. We will need to be ready in the hotel lobby by 5.30am at the latest in order to drive to the airport for the 7.30am flight. Our Sherpa crew will handle everything so you can go onto autopilot and grab a cup of coffee when we enter the mayhem of the domestic terminal building. Flights to Lukla operate within the constraints of the weather at Lukla itself and if there is cloud in the morning we may have a delay which can be up to several hours whilst planes fly other routes until the conditions at Lukla improve. The airport in Lukla has recently undergone an extensive upgrade and the old gravel landing strip of legend and notoriety has been replaced with impressive new tarmac and there is also a modern stone-built terminal building. We fly across the grain of the land over a series of ridges and our Sherpas will be able to point out villages and paths on the original trekking route from Jiri up to Lukla. With clear weather we get fantastic views of the mountains and as we turn into the deep gorge of the Dudh Kosi valley we can look ahead and see Everest itself. But most people will have their sights firmly set on the approach to Lukla and our exciting descent to the runway will cause those of a nervous disposition to hold onto their seats. After we arrive we meet the remainder of our Sherpa crew who will have flown up the previous day to arrange porters and yaks and to make sure all our trek provisions are in place. We then set off straight away for our first camp at Poyan (2,800m).

This morning we start by crossing the Poyan Khola, we turn off the main trade route coming up from the south and join an older route, which climbs steeply to the ridge-line overlooking the Khare Khola. Here we should have fine views over towards Cho Oyu (8153m), the sixth highest mountain in the world and the most frequently climbed peak over 8000m. Descending the other side of the ridge, we then contour along the hillside through forests of rhododendron before climbing steadily up to the attractive farming and trading village of Pangkongma (2,846m). Many expedition members have been made welcome by the villagers here, spending several pleasant hours warming themselves in front of an open fire in the enveloping and welcoming atmosphere of the local's traditional Sherpa homes.

Today we shall climb up to Pangkongma La, making our way through thick rhododendron and bamboo forests. To the West we have a beautiful view of the monastery at Takshindu and Lamjura. From Pangkongma La we have the first view of our challenge, the twin peaks of Mera and its South Face, along with its neighbour Naulekh. We then descend to cross the wire rope bridge that takes us across the now narrow gorge of the Hinku Valley. We have fine views across the Hinku Valley and the seemingly endless foothills rising to its sides. After crossing the Hinku Khola we make a steep and strenuous climb leading us up to Nashing Dingma (2, 600m). We stay here for the night at the excellent campsite established by the Makalu National Park.

We make gradual progress climbing higher through pastures, chestnut trees and prayer flags as we take the steep trail up to the Surke La. After making it up to the pass we can stop for a welcome cup of tea at a lodge. Eventually, after ascending through a bamboo forest we arrive at the attractive campsite at Chalem Kharka, where, set among the fir trees, we can relax after a long day of trekking.

After an al fresco breakfast, we set off along the side of a ridge and the landscape quickly becomes more rugged. Kharka means pasture or grazing land, and we pass isolated herders shelters on our way up to Panch Pokari and on to camp at Chunba Kharka. We should be rewarded with some stunning views of Kanchenjunga and Jannu to the East.

Today we stay at Chunbu Kharka where we can have deserved rest, explore the area and acclimatise to the altitude.

Setting off from camp we make our way past the holy lake of Panch Pokhari, and contour our way round the main Hinku valley. We then make a series of steep descents through scree and then rhododendron. Soon we are confronted by the devastation caused by a catastrophic flood that has caused much of the valley to be washed away in 1998. We make our way down through the Mojang Forest to the now debris strewn valley floor where we negotiate the boulders where an ancient forest once stood. We climb up to our campsite which is on a pleasant alpine meadow. This is a relatively short day and gives us the chance explore this fascinating landscape.

We start making our way up the dry riverbed today, crossing the rapids of the Hinki Khola over some fallen logs. We continue along the north side of the river where we can enjoy some easy walking. Charpati, also known as Kyashar (6770m), towers above us at the head of the valley. We reach the high alpine meadows of the Hinki Valley, used as summer grazing pastures for Yaks we pass Yak herder settlements such as Gondishung. The meadows are home to some beautiful flora and fauna such as the bearded rhododendron, dwarf juniper and other rare alpine flowers. As we reach Tangnag we pass a small gompa carved into the rock before we stop for tea in the small hamlet of Tangnag (4,360m).

As we head east towards the mountain, we slowly gain altitude, passing under the shadow of Kusum Kangguru (6367m) as we head towards the Mera Glacier. Sheltered under the glaciers’ moraine Dig Kharka (4,650m) is a pleasant, grassy camp in an impressive situation as Mount Mera’s North Summit towers beguilingly above us.

A day to acclimatise, as we practice our crampon and ice axe techniques on the glacier (5,100m). We will have our first day on snow tomorrow as we cross the Mera La.

An early start as we make our way up to the Mera La (5,413m). This is an exciting day as we climb onto the Mera Glacier and follow it to the pass. The views from the glacier are spectacular as the mountains are abundant on the horizon, on one side the Charpati and the Kyashar Himal and on the other the peaks of Mera. We establish our base camp on the far side of the pass, so as to avoid sleeping on ice. The descent from the pass to the campsite is very short and can be done easily using the margin between the moraine and the glacier on its northern side as it descends from the col. The evening will be spent practising rope work skills for glacier travel and rescue.

Another day acclimatising at 5,300m before making our climb tomorrow. We also have another opportunity to work on our snow and ice skills on the snout of the glacier that descends from the Mera La in preparation for tomorrow. Our highly experienced, skilled and qualified guides and leaders will show you a wide range of snow and ice craft skills and you may even get the opportunity to do some actual ice climbing on some top-rope systems that we set up. Great fun and a great opportunities for some action photographs!

Today, we ascend to high camp were we will make our summit attempt from. This is located at about 5,800 metres on the Northern slopes of the upper mountain. It provides an excellent launch pad for the final climb to the summit. There is no need to make an early start but we must get our equipment ready so that the Sherpas can help with carrying this and the camp stores to the high camp. Having gained the Mera La, the route turns left (south) and follows easy angled snow slopes. After a short distance an area of crevasses is reached. Under normal conditions these can be walked around very easily, although looking into their deep, dark depths is always impressive. The crevasses soon give way to slightly steeper but open snow slopes that lead without difficulty to the high camp. This camp is in an excellent setting with wonderful views of Everest, Makalu and the Nuptse, Lhotse wall directly ahead. The setting sun casts an unbelievably magic light on these awesome mountains.

The climb to the summit of Mera starts gradually and much will depend on snow and general weather conditions. The central summit will soon appear above the head of a wide glacier flanked by two ridges. We climb the centre of this over open snowfields and avoiding crevasses. The route then swings south-east, skirting below and to the east of the left-hand ridge before turning back rightwards towards the main summit ridge of Mera. Mera actually has three summits; the highest is our objective. We reach this by following a classic snow-ridge to just below the final wall that guards the top. This short steep snow slope is easily climbed but there is a big effort required to climb this last 50 metres. Your reward, however, is a feeling of ecstatic jubilation as you survey the magnificent panorama from the top. After taking pictures and enjoying the view, we descend by the same route back to our campsite below the Mera La.

The direct route back to Lukla can be comfortably achieved in 4 days. It crosses the exciting Zetra La pass (4,600m) before descending steeply into the Dudh Kosi valley and to Lukla. The pass gives plenty of opportunities for photographing the dramatic peaks around Mera. On arrival in Lukla we can relax, visit tea shops and bars, and prepare for the flight to Kathmandu. We spend our final night in the mountains at the Himalayan Lodge where we have a fantastic group dinner with our Nepali friends followed by some singing and dancing no doubt accompanied by some local 'chang' which for some reason always seems to appear on these very occassions!

We leave Lukla early morning to take the spectacular flight back to Kathmandu leaving behind the magnificence of the Himalayas and back to the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. We transfer to the spectacular Park Village Resort at Budanilkantha about 15 minutes drive from the airport. This peaceful resort away from the noise of the city is the perfect place to relax after your arduous time in the mountains. It is here that you stay in your own suite which is very luxourious with all facilities. We suggest a dip in the fantastic infinity pool to relax all of those aching muscles!

After a relaxing morning we are shuttled into Kathmandu for a group lunch and to allow you a free afternoon to do some last minute shopping and exploring. In the evening we have our final special group dinner at the hotel and then we have the premier of the 'uncut' video of you trek/climbs shown in one of the many conference rooms using the superb multi media facilities that the Park Village Hotel has. At the same time we will put on a slide show with all of our digital images that we have taken whilst you are relaxing with an after dinner drink. The professionally edited copy of the film and a copy of the digital images will arrive at you home address within two weeks of your return. This is a fantastic memento to look at for years to come.

Relaxing morning to pack and after lunch at the hotel we will arrange to have you transferred to Kathmandu's International airport for your flight back home. The majority of flights to the West depart in the afternoon and early evening. We will say our final farewells at the airport.