Which Trekking Peak you should choose between Island Peak and Mera Peak?

Nepal is the home of mountains especially the Everest region! The presence of countless snowy peaks made this tiny Himalayan nation as the playground for the adventure mountain climbers from across the globe. For those who couldn’t do the expeditions of high mountains, Nepal has trekking peaks to quench their thirst of mountaineering. Among several trekking peaks of Nepal, Island Peak and Mera Peak are on the top. So, question rises about which trekking peak you should choose between Island Peak and Mera Peak.

Today’s blog is revolves around finding out the best answer of this question. The Island Peak is undeniably the epic mountain located in the Everest Base Camp Trek route whereas the Mera Peak is the tallest trekking peak of Nepal with height of 6476 m. At an altitude of 6189 m, Island Peak stands tall next to the Dingboche and Chhukung village whereas Mera is in the alternative region away from Everest Base Camp Trek route.

Which Trekking Peak you should choose between Island Peak and Mera Peak?

Choosing a trekking peak to climb between Island Peak and Mera Peak is always a choice of a person. There are many factors that you must consider before embarking on the adventurous activity to conquer the snowy and towering mountains of Nepal. Peak climbing is considered as easy as expedition but it is not as easy as it sounds. You need lots of planning and preparations. In today’s blog, let’s delve deeper into these two trekking peaks in terms of difficulty, cost, itinerary, and accessibility. These factors may help you to find answer of the question “which trekking peak you should choose between Island Peak and Mera Peak”.

Difficulty

In terms of difficulty, the Island Peak is technical challenging than the Mera Peak Climbing. There are lots of instances where even 7 to 10 years kids have successfully climbed the Mera Peak. Therefore, you can say that the difficulty level of Mera Peak is far lower than the Island Peak. Lots of Sherpa guides and climbing experts say that climbing Island Peak is technical and harder among the entire trekking peak climbing in Nepal. Similarly, lots of climbers who are trying to aim higher mountains always take Island Peak as an ideal training mountain. So, in terms of difficulty, Island Peak Climbing is harder than the Mera Peak Climbing.

Cost

While comparing the Island Peak Climbing and Mera Peak Climbing in Nepal, you need to consider the budget. Comparatively, Island Peak Climbing is slightly expensive than the Mera Peak Climbing. The fact that the Everest Base Camp Trek is also added in the itinerary can make this price cheaper. The number of days required for the trek is also different. Therefore, the cost can be reasonable for both. Generally, the cost of the Island Peak Climbing starts from 2150 $ whereas the cost of the Mera Peak Climbing starts from 2050 $ per person. These costs include trekking and climbing with all the logistical arrangements.

Outline Itinerary of Island Peak Climbing with Everest Base Camp Trek

• DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU
• DAY 02: FLY TO LUKLA, TREK TO PHAKDING (2,651M/8,700FT) 3 – 4 HOURS
• DAY 03: PHAKDING TO NAMCHE BAZAAR (3,438M/11,280 FT) 5 – 6 HOURS
• DAY 04: ACCLIMATIZATION DAY – NAMCHE BAZAAR: (3,440M/11,284FT)
• DAY 05: NAMCHE BAZAAR TO PHORTSE (3,870M/12,694FT) 5- 6 HOURS
• DAY 06: PHORTSE TO DINGBOCHE (4,360 M/14,300 FT) 5 – 6 HOURS
• DAY 07: DINGBOCHE ACCLIMATIZATION DAY
• DAY 08: DINGBOCHE TO LOBUCHE (4910 M) 5/6 HOURS
• DAY 09: LOBUCHE TO GORAK SHEP (5170 M/16,961FT), TO EVEREST BASE CAMP (5364M.)
• DAY 10: GORAK SHEP TO KALA PATTHAR (5,545M/18,192FT) TO DINGBOCHE (4,400M): 16KM, 7-8 HOURS
• DAY 11: DINGBOCHE TO CHHUKUNG (4750M) 3 HOURS
• DAY 12: CHHUKUNG TO ISLAND PEAK BASE CAMP (5000M/17,060FT): 3-4 HOURS
• DAY 13: ISLAND PEAK BASE CAMP TO ISLAND PEAK SUMMIT (6,189M/20,305FT), BACK TO BASE CAMP: 10-12 HOURS
• DAY 14: ISLAND PEAK BASE CAMP TO PANGBOCHE (3,985M/13,074FT) 5-6 HOURS
• DAY 15: PANGBOCHE TO NAMCHE BAZAAR (3,440M/11,286FT): 4-5 HOURS
• DAY 16: NAMCHE BAZAAR TO LUKLA (2,800M/9,186FT): 19KM, 6 – 7 HOURS
• DAY 17: FLY TO KATHMANDU 30 MINUTES
• DAY 18: FINAL INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE

The itinerary of the Island Peak Climbing includes the Everest Base Camp Trek too. Therefore, the significance of this trekking peak climbing is slightly higher than the Mera Peak Climbing. In one single climbing adventure, climbers can also visit the base camp of Mt. Everest. This is the fact that gives edge to the Island Peak Climbing over the Mera Peak Climbing.

Mera Peak Climbing Outline Itinerary

• DAY 01: ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU (1,400M)
• DAY 02: FLY TO LUKLA, ACCLIMATIZATION AND EXPLORE DAY (2800M) 30-MINUTE FLIGHT
• DAY 03: TREK TO CHHUTANGA (3700M) 6 HOURS
• DAY 04: TREK TO CHHATRA LA PASS (4600M) 7/8 HOUR
• DAY 05: TREK TO KOTHE (3,691M/12,109FT): 6-7 HOURS
• DAY 06: TREK TO THAKNAK (4,358M/14,297FT): 3-4 HOURS
• DAY 07: TREK TO KHARE (5,045M/16,486FT): 2-3 HOURS
• DAY 08: KHARE: ACCLIMATIZATION AND PRE-CLIMB TRAINING
• DAY 09: TREK TO MERA HIGH CAMP (5,780M/18,958FT): 6-7 HOURS
• DAY 10: MERA HIGH CAMP TO SUMMIT (6,461M/21,1907FT) AND BACK TO KHARE (5045M/16,547FT): 8-9 HOURS
• DAY 11: TREK TO KOTHE (3600M/11808FT): 4-5 HOURS
• DAY 12: TREK TO THULI KHARKA (4,300 M/14,107FT): 5-6 HOURS
• DAY 13: TREK TO LUKLA VIA ZATRWA LA PASSES: 6-7 HOURS
• DAY 14: FLY TO KATHMANDU (30 MINUTE) EXPLORE AND SHOPPING
• DAY 15: FINAL INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURE

If you take a note about the itinerary of the Mera Peak Climbing, then you can understand that the trail is less crowded and off the beaten. The trekking route to the Island Peak Climbing shares the trail with the Everest Base Camp trek route. Therefore, it is always crowded. Some people don’t like crowded places especially during the high – altitude Himalayan adventures. Therefore, the Mera Peak Climbing has edge over the Island Peak Climbing in terms of enjoying the solitude while on this spectacular journey.

Final Verdict

Which Trekking Peak you should choose between Island Peak and Mera Peak? Well, the choice is yours. Both of these trekking peaks of Nepal have their unique characteristics. The Mera Peak being the tallest permitted trekking peak of Nepal can be perfect to those looking for a record of conquering tallest trekking peak of Nepal. To those climbers who are looking for greater expeditions of higher mountains, Island Peak Climbing can be helpful. The technical difficulty to climb the mountain is perfect for the preparation of expeditions. However, the easy level in terms of climbing difficulty in Mera can be welcoming for larger mass. So, this blogger is leaving the answer to the readers to choose the trekking peak according to their conscience and needs.