We did a 15-day trek starting in Lukla and then going through Puiya, Panngom, Kothe, Khare, Mera peak summit, and then back to Lukla via Zartwa La high pass. For the first 5 days, we hiked through the Nepali jungle, which was surprisingly the hardest part of the trek. The paths there were very steep, often filled with mud and rocky stones, which made them physically demanding. We also encountered some leaches and a snake, which we did not expect. Otherwise, the trees, flowers, and waterfalls were stunning. The jungle ended in Kothe and from there onwards we trekked up through a valley covered in small bushes and grass with snow-covered peaks on either side. Pretty much the ideal Himalayan scene that one imagines. The glacier on Mera Peak was very compact and easy to walk on.
Norsang, our guide, and our two porters were all very helpful and always in a good mood. Norsang was excellent in organizing the flight to Lukla, accommodation, and food. All our meals were included in the price of the trek and we were never left hungry with Norsang always asking if we wanted a second portion. The acclimatization was well planned with acclimatization hikes at higher altitudes. Hence, we only experienced a mild headache. The only issue we encountered was with hiring glacier equipment in Khare as they only had semi-automatic crampons, that did not fit our boots which could only take touristic crampons with straps. Therefore, we had to hire alpine boots, which unfortunately were unavailable in sizes larger than 45. Hence some of us had to walk in boots that were slightly smaller, which made the descent rather unpleasant. Therefore, if you have a shoe size larger than 45, I recommend bringing your own alpine boots.
It was cold and windy on the summit day, -16°C, but under Norsang’s leadership, the ascent felt comfortable and safe. The sunrise and the views were amazing. Overall, it was a great experience, and we would definitely use Norsang’s service again for more trekking in Nepal.