Mera, Island or Lobuche East, and how to choose your first 6,000m peak in Nepal

Trail & Weather Mera is the highest but a walk, Island Peak the classic first climb, Lobuche East the technical one. All three carry the same NMA permit fee. By Anjali Shrestha · Jun 20, 2026 Read the full story

Choose Mera Peak if you want the highest summit and the biggest view without technical climbing, Island Peak if you want a real first climb on a fixed rope, and Lobuche East if you want to come away a more capable mountaineer. All three are over 6,000 metres… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Price will not decide it

The government permit is identical for all three peaks, so a quote that prices them differently is showing you a markup, not a fee. The NMA lists Mera, Island Peak (Imja Tse) and Lobuche East in the same band: US$350 per climber in spring and US$175 in the… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Mera Peak asks for lungs, not technique

Mera's standard northern route is technically straightforward glacier walking; the difficulty is the altitude. Most commercial parties top out on Mera Central at 6,461 metres, just below the true 6,476-metre north summit. It lies in the remote Hinku Valley… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Island Peak asks for a rope and a head for heights

Island Peak is lower but harder: summit day is a glacier crossing and a steep headwall climbed on fixed lines to a narrow ridge. A crevasse below the summit ridge has turned teams back in some seasons, and a ladder has been used to bridge it. It sits a short… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Lobuche East is the one that teaches you most

If you want to leave a better climber rather than just a summiteer, Lobuche East is the pick. It is the most technical of the three, on rock and ice close to the Everest Base Camp trail, and it rewards people who already enjoy using their hands. Many climbers… Travel Himalaya Nepal · News

Mera Peak Climbing — 15 Days

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