Hi I am planning to do the Mera Peak and Annapurna Circuit trips with Imaginiative. I have been trying to get more specific information on the Mera Peak trip considering that it is technically more challanging and logistically more difficult for the tour company. I really have had a hard time getting more specific info from Imaginative with regards to their past trips to Mera Peak. I understand it is a relatively new program for Imaginative, but had heard that previous Mera Peak trips got cancelled at the last minute. I do not want to commit myself with expenses and extended leave from work if I am not reasonably confident that my planned trips will indeed go ahead.
Does anyone have any information, good bad or otherwise on previous experience with Imaginative Traveller trips in Nepal, particularly the Annapurna Circuit, and even more importantly the Mera Peak trip?
Any info would be much appreciated as I am hoping to book trips and flights very soon. Thanks from the Great White North.
Re: Mera Peak - Nepal
Hi Ski Bum,
Sorry to hear that you have had trouble getting detailed information about the Mera Peak trip.
You mentioned a few different questions.
1) Guaranteeing that the trip will depart - we guarantee that a trip will depart once we have a minimum of four travellers booked on it. Unfortunately we can't run trips with less than four people and this does mean that very occasionally we have to cancel departures.
This year we only have three departures for the Mera Peak trip, one in April, one in September and one in October. The April trip is now closed to bookings, but we are accepting bookings on the autumn departures. I am hopeful that these will depart (last year we ran two trips up Mera Peak) but obviously cannot give any guarantee at this stage.
2) The nature of the trip - Mera Peak is a technically challenging climb, but all the training that you need will be provided during the course of the tour. For example, you will be trained on the use of crampons, ice axes and safety equipment.
You do not need any specific mountaineering experience. It is physically very challenging, of course, so you would need to be very fit.
The company that we use on our trekking trips in the Himalayas is one of the most experienced outfits in Nepal and they have run a number of Everest ascents over the years. They are therefore extremely experienced in this kind of trip.
I hope that this helps - please let me know if you have any further questions.
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Liddy Barnes
Head of Operations
THE IMAGINATIVE TRAVELLER