Makalu Base Camp Trek - 24 Days

On arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be received by our staff. We will escort you to the Hotel, where one of our leaders or a Sherpa guide will give you a brief orientation of the Hotel, Kathmandu, Trek/Camping, dos and don’ts, and other related information that you might require while in Nepal.

Accommodation : Hotel

After your first night in Kathmandu, you will be well informed on arrival about the time for your half-day guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu at places of interest. Sometimes, depending upon your flight arrival, if it’s late in the night, we will do this tour in the afternoon instead of the morning to give you a good rest before you set out of the Hotel in our interesting tour.

The morning after breakfast, take a bus to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Airport for the 50-minute sweeping scenic flight to Tumlingtar overlooking the range of snow-capped peaks from Langtang to Mt. Everest, Makalu & Mt. Kanchenjunga, Tumlingtar airport and its village town located on a shelf above the Arun River, we walk across to meet our trek crew beside the airstrip, we can see, far off to the north, the white peak of Makalu. Overnight stop at Tumlingtar

Accommodation : Tea House/Lodge

The first day of the trek starts from Tumlingtar. The walk is pleasant for an hour through the farm fields and villages. After leaving the suburb of Tumlingtar, the trail climbs up gradually towards Khadbari amid the sub-tropical forest of Sal(Sorea-Robusta)and more farm fields along the way, as we come to a town of Khadbari, a major village and the headquarters of the Sankha Shaba and Makalu region. A busy bazaar, especially on Saturday market day, Khadbari the trail is gradual with few ups and downs till we reach our overnight camp a little farther from the village of Manibhanjang.

Accommodation : Tea House/Lodge

From Manibhanjang, we ascend the ridge on a wide and well-used trail, reaching our lunch stop at Bhotebas after three and a half hours of steady ascent. After lunch, we walk for only another couple of hours to the small ridge-top village of Chinchilla. passing through fertile farmed land, and verdant rain forest, with thick undergrowth and many types of ferns. Chinchilla is a small farm village with 6-8 houses with a superb view of Mt.Makalu, 8,463m, and the Khumbu mountain range.

Accommodation : Tea House/Lodge

In the clear dawn, we have good views of Makalu and its satellite peaks from this magical spot of Chinchilla, perched high above the surrounding countryside. The walk to Num leads us through the cool and serene forest of rhododendrons, oaks, and hemlocks as we climb to the ridge top. From the ridge top, it is almost downhill for two hours to the overnight camp at Num. Num is a small village with about fifteen houses and a primary school on the large flat ground, from where we have a good view of our route for the next couple of days. Opposite, across the Arun river, is the village of Sedua, our camping place for the next day.

Accommodation : Camp

From Num, we set off down the incredibly steep and terraced slopes towards the Arun River, nearly 800 meters below. The lower slopes of this narrow valley are densely forested, and the paths are quite slippery. After reaching the bottom, we cross the suspension bridge across the torrential Arun River, at a height of 670 meters, we start our climb back out of the rainforest, reaching our lunch place at Runruma. After lunch, a steep climb takes us up to Sedua, a village with a small health post and a primary school. Overnight camp near the schoolyard.

Accommodation : Camp

The trek to Tashi-Gaon is a short walk of three to four hours, probably with lunch and a camp in the same spot. The walk takes you to more rural farm villages, on a gradual trail through the farm fields and terraces. As we come near Tashi Gaon, it is an uphill climb for an hour through the millet and rice fields. Tashi Gaon is a Sherpa village. Unlike the Sherpa of Everest, they are a bit different in the way they live, their dress, and the houses they live in. Being settled in the low, warm areas, they are more engaged in agriculture and cattle raising. In the afternoon, you’ll have time to wander around.

Accommodation : Camp

Tashi Gaon is the last village en route to the Makalu basin. After this village, the walk is refreshing for an hour and a half in the beautiful shade of the rhododendron and oak forest, after leaving the dense forest, coming to summer pastures with traces of temporary shepherd huts. From here onwards to Kohama ridge is a strenuous uphill climb, as the tree lines decline for the bushes of rhododendrons and junipers. After the climb, we came to the open area of Kohama Danda for the overnight camp. From this spot, a grand view of the far landscapes with the 3rd highest mountain, Kanchenjunga, in view towards the northeast and Mt. Makalu towards the northwest. From here onwards, you can feel the cold chill of the Himalayas.

Accommodation : Camp

With the wonderful morning and the superb views of the surrounding landscapes and snow-capped peaks, our trek follows a gradual trail with a few ups and downs as we pass through the Thulo Pokhari (big pond) and Sano Pokhari(small pond). In the heavy snow, the path from here can be quite misleading, and it will be arduous to find the trail sometimes. After the last pond, cross the pass of Tutu-la at 4,075m. From here onwards, it is all downhill back to vegetation, as we reach our camp at Mumbuk, a small clearing place for camping in the middle of the woods of pines, hemlock, birch, and rhododendrons.

Accommodation : Camp

The camp being in the shade of the tree, the view of the Khumbukarna can be seen through the vegetation of the tree lines. The walk from here is downhill to the enclosed and concealed Barun Valley, one of the least explored areas in the eastern Himalayan region of Nepal. These unique landscapes within the Makalu-Barun National Park are home to some 3,000 species of flowering plants, 440 bird species, and 75 species of mammals, including the endangered clouded leopard, red panda, and musk deer. The remarkable biodiversity is considered to be of global significance and provides a living laboratory for international scientific research. As we reach the lush alpine area of Barun Valley, the walk is very pleasant with gradual uphill slopes, following the Barun River upstream on the valley gorge towards our camp at Nehe-Kharka, one of the summer pastures for the local folks of Tashi and Navagoan. Camp in the meadow.

Accommodation : Camp

A little beyond our camp, we cross the Barun River by way of a couple of wooden bridges, which make use of conveniently situated boulders. There is a large prayer wall at Ramara, and after a 2-3-hour walk, from here the vegetation gets sparse, although the rhododendron, berberis, cotoneaster, and juniper bushes persist for some time. This is a lovely day’s walk, through the high alpine, as we come nearer to Sherson in sight of the lower Barun glacier and the towering majestic Mt. Makalu. Sherson is also the lower base camp of Mt.Makalu. There are several stone enclosures at this high grazing ground with an outstanding view of a host of peaks, including the upper part of Makalu’s south face, and Mt.Baruntse, 7,220 m, peaking above peak 4.

Accommodation : Camp

A free day for a hike, around Sherson there are many interesting hikes and viewpoints to explore, the most scenic walk would be taking a hike on the right side of the camp above for a closer view of Mt. Makalu, Barun Pokhari and the view of the rare face of Everest the Kanshung face with Lhotse nearby. A one-hour steep up brings you to the large meadow you can walk farther up to have a greater view of the mentioned peaks and other peaks of this area and beyond.

Trek back towards the end of the Barun Valley at Yak Kharka for the overnight.

Accommodation : Camp

Trek back to Mumbuk, after leaving the Barun Valley it is all uphill to the overnight camp in the midst of the alpine forest at Mumbuk.

Accommodation : Camp

Retrace the journey back to Kohma danda (ridge) via Shipton-la and Thulo Pokhari for the overnight camp.

Accommodation : Camp

Trek back to Tashi Gaon and continue walk towards Nawa-Gaon on the upper trail for another 2-3 hours through the cool shade of the forest after leaving the forest area, coming towards the farm terraces and eventually to the village of Nawa-Gaon, another Sherpa village which is much larger than Tashigaon, situated right above the Sedua village.

Accommodation : Camp

The walk today, after leaving Nawa gaon, is on the downhill track through the farm fields for an hour or two to Sedua village. From Sedua, retrace the journey to Num with 2-3 hours downhill, and after the bridge, another 2-3 hours brings you back to Num for the overnight camp.

Accommodation : Camp

Trek back to Chichele, the first 2-3 hours are all uphill to the ridge top, from here onwards it is almost downhill to the overnight Camp at Chichele.

Accommodation : Camp

From Chichele, it is one of the pleasant walks to Khadbari through the forest, farmlands, and small villages; the final leg of the day’s walk is on the gradual path, leading you to the large village town of Khadbari, to avoid many people and noise of this main town, we will be camping before or after this township.

Accommodation : Camp

An easy 3-4 hours downhill walk brings you back to Tumlingtar for lunch and the last overnight camp of this great, memorable adventure journey, and this will be your last night with the trekking staff and porters as well.

Accommodation : Camp

This morning, depending upon the scheduled flight time, I sometimes the flight time after getting the boarding pass, made my way to the terminal for the security check. The flight from Tumlingtar to Kathmandu, which takes less than an hour, offers a panoramic view of the snow-capped seen from a window of the plane. Arriving at the Kathmandu domestic terminal, our Tour Officer will be waiting to receive and escort you back to the Hotel.

Accommodation : Hotel

A free day in Kathmandu, please inform our staff if you would like to go on another short tour in and around Kathmandu Valley or for a scenic mountain flight. Back to Top.

Accommodation : Hotel

Today as per your international flight time, keep your confirmed air ticket, departure tax (in local currency) and your passport handy. Our AD staff will take you to the airport for your final departure from this amazing country, Nepal.