Makalu Base Camp Trekking

You will be welcomed at Kathmandu Airport by our Airport Representative. After a brief introductory meeting with you, he will provide you with an airport private transport service to take you to a booked hotel in Kathmandu or a related city according to your travel plan. A welcome drink will be served at the hotel and the hotel check-in process will begin. After the full formalities of the hotel check-in, our staff will give you a brief description of the booked itinerary. See you tomorrow morning and enjoy your free time.

After breakfast we take a flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar and meet the rest of the trekking crews who will be joining this trek. A moderate pace ride through picturesque villages and lush green hill forests takes trekkers to Num village. Tourists know this is the village of Num because of the great views on both sides and the ridgeline sitting on either side.

A steep waterfall through forest and terraced farms leads us to the Barun River. We cross the river and follow the same steep climb on the other side. Forests in the valleys provide some shade – often very hot. Makalu Barun National Park begins here and is where we register our permit. We stay tonight at the top of the village. Today’s standard active walking time is 4½ hours.

Climb the cliffs bounded by the Ipsuwa River to the west and the Kasuwa River to the east. Crossing the hills past quiet villages and small rice fields, we arrive at the exotic village of Tashi Gaon. Today’s standard active walking time is 5½ hours.

We go through the forest to the river and then to the cliff. From here the trail rises and follows a series of small lakes through Kharka (pasture land) finally climbing up rough stone steps and cliffs. From here there is a short way to Khongma. Today’s standard active walking time is 5½ hours.

We head towards the summit of Shipton La (pass) which takes a few hours to reach. After Kalo Pokhari Lake (3,930 m) we pass over the Keke La pass (4,170 m). We can have an amazing view of Chamlang (7,321 m), Peak 6 (6,524 m), and Peak 7 (6,758 m). After crossing the Keke La Pass we walk through the beautiful valley and reach Dobate. Today’s standard active walking time is 5½ hours.

Today we trek through the Barun river and the rhododendron forest that goes up the valley. In the first two hours of the trek we have to be very careful as the trail is uphill and arduous. We then take a pleasant walk gradually gaining altitude until we reach the Yangri Kharka which is situated at the base of the valley. Today’s standard active walking time is 5½ hours.

The valley, we pass yak pastures, lush forests and stone fields. The valley walls tower impressively above trekkers at the start of the trek. We proceed from Merek and witness a remarkable rise in the scenic views of the Himalayas. Today’s standard active walking time is 4½ hours.

Today is the day we reach Makalu Base Camp. From Langmale Kharka we walk to Shershong and finally Makalu Base Camp. The way is flat on a high mountain covered with snow. Makalu mountain can be seen after reaching Shershong. When we go to Base Camp, we soak in the magnificent Himalayan scenery around us. Today’s standard active walking time is 5½ hours.

The Base Camp is a rocky barren place with the great Barun Glacier beyond it. From here you can see mount Makalu’s magnificent south face and a full view of mount Everest and mount Lhotse. We can explore the surrounding lakes, glaciers and go for short hikes where we can celebrate our achievement of Makalu Base Camp trek.

We descend from Base Camp and take one last glimpse of mount Makalu before turning the corner and heading back. On the way down, we descend into the valley via Shersong, Langmale Kharka, Merek and finally stop at Yangri Kharka. Today’s standard active walking time is 7½ hours.

We descend towards Dobate through Yangri Kharka rock falls, green forests and valleys. As we descend the trail we follow the banks of the Barun River and lunch in Dobate.

We start the trek from Dobate to Mumbuk (Nambuk) with a steep climb through forests of firs and rhododendrons. Then we cross Keke La, Tutu La (Shipton’s Pass), and Kauma La. Then we go down the hill again to Khongma Danda. Today’s standard active walking time is 7½ hours.

The trek we will continues along the mountain side frequenting long and steep waterfalls. We then cross the hills and pass through villages and hamlets, finally stopping at Seduwa for today’s Lunch.

We will leave Seduwa and go to Num village through the green forest and we will stay overnight in Num. Today’s standard active walking time is 7½ hours.

After breakfast at Nu village, we travel by jeep or bus for about 5 hours to Tumlingtar via Khandbari. Today is the last day of the trek and usually the trekkers offer dinner to the trekking teams in the evening to celebrate the trekking completion party. After dinner the trekker will say goodbye to the trekking team and they too will go to sleep.

After a long hike in the mountains, we will return to Kathmandu by flight from Tumlingtar which takes only 35 minutes to reach Kathmandu. Trekkers can rest and relax at their hotels throughout the day or keep in touch with their loved ones.

Famous for its hilly airports, Nepal offers many domestic flights giving you access to all parts of the country. When there is less time in Nepal, it is better to take a local flight to avoid long journeys. Mountain weather is often unpredictable, but it’s best to add one or two buffer days after your trek to adjust the time for flight delays. If you are planning an international flight around one of your domestic flights from a mountainous area, add at least one day of buffer travel days to your itinerary if possible. We will meet again in the evening for a farewell dinner at one of the best Nepali restaurants in the city, where we will be eager to hear your feedback about the trip.

Here is information about possible one-day activities. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the main attractions of the Kathmandu Valley are three Durbar Square (Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur) and four temples and stupas (Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath Temple and Changu Narayan Temple). If you want to walk all day (8 hours), you can visit any four places [Boudhanath, Pashupatinath Temple, Changu Narayan Temple and Bhaktapur Durbar Square] or [Swayambhunath, Bungmati, Patan Durbar Square and Kathmandu Durbar Square] in one day. We can arrange a day trip at your request, and the service user will have to pay extra directly for it. Customers can hire a guide and car or rent a car. Stay overnight at the hotel with daily breakfast.

Transfer from the hotel to the airport to return home at least three hours before your flight departure time. According to the Nepal Immigration Department, we will also help in obtaining the necessary documents for the flight from Kathmandu. We hope that your visit to Nepal and the activities you carried out during the trek will remind you to visit Nepal again in the coming days. We wish you a safe return home. We hope to see you in Kathmandu again in the coming days!