Makalu mountain is the fifth highest mountain in the world, 8481m. But the trek to base camp is a less traveled route, due to a lodge inaccessibility. However it’s not too difficult to reach, as there are daily flights to Tumlingtar (which is a few hours drive from the trailhead) and basic lodges along the way. But it is better to camp.

A rewarding alternative route also continues from Makalu Base Camp towards Everest. After exploring around Makalu, we cross the Sherpeni col (Pass) over to Baruntse Base Camp, then we cross  the West Col to Panch Pokhari, (5 Lakes) Amphu Laptsa pass 5,850m. This route is following part of the traditional Everest Base Camp trekking route.

The Makalu Base Camp trek is an ideal trek for nature-loving trekkers, who want to experience a variety of landscapes with cultures, as well as unusual views of the tallest mountains including Everest.

The Makalu Base Camp trek requires one-hour flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, to a small airport. This airport lies about 500 kilometers east of the capital. Buddha and Yeti Airlines each operate daily for flight.

The Makalu Base Camp trek begins from hot terraced farmlands inhabited by the Rai people, an ethnic group found mainly in the hills of eastern Nepal. As the trail climbs you will pass through rhododendron forests, most impressive in spring, when the flowers are blooming in red, purple, pink and white;  cloud forests, through some of the later areas of virgin forests and alpine meadows in Nepal.

Deeper into the mountains, beyond the Barun River Valley, you’ll pass sheer granite cliffs, glaciers and spectacular waterfalls. At a higher altitude live the Sherpas, an ethnic Tibetan group who reside mainly near Everest.

From Makalu Base Camp there are spectacular views rarely seen, of a face of Everest, as well as Lhotse, Chamlang and Kanchenjunga in the far East. Makalu Barun National Park is the eighth largest in Nepal, by covering 2,330km2,  and we can explore rare flora and fauna, including the red panda.
This is a challenging trek, which is a best suited for experienced mountain trekkers. Comfort levels are more basic than in some popular treks in Nepal, as lodges in this region have a lower standard than some other places.

Short Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival in Nepal, International airport of Kathmandu to hotel,
Day 02: Rest in Kathmandu, visit valley and prepare trekking equipment
Day 03: Domestic airport Kathmandu-Tumlingtar, Flight, (1hr) and drive to the starting point of the trek, to Chilchila 3/4hrs walk, Elevation: 1980m, O/N Camp tent,
Day 04: Trek Chilchila-Num, 3/4hrs walk, elevation: 1550m,
Day 05: Trek Num-Seduwa via Arun River, 5/6hrs walk, Elevation: 1560m, 800m descent/800m ascent, 8km, O/N Camp tent,
Day 06: Trek Seduwa-Tashigaon, 4/5hrs walk, Elevation: 2100m, 700m ascent, 8km, O/N Camp tent,
Day 07: Trek Tashigaun-Khongma Danda, 6/7hrs walk, Elevation: 3650m, 1400m ascent, 7.2km, O/N Camp tent,
Day 08: Acclimatization day in Khongma Danda, 1hrs hiking, O/N Camp tent,
Day 09: Trek Khomgma Danda-Dobate via Shipton La, (Pass) 4229m, 6/7hrs walk, Elevation: 3850m, over the Khongma La, Sano Pokhari Danda, Shipton La, and Keke La-852m ascent/599m descent, 7.6km, O/N Camp tent,
Day 10: Trek Dobate-Yangle Kharka following Barun River upstream, 6/7hrs walk, Elevation: 3635m, 430m ascent/600m descent, 9.7km O/N Camp tent,
Day 11: Trek Yangle Kharka-Langmale Kharka, 5/6hrs walk, Elevation: 4410m, 758 ascent, 10.5km O/N Camp tent,
Day 12: Acclimatization, rest at Langmale Kharka, little hiking,
Day 13: Trek Langmale Kharka-Sherson, 5hrs walk, Elevation: 4500m, 5.7km, O/N Camp tent,
Day 14: Trek Sherson-Makalu Base Camp, 4hrs walk, Elevation: 4900m,400m ascent, 4km O/N Camp tent,
Day 15: Day exploring around Makalu Base Camp, 3hrs walk, Elevation: 4900m, O/N Camp tent,
Day 16: Return trip, by the same trail:  Makalu BC-Yangle Kharka, 6/7hrs walk, 122m ascent/1,214m descent, 16km, O/N Camp tent,
Day 17: Trek Yangle Kharka-Dobate, 6/7hrs walk, 640m ascent/412m descent, 9.3km, O/N Camp tent,
Day 18: Trek Dobate-Khongma Danda, 5/6hrs walk, 600m ascent/852m descent, 7.6km, O/N Camp tent,
Day 19: Trek Khongma Danda-Tashigaon, 4/5hrs walk, 80m ascent/450m descent, 6.4km, O/N Camp tent,
Day 20: Trek Tashi gaun-Seduwa, 4/5hrs walk, 150m ascent/700m descent, 8.9km, O/N Camp tent,
Day 21: Trek Setuwa-Num, 5/6hrs walk, 800m ascent/800m descent, 8km, O/N Camp tent,
Day 22: Drive Num-Tumlingtar, 51 km./31 miles, 3/4hrs drive, O/N Guest house,
Day 23: Flight Tumlingtar-Kathmandu, airport to hotel,
Day 24: Final departure from Kathmandu international airport.

This is a group itinerary only, by road staff will take 28/29 days from and to Kathmandu.

Cost Includes:

An experienced, English-speaking Guide and Sherpa Helper
Domestic flights and transfers
Good standard hotel in Kathmandu, twin share, bed and breakfast basis
All meals on trek including tea and coffee
All road transport by private vehicles
Simple tea house accommodation on trek full board basis. Mainly twin share, but possibly some quad or dorm rooms. Camping equipment Kitchen tent, Toilet tent, Dining tent and Members tent,
Morning bed-tea on trek in camping on tent and an evening fill up of your water bottle with drinking water
Sherpa helper/porters properly insurance and equipped,

Cost Excludes:

Travel insurance
Visa fees
Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
Optional trips and High risky rescue as Helicopter, or horse during trek
Tips for staff and Guide,

Details Itinerary will be provided on Inquiry,

FURTHERMORE, IF YOU NEED HELP TO MANAGE PLANS FOR THIS PEAK CLIMBING,
KINDLY KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HIMALAYANRANDONER, WE WILL FULLY SUPPORT YOU.

Day 01: Arrive Nepal, - Kathmandu international airport, 1350m

From Kathmandu International airport to hotel, by private vehicle, O/N Hotel with BB,

Day 02: Rest Kathmandu, - Visit Kathmandu valley

visit Swayambhunath Temple, Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, and Bouddha Stupa, and prepare your trekking equipment. O/N same Hotel with BB

Day 03: Kathmandu-Tumlingtar-trek to Chichila - Kathmandu Domestic airport, (flight 1hr) 3hrs drive, Elevation: 1980m,

Flight to Tumlingtar (1hr) and drive to the starting point of the trek, Chichila, 3hrs drive, O/N Camp tent,

Day 04: Trek Chilchila-Num, - 3/4hrs walk, elevation: 1550m,

The trek starts from Chilchila, 3/4hrs walk, elevation: 1550m, O/N Camp tent,

Day 05: Trek Num-Seduwa, - 5/6hrs walk, Elevation: 1560m, 800m descent/800m ascent, 8km,

Trek to Seduwa via Arun River, O/N Camp tent,

Day 06: Trek Seduwa-Tashigaon, - 4/5hrs walk, Elevation: 2100m, 700m ascent, 8km

Trek to Tashigaun, O/N Camp tent,

Day 07: Trek Tashigaun-Khongma Danda, - 6/7hrs walk, Elevation: 3650m, 1400m ascent, 7.2km

Trek to Khongma, O/N Camp tent,

Day 08: Acclimatization day in Khongma - Elevation: 3650m,

Acclimatization day in Khongma Danda, and 1hr hiking, O/N Camp tent,

Day 09: Trek Khomgma Danda-Dobate - 4229m, 6/7hrs walk, Elevation: 3850m, 852m ascent/599m descent, 7.6km

Trek to Dobate via Shipton La, (Pass) 4229m, over the Khongma La, Sano Pokhari Danda, Shipton La, and Keke La, O/N Camp tent,

Day 10: Trek Dobate-Yangle Kharka - 6/7hrs walk, Elevation: 3635m, 430m ascent/600m descent, 9.7km

Trek to Yangle Kharka, following Barun River upstream, O/N Camp tent,

Day 11: Trek Yangle Kharka-Langmale Kharka - 5/6hrs walk, Elevation: 4410m, 758 ascent, 10.5km

Trek to Langmale Kharka, O/N Camp tent,

Day 12: rest at Langmale Kharka, - Elevation: 4410m,

Acclimatization, rest at Langmale Kharka, little hiking, O/N Camp tent,

Day 13: Trek Langmale Kharka-Sherson, - 5hrs walk, Elevation: 4500m, 5.7km,

Trek to Sherson, O/N Camp tent,

Day 14: Trek Sherson-Makalu Base Camp, - 4hrs walk, Elevation: 4900m,400m ascent, 4km

Trek to Makalu Base Camp, O/N Camp tent,

Day 15: Day exploring around Makalu Base Camp, - 3hrs walk, Elevation: 4900m,

Hiking around Makalu Base camp, O/N Camp tent,

Day 16: Return trip, Back same trail. trek Makalu BC-Yangle Kharka, - 6/7hrs walk, 122m ascent/1,214m descent, 16km,

Return to trek Yangle Kharka, O/N Camp tent,

Day 17: Trek Yangle Kharka-Dobate, - 6/7hrs walk, 640m ascent/412m descent, 9.3km,

Trek to Dobate, O/N Camp tent,

Day 18: Trek Dobate-Khongma Danda, - 5/6hrs walk, 600m ascent/852m descent, 7.6km

Trek to Khongma Danda, O/N Camp tent,

Day 19: Trek Khongma Danda-Tashigaon, - 4/5hrs walk, 80m ascent/450m descent, 6.4km,

Trek to Tashigaun, O/N Camp tent,

Day 20: Trek Tashi gaun-Seduwa, - 4/5hrs walk, 150m ascent/700m descent, 8.9km,

Trek to Seduwa, O/N Camp tent

Day 21: Trek Setuwa-Num, - 5/6hrs walk, 800m ascent/800m descent, 8km,

Trek to Num, O/N Camp tent,

Day 22: Drive Num-Tumlingtar - 51 km./31 miles, 3/4hrs drive,

Drive to Tumlingtar, O/N Guest house,

Day 23: Fly Tumlingtar-Kathmandu, - 1 hrs flight, 1350m,

Flight to Kathmandu, we pick you up from Kathmandu domestic airport to your hotel. O/N same hotel with BB,

Day 24: Final Departure, - Kathmandu international airport,

We drop you in our private vehicle to the international airport.

COST INCLUDES: -

An experienced, English-speaking Guide and Sherpa Helper
Domestic flights and transfers
Good standard hotel in Kathmandu, twin share, bed and breakfast basis
All meals on trek including tea and coffee
All road transport by private vehicles
Simple tea house accommodation on trek: full board basis. Mainly twin share, but possibly some quad or dormitory rooms. Camping equipment Kitchen tent, Toilet tent, Dining tent and Members tent,
Morning bed-tea on trek in camping on tent and an evening fill up of your water bottle with drinking water
Sherpa helper/porters properly insurance and equipped,

COST EXCLUDES: -

Travel insurance
Visa fees
Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu
Optional trips and High risky rescue as Helicopter, or horse during trek
Tips for staff and Guide,

Details Itinerary will be provided on Inquiry,