Makalu Base Camp Trek
Difficulty:
Duration : 22 days
Season: Autumn and Spring
Trek at a Glance
The Makalu Base Camp Trek takes place in eastern Nepal, in a remote and little-visited region, far from the major trekking routes. This adventure is ideal for hikers seeking authenticity and wild landscapes in the heart of the Himalayas.
The route reaches an altitude of 4,870 meters, within Makalu Barun National Park, renowned for its rich biodiversity and spectacular scenery. It crosses the Arun and Barun valleys, alternating between lush forests, traditional villages, and alpine landscapes, while offering an immersive cultural experience among the local communities.
Lasting approximately 22 days, this challenging trek is intended for experienced trekkers with excellent physical fitness. It is best undertaken in spring and autumn, with accommodation in lodges or camping, depending on the size of the group.
Makalu Base Camp Trek
Detailed itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350m / 4,428ft)
After arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) of Kathmandu, a representative from Rêve d’Himalaya Trekking will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. In the evening there will be a welcome dinner in a traditional Nepali Restaurant where we will be able to enjoy authentic Nepali cuisine with a brief cultural program. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.
Day 2: Kathmandu: Sightseeing and trek Preparation
After breakfast you start a guided tour to two of the most historical and spiritual attractions in Kathmandu which are all listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. You can chose between the historic Durbar Square, the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, the famous ‘Monkey Temple’ (Swayambhunath) and Buddhist shrine (Bouddhanath), which is the site of one of the largest stupas in the world. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.
Day 03: Fly from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar (258 m / 1,000ft): 50 mins flight then drive to Chichila (1,980m / 6,497ft): 3-4 hour drive
With thrills and adventures expectation in your minds, you kick off your journey with an early morning flight to Tumlingtar (note that you should check-in for this domestic flights at least one hour prior to the flight schedule; also, flights are frequently subject to delay). During the flight, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of the mountains, hills, and rivers that make up the Nepalese landscape. You arrive in Tumlingtar, where you can rest for an hour or two. You then drive by jeep to the Gurung village of Chichila through a green landscape. Overnight stay in Chichila.
Day 04: Chichila to Num (1,560m / 5,118 ft): 6-7 hours hike
On the first day of your trek, you walk through lush Himalayan forests of rhododendron and pass some beautiful small villages before reaching Num. We can get a scant glimpse of the Himalayas from here. Overnight stay in Num.
Day 05: Num to Seduwa (1,500m / 4,921 ft): 6-7 hours hike
Crossing over the Barun River using a wooden bridge, you enter the Makalu Barun Conservation Area. Your guide will deal with the administrative formalities and the legal permits to be submitted for the trek. The trail enters a dense forests of juniper and rhododendron and passes few villages to finally reach Seduwa. Overnight stay in Seduwa.
Day 06: Seduwa to Tashigaon (2,100m / 6,889 ft): 4-5 hours hike
The trail progresses between the Isuwa Khola (river) and Kusuwa Khola (river) on each side. You finally take a wooden bridge to cross the Isuwa Khola and pass several small villages and forests. After trekking for a couple of hours and crossing a bridge, you reach the Sherpa village of Tashigaon, with a magnificent view on the Himalayas. Overnight stay in Tashigaon.
Day 07: Tashigaon to Khongma Danda (3,500m / 11,483 ft): 6-7 hours hike
This will be a tough day today as you walk on steep trails on your way to Khongma Danda. You climb stone stairs and come across a few lakes and fields with grazing yaks, blue sheep, and other Himalayan cattle. Upon reaching Unshisa, you enter Makalu Barun National Park. After 7 hours of trek, you reach Khongma Danda. Overnight stay in Khongma Danda.
Day 08: Khongma Danda: Acclimatization Day
To acclimatize yourselves to the high altitude, you take a break today. As a light program, you can visit some nearby Buddhist monasteries and learn about Sherpa culture and ways of life from the locals. Overnight stay in Khongma Danda.
Day 09: Khongma Danda via Keke La pass (4,125m/13,533ft) to Dobate (3650m / 11,975 ft ): 6-7 hours hike
You have to cross four passes today to reach Dobate. You start by climbing up to the Kauma La pass (3603m/11,820ft) and then head on to the Keke La pass (4125m/13,533ft). You hike further to until the Shipton La pass (4170m/13,681), where you discover the beautiful Kalo Pokhari Lake. You continue your trek for a couple of hours and reach the Tutu La pass (4080m/13,385ft) before eventually reaching Dobate. From here you have a stunning view of Mr.Chamlang (7319m/24,012ft), Peak VI (6524m/21,404ft), Peak VII (6,758m/22,172ft), and other Himalaya peaks. Overnight stay in Dobate.
Day 10: Dobate to Yangri Kharka (3,557m / 11,670 ft): 6-7 hours hike
Trekking through dense rhododendron forests, you cross the Barun River and trek towards Yangri Kharka. On your way, you may come across yaks grazing in the field. The yaks are the chief transportation means in these regions. You eventually reach Yangri Kharka. Overnight stay in Yangri Kharka.
Day 11: Yangri Kharka to Langmale Kharka: (4,410m / 14,468ft): 5-6 hours hike
You walk alongside a lush Himalayan forest and cross a couple of wooden bridges over small streams to reach Merek. While enjoying a mesmerizing view of the Himalayas, you continue your trek on moraines terrain and pass small Himalayan villages to reach Langmale Kharka. Overnight stay in Langmale Kharka.
Day 12: Langmale Kharka to Makalu Base Camp: (4,870m / 15,978ft): 6-7 hours hike
Climbing on a steep trail alongside Barun Nadi, you walk through icy glaciers and ridges to reach Shershong. You can admire the beauty of Mt. Makalu (8481m / 34,300ft) on your way to the base camp which lies an hour or two ahead. The panorama of the Himalayas from the base camp is overhelming. Overnight stay at Makalu Base Camp.
Day 13: Explore Makalu Base Camp
Today, we explore the Makalu Base Camp vicinity with a superb panorama of the Makalu south face, the Everest, the Lhots, and the other peaks of eastern Nepal. You can admire the beauty of the surrounding glaciers and glacial lakes. You can still hike a little upwards to the Barun Glacier and make a side trip to the tranquil settlement of Barun Pokhari. Overnight stay at Makalu Base Camp.
Day 14: Makalu Base Camp to Yangri Kharka (3,557m / 11,670 ft): 6-7 hours hike
After our successful trek to Makalu Base Camp, we bid farewell and descend back to Yangri Kharka. Trekking through sparse forests along the rocky trails, you pass small villages of Shershong, Langmale Kharka, and Merek on your way. Overnight stay at Yangri Kharka.
Day 15: Yangri Kharka to Dobate (3650m / 11,975 ft): 6-7 hours hike
Trekking alongside the free-flowing Barun River, you walk through alpine forests, pass rocky ridges, and cross few small streams to finally reach Dobate. You will admire the beauty of nature while descending to Dobate. On your way, you may come across some yaks, snow pigeons, and blue sheep. Overnight stay in Dobate.
Day 16: Trek from Dobate to Khongma Danda Danda (3,500m / 11,483 ft): 5-6 hours hike
You leave Dobate for Khongma Danda. The trail passes rhododendron, juniper, and fir forests to reach Mumbuk. From Mumbuk, you cross the Tutu La pass (4080m), the Shipton La pass (4170m), the Keke La pass (4127m), and the Kauma La pass (3603m) to finally reach Khongma Danda. Overnight stay in Khongma Danda.
Day 17: Trek from Khongma Danda to Tashigaon (2,100m / 6,890ft): 4-5 hours hike
Your trail leads through dense forests and passes few lakes on your way back to Tashigaon. Trekking along steep rocky trails, you exit Makalu Barun National Park. After a trek for 5 hours you return to the beautiful Sherpa village of Tashigaon. Overnight stay in Tashigaon.
Day 18: Trek from Tashigaon to Seduwa (1,500m / 4,922 ft): 4-5 hours hike
Trekking along small streams, you pass the isolated valley of the Barun River and its small settlements. Your trail follows the Isuwa Khola (river) on one side and the Hingsa Khola (river) on the other. You reach Seduwa after 5 hours of trek. Overnight in Seduwa.
Day 19: Trek from Seduwa to Num (1,560m / 5119ft): 5-6 hours hike
You trek across several dense rhododendron and bamboo forests and cross the Arun River to exit Makalu Barun Conservation Area. You pass a small rural settlement of Sherpas on your way to Num which you reach after a couple of hours hiking. Overnight stay in Num.
Day 20: Num to Tumlingtar (285m / 1000ft): 6-7 hours hike
Today is the last day of our trek. Walking on a steep trails you enjoy a beautiful panorama of Mt. Makalu (8481m) for the last time before reaching Tumlingtar. While hiking, you can observe the harmony of habitants of different ethnic groups like Rai, Gurung, Kshetri and Brahaman living together. After trekking for 7 hours, you reach Tumlingtar. Overnight in Tumlingtar.
Day 21: Tumlingtar to Kathmandu: 50 mins flight
After ending your trek successful, you fly back to the capital enjoying the beautiful aerial view of the mountains. Upon arriving in Kathmandu, feel free to spend your leisure time as you please for the rest of the day. In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner hosted by Rêve d’Himalaya Trekking to celebrate the successful completion of your trip. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.
Day 22 : Final departure
Your journey in Nepal comes to an end today! A Rêve d’Himalaya Trekking representative will drop you off at the international airport where you have to be for the check-in procedure approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight time. On your way to home, you have plenty of time to plan your next adventure in the wonderful country of Nepal.
Useful Information
Difficulty: Difficult
Hiking days: 22 days
Season: Autumn and Spring
Ready to book your trek?
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