Makalu Base Camp Trek

Welcome to Nepal! As you approach the Himalayan nation from the air, we are waiting to receive you outside the international airport at Kathmandu. Our airport representative will be holding a name card of our company, so it will be easier to recognize him. After a warm welcome, you will then be transferred to your respective hotel via a private vehicle car, van, bus (depending upon the size of the group). After some refreshments, you can either rest or stroll down the street of Thamel and be familiar with the neighborhood. Later, you will be visited by our office representative for a briefing about our upcoming program. In the evening, you are invited to a welcome dinner hosted by our company in a nearby cultural restaurant which includes typical Nepali cuisine and a cultural performance. Overnight at your hotel (inclusive breakfast). Perhaps, this might be your first night in the city of the Himalayas!

Kathmandu the city holds numerous ancient temples, old arts, and heritage sites. The Katmandu valley tour is an experience most travelers would not want to miss while in Nepal! We will organize a guided tour to the famous world heritage sites which includes Syambhunath (The Monkey Temple), Pashupatinath Temple (The Largest Temple), Boudhanath Stupa, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. You will get some unique insights into the old arts, culture, and history of Nepal. All these sites carry a lot of cultural and historical significances which are definitely worth visiting. At the end of the day, you will be driven back to your hotel. Later, our senior Sherpa guide will provide a briefing about the Makalu Base Camp Trek. If you haven’t bought the trekking gears and necessary items yet, there are plenty of shops available in Thamel from where you can buy at a reasonable price. Overnight at the same hotel inclusive breakfast.

On the following day, you will be driven to the Kathmandu airport to catch your domestic flight to Tumlingtar. It will be a scenic flight which usually takes around 50 minutes, and if you are lucky enough not to have any clouds, you will have great mountain views from the air! Upon landing at Tumlingtar, we take a half an hour drive on a zigzag road uphill to Kandbari, a major town in the Sankhuwasabha District of north-eastern Nepal. As you head upwards passing the fields of corn, bamboo, and sal trees, you can observe the typical rural life of Nepal. You continue uphill on a zigzag dirt-road until the highest point at 1,960m before a short descend to Chicula (1,900m), a small town with a police checkpoint where you have to check-in your trekking permit. En route, there are ample enjoyable views of the surrounding arboreal hillsides. From Chicula, it’s a bumpy drive most of the way to Num. Don’t be surprised if your vehicle gets temporarily stuck, either on the rocky, muddy road or behind the grounded truck. You can rely on the locals to help get you out of a situation. Overnight at a tented camp on full board meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner).

Today we begin our trek by taking a steep descent to the Arun River, which takes around two hours. Then, it is a big climb to Seduwa, losing, and regaining altitude on the same day. The walk all the way down to the river (770m) is on big stone steps, and is through cardamom crops; the largest cash crop in the area. It’s very hot, but the natural backdrop is rural Nepal at its best. Crossing the suspension bridge over the Arun River, we begin the long, zigzag ascent to Seduwa, passing bustling village life and groves of giant bamboo. Your guide will require to visit the Makalu-Baron National Park checkpoint. There is a school in Seduwa, as well as many houses, small shops, and a few tea-houses dispersed across the hillside. Overnight at a tented camp on full board meals.

On the second day of our trek, we make a gradual ascent high above the Kasuwa Khola to Gyang (1770m). Passing the school at Gyang, it is a gentle walk through forested areas and terraced fields to Hindrungma, and Rupisa village. We come across meadows and several streams before arriving at the Sherpa village of Tashi Gaon. Overnight at a tented camp on full board meals.

We start today’s trek by climbing over the ridge and ascending through forests to a stream to reach a ridge with a small campsite. From the campsite, the trail levels out and then ascends to a shepherds’ hut Chipla atop another ridge. Climbing two small streams, we switchback up the ridge in the forest to a Kharka at 2900 meters and reach up to a Saddle and Unshisha, a tiny meadow. Here the trail joins the ridge that separates the Kasuwa and Iswa drainages. From here the trail gets steeper on a series of stone stairs to Dhara Kharka, a grazing land atop the ridge. Then, we move over a hillock and take a short descend before arriving at Kauma. Overnight at a tented camp on full board meals.

Today we follow the ridge for a while before ascending on stone staircases. After few false summits, the trail swings left off the ridge to a small lake. Then, we gently climb up a narrow rocky gorge to the Kike La Pass (4,127 meters). From the pass, we descend to another lake before making a steep ascent through the large rock to the Tutu la. We then descend for about 150 meters into thin rhododendron forests to a leveled area. The final descent is through a forest of rhododendrons and firs to Mumbuk (3570m), a forest camp on a grassy slope about 100 meters above a small stream. We camp at Mumbuk with the backdrop of impressive snow-capped peaks visible through the trees. Overnight at a tented camp on full board meals.

The following day, we descend for about 500 meters on a steep gorge with a stream. Then, we swing left through fir forests, along the side of Barun Valley. Moving along a hazy trail, we cross a 200-meter-long area before following the river to a Kharka (Grazing Land). Finally, after climbing Yangle Kharka by crossing to the north of Barun River, we reach Nhe Kharka, where we set our camp. On the south side of the valley, there is a small monastery that offers stunning mountain views. As days pass by, we can already feel the sudden changes in temperature with the gain of heights. Overnight at a tented camp on full board meals.

From Nhe Kharka, we follow the northern bank of the Barun Khola for a while before crossing a wooden bridge. Making a huge S-shaped bend, the walls of the Barun Valley rises almost vertically 1500 to 2000 meters above the river. But, the trail gently ascends as we approach Ripok Kharka. Still, we are on the north side of the Barun, and the trail bends to the west, leaving the rhododendron forests for the alpine zone. The trail above Ripok kharka crosses a rocky ridge with few huts and then climbs alongside the lateral moraine formed by the Barun Glacier. There is splendid scenery of Pyramid Peak, Peak 3, Peak 4, Peak 5, and Chamlang, though Makalu is not yet visible. The glacier turns slightly north as we pass a ridge. As we enter an alluvial valley, Makalu pops into view just before we arrive at Sherson (4615m). Overnight in a tented camp on full board meals.

Beyond the Sherson, we stay to the right in a gorge on the east side of the valley. Making a gradual descent to a minor pass about 100 metes above MBC (Makalu Base Camp). From there, we descend to a stream, cross on rocks to the base camp on the west bank of the stream. From here we get impressive views of the large south face of Mt. Makalu rising across from base camp. An ascent of this buttress yields views of Baruntse (7220 meters), Peak 6, 7; Lhotse and Everest complete the panorama. Overnight at Sherson in a tented camp (Full board meals).

One option today which assures the most splendid 360-degree views is to climb to the crest at an elevation of around 5,300m. To get there, we cross the river on the wooden bridge and climb on an ill-defined trail for about 3 hours. From this viewpoint, you can see close-up views of Makalu, Peak 4, Peak 6, Peak 7, as well as impressive views of Nuptse, Lhotse, and Everest. Once you’ve had an exclusive experience of mountain drama, re-trace your steps back to the base camp.

Other options include following a path beyond the base camp to view the beautiful lakes. There is also a small hill at the head of base camp marked with prayer flags which take around an hour’s hike and back and there is a much shorter crest climb you can do just above the base camp. Or you can just take a rest at your camp. Overnight at the same camp with full board meals.

Leaving the base camp, it’s time to retrace our steps back to Barun Balley towards Nhe Kharka. En route, we can enjoy the alternative views of the scenery we’ve had while heading to the base camp. Overnight at Nhe Kharka in a tented camp inclusive Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

From Nhe Kharka, we continue our journey by making a descend through the forest to Mumbuk. Once again we will witness the beautiful sunset over the top of Chamlang and Makalu. Overnight at a tented camp on full board meals.

Leaving Mumbuk, we pass across Shipton La before making a descent to Kauma. Overnight at Kauma on full board meals.

On the following day, we make a long steep descent down to Tashi Gaon. At Tashi Gaon, we spend the rest of the day at leisure and recover from the high altitude. Overnight at Tashi Gaon on a tented camp. Full board meals included.

From Tashi Gaon, we retrace our way back to Sedua by descending the Kasuwa Khola Valley then turning south down the west bank of the Arun River. After Sedua, we once again descend gently to Mulgaon and further continue steep downhill on a rocky trail through fields of barley and corn to the Kasuwa Khola. Crossing the river on a suspension bridge (760 meters elevation from sea level), the track now enters the hot bottomlands of the Arun Valley. The area is temporarily settled by the Rai and Chettri farmers who live in villages on the highland above. Passing the settlements, we continue along the rocky trail to Balung. Overnight in a tented camp at Balung. Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.

The trail now continues through temporary farming settlements to the spread-out Rai village of Walung (880m). Descending to the Apsawa River we cross a suspension bridge then make a steep climb to Chhayang, a charming Rai village (800m) with a substantial bamboo-pipe water supply. Then, the trail crosses a stream (at 590m) and continues some ups and down to arrive at Parangbu, a wonderful camping spot amid rice fields on the river banks of Arun Khola. Marching further, we traverse through forests and pass several small streams to reach Pukuwa. Overnight at tented camp on full board meals.

The trail now traverses through forests and some remarkable high and narrow tracks as it ascends over rocky crests. Eventually, the route enters a bottomlands intense cultivation, crosses a massive landslide, and some more scrubland jungle before making a descent to Tome (520m). After Tome, the Arun Valley turns wider and more U-shaped. The trail further climbs over another crest on a narrow, steep stairway of rock steps. From the top of the crest (530m), the trail makes descend to a pleasing camp spot of the riverbanks of the Sankhuwa Khola (370m). The charming Chhetri village of Bumling lies just across on the other side of the river. Overnight at a tented camp on full board meals.

Leaving Bumling, we pass through the fields of lower Bumling, then climb over a crest and descend to the Inkhuwa Khola. After crossing the river on a wobbly wooden plank bridge, the trail now follows the river downstream to its confluence with the Arun River. Then following the Arun downstream, the trail passes through Chyawabesi before making a short ascent to the plain land of Tumlingtar. From here, it’s a few km of complete leveled walking to the airfield. Overnight at a Tented camp on full board meals.

After a hot breakfast, we catch an early return flight to Kathmandu. Upon arrival at Kathmandu airport, you will be transferred to your respective hotel. Finally, after about 3 weeks of a long journey, you can finally take a relaxing hot shower at the cozy hotel in Kathmandu. Rest of the day, you can either relax or explore the places in Kathmandu you haven’t visited yet. Also, it is the last-hour to buy some souvenirs for you and for your loved ones. Congratulations! You made it happen! In the evening we will host a farewell dinner for the successful completion of the Makalu Base Camp Trek. Overnight at the hotel inclusive breakfast.

It’s finally a time to bid farewell to this beautiful Himalayan nation. It was an honor for giving us an opportunity to serve you! And a wonderful memory that reflects on the precious time spent together. Our vehicle and escorts will be on standby to drop you at the international airport 3 hours prior to catching your flight back home! We pray for your safe journey and hope to see you again! someday! Bon Voyage!!!