Makalu Base Camp Trek

Makalu Base Camp Trek

Trip Facts

(company rating)
Duration:18 days
accommodation: Hotel / Teahouse
Height: 5,250 m
Best Season: Sep, Oct, Nov, April & May
Grade: Moderate
Activity: Trekking
Transportation: Flight & Charter Jeep
Treks Type: Tea- House

Trip Overview

Makalu Base Camp trek takes you to high-altitude landscapes that are snow-covered, pristine landscapes and the traditional Himalayan life on a single hike towards Makalu Base Camp (5250 m) which is currently officially designated Makalu-Barun National Park as well as a Conservation Area. Mt. Makalu (8463 metres) is the fifth-highest summit on the planet. This Makalu Base trekking is an absolute adventure with stunning scenery that will excite throughout your journey.

This trek is one of the most remote and infrequently visited regions of Nepal. It is located in the Barun valley. Barun valley is part of an enormous international protected zone under agreements between government officials of Nepal and China comprising 2330 sq. kilometers in National Park and 830 sq. km of conservation area in Nepal in the country alone.

Makalu Base Camp Trek thus regarded as an inaccessible trek. A few Trekkers and travelers who have completed even this Everest Base Camp trek feel that this Makalu Trek as the harder trek because the terrains are more difficult and there are lots of stairs made of stone and rocky pathways as well as landslip areas. Narrow trails and covered in snow.

This remote and wild trek towards Makalu Base Camp is the most sought-after trekking spot among solo trekkers, offering an amazing chance to experience the magnificent Himalayas as well as high-altitude terrains and snow-covered landscapes. The lodsge that are the most basic along the trek trails are that we can enjoy hot and delicious food such as soups as well as Masala Tea. Makalu Trekking Trail is lined with Buddhist zones and you will cross numerous Manes as well as Buddhist Prayer flags adorned on the highs when we are crossing , which provides a wonderful Buddhist feeling.

Outline Itinerary

DayDay Acitivity
Day 01: Fly from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar then over night stay in tumlingtar or drive to Chichila (1,980m/6497ft): 50 mins flight, 3-4 hour drive
Day 02: Trek from Chichila to Num (1,560m/5119ft): 6-7 hours
Day 03: Trek from Num to Seduwa (1,500m/4922 ft): 6-7 hours
Day 04: Trek from Seduwa to Tashigaon (2,100m/6890ft): 4-5 hours
Day 05: Trek from Tashigaon to Khongma Danda (3,500m/11,483 ft): 6-7 hours
Day 06: Trek from Khongma Danda to Dobate: 6-7 hours
Day 07: Trek from Dobate to Yangri Kharka (3,557m/11,670 ft): 6-7 hours
Day 08: Trek from Yangri Kharka to Langmale Kharka: (4,410m/14,468ft): 5-6 hours
Day 09: Trek from Langmale Kharka to Makalu Base Camp: (4,870m/15,978ft): 6-7 hours
Day 10: Explore Makalu Base Camp
Day 11: Trek from Makalu Base Camp to Yangle Kharka: 6-7 hours
Day 12: Trek from Yangle Kharka to Dobate: 6-7 hours
Day 13: Trek from Dobate to Khongma Danda: 5-6 hours
Day 14: Trek from Khongma Danda to Tashigaon: 4-5 hours
Day 15: Trek from Tashigaon to Seduwa: 4-5 hours
Day 16: Trek from Seduwa to Num: 5-6 hours
Day 17: Jeep from Num to Tumlingtar: 6-7 hours
Day 18: Tumlingtar to Kathmandu: 50 mins flight

Detail Itinerary

we arrive in Tumlingtar, where we rest for an hour or two. We then drive to the Gurung village of Chichila with greenery filling up our landscape. Overnight at a lodge in Chichila.

AccomodationOver night at Star Hotel
MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

On the first day of our trek, we trek through lush Himalayan forests of rhododendron and pass some beautiful small villages to reach Num. We can get a scant glimpse of the Himalayas from Num. Overnight at a lodge.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

Crossing a suspension bridge over Barun River, we enter the Makalu Barun Conservation Area. Our guide will deal with all kinds of legal permits for the trek. We trek through dense forests of juniper and rhododendron passing few villages to finally reach Seduwa. Overnight in a lodge.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

Trekking with Isuwa Khola and Kusuwa Khola on each side, we cross a wooden bridge over Isuwa Khola and pass several small villages and forests. After trekking for a couple of hours and crossing the bridge, we reach the Sherpa village of Tashigaon. The vista of the Himalayas is magnificent from Tashigaon. Overnight at tea house.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

We may have a tough day today as we walk on steep trails on our way to Khongma Danda. . Upon reaching Unshisa, we enter Makalu Barun National Park. After 7 hours of trek, we reach Khongma Danda. Overnight at a homestay in Khongma Danda.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

Today will be a tough day for us as we have to pass four passes to reach Dobate. We start with climbing over Kauma La Pass (3603m) and then head on to Keke La Pass (4127m). We further climb on to Shipton La pass (4170m), where we stumble across beautiful Kalo Pokhari Lake. Then, we trek for a couple of hours and pass Tutu La Pass (4080m) to finally reach Dobate. We relish the alluring view of Chamlang (7319m), Peak 6 (6524m), Peak 7 (6758m), and the other Himalayas from Dobate. Overnight at a lodge in Dobate.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

Trekking through dense rhododendron forests, we cross Barun River and trek towards Yangri Kharka. On our way, we may come across yaks grazing in the field. The yaks are the chief transportation means in these regions. After 7 hours of trek, we reach Yangri Kharka. Overnight at a lodge.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

We trek along the lush Himalayan forests and cross a couple of wooden bridges over small streams to reach Merek. Chasing the mesmerizing view of the Himalayas, we continue our trek walking on moraines and pass small Himalayan villages to reach Langmale Kharka. Overnight at a homestay.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

Climbing on a steep trail alongside Barun Nadi, we walk through icy glaciers and ridges to reach Shershong. We relish the beauty of Mt. Makalu (8481m) on our way to the base camp. We trek for an hour or two to finally reach Makalu Base Camp. The panorama of the Himalayas from the base camp is jaw-dropping. Overnight at Makalu Base Camp.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

Today, we explore the Makalu Base Camp vicinity with a superb panorama of Makalu from the south face, Everest (8848m), Lhotse (8516m), and the other Himalayas in eastern Nepal. We relish the beauty of the surrounding glaciers and glacial lakes. We can also hike a little up to Barun Glacier and make a side trip to the tranquil Barun Pokhari. Overnight at Makalu Base Camp.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

After our successful trek to Makalu Base Camp, we bid farewell to the base camp and descend to Yangrle Kharka. Trekking through sparse forests along the rocky trails, we pass small villages of Shershong, Langmale Kharka, and Merek on our way to Yangri Kharka. Overnight at a lodge.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

Trekking along free-flowing Barun River, we pass alpine forests, rocky ridges, and few small streams to finally reach Dobate. We relish the beauty of nature while descending to Dobate. On our way, we may come across some yaks, snow pigeons, and blue sheep. Overnight at a lodge in Dobate.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

Today, we leave Dobate for Khongma Danda. We trek along rhododendron, juniper, and fir forests to reach Mumbuk. From Mumbuk, we cross Tutu La Pass (4080m), Shipton La Pass (4170m), Keke La Pass (4127m), and Kauma La Pass (3603m) to finally reach Khongma Danda after 7 hours of trek. Overnight at a lodge.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

We trek through dense forests and pass few lakes on our way back to Tashigaon. Trekking along steep rocky trails, we exit Makalu Barun National Park as we trek for 5 hours to enter the beautiful Sherpa village of Tashigaon. Overnight at a lodge in Tashigaon.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

Trekking along small streams, we pass the isolated valley of the Barun River through small settlements. We trek with Isuwa Khola on one side and Hingsa Khola on the other side to reach Seduwa after 5 hours of trek. Overnight at a lodge in Seduwa.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

We trek across several dense rhododendron and bamboo forests and cross Arun River to exit Makalu Barun Conservation Area. We pass a small rural settlement of Sherpas on our way to Num. We then trek for a couple of hours to reach the Sherpa village of Num. Overnight at a lodge in Num.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

Today is the last day of our trek. We relish the joy of trekking along steep trials with the beautiful panorama of Mt. Makalu (8481m) for the last time before reaching Tumlingtar. After trekking for 7 hours, we reach Tumlingtar.by local jeep. Overnight at a lodge.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

After a successful trek, we fly back to the capital enjoying the beautiful aerial view of the mountains. Feel free to spend your leisure time as you please. Overnight at a hotel.

MealsBreakfast Lunch Dinner

Cost Include

  • Airport pickup and drop off 
  • TIMS card & permit fees 
  • Trekking guide & porter(normally 1 porter for 2 persons) 
  • Kathmandu – Tumlingtar– Kathmandu by Flight
  • Tumlingtar– Num- Tumlingtar by private vehicle 
  • Tumlingtar 1 Nights Accomodation with the B B Plan
  • Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner during the trekking time(3 meals a day) 
  • All accommodation in the mentioned hotel and tea houses

Cost Exclude

  • Nepal Visa fees 
  • International airfare 
  • Necessary trekking equipment and things as per checklist 
  • Any expenses incurred in emergency evacuation 
  • Any transportation cost outside of the regular itinerary 
  • Personal expenses such as insurance, medical charges, laundry, shopping, liquor, hot shower and WiFi etc 
  • Cost arising by flight cancellation/road blockades/landslides and reasons beyond our control
  • Tips for driver, guide & porter [It is expected]