Makalu Base Camp Trek

Makalu Base Camp Trek

Makalu Base Camp Trek yet another trekking destination that is well appreciated by the trekkers. Makalu with the altitude of 8475m is the 5th highest mountain in the world known for its utterly marvelous untouched natural beauty.

Trip Duration:

20 Days

Group Size:

1-12 people

Maximum altitude:

4,870m/15,978ft

Best Season:

Autumn / Spring

Transportation:

Private car / bus

Trekking grade:

Moderate

Trek Start from:

Kathmandu, Nepal

Trek End at:

Kathmandu

Overview of Makalu Base Camp Trek

Makalu Base Camp Trek yet another trekking destination that is well appreciated by the trekkers. Makalu with the altitude of 8475m is the 5th highest mountain in the world known for its utterly marvelous untouched natural beauty. Situated very close to Everest region Makalu Base Camp Trek takes you through the beautiful Makalu Barun National Park and Conservation Area. The park is recognized internationally for its exquisiteness along with the diversity of flora and fauna. Some of the endangered species of flora and fauna found in the park includes Rhododendrons, Orchids, Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Musk deer, Wild boar, Wild Yak, Himalayan Thar along with more 420 species of native as well as migratory birds. Some locales have also informed about the view of elusive Himalayan giant the Yeti time and again.

Makalu Base Camp Trek begins from Tumlingtar which is situated in mid-eastern Nepal which is an hour away flight from Kathmandu. The actual walk begins from Chiclila which is 3-hour’s drive from Tumlingtar. Following the beautiful Barun river valley in the Makalu Barun National Park and conservation area we will cross passes like Shipton La, Keke La and lakes like Kalopokhari all the way to Base Camp which is situated at the altitude of 5000m. On the way we will be awed by the jaw dropping view of Mt Makalu along with Everest, Lhotse, Chamlang, Baruntse with the hodgepodge of many others. The whole area gives you the vibe of remote wilderness enclosing some of the pristine forests and alpine meadows of Nepal.

Makalu Base Camp Trek require utmost 5-6hours of walk daily. Walking to the high mountains through the thrilling passes is the part of your adventure journey. Anyone with prior trekking experience and in good shape can make through this fairly challenging trek. The trek is purely a camping trek and no lodges are available in the route

Makalu Base Camp Trek Itinerary

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As soon as you land on the Tribhuwan International Airport our representative will pick you and transfer to the hotel.

Food
Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge
Elevation
1330

Enjoy the 45minutes morning flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar through the Himalayas. As we reach Tumlingtar we will meet our trek crew, have lunch and then drive in 4WD vehicles through a rough road to Chichila. Stay overnight in camp.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge
Elevation
1840

We will start with a gradual uphill climb through the forest for about 2hours and then trail descends by a small river where you walk in a flat land for around one hour to reach Num. Num is a small village with many teahouses offering a distant view of Himalayas.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge
Elevation
1500

Leaving Num behind us the trail steeply descends through the forests and terraced fields to Arun River. Crossing a suspension bridge the trail ascends through forests and few villages taking us to the village of Sedua. There is a check post and an office of Makalu Conservation Area. Stay overnight at camp in Sedua.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge
Elevation
1493

Initially the trail slightly goes uphill but major part of the walk is flat and easy through the bushes. Passing the hillside through quiet villages and small paddy fields we will reach to the village of Tashigaon. Tashigaon is a big Sherpa village surrounded by dense forest with prayer flags fluttering in the wild. Stay overnight at camp.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge
Elevation
2057

We will start the walk through the dense forest and after a gradual uphill climb we will arrive to a sort of alpine meadow. After having lunch we will climb to a ridge and finally arrive in a grazing area at Kauma Kharka. Stay overnight in camp.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge
Elevation
3500

We will start with a steep climb towards the summit of Shipton La(4229m) which takes few hours. The pass offers the superb Mountain View. After crossing the pass we will make our way through the Rhododendron forest to the beautiful valley of Dobato. Stay overnight in camp.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge
Elevation
3700

Leaving Dobato behind us the trail steeply descends through the Rhododendron Forest of Barun River. Following the River we will arrive to our high pasture campsite in Yangri Kharka which is situated in the base of the valley. Stay overnight in camp.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge
Elevation
3620

Following the river upstream and witness the regal vista of Himalayas we will trek to an alpine meadow of Lengmale Kharka for overnight stay.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge
Elevation
4400

We will start the climb through Yak pastures and boulder fields in a complete high alpine environment to Sherson. From Sherson the southern flank of Mt Makalu and Barun glacier comes into view. Stay overnight in camp.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge
Elevation
4500

Climb to Makalu Base Camp for the breathtaking views on the way. Return back to the campsite have lunch and climb to 5000m on the ridge to the north for the views of Makalu, Cho Oyu, Nuptse, Everest and many other. Stay overnight in camp in Sherson.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge
Elevation
5100

We will descend down to the valley following Barun River which finally takes us to Yangri Kharka.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge

The trail descends through the small bushes of Rhododendron for around 4hours. Later the path goes uphill through the jungle all the way to Dobato. Stay overnight in camp.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge

Retracing our path back we will re-cross the Shipton La pass and descend down to Kauma Kharka. Stay overnight in camp.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge

We will descend for around 6hours through the dense forest to Sedua via Tashigaon. Stay overnight in camp.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Hotel

We will start the day with a steep descend to Arun River Valley. Crossing the River the trail goes uphill through a ridge which takes us to Num.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge

The trek starts early in the morning through the ridge which takes us to Chichila. From here we will catch a ride back to Tumlingtar. Stay overnight in camp.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Lodge

Early in the morning we will catch a scenic flight back to Kathmandu over the Himalayas. After having lunch we will have plenty of time for sightseeing and shopping.

Food
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accomodation
Hotel
Elevation
1330

You will be transferred to Tribhuwan International airport for your onward journey.

 

Food
Breakfast

Makalu Base Camp Trek Include / Exclude

Cost Includes

  • Pickups and drops from hotels and airport
  • 3-star hotel accomodation in Kathmandu and teahouses during the trek
  • Breakfast in Kathmandu including welcome dinner.
  • Comfortable private vehicle transportation. 
  • An experienced English-speaking trek leader (trekking guide), assistant trek leader (4 trekkers: 1 assistant guide) and Porters to carry luggage (2 trekkers:1 porter) including their salary, insurance, equipment, flight, food and lodging
  • Down jacket, four seasonal sleeping bag, duffel bag and trekking map (down jacket and sleeping bag are to be returned after trip completion)
  • All necessary paper work and permits (National park permit, TIMS )
  • A comprehensive medical kit
  • All government and local taxes

Cost Excludes

  • Nepalese visa fee
  • International airfare to and from Kathmandu
  • Excess baggage charges
  • Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
  • Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu in case of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain (due to any reason) other than the scheduled itinerary
  • Personal insurance
  • Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower etc)
  • Tips for guides and porters (tippin g is expected)
  • Anything not mentioned in cost includes

Altitude Graph

Additional Information

Trekking Info

Stay Safe

Altitude Sickness: The main and common risk while trekking above about 2500m is Altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is caused by acute exposure to low partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude. The available amount of oxygen to sustain mental and physical alertness decreases with altitude. Available oxygen drops as the air density itself, the number of molecules (of both oxygen and nitrogen) per given volume, drops as altitude increases. So don’t ignore, if you have any symptoms then descending to a lower altitude is the only option.

Water: Have some means to purify water, iodine or a fine ceramic filter are the best options. The streams should be considered polluted and whilst bottled water is often available, the disposal of plastic bottles is a problem.

Electricity in Nepal

Nepal is a developing country, Outside of major cities area electricity on trekking can be scares. You should have to pay 100-800 NRs per hour to charge goods on many lodges and also many tea-house treks, including in Annapurna base camp trek, Everest Base camp trek and many others treks also. Chargers often won't work on low power solar systems you find right up in the mountains so u can buy alternative bayonet light to electricity power plug converter, which will only works in low voltage is highlow. The standard Nepalese electrical outlet is a three-pronged triangle so bring three-pronged triangle chargers.

Nepal Climate information

Nepal is a landlocked country which lies in Hindu Kush Himalayan region. Nepal has monsoonal climate having four main seasons: spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter.

Below is a general guide to conditions at different seasons:
 

January to March (winter): In this season temperature will decrease at often 0°C (32°F) at night, with extreme cold at high elevations. It is possible to trek in places like the Everest region during the winter but due to extreme cold weather and heavy snow fall it may be quite difficult than as usual.
April to June (summer): In these months it is quite warm and dry weather. There is an abundance of blooming flowers in the Himalayas at this time, with rhododendrons, in particular, adding a splash of color to the landscape. This season is the best time to undertake mountain expeditions.
June to September (Monsoon): There will be heavy monsoonal rainfall in this season. Rains are generally lighter in high Himalayan reasons. In this season the mountain ranges are not often visible due to the clouds.
October to December (autumn): These months are cool and clear which is due to the end of monsoon, there is little dust in the air so this is the best season to visit the hilly and mountainous regions.

Nepal Visas information

Visa in Nepal can be acquired on arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport, Kathmandu and also at the border entry points in Kakadvitta, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Gaddachowki border of Nepal - India and Kodari on Nepal-China border. Visa can also acquire at the nearest Nepal Embassy. For visa renewal purpose you can contact at Department of Immigration, Kalikasthan at Kathmandu. A valid passport and one passport -size photo with a light background is required. Visa can be obtained only through payment of cash in the following currency: Euro, Swiss Franc, Pound Sterling, US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Hong Kong Dollar, Singapore Dollar and Japanese Yen. Credit card, Indian currency and Nepali currency are not accepted as payment of visa fee.

Visa Facility Duration Fee
Multiple entry  15 days  US$ 25 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry 30 days US$ 40 or equivalent convertible currency
Multiple entry 90 days  U US$ 100 or equivalent convertible currency

Respect to Local Peoples

In Nepal, “Namaste” or “Namaskar” is said to an older or high-status person with palms together, figure up. It is used to greet a person in place of goodbye or hello. There is no limitation how many times you say “Namaste” but, it is better if you say once per person, per day. If You want to say “Thank You” then you can say “Dhanyabaad /'ðɅnjɅbɑ:d/ (Dhan-ya-baad)” 

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