Makalu Base Camp Trek

The trip for the day takes us to Tumlingtar via an airplane. The flight takes approximately 50 minutes and we can admire the amazing view of the snowy mountains and green hills. From here, we gather our necessities and start the hike towards Chichila. It is a Gurung village and a great place for exploring. Overnight in Chichila.

Our trail begins early and takes us to the small and isolated village of Num. We need to walk through the small settlements while admiring the picturesque view of the Makalu ranges. The trail on the way to Num crosses the Dauj La Pass and descends to Mudhe. From here, it is an easy walk to Num. Overnight in Num.

A steep descent from Num takes us through the forests and terraced farmlands to reach the Varun River. After ascending a bit, we enter the Makalu Barun National Park and get our permits checked. The Seduwa village resides in the park premises and is a great place to learn about the Kirant culture and traditions. Overnight in Seduwa.

The trail from Seduwa to Tashigaon climbs a ridge which is bounded by the Isuwa Khola on the west and the Kasuwa Khola to the east. As we navigate along the hillside through silent villages, we see mini paddy fields. We arrive at Tashi Gaon in the mid-afternoon as we are welcomed by the surreal Himalayan panorama. The residents in Tashigaon are mostly Rai and Limbu. Overnight in Tashigaon.

The trail is relatively steeper in comparison to the previous trails. The road goes through forests and we can see grazing lands as well. Navigate through stone steps and small streams before climbing the summit of the Khongma ridge. After crossing over the ridge, we head to the Khongma Danda. Overnight in Khongma Danda.

Today we won't be doing any sort of hiking but rather the day will be spent on acclimatization. Take a much-needed rest and replenish your energy. We shall explore the Khongma Danda and interact with the locals residing here. We can explore the village and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the village. Overnight in Khongma Danda.

The road to Donate initially goes towards the summit of Tutu La Pass (4127m) and then descends. The trail again ascends to the Shipton La Pass (4170m). From the pass, we shall head to the Kalo Pokhari and along the way, observe magical views of peaks like Chamlang (7321m), Peak 6 (6524m), and Peak 7 (6756m). Crossing another pass of Keke La (4080m), the trail descends through the beautiful Dobate valley. Overnight in Dobate.

The trail leads us through the rhododendron forests and into the Barun River which touches the upper portion of the valley. The first part of the trek is steep and as we gain altitude, it becomes much difficult. We arrive at Yangri Kharka which is a pastureland with a small number of temporary houses. Overnight in Yangri Kharka.

The route from Yangri Kharka to Langmale Kharka goes along the yak pastures and navigates through boulder fields. The lush valley accompanies us during the trek. The road cascades from Merek and as we move further up, the panorama of the Himalayas becomes much more appealing. Langmale Kharka is another grazing ground where yaks and sheep graze. Overnight in Langmale Kharka.

Today is the day where we shall head to the major highlight of this entire trek, the Makalu Base Camp. The road takes us to Shershon and then to the base camp. We can observe icy glaciers and snowy mountains in the Makalu ranges. The Mt. Makalu (8485m), the fifth highest mountain in the world offers surreal scenery as we witness a mesmerizing vista of Chamlang, Baruntse, and Everest ranges. At the base camp, we can observe numerous camps and trekkers. Overnight in Makalu Base Camp.

The Makalu Base camp is rocky and barren with the huge Barun glacier behind it. From the base camp, we can observe the complete panorama of the Makalu range including mountains like Mt. Everest (8848m) and Lhotse (8516m). Explore the surrounding lakes and interact with fellow climbers to fully understand the magic of the Makalu Base Camp. Overnight in Makalu Base Camp.

We observe the Himalayan showdown of the Makalu ranges and make our way back to Yangri Kharka. We shall pass through Shershon and take some time to replenish our lost energy at Langmale Kharka. The downward journey continues until we take a short breather at Merek before finally stopping at Yangri Kharka. Overnight in Yangri Kharka.

The road to Dobate from Yangri Kharka leads us through the grass shrubs and sub-alpine vegetation. We walk on the banks of the mighty Barun River as well. As we make our way down the valley, the pasturelands accompany us as we pass Temathang Kharka and trek alongside the Kikila Danda. Overnight in Dobate.

The journey starts with a steep climb to the Mumbuk. We need to walk through the forests which are decorated with firs and rhododendron. As we cross the Keke La, the view from there is simply enchanting. We, once again, cross the Tutu La (4080m), Shipton La (4170m), and Keke La (4127m) en route. The final part of the trek descends all the way to Khongma Danda. Overnight in Khongma Danda.

The objective for the day is to reach Tashigaon from Khongma Danda. We need to walk through the forests of fir, birch in order to reach here. Passing Unshisa and exiting the Makalu Barun National Park, we arrive at Tashigaon. Tashigaon is a village that is mostly inhabited by the Sherpa people. Overnight in Tashigaon.

From Tashigaon, we retrace our steps to reach Seduwa. We descend along the Barun River as we pass small Sherpa and Kirant villages on the way. Crossing the hillside forests, you will reach Narbugaon. Thereon, the trail heads southeast before settling at Murmidanda. Seduwa is a short walk away from Murmidanda. Overnight in Seduwa.

We need to leave the small settlement of Seduwa if we are to arrive at the Sherpa settlement of Num. The trail leads us through dense forests of pine and along the banks of the Barun River in order to arrive at Num. Today, we also exit the Makalu Barun Conservation Area; however, the rich greenery and wildlife will keep us company all the way to Num. Overnight in Num.

From Num, we shall retrace our steps back to Chichila where we can marvel at the glorious view of Mount Makalu (8485 m) for the final time. Slowly, we will arrive at Tumlingtar and then we will head to the hotel for a much-deserved rest. Overnight in Tumlingtar

The flight from Tumlingtar to Kathmandu takes us over the snowy mountains and onto the concrete valley. The journey takes around 50 minutes as you bid your goodbyes to the Makalu and Everest ranges to reach Kathmandu. Once in Kathmandu, you can go souvenir shopping in Thamel and at night the company will host a farewell dinner. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today, we bid each other farewell with best wishes. A company representative will pick you up and drop you off at the airport in time for your trip. Your trip is over today and we hope to travel with you again.