Makalu Base Camp Trek

Breakfast at hotel, starts Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Monkey Temple, Pashupatinath Temple and Baudhanath Stupa. Overnight at hotel. 

After breakfast, we will be escorted to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu airport for morning flight to Tumlingtar), a gateway destination from where our trek begins. After an adventurous one hour flight above the breathtaking green and white mountains, we reach the Tumlingtar airport. Upon arrival at Tumlingtar, we meet our other crew members and after some arrangements, we drive towards Chichira which takes 3-4 hours. Overnight at Chichira. 

From Chilchira we follow the ridge in forests passing the Sherpa settlements of Baisake and Kuwapani then to Sakuranti Majuwa and Hururu from there the route climbs 100m and then drops into deep oak forests and follows alongside a stream and reach Mure. Below Mure the trail passes many tracts of burned trees. The route cuts across a ridge then makes a tedious descent on a rocky eroded trail to some steps and a final walk to Num. Overnight at Num.  

Descending steeply from the western end of the Num ridge the trail reaches to Lumbang, from where the trail becomes exceptionally steep as it reaches to the suspension bridge over the Arun Koshi at 620 m, from where we make a rough climb to Sedua. We camp at Sedua for the night.

From Sedua to reach Tashigaon we pass through Manigaon, where the trail turns west and makes a gradual climb above the Kasuwa Khola and reaches to Chyaksadanda from there to Hindrungma Village and on to Ropesa. The route crossing the meadows and several streams finally reaches to Tashigaon. Overnight at Tashigoan.  

In this trek we first climb over the ridge ascend through forests to a stream, then onto a ridge. We climb through two small streams, and then get connected to Kharka and further up to Unshisha, from where the trail joins the ridge that separates two drainages, a short distance from there will lead us to Khongma. Overnight at Khongma. 

On the way to Mumbuk, we climb on steep switchbacks for a while to the top of the ridge, at 3840m, from where astounding view of Chhamlang, Peak 6 and Peak 7 of 6739m and 6105m respectively can be seen. Following the ridge through rhododendrons we ascend a staircase and reach to Ghungru La one of the first pass among the three passes we cross to reach the Barun Khola. From here descending a small lake we climb up to Shipton La then to Keke La (4150m). The route then enters to a valley filled with rhododendrons, finally making a steep descent through a forest of firs to Mumbuk. Overnight at Mumbuk. 

Descending 300meter down from Mumbuk to a rocky gully we continue our trail westward in fir forests at the bottom of the Barun Valley. We cross several streams, then cross the Barun on a wooden bridge to Yangle Kharka. Yangle Kharka is a large meadow at an elevation of 3600m, a fine place to make a camping site. We make the large meadow of Yangle Kharka our resting place. 

Passing from Nghe Kharka, a large open, grassy plain, we connect our trek to Riphuk Kharka which is at an elevation of 3930m and then turning westward to reach to the potato field at Jhak Kharka, climbing from there we reach at Yak Kharka. Beyond Yak Kharka the trail climbs over a ridge and then from there, to Merek. Overnight at Merek. 

The trail from Merek climbs in sand beside a stream alongside the moraine. As we pass a ridge, the valley turns slightly north. Entering into an alluvial valley Makalu pops into view just before Shersong. Staying towards the eastern side of the valley we head up to the valley over a low ridge to Shersong (4,660m). Rest of the day can be used for acclimatization.

This day we make a trip to Makalu Base Camp. After early morning breakfast at Shersong, we stay to the right in a gully on the east side of the valley. It’s a gradual climb to a minor pass about 100m above Makalu Base Camp. Descending to a stream and crossing on the boulders to the base camp on the west bank of the river. There are terrific views of the south face of Makalu. There are no shelters and vegetation at the Makalu Base Camp, which is at an elevation of 5000m. We can make this a day trip and return to Shersong to spend a night. 

Now getting over with our day trip to the Makalu Base Camp begins our journey to return. So after a heavy breakfast at Shersong we begin with our trek. We retrace our steps down to the Barun Valley to the pleasant camp of Yangle Kharka. 

As descended from Shersong to Yangle Kharka on the earlier day, we continue descending through the rock fall area and then climb up the rocky gully to the trees of Mumbuk. Overnight at Mumbuk.  

From the steep hillside of Mumbuk where we had our campsite for the night on arrival from Yangle Kharka, we continue to retrace our way back- we trek across Shipton La and descend to Khongma. Overnight at Khongma. 

On this day we do not need to climb up we only descend; this will really help us to comfort our trek and reach to Tashigaon. We will make a long, steep descent back to the civilization. Overnight at Tashigaon. 

We retrace our steps as we exit the Makalu Barun National park and descend down to Barun River. We then cross the hillsdie and come across villages and settlements as we move further down finally stopping at Sedua again. Overnight at Sedua.

We further trek through the forest for about 5 to 6 hours from Sedua to Num. The trail goes up and down and passes through dense forests and Sherpa villages as we move downwards. Overniath at Num.

Again we retrace our footsteps to Chichira from where we can savor the glorious vista of Mount Makalu for the last time. The final return leg of the trek will see us overnight at Tumlingtar, ready for an early departure to Kathmandu the following day. Overnight at Tumlingtar. 

After breakfast at the lodge we are taken to the airport at Tumlingtar, to connect flight to Kathmandu. In the evening, join a farewell dinner at a typical Nepali restaurant to celebrate your great trip. Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu. 

After breakfast, transfer to international airport for your flight back home. Have a safe and sound flight and see you again in the future.