Makalu Base Camp Trek

The Makalu Base Camp Trek journey begins with a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar. It is a scenic flight that takes 45 to 50 minutes. You will fly over the plains of Terai, green forests, settlements, and the Arun Valley. The flight also offers beautiful aerial views of the landscapes and mountain peaks. Then, you will land at the short runway of Tumlingtar Airport. 

Upon landing, you will next take a roadway to reach your destination for the day, Num. It is a 3 to 4-hour drive, following the Arun River Valley. As you drive on the winding, gravel, and dirt road, you will pass by small villages and terrace fields. Similarly, you will pass by riverside forests. Before you reach Num, you will come across at a police checkpoint at Chichila (1,900m). You must show your trek permits to proceed further. The road becomes rougher and bumpier from here. Finally, you will reach Num, where you can get your first glimpse of the Makalu region. Num is a small village that sits on the banks of the Budhi Arun River. You will stay overnight here.

Today marks the beginning of your Makalu Base Camp Trek. After breakfast at Num, you will start with a gradual ascent on the forest trail along the Budhi Arun River. It enters the forest of bamboo and oaks. Along the way, you will pass by traditional stone or mud houses with roofs thatched with straw and wooden windows and doors. Similarly, you can see local villagers working on the fields, herding their cattle, or carrying loads in dokos. After a gradual ascent for about 2 hours, you will start climbing downhill until you reach the Budhi Arun River. It is one of the major rivers in the Makalu region, originating from the glaciers of Makalu.

You will cross the Budhi Arun River on a suspension bridge. It is a thrilling experience crossing the bridge that gently sways in the breeze. From here, you will start your steep ascent towards Seduwa. The landscape also changes from valley to hills. The trekking trail enters the forests of rhododendron, bamboo, oaks, and firs. You will also pass by small settlements, prayer flags, mani walls, and chortens. Likewise, you will cross farms to Seduwa. The village sits on a grassy ridge surrounded by cultivated farms. You can enjoy a spectacular view of the Arun Valley from here, and stay overnight at Seduwa.

After breakfast at Seduwa, you will start trekking deeper into the Makalu region. The village is the Gateway to Makalu Barun National Park. You will enter the national park area from here. Just as you leave Seduwa village, there is a checkpost, where you must show your permits. Then, you will start trekking uphill through terrace farms and cardamom plantations. The trail also takes you through traditional settlements of Rai communities. It then ascends along the ridge, passing through a mixed forest of rhododendrons, oaks, and bamboo. You will also pass by the small settlement of Chyaksa Danda.

As you continue on the Makalu Base Camp Trekking route, you will cross a few small wooden bridges over streams. You will come across the Mulgaon village with teahouses and rest spots. From here, the trail becomes steep for a short while. There are also a few stone stairways along the way. While trekking, you can get a glimpse of the Arun River valley. Then, the forest gradually opens up and takes you to Tashi Gaon. It is a beautiful Sherpa village and the last permanent settlement on the route. You will spend the night here.

On day 4, the Makalu Base Camp Trekking trail continues to ascend. As soon as you leave Tashi Gaon, the trail becomes steep. It takes you past small pastures and terrace farms before entering the dense forest of rhododendron, oaks, and pine. You will continue trekking uphill for about two hours until you reach Dhara Kharka. It is a small meadow that the locals use for grazing their cattle. There is a simple rest shelter. From here, the trekking trail continues through forest ridges and becomes steeper. You can see many plant species, including moss-covered trees. The next notable village that you will come across on the way is Unshisa. It is a small shepherd settlement.

You will start to notice a shift in the landscape, and the green forest begins to get thinner. There are occasional uphill and downhill sections along the way. You may also encounter yaks or dzos (yak-cow hybrids) carrying goods. The trail winds along ridges and offers occasional mountain views of Chamlang and Peak 6 on clear days. For the final stretch of today’s trek, you will make a steep and demanding uphill climb through alpine meadows. You will trek along the ridge and pass by several mani walls and colorful prayer flags before reaching the Khongma Danda. It is the last permanent stop before the Shipton La Pass. Located high above the Arun Valley, you can enjoy a stunning view of Mount Makalu, Chamlang, and other surrounding peaks. You will spend the night at Khogma Danda.

Today is the most challenging day of our Makalu Base Camp Trek, as you will cross two high mountain passes. We will start early and begin climbing through dense rhododendron forest. Often, the forest is covered in mist in the early morning. The trail takes you past yak pastures and colorful prayer flags. You will first cross the Shipton La Pass (4,170m). The trail begins to ascend once again through rocky terrain with some steep stone sections. You will pass by the alpine shrub and take you to the top of the Shipton La Pass. From here, you can witness Mount Makalu and Chamlanga. Similarly, you can get a wide view of Makalu Barun National Park, Arun Valley, and Barun Valley.

After crossing Shipton La, you will start descending to the glacial lake of Kalo Pokhari or “Black Lake”. The lake has spiritual significance to the locals. From the lake, you will head towards your next destination, Keke La Pass (4,150m). It is a steep climb on rugged terrain and stone steps. However, it is relatively less demanding than crossing Shipton La. The trail keeps ascending as you trek through alpine meadows with a few small ponds. Upon reaching the top of the Keke La, a gorgeous panoramic view opens before you. The top is decorated with colorful prayer flags. You can witness Mount Chamlang, Peak 6, and Peak 7.

You will descend from Keke La towards Dobate. The Makalu Base Camp Trekking route follows ridges and alpine meadows. Along the way, you can enjoy spectacular views of Chamlang, Peak 6, and Barun Valley. There are a few scattered rhododendron bushes. It takes you to the small settlement of Dobate. The area falls in the upper Barun Valley, and there are a few teahouses in the village. You will rest and spend the night in Dobate.

After the adventurous crossing of two high mountain passes the previous day, we will head towards Yangle Kharka. You will begin with a steep descent towards the Barun River Valley. There is a change from an alpine landscape to a subtropical one. The Makalu Base Camp route passes through forests of rhododendrons and junipers. You can see various species of wild orchids, hanging ferns, and moss-covered trees. The trail continues to descend and follow the Barun River on rocky terrain. Along the way, you will cross several wooden bridges over streams. You will also come across cascading waterfalls down the cliffs.

The area becomes more isolated, and there are no villages. So, there are very few people on the route. After reaching the Barun River Valley, the trail gradually opens up at a ridge point. You will get a distant glimpse of Mount Chamlang and other surrounding peaks. Although there are no settlements, you will come across yak herder shelters. It takes you to the viewpoint near Thelam. The trail begins to get gentler and opens up to open meadows and forests. Likewise, the vegetation also turns into green pastures. You will reach Yangle Kharka, which translates into “Pasture Ground of Yaks.” It will be your overnight stop and give you a glimpse at Tibetan influence in the region.

On day 7, the Makalu Base Camp Trek route gradually climbs up the Barun Valley, following the Barun River. You will leave Yangle Kharka and gradually begin to ascend. The trail passes through juniper shrubs and green pastures. You will cross wooden bridges and follow the river on your left. Along the way, you will pass by high cliffs and waterfalls. After trekking for some time, you will reach a small seasonal yak herder settlement, Merek. From here, you can get clear views of Peak 6 and Peak 7. The trekking trail continues to ascend through open meadows. The area is rich in Himalayan herbs like Yarsagumba.

Following the trail, you will cross a few streams and reach Jhak Kharka. The vegetation becomes more sparse, and you can enjoy the views of Mount Chamlang. For the final stretch of today’s trek, you will begin a steady climb along the Barun River’s glacial moraine. The valley narrows, and the landscape appears barren. You will come across mani walls and some scattered cairns. After trekking for about two hours, you will arrive at Langmale Kharka. It will be your overnight stop for the next two nights.

Today, you will take an acclimatization day and rest. It will help your body to adapt to the thin air and low oxygen level to minimize the risk of altitude sickness. It is necessary to stay active, so after breakfast, you will explore around the Barun Valley. Similarly, you can take short hikes to the ridges and viewpoints around Langmale Kharka.

The short hike also aligns with the golden rule of “climb high, sleep low.” You can take an uphill climb to the ridge above Langmale Kharka (4,700-4,800m). The ridge offers gorgeous panoramic views of Mount Makalu, Chamlang, Peak 6, and Peak 7. Likewise, you can see the wide view of the glacial Barun Valley. After the short hike, you will return to Langmale Kharka. In the evening, you can explore the area or enjoy the tranquil atmosphere to your heart’s content. You will stay overnight at Langmale Kharka.

Finally, today is the day when you will ascend to Makalu Base Camp. You will leave Langmale Kharka and start with a gentle climb along the Barun River. It gradually ascends through alpine meadows, and the terrain becomes rockier. There are a few small wooden bridges along the way. You can also see glacial moraines on both sides of the trail. Along the way, prayer flags on small rock cairns mark the trail. You will traverse several yak shelters made of stones. The vegetation becomes increasingly sparse, limited to moss and alpine lichens. As you get closer to Shershong, the valley begins to widen. It forms into a gentle basin, and the trail follows the north side of the Barun River. The path is not steep, but it gradually goes uphill.

You will traverse through moraines, ridges, and alpine tundra. Right before you reach Shershong, you will get your first sight of Mount Makalu’s south face. From here, the route starts to ascend steeply along the rocky moraine ridge. You can see glacial ice walls and icy slopes. For the final stretch, the trail becomes narrow and rugged. You must trek mostly on loose gravel and rock slabs. After ascending through the glacial plain, you will reach Makalu Base Camp. The base camp is situated beside the Barun Glacier. The area is decorated with prayer flags, and there is a cluster of stone huts and teahouses.

You will spend an entire day exploring the Makalu Base Camp today. If you feel adventurous, you can take a side hike to Upper Barun Glacier Viewpoint (5,300m) or to the ridge above the base camp (5,100m). 

To get to the Upper Barun Glacier Viewpoint, you must trek on a narrow and rocky trail to the north. The trail goes along the lateral moraine of the Barun Glacier. You must ascend on a rugged terrain of gravel, scree, and ice boulders. There are also several small glacial ponds with turquoise water along the way. It takes about two hours to reach the viewpoint. You can get a stunning view of Makalu’s south face. On clear days, you can also witness Mount Everest and Lhotse.

Another option for a short hike is the ridge above the base camp. It takes two to three hours to get there. The trail takes you to the southwest of the base camp. It is a gentle climb on a gravelly slope. The ridge is also an excellent viewpoint that offers a grand view of the Makalu basin. Likewise, you can enjoy spectacular panoramas of Chamlang, Peak 6, and Peak 7. You can also see the entire view of Barun Glacier below. After the short hikes, you will return to the Makalu Base Camp and stay overnight.

You will have breakfast at Makalu Base Camp and start your descent. You will leave the gorgeous basin and begin your steep downhill climb. Descending is relatively easier than ascending, but still challenging. You will trek over glacial moraine and rocky debris, following the familiar path. Along the way, you will cross small streams. The alpine tundra gradually changes into green pastures. You will trek for another two hours to reach Langmale Kharka.

The trekking route continues to descend along the Barun River. You will once again pass by yak pastures and traditional stone huts. Retracing your steps, you will continue descending through forests of rhododendron and pine. Then, you will arrive at Yangle Kharka, where you will spend the night.

You will have breakfast in the serene atmosphere of Yangle Kharka. Then, you will begin with a gentle ascent along the Barun River. You can see tall cliffs and waterfalls as you enter forests of rhododendron, fir, and birch. After trekking for some time, the trail becomes steeper and narrower. You will climb towards Mumbuk. The Makalu Base Camp Trekking trail continues ascending steeply.

The forest thins out and opens into alpine terrain, and the trail begins to descend gently. You will trek along ridges and on rocky terrain. Crossing the alpine pastures, you will come across the beautiful scenery of yaks grazing and prayer flags. The mountain view becomes distant as you continue moving forward. After descending for about an hour, you will reach Dobate. You will stay here for the night.

On this day, you will continue retracing your steps back. After breakfast at Dobate, you will resume your trek with a gradual uphill climb. Following the winding Makalu Base Camp trail, you will again reach Kalo Pokhari. Once again, you will cross the high mountain passes of Keke La and then Shipton La. You can once again experience the thrill and enjoy the magnificent views.

After crossing the passes, you will begin your steep descent on the familiar path. The landscape also becomes greener and more vibrant. You will continue descending for a few hours until you finally reach Khongma Danda or Danda Kharka. It will be your overnight stop for the day.

The trail today continues to descend. You can also see the shift from subtropical forests to tropical cardamom fields and terrace farms. The trail descends through forest trails and stone steps. There are some steep sections, and you will pass by familiar settlements like Tashi Gaon. You can take a short rest here and continue your descent.

The trail descends through villages, terrace farms, and bamboo forests. You will cross the familiar wooden bridges and reach the Arun Valley. The trail offers a stunning view of green hillsides and distant ridges. For the final stretch, a gentle winding trail will take you to Seduwa, your overnight stay.

Day 15 marks the final day of the Makalu Base Camp trekking. You will enjoy breakfast at Seduwa’s teahouse, taking in the view and the serene atmosphere. It is a steep descent through a familiar path once again. You will trek through forest ridges while passing by Rai and Sherpa villages. It takes you across the bridge over the Arun River. Then, you will make one last steep ascent to Num. It is the ending point for the journey.

From Num, you will hop on a vehicle and drive back to Tumlingtar. It is a rocky and bumpy ride on a winding mountain road. You will pass by hillside villages, valleys, and farms. The forest slopes gradually change to terraced farmland and banana groves. Driving on the dirt road, you will reach Tumlingtar. It will be your overnight stop, so you can explore around the town in the evening..

Today marks the final day of your Makalu Base Camp Trek. You will fly from Tumlingtar to Kathmandu. Flying back to the capital city, you will get one last glimpse of the beautiful Himalayan landscapes and panorama. Upon arriving at the airport, you will be dropped off at your accommodation.

You can celebrate the success of the trek adventure with the remaining time. You can go sightseeing or stroll around the city leisurely. Similarly, you can shop for souvenirs around the Thamel area or enjoy the nightlife.