Makalu Base Camp Trek

Welcome to Kathmandu, the capital city of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. Meet on airport and transfer you in hotel. After arrival, the group will be formally introduced to Guide for the activities over the next few days. One should pay attention to the safety aspects of the briefing. Any questions or doubts should be asked and clarified at this time. We check your insurance details and other requirements for your trekking.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast, we will start an interesting tour of Kathmandu. Try to give a full taste of our vibrant cultural scene and the enchanting way of its people with an English-speaking guide (any language speaking guide can be provided if desired). During our trip we will visit Swayambhu Nath, Pashupatinath and Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Kathmandu Durbar Square: Built between the 12th and 18th centuries, this complex of palaces, courtyards and temples was once the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. A fascinating piece is a stone inscription from the 17th century placed on the wall of the palace with inscriptions in 15 languages. Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the social, religious and civic center of the city.

Swayambhu Nath: This 2,000-year-old hilltop stupa is the world's grandest Buddhist shrine and is surrounded by several small pagodas. The lid of the main temple is a gilded copper, brass and the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha are painted on its four sides.

Pashupatinath: The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is the holiest and most famous temple in Nepal. Located 5 kilometers northeast of Kathmandu on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, it is an impressive pagoda-style structure with a gilded roof and richly carved silver doors. There are baths and cremation places, which are of interest to tourists especially in the morning and during festival days.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will drive to Kathmandu airport where you will board a domestic flight to Tumlingtar to begin the journey to Makalu Base Camp. The very short flight usually takes 35 minutes, and the windows offer a wonderful view of the Alps. You have to drive about 30 minutes along a winding hilly route to reach Khadbari, the district headquarter.  Continue along the winding dirt road until it reaches the highest point at 1,960m before descending to Chichila at 1,900m, a small settlement with a police checkpoint where you must show your Makalu Base Camp trekking permit. The area offers a wonderful view of the tree-covered slopes. From there, most of the road to Numi is rocky, as the road starts to deteriorate from Chichila.

Overnight in Num.

Today you have to walk a long steep descent to the river Arun and a long climb to Seduwa. The Makalu Base Camp Trek route follows large stone steps up to the river at an altitude of 770 meters and descends through cardamom fields. After crossing the Arun River suspension bridge, you begin the arduous climb to Seduwa through vast bamboo forests and village activities. There is a permit checkpoint on the way, the guide goes to Makalu-Barun National Park to get a permit. Seduwa is a small town with a school, several homes, a few businesses and a few tea houses around the hill.

Overnight in Seduwa.

Without the grueling ups and downs like yesterday, today's hike is amazing. Approaching the Sherpa settlement, you start a path with many stone steps and pass several branch walls. The hiking trail to your Makalu base camp passes through alpine rose and bamboo forests, as well as several small farms across the hillside and cardamom plantations. Today's excursion is sure to be interesting and bumpy. After about two hours you will reach the small community of Chyaksa Danda at an altitude of 1900 meters. When walking in deep forest areas, you may have to cross some streams on a sturdy wooden bridge. Although it takes more time than you think to get there while driving on a bumpy road, you will eventually see your destination on the hillside in front of Tashigaon. Finally you descend to the log bridge just before the final climb up the stone steps to Tashigaon.

Overnight in Tashigaon.

You leave Tashigaon and climb stone steps and then after about three hours you reach Dhara at an altitude of 2,867 meters. There are few small hotels and shops. After a bit of a long walk, you will reach Khongma where you will probably have lunch. From Dhara to Khongma, it takes about an hour of hard climbing to reach Unshisa at 3,200 meters where you cross a huge rock. Unshisa requires a more demanding trek down stone steps through the alpine forest. After a few hours of arduous climbing from Unshisa, you finally reach a stone resting place with prayer flags, and another 45-minute walk takes you to Khongma Danda at 3,500 meters. There are few guesthouses in Khongma and there can be a lot of snow in this place as well.

Overnight in Khongma Danda.

You go to Khongma La today because proper acclimatization is crucial. Today is acclimatization day for your Makalu Base Camp Trek route. You leave the tea house and start climbing stone steps past rhododendron bushes until you reach the pass at 3,890 meters. You should arrive in Pasa in about an hour. If you are interested, your guide will encourage you to go a little further. You will then return to Khongma, fit and well acclimatized and ready to do four passes tomorrow, the first of which of course is Khongma La.

Overnight in Khongma Danda.

Today is a beautiful day as we traverse four high passes with windy trails and spectacular ridge sections that offer stunning close-up views of snow-capped peaks. The first sunrise with Khongma La at 3,890m, will reach after about an hour of climbing through thickets of rhododendrons. Makalu and Chamlang can be seen from Khongma La Pass. The Makalu Base Camp trail descends briefly before ascending to the second trail. Climb the difficult stone steps to reach Sano Pokhari Danda at 4,105 meters above sea level, with the Sano Pokhari Lake. At 4,200 meters above sea level, Shipton La is reached by ups and downs. A mud wall and a pile of dirt next to the shelter are travel signs. To reach the Kalo Pokhari lake at 4,080 m you have to descend through more difficult terrain. Hindu pilgrims traveling there for the Janai Purnima festival can be seen decorated with prayer flags. The final climb of the day, Keke La at 4,170m, is easier to climb from the lake. After about 45 minutes of descent you will reach the Dobate lodge, a much-needed sight after the four-step climb.

Overnight in Dobate.

This morning descent takes you through a forest of rhododendrons and pines, which is pleasant. A steep slope runs through the forest, which can be treacherous when there is still snow on the ground. Finally, you reach the river, where you begin the Makalu base camping trip on a trail that passes under a large landslide area. After a short climb, you will reach Themathang Kharka tea house at an altitude of 3500 m. It takes about four hours to get here from Dobate. There is a magnificent waterfall just before reaching Themathang. From there you have to walk a little longer until you reach a wooden bridge that crosses the Barun Khola. The river is now on the left, as the path undulates. From Themathang tea shop, it takes about 1.5 hours to reach your accommodation in the grasslands of Yangri Kharka. 

Overnight in Yangri Kharka.

Pleasant and flat walk, with the river on the left and the scent of the junipers. The Makalu Base Camp hiking trail is lined with various prayer flags. Peak 4, Peak 6, Peak 7 and Yaupa Peak dominate the landscape ahead, with sheer cliffs on either side. A visual feast of snow-capped mountains, sheer cliffs, waterfalls and sacred caves awaits you today. After about 2 hours and 30 minutes of walking, the road widens as you pass through the fields of Jhak Kharka, Yak Kharka and finally Merek, where cozy tea houses appear. It takes about 2 hours from Merek to the tea house in Langmale. Peak 7 is an amazing place to stay and adds to the beautiful scenery of the area. A white wall covered in religious flags is just in front of the row of rooms. 

Overnight in Langmale Kharka

This morning you will start your ascent towards Makalu Base Camp. As you zigzag your way across the valley, maintain the river on your left. There will be a new stunning feature to awe at as you round each corner. While there are some sections where you must step from boulder to boulder, much of the time you are on a normal, sandy track. As you go forward, you can see Peak 4. You will arrive at Shershong, at 4,630m, after a few hours of trekking. Shershong makes a nice camping location, and it is a broad, level area with a lockable tiny stone house. The tantalizing sight of Makalu eventually appears.

You will be curious to see the base camp as you navigate a few curves. The lodges will eventually come into view. Your long-awaited goal is reached five minutes after you descend and cross the river. Makalu, the fifth-highest peak in the world, absolutely dominates the scene, as one might anticipate. Around the base camp, it's common to observe Tibetan snow cocks, hill pigeons, black redstarts, and mountain finches.

Overnight in Makalu Base Camp.

Today, reaching the ridge about 5,300 meters above the base camp offers the most beautiful panoramic views. You use a log bridge to cross the river and then spend about three hours climbing a foggy, rather ill-defined trail. From this vantage point, you can enjoy magnificent views of Makalu, Peak 7, Peak 6 and Peak 4, as well as Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. After you've had your fill of mountain drama, return to base camp following the previous steps. Return journey takes 4-5 hours. It is a difficult undertaking because it is steep and the altitude will rise above 5000 meters. There are other gentler options, including a route past base camp to see the lakes. You can also climb a much shorter ridge just above base camp, and at the end of base camp is a small hill marked with prayer flags that is about an hour away.

Overnight in Makalu Base Camp.

With a heavy heart, left the great power of Makalu and started walking to Yangri kharka. It takes an hour and a half to reach the Shershong meadow, which is marked by huts covered with bright orange tarps. After an hour or two, you will return to Langmale for tea and lunch. After 1 hour and 15 minutes of walking, we reached the Merek Tea House. We recommend taking a break here with a cup of tea before continuing along the Makalu Base Camp route through the pines back to Yangri Kharka. From Merek's house to Yangri Karka it takes 2-3 hours.

Overnight in Yangri Kharka.

Today is a beautiful and peaceful bend as you head along the river to Themathang tea house, passing many rhododendron bushes along the way. A wooden bridge must be crossed just before Themathang. The way to Themathang takes about 1.5 hours. Finally, you have to cross a landslide area, which takes about 1.5 hours. After the undulating part you start a tough climb through a rhododendron forest. As you get closer to the Dobate tea, the altitude on the Makalu Base Camp Trek route gradually decreases and becomes flatter.

Overnight in Dobate.

This is your last chance to experience the mesmerizing views of the high mountains including Kangchenjunga. You will start the ascent to Keke La, which takes about 1.5 hours. It takes another 1.5 hours to reach Shipton La at 4,200 meters. You will reach the giant carving of Sano Pokhari Danda at 4105 meters after another hour of circling the mountainside. After the last hour, you will return to Khongma La at 3,890 meters, identified by the mani wall. undulation Khongma is reached after about 250 meters of descent, mostly by stone steps. In the snow among the rhododendron bushes, keep your eyes open for the rarely seen blood pheasants. From Khongma, you descend to Danda Kharka, which takes another two hours.

Overnight in Danda Kharka

As you leave the mountains and descend the long steep descent to civilization, you will have time to reflect on the amazing adventure you have just completed. The three-hour trek from Danda Kharka to Tashi Gaun, Makalu Base Camp trekking route takes you through alpine trees, steep terrain and grasslands. You will pass the terraced houses of Tashi Gaun with a beautiful view of the mountains. After leaving the Makalu-Barun National Park, you will traverse a mountainside, descend the Barun River, travel through bamboo and rhododendron forests, and then arrive at Seduwa, where you will spend the night at a local lodge.

Overnight in Seduwa

It is a long, somewhat difficult walk up to the Arun River, mostly up stone steps. As we descend further into the forest, the temperature is quite warm. After crossing the river, you must climb back to Numi. The road climbs and descends through a beautiful forest before reaching the town of Numi. Drive through the winding mountain roads of Nepal to the scenic surroundings of Tumlingtar. Apart from the wonderful scenery of snowy mountains and green surroundings, you can also see settlements and terraced farms on the slopes. Now that you have completed the tough but rewarding Makalu Base Camp trek.

Overnight in Tumlingtar.

After breakfast visit the domestic airport, follow the schedule flight. After landing in Kathmandu Airport, drive to the hotel. Check in at the hotel. 

Overnight in a Hotel.