Higher Limits Trek

Makalu Base Camp Trekking - 25 Days

Makalu Base Camp Trekking takes off from the lowest valley in the world, reaching its highest elevation at the base of Mt. Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world at (8,481m). This trek offers one of the most impressive, outstanding scenery from the lush, tropical greens of Arun Valley, up to the high uninhabited ice fields of Mt. Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world, situated in the north east of Nepal. The trek starts from Arun Valley, traveling through the rural areas, complete with charming medieval traditional markets and farm villages. This walk follows a striking, yet rarely trekked route, which offers views of Mt. Makalu and Kanchenjunga all the way. And even more stunning views of the Mt. Khumbakarna Range as you enter the Barun valley of Makalu basin. From here, the trek passes over the yak pastures beneath the Makalu’s immense south face along with the great view of one of the rare east (Kanshung) face of Mt. Everest. This trek offers the prospect to visit cloud-forest jungle, high alpine terrain, orchids, and rural farm and market villages. From there, the trek follows the ridge above the Arun River, anticipated site for the largest hydroelectric plant in Nepal. Passing through yak pastures towards the endless ice fields of Mt. Makalu. Views of the Kanchenjunga peak, Everest, Lhotse, Baruntse and Chamlang and as well the rarely seen Kanshung face of Everest, grace us with their magnificent views throughout this trip. We return through secluded Sherpa villages back to Tumlingtar for the final phase of the trip; a beautifully striking flight below the Nepalese Himalaya.

Outline Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Airport

Day 02: A day in Kathmandu.

Day 03: Fly to Tumlingtar (950m).

Day 04: Trek to Mani-Bhanjyang (1,200m) Approx 5 – 6 hrs.

Day 05: Trek to Chillchile (1,800m) Approx 5 – 6 hours.

Day 06: Trek to Num (1,500m) Approx 5 – 6 hours.

Day 07: Trek to Sedua (1,493m.) Approx 5 hours.

Day 08: Trek to Tashi Gaon (2,200m) Approx 3 – 4 hours.

Day 09: Trek to Kohma Danda. Approx 3,500m. 5 – 6 hours walk

Day 10: Trek to Mumbuk (3,400m) 6 hours walk

Day 11: Trek to Nehe Kharka (3,750m) 6 hours.

Day 12: Trek to Sherson (4,600m) 6 hours walk.

Day 13: Free day for a day hike.

Day 14: Free day at Sherson for a day excursion.

Day 15: Trek to Yangre Kharka (3,645m) 6 hours.

Day 16: Trek to Mumbuk, 5 hours.

Day 17: Trek to Kohma Ridge, 5 hours.

Day 18: Trek to Nawa Gaon (2,500m) via Tashi Gaon, 6 hours.

Day 19: Trek to Num via Sedua, 6 hours.

Day 20: Trek to Chichele, 5 hours.

Day 21: Trek to Khadbari, 6 hours.

Day 22: Trek to Tumlingtar for lunch and camp, 3 hours

Day 23: Fly back to Kathmandu. Meet & transfer to hotel.

Day 24: Free day at leisure.

Day 25: Transfer to Airport for the International departure

Cost Include

  • Airport to Hotel to airport pick up and drop by private car/van/bus.
  • 4 Nights Hotel in Kathmandu on B/B plan.
  • Guided Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour with English speaking Tour Guide & Private vehicle.
  • Makalu Barun Conservation Area Permit, TIMS Card & Map.
  • Full Board Plan (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Accommodation with Tea or Coffee) during the trek.
  • An experienced licensed holder English speaking trekking Sherpa Guide, a Cooks, Cooks helper, required porters (One porter for each 2pax) and others helping staffs.
  • Food, drinks, salary, insurance, equipment, transportation, accommodation, and local tax for all trekking staffs,
  • Kathmandu -Tumlingtar – Kathmandu round trip domestic Air Ticket with airport tax and all grounded transport.
  • Medical Kit Box.
  • Camping Equipment all kind of Tents-Sleeping, dining, kitchen, toilet and sleeping bags, mattress down Jacket etc.
  • All government taxes
  • Join Nepali Cultural Program with farewell Dinner.

Cost Exclude

  • Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu.
  • International flight and departure tax
  • Sightseeing/Monuments entrance fee
  • Nepal entry visa fee US$ 25 (duration 15days from date of issue), US$ 40 (duration 30 days from date of issue) and US$ 100 (duration 90 days from date of issue) you can easily issue your visa upon arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport in Kathmandu. You will require two passport size photos & exact cash amount.
  • Personal Trekking Equipment.
  • Any kind of Bar Bills, All kind of bottle Drinks, Hot & Cold drinks, Laundry, Telephone, Hot shower, Heater, Camera battery charge, sweet things such a chocolate etc.
  • Your Travel Insurance ( Compulsory).
  • Any Expenses of Personal Nature /Helicopter Rescue Evacuation fee.
  • Tips for trekking staffs.
  • Any other expenses which are not mentioned on price includes section.

Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu.1, 300m.
On arrival at Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport you will be greeted by our staff who will escort you to the Hotel, where our Sherpa guide or the office staff will give you a brief orientation about the hotel, Kathmandu itself, trekking, and the do’s and don’ts of the area. Also, they will go over any other related information that you might require while in Nepal.

Day 02: A day in Kathmandu.
After your first night in Kathmandu, you will be well informed on arrival about the time for your half day guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu and the various places of interest. Depending on the time of your flight arrival the night previous, we will schedule your half day tour in the morning or afternoon. For late night flight arrivals, we prefer to do an afternoon tour in order for you to get properly acclimated to the time change.

Day 03: Fly to Tumlingtar (950m).
After an early breakfast, we will take a bus to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Airport for the 50 minute scenic flight to Tumlingtar, overlooking a vast range of snow capped peaks from Lang tang all the way to Mt. Everest, Makalu & Mt. Kanchenjunga. Tumlingtar airport and its village township is located on a shelf above the Arun River, walk across to meet our trek crew beside the airstrip. Clearly visible and far off to the north, the white peak of Makalu. Camp is set up overnight in Tumlingtar, near the village with time for a short walk around the villages.

Day 04: Trek to Mani-Bhanjyang (1,200m) Approx 5-6 hrs.
The first day of the trek, starts from Tumlingtar. The walk is pleasant for an hour through the farm fields and villages. After leaving the suburb of Tumlingtar, the trail climbs up gradually towards Khadbari, in the midst of the sub-tropical forest of Sal (Sorea-Robusta), as we continue through farm fields, we come to a town of Khadbari, which are a major village and the headquarters of the Sankha Shaba and Makalu region. Complete with a busy bazaar, especially on Saturday which is market day. From Khadbari the trail is gradual with few ups and down till the trek leads to our overnight camp a little further from the village of Manibhanjang.

Day 05: Trek to Chillchile (1,800m) Approx 5-6 hours.
From Manibhanjang, we climb the ridge on a wide and well-used trail, reaching our lunch stop at Bhotebas after three and a half hours of steady ascent. After lunch walk for only another couple of hours to the small ridge-top village of Chichira. Again, we will pass through fertile farm lands and Verdant rain forest, with thick undergrowth and many types of ferns. Chichira a small farm village with 6-8 houses with a superb view of Mt. Makalu 8,463m and the Khumbakarna mountain range. It’s just fantastic around here.

Day 06: Trek to Num (1,500m) Approx 5-6 hours.
In the clear dawn have a good view of Makalu and its satellite peaks, from this magical spot of Chichira, perched high above the surrounding countryside. The walk to Num leads us through the cool and serene forest of rhododendron, oak trees and hemlocks, as we climb to the ridge top. From the ridge top it is almost downhill for two hours to the overnight camp at Num. Num a small village with about fifteen houses and a primary school on a large flat ground, from where we have good view of our route for the next couple of days. Opposite, across the Arun River, is the village of Sedua, our camping place for the next day. We finally rest after a great day of hiking.

Day 07: Trek to Sedua (1,493m.) Approx 5 hours.
From Num, the path leads down the incredibly steep and terraced slopes towards the Arun River, nearly 800 meters below. The lower slopes of this narrow valley are densely forested and the paths are quite slippery, after reaching the bottom, we cross the suspension bridge across the torrential Arun River, at the height of 670 meters, which starts the climb back out of the rain forest, reaching to the lunch place at Runruma. After lunch, we will take a steep climb and head towards Sedua; a village with a small health post and a primary school. Overnight camp near the schoolyard.

Day 08: Trek to Tashi Gaon (2,200m) Approx 3-4 hours.
The trek to Tashi-Gaon is a short walk of three to four hours, where is plausible to set up lunch and camp on the same spot. Today, leads to more rural farm villages, on the gradual trail through the terraces, as the trek nears to Tashi Gaon; it’s an uphill climb for an hour through the millet and rice fields. Tashi Gaon is a Sherpa village, unlike the Sherpa of Everest; they are bit different in the way they live in, with the dress and the style of houses. After being settled in the low, warmer areas they are engaged more in agriculture and cattle industry. In the afternoon, you’ll have time to wander around and acquaint yourself with the village.

Day 09: Trek to Kohma Danda. Approx 3,500m. 5-6 hours walk
Tashi Gaon is the last village on-route to Makalu basin, after this village the walk is refreshing for an hour and a half in the beautiful shade of the rhododendron and oaks forest. At which point we will leave the dense forest and arrive into summer pastures with traces of temporary made shepherd huts. From here onwards to Kohma ridge is a strenuous uphill climb, as the tree lines decline for the bushes of rhododendron and juniper. After the climb, we come to the open area of Kohma Danda for our overnight camp. From this spot a grand view of the far landscapes with the 3rd highest mountain Kanchenjunga, are well in view towards the North East and Mt. Makalu towards North West. From here onwards you can feel the cold chill of the Himalayas.

Day 10: Trek to Mumbuk (3,400m) 6 hours walk
With the wonderful morning and the superb views of the surrounding landscapes and snow capped peaks, our trek follows a gradual trail with few ups and down as the walk passes through the Thulo Pokhari (big pond) and Sano Pokhari (small pond). In the very heavy snow, the path from here can be misleading, and it will be arduous task to find the trail at times. After the last pond, we cross the pass of Tutu-la at 4,075m. From here onwards it is all downhill back to vegetation, as the day trek ends we set up camp at Mumbuk, in a small clearing place for camping in the middle of the woods of pines, hemlock, birch and rhododendrons.  This is where we get the True feeling of being at one in the wild.

Day 11: Trek to Nehe Kharka (3,750m) 6 hours.
Due to the camp being in the dense shade of the tree line; the view of the Khumbakarna can be seen through the vegetation. The walk from here is downhill to the enclosed and concealed Barun Valley, one of the least explored areas in the eastern Himalayan region of Nepal. This unique landscapes within the Makalu-Barun National Park are some 3,000 species of flowering plants, 440 bird species, and 75 species of mammals, including the endangers clouded leopard, red panda and musk deer.

The remarkable bio-diversity is considered to be of global significance, and provides a living laboratory for international scientific research. As we reach the lush alpine area of Barun Valley the walk is very pleasant with only gradual uphill slopes, the trail follows the Barun River upstream on the valley gorge towards the place for the overnight camp at Nehe-Kharka, which is one of the summer pastures for the local people of Tashi and Navagoan. We camp overnight on the lush green meadows.

Day 12: Trek to Sherson (4,600m) 6 hours walk.
A little beyond the camp, we will cross the Barun river by way of couple of wooden bridges, which make use of conveniently situated boulders. There is a large prayer wall located at Ramara, and after 2-3 hours walk, from here the vegetation gets sparse, although the rhododendron, barberries, and juniper bushes persist for some time. This is a lovely day’s walk, through the high alpine. As the walk come nearer to Sherson, with a good view of the lower Barun glacier and the towering majestic Mt. Makalu. Sherson is also the lower base camp of Mt. Makalu. There are number of stone enclosures at this high grazing ground with outstanding view of host of peaks, including the upper part of Makalu south face, and Mt. Baruntse 7,220m standing tall with its head above peak 4.

Day 13: A free day for a hike around.
You can also catch up on some reading. A leisure day for relaxation or a day hike, all well deserved, and free from the hassles of packing. Around Sherson there are many interesting hiking trails and viewpoints to explore. The most scenic of which would be a walk on the right side of the camp above for the closer view of Mt. Makalu, Barun Pokhari (lake), and the view of the rare face of Everest (the Kanshung face) with Lhotse nearby. A one hour steep climb up brings you to the large meadows where you can partake in a walk farther up to have a greater view of the mentioned peaks and more other peaks of this area and beyond.

Day 14 & 15: Free day at Sherson for a day excursion.
Another free day for optional day excursion or doing anything that pleases you. Today, we do a good 4-5 hrs hiking to the base of Mt. Makalu and back to Sherson.

Day 16: Trek to Mumbuk, 5 hours.
Trek back to Mumbuk, after leaving the Barun Valley. it is all uphill to the overnight camp in the midst of the alpine forest at Mumbuk.

Day 17: Trek to Kohma Ridge, 5 hours.
Retrace the journey back to Kohma Danda (ridge) via Shipton-la and Thulo Pokhari for the overnight camp.

Day 18: Trek to Nawa Gaon (2,500m) via Tashi Gaon, 6 hours.
Trek back to Tashi Gaon and continue walk towards Nawa-Gaon on the upper trail for another 2-3 hours through the cool shade of the forest. After departing the densely forested area, the trail comes towards the farm terraces and eventually to the village of Nawa-Gaon, another Sherpa village which is much larger than Tashi Gaon, situated right above the Sedua village.

Day 19: Trek to Num via Sedua, 6 hours.
After leaving, the walk today is a downhill trek through the farm fields for an hour or two until the arrival into Sedua village. From Sedua, we retrace the journey to Num, with 2-3 hours downhill, and concluding with the bridge and another 2-3 hours brings you back to Num for the overnight camp.

Day 20: Trek to Chichele, 5 hours.
Trek back to Chichele, the first 2-3 hours is all uphill to the ridge top, from here onwards it is almost down hill all the way to the overnight camp at Chichele.

Day 21: Trek to Khadbari, 6 hours.
From Chichele, it is quite a pleasant walk to Khadbari through the forest, the farm lands, and small villages; the final leg of the day’s walk is on the gradual path, which leads to the large village town of Khadbari. In order to avoid the many people and noise of this main town, we will be camping before or after this township.

Day 22: Trek to Tumlingtar for lunch and camp, 3 hours
This is an easy 3-4 hours downhill walk which brings you back to Tumlingtar for lunch and the last overnight camp of this great memorable journey! This will also be your last night with the trekking staff and porters as well. It’s our last day on the wild mountains

Day 23: Fly back to Kathmandu. Meet & transfer to hotel.
This morning can be at leisure, depending upon the schedule flight time, sometimes the flight time can be delayed due to bad weather and other reason beyond our control. After obtaining a boarding pass, we make our way to the terminal for security check; the flight from Tumlingtar to Kathmandu takes less than an hour. This panoramic flight offers views of the snow capped mountains that are visible from window of the plane. Arriving at Kathmandu domestic terminal, one of our tour officers will be waiting to receive and escort you back to the Hotel.

Day 24: Free day at leisure. This is a free day in Kathmandu.
But do not hesitate to let our staff or tour officers know if you would like to go on another short tour in and around Kathmandu Valley. At eventide, we visit a renowned Nepali kitchen for a delicious Nepalese dinner. While savoring your meal, you will be entertained to a thrilling cultural dance performed by the local belles. This is a complimentary outing on behalf of Higher Limits Trek & Expedition for the good welfare of our guests. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 25: Today, as per your international flight time, keep track of your confirmed air ticket home, departure tax (in local currency) and your passport. Our Tour Officer will take you to the airport for your final departure from our amazing country, Nepal. Sayonara!! We hope to see you again.

“If above itinerary couldn’t meet your desires, we can design a teller made itinerary to suite your requirements. Please let us know whether you would like to make it shorter or longer”.

Start Price (USD) AVAILABILITY Booking
A private departures on any day all around the year can be arranged for this trek/tour, for more details and dates E-mail info@higherlimitstrek.com

AVAILABILITY OPTIONS

OPENED: This date is available and open for bookings.
LIMITED: There are very limited number of available places on this departure. Immediate booking.
GUARANTEED: We have reached minimum numbers and this trip is guaranteed to depart.
CLOSED: This date is currently unavailable. Please contact us, if you are interested in travelling on this date.

Your Program Duration = 25 Days
All the Prices are in USD ($) Per Person.
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Why choose Higher Limits Trek?

Higher Limits Trek is a local agency base on Himalayan Country, Nepal. We know better our Cultural, Heritage & Nature.
Higher Limits Trek believe the beautiful Nature & Culture are our best attributes, so we never undertake any activity that undermines our Heritage.
Higher Limits Trek employees local experts such as Guides, Porters & all other staffs, who are experienced in the field of Tourism.
We are awarded a Certificate of Excellence for the Year of 2012 and 2015 from the community site TripAdvisor.
We are associated with
Nepal GovernmentNTBTAANKEEP

Higher Limits Trek & Expedition Pvt. Ltd.
P.O.Box. No.12386
Thamel Marg | Kathmandu | Nepal.
Telephone: 00977-1-4510237
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