Makalu Base Camp Trek - 25 Days

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Retrace the journey back to Kohma Danda (ridge) via Shipton-la and Thulo Pokhari for the overnight camp.

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.

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.

Trek back to Chichira, 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.

From Chichira, 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 Khandbari. In order to avoid the many people and noise of this main town, we will be camping before or after this township.

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.

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.

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.