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MAKALU BASE CAMP TREK

Trip code
Package name MAKALU BASE CAMP TREK
Duration 18
Max. elevation 4870 m
Level MODERATE
Transportation Private Vehicle | Flights
Accomodation 3 Star hotel | Teahouse
Starts at Kathmandu
Ends at Kathmandu
Trip route
Cost USD 0 per person

Overview

Makalu base camp trek in details

Open Trail Treks presents one of the most scenic adventures around the Nepal Himalaya region ‘Mt. Makalu Base Camp Trek’. The walk takes you on the foot of the world’s fifth-highest Mt. Makalu 8, 463 m and 27, 766 feet high. Close to towering peaks of Baruntse and Chamlang Himal, situated at the western end of beautiful Barun valley.

Mt. Makalu, the name means a great black peak in the Nepalese language, a solid black four-sided rock pyramid. One of the toughest and technical mountain to climb, the first ascent of Mt. Makalu by French Expeditions on May 15th, 1955. 

Mt. Makalu is located 19 km east of Mt. Everest, and west from the world's 3rd highest Mt. Kanchenjunga, within the Mahalangur Himalaya range. On this adventure to base camp offers exclusive rare eastern views of Mt. Everest, famously known as the ‘Khansung Face’.

The whole area of Makalu falls within Makalu-Baruntse National Park and Conservation Area, extends to the rim of the Everest region of Khumbu.
 The park is enriched with unique pockets of vegetation and herbs that’s nearly extinct on this planet, with rare, endangered wild-life. 

Mt. Makalu base camp trek takes you to high altitude from the low sub-tropical farm areas of paddy fields and terraces. Towards cooler alpine hills within dense forest of tall rhododendron, pines, oaks, and fir tree lines, as walk progress. 

The green vegetation fades onwards, on reaching arid dry terrain within Barun valley all the way to Makalu base camp.

On walks visiting rural farm hill villages of great cultural interest of both Hindu and Buddhism religion. Walk continues on a gradual path reaching the last villages Tashi Gaon mainly populated by the Sherpa hill tribes. Located at the bottom of Khoma-La pass, from here onwards heading into complete wilderness with some temporary settlements of Yak herders.

Mt. Makalu base camp treks begin with flight overlooking a sweeping panorama of Central to Eastern Himalayan peaks. From the plane view includes Mt. Everest, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga with an array of high mountain ranges.

On landing at low areas of Arun River valley at Tumlingtar town airport, and then exciting drive takes you to Num village. Where our adventure starts heading down and ups past many rural farm villages of Seduwa and Tashi-Gaon.
 
After Tashi-Gaon into pure wilderness within dense coniferous forest past Khoma-La ridge pass, facing views of Mt. Makalu, Baruntse, Chamlang, and Kanchenjunga.

Walk heads past glacial ponds and over few high passes of Tutu-la and Shipton-la to reach scenic Barun valley. Adventure continues heading due north-west at the end of a valley to reach our final destination at Makalu base camp. 

At the base camp, explore and hike to view-points to catch the best close views of Mt. Makalu and surrounding high peaks.

Enjoying marvelous moments on the highest spot of the adventure at base camp return on the same scenic trail. Allows you to experience more of this beautiful country, till you reach at Num for an interesting drive back to Tumlingtar.

Spending the final overnight in a nice farm town at Tumlingtar, next day short and smooth flight brings you to Kathmandu. After an amazing adventure of a life-time experience on Mt. Makalu base camp trek, with grand services of Open Trail Trek and its guide and field staff.

Highlights

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to your hotel

On arrival at Kathmandu and Nepal International airport, after immigration formalities, and collecting your baggage head for exit where our staff and guide will receive you, with a warm welcome and then transfer you to your hotel. A short drive into the heart of Kathmandu city, around Thamel the most interesting place for all travelers. At the hotel check into your rooms, after a short rest from the jet-lag then meet your guide, and other fellow members of the trek for briefing regarding your stay in Nepal with full information of the treks, with do’s and don’ts. Evening group welcome dinner in a nice authentic Nepalese restaurant with a folk cultural program to entertain with your dinner

Day 2 : In Kathmandu with sightseeing tour and trek preparation

At Kathmandu, a free and leisure day with a sightseeing tour at places of great Historical and cultural interest. Most of the ancient sites listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The rest of the afternoon preparing for Mt. Makalu base trek.

Day 3 : Fly to Tumlingtar 865 m- 45 mins, drive to Num 1, 500 m - 03 hrs

Morning as per time for flight to Tumlingtar, to start and end the trek, drive to domestic airport, after checking in with security formalities. Board in the aircraft as the plane takes off heading due east, facing a panorama of Himalayan peaks with Mt. Everest, Mt. Makalu, and Mt. Kanchenjunga. 

After a little more than 40 minutes, the plane touch down at Tumlingtar airport, located on a shelf of Arun River within low sub-tropical. Where our other field staff with porters receives you for a short walk to Tumlingtar town. From here getting organized, an exciting drive on dirt tracks takes you to a large town at Khadbari, headquarter and administration of Sankhuwa Sabha district.

Drive continues ups past nice typical hill villages and farmlands to reach at a Chinchilla, located on a ridge top, a farm village with views of Mt. Makalu in the distance north, from here downhill into the cool forest to reach our first overnight stop at Num village, the start, and endpoint of our trek.

Overnight either in village simple lodge or with tented camping near the village school compound, with time to explore this nice hill village with surrounding views of mountains and green hills.

Day 4 : Trek to Seduwa 1,510 m- 05 hrs

First-day walk starts, after breakfast heading for long, descend to reach a small bridge over raging Arun River, located in a deep gorge and then climb towards Seduwa village. As trek progress heading past small spread-out farmhouses with crop fields and terraces growing millets, and wheat. Having lunch break on a route served and cooked by our camping chef and kitchen crews.

After lunch another few hours uphill reach a moderate size farm village at Seduwa, where gets cooler with overnight in a tented camp near the village schoolyard.

Day 5 : Trek to Tashi Gaon 2,070 m - 04 hrs

From Seduwa, walks today is rather short of few hours to reach Tashi Gaon, the last village on route to Makalu and Barun valley, a pleasant morning walks after breakfast on gradual winding trails. Leading through farm areas with a short climb to Tashi Gaon, a nice moderate hill village populated by the Sherpa tribe.

Reaching at Tashi Gaon by lunchtime as well for an overnight stop. 

Afternoon free for a short hike, explore the village to witness the local culture of Buddhism religion.

Day 6 : Trek to Khoma Danda / Ridge 3, 760 m - 05 hrs

After Tashi-Gaon, heading into complete mountain wilderness, as there are no Villages with only some temporary settlements of Yak herders, with few simple and basic tea-house serving as lodge with local meals.

The morning begins with a short easy stroll within a dense forest lined with tall rhododendron, oaks, pines, hemlocks, and pines with magnolia trees as thick shrubs and bush. After an hour climb starts with a steep up for some hours till you reach to overnight camp at Khoma Danda, a hill and ridge on route to Barun Valley and Makalu base camp. The area with smaller tree lines of birch, juniper with rhododendron species, offers grand views of Mt. Makalu, Baruntse with Mt. Kanchenjunga towards the east.

Day 7 : Trek to Mumbuk 3,520 m - 06 hrs

From Khoma Danda camp, with hearty breakfast served by our cook, walk today is enjoyable with few ups and downhill to negotiate, starts following a path towards north past a small glacial pond of Thulo / Sano Pokhari (Big and small ponds).

Where tree lines drop for few hours and then cross over Tutu-La and Shipton-La Pass of above 4, 300 m high, and then a long descend back into woodland to Reach at Mumbuk for overnight camp in the midst of rhododendron and pine forest.

Day 8 : Trek to Nehe Kharka 4, 320 m - 05 hrs.

Today walks takes you down to scenic Barun valley for overnight camp at Nehe Kharka, a small temporary settlement with a simple lodge and Yak Herder's shelters, a summer pasture for local villages cattle for grazing.

Morning head down to short downhill, and reach the valley where steep ups and downhill ends from here for some days, as walk leads to open wide country sheltered by towering cliffs, and snow-capped peaks.

After a great day's walk reach you at Nehe Kharka for overnight camping on the fields close to Yak herder’s camp and local tea-house.

Day 9 : Trek to Makalu base camp 4, 870 m via Sherson 4, 610 m - 05 hrs.

Morning enjoys the views with great breakfast at the camp, and then our guide leads you to our main highlights and destinations at Makalu base camp.

Walk starts following small streams that later join to Barun and then to Arun River further downstream. Following the high trail with some vegetation around Burberry, junipers and dwarf rhododendron also called Azalea blooms into pretty little flowers in the late springtime of April and May.  

The trail leads to slow and gradual up, crossing few streams to and fro then reach a place called Sherson, the last place with a grassy field and green bushes, might stop here for hot lunch prepared by our cook and kitchen hands. Afternoon continues to walk for few hours, taking slow as the altitude gets you around dry and arid mountainous terrain.

Finally, reaching Mt. Makalu base camp on the highest point of the adventure at 4, 870 meters and 15, 978 feet high. Our guide and camping staff will find a good level ground to set tents, in the meantime enjoy the views of towering peaks that lie ahead of you with massive glaciers and frozen ponds next to the camp.

Day 10 : At Makalu base camp for local excursion

Free day at Makalu base camp, after a continuous walk of a week, the morning after late breakfast with leisure time for a short hike to some high view-points to get best closer looks of surrounding high snow-mountains with Mt. Makalu. Around 

Makalu base camp, the one and only place in all Himalaya where one can get a rare view of Mt. Everest and Lhotse East Face, known as Khansung Face of Everest. Afternoon relaxes and enjoys the beauty of surrounding awe-some mountain scenery.

Day 11 : Trek to Yangre Kharka 3, 645 m - 06 hrs

Enjoying great times with amazing views and hiking, morning clear the camp and then after breakfast start return journey to lower areas, as walk leads on the same easy on slow descend to reach Yangre Kharka, a place with temporary shelter of cattle herds, with a stone hut serving as Tea-House or Lodge.

Day 12 : Trek to Mumbuk - 06 hrs

From here after few hours of walk, leaving the scenic Barun valley, as the route follows with a steep climb, to enter back into lush vegetation and forested area with dense tall trees. Where our overnight camp is pitched in the same area as before.

Day 13 : Trek to Khoma Danda / Ridge - 05 hrs

Great scenic and pleasant morning trek, as the trail leads on a ridgeline over Shipton and Tutu-La pass to reach back at high Khoma Danda hilltop, for last overnight camping on mountain wilderness.

Day 14 : Trek to Nawa Gaon 2, 500 m via Tashi Gaon - 05 hrs

Today, an easy walk with long descend to Tashi-Gaon for probably lunch stop, after a refreshing break, taking a higher trail above Tashi-Gaon and into the cool shade of forest and farm areas to reach a large Sherpa village at Nawa-Gaon.

Overnight camp on fields and terraces, with time to explore around this lovely village to witness more of the local culture of the high areas of Makalu region.

Day 15 : Trek to Num via Seduwa - 05 hrs

Our last and final day of trekking, morning on a downhill to Seduwa village and with more descend to reach a gorge, and the cross over a suspension bridge then with last climb of the adventure to reach at Num for an overnight stop, either in tented camps or in a nice small simple local lodge.

Day 16 : Drive back to Tumlingtar - 04 hrs

From Num after breakfast, get into a vehicle, either jeep, four wheels drive or of similar types made for mountain roads. Drive heads up to Chinchela farm village and then downhill to Tumlingtar past Khandbari town.

On reaching our final and last destination at Tumlingtar check into a nice local Lodge, with a free afternoon to browse around this interesting farm town of Eastern Nepal.

Day 17 : Fly to Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel

As per flight time for Kathmandu, walk towards the airport terminal after bidding farewell to our field staff and porters, and then board in aircraft for a short scenic flight back to Kathmandu.

On arrival at Kathmandu domestic airport our guide and staff transfer you to your respective hotels, after a great panoramic flight and amazing adventure on Makalu and Barun valley trek.

Day 18 : International departure for homeward or to respective countries.

Last day in Nepal in the country of Himalayan wonders, as per your international flight time either morning, afternoon, or evening. Open Trail Trek guide and staff transfer you to the airport for the homeward journey or to the next port of call.

Inclusions

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