Makalu Base Camp Trek 14 days
Trip Facts
Group size
1-20+
Duration
14 Days
Trip Mode
Aeroplane/Private Vehicle
Level of difficulty
Difficult
Max. Altitude:
5500 meters
Best Season
Sep-Nov/Late Feb-May
Accommodation
Tea House/Lodge
Start/End
Kathmandu
Trip Highlights
- Scenic Beauty: Stunning views of Mount Makalu (8,485 m), Everest, Lhotse, and Baruntse.
- Rich Biodiversity: Home to snow leopards, red pandas, Himalayan tahr, and rare bird species.
- Cultural Encounters: Warm hospitality of Sherpa, Rai, and Limbu people.
- Makalu Base Camp: Awe-inspiring panoramas and a turquoise glacial lake.
- Challenging Terrain: Perfect for those seeking adventure and achievement.
- Remote and Untouched: A quieter alternative to popular treks.
- Local Cuisine: Enjoy dal bhat, momo, and tsampa.
- Photography & Festivals: Capture majestic landscapes and cultural celebrations.
Overview
The Makalu Base Camp Trek is an exhilarating adventure that leads trekkers through the rugged and pristine landscapes of the Makalu Barun National Park in eastern Nepal.
This awe-inspiring journey offers a glimpse into the heart of the Himalayas, where towering peaks, dense forests, and rich cultural diversity await those who seek the thrill of the great outdoors.
Located in the eastern region of Nepal, Makalu is the fifth-highest peak in the world, and its surrounding region is renowned for its natural beauty and cultural heritage.
This trek takes you on a mesmerizing odyssey, allowing you to experience the raw grandeur of the Himalayan wilderness and immerse yourself in the traditions of the local communities.
Over several weeks, trekkers will traverse diverse terrains, from lush rhododendron forests to high alpine meadows, all while witnessing breathtaking views of Makalu and its neighboring peaks.
The journey also provides opportunities for cultural interactions with the indigenous Sherpa, Rai, and Limbu communities, offering a unique window into their customs and way of life.
The Makalu Base Camp Trek is not only a physical challenge but also a spiritual and cultural exploration.
This guide will walk you through the details of this extraordinary journey, including the necessary preparations, highlights of the trek, safety considerations, and responsible trekking practices, enabling you to embark on an unforgettable adventure that will leave you with lasting memories of the Himalayas.
Itinerary
Day one starts early in the morning with a quick flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar. From there, on your arrival, we will arrange a local jeep and drive towards Num. We will pass through the ridges of Khandbari, and through many small villages all along the way. We get to see the great view of Makalu from the very point if the weather favors us.
The Seduwa village is just situated to parallel Num. These two checkpoints are separated by the Arun River. We descend all the way from here to the Arun River (760m). The trail takes us through lush jungles and vegetation lands. This descent will take us around 1:30 hours, which then leads us to our first suspension bridge of this journey. Crossing the river, we then continue the ascend, after about 2 hrs of ascending we then finally reach Seduwa. Here, we stay overnight in a teahouse with a delicious dinner.
Following the local vegetation, we now will walk through many scattered houses. The trail also leads us to some of the denser parts of the forest. We encounter some streams and rivers along the way until we reach Tashigaou. A lovely Sherpa village, having guesthouses and a great camping environment. After a great dinner, we recharge our bodies for the next day
Now, we leave the last village we encounter on this trek. Passing through various vegetation and lush dense forests. We slowly understand how great the flora and fauna of this region really are. The trail slowly leads us toward the stream, the paths are made up of woods. After 2 hours of a long hike, we finally arrive at the Danda Kharka. Danda Kharka has a few tea houses and is a popular stop for lunch. We continue will the trail that now leads up uphill. With a final push, we finally reach Kongma Danda. From here, our camp will just be a few ascents far. Arriving at the teahouse after such a taxing day. With a great dinner, we end this day.
We now have reached a staggering height of about 3500 meters, which is above normal. Thus, in a few days, we will be reaching a peak height of 5200 meters. Thus, preparing our bodies for those extreme conditions. We must let our bodies acclimatize properly. Acclimatization is an important part of a trek at a high altitude and we won’t be compromising on health and safety.
Thus, this doesn’t mean you will be resting the whole day. We will be squeezing every last bit of juice from this day. We will go on a short hike around the valley. Reaching places like Dobato(3862 meters)
With an acclimatization day, we move forward with the same excitement as day 1. The trail descends to Barun Khola, through lush rhododendron forests and great meadowlands. You will encounter steep ascents to reach the Barun Khola. Reaching the Barun Khola, you will walk along the river bank which leads to a landslide-prone area. With help of our experts, we cross the area safely. We now reach a teahouse, which is a great place for lunch. Stopping for our lunch we now get to see the snowy peak of Chamlang. Thus, continuing on our trail, after 2 hours of another great push, we will reach the Yangle Kharka. We will stay overnight at a teahouse.
We start this day beside the Barun river and continue with it. The trail takes a steep turn as we walk through the rhododendron and pine forests. We encounter many waterfalls and a checkpoint named Ripuk. Ripuk is famous for its great waterfalls and stunning views of mountain peaks including Pyramid Peak, Peak 4, Peak 6, Chamlang, and Peak 5.
We now continue with our trail that leads us to steep ascents until we reach Jack Kharka. Here at Jack Kharka, some teahouses are situated for a small break. Moving on without trail, a short push will take us to our camp for the day i.e. Langmale. Thus, we will spend the night here in a Tea house.
The day has finally come for you to witness the magic of Makalu Base Camp. We start our journey with the Barun river, and after about 1:30 hrs we now reach Shersong (4630m). Shersong is known for its spectacular views of the Mountains. With us gradually ascending, Mt. Makalu appears just in front of our trail. Walking our trail, we now see the tea houses at the Makalu Base Camp. With just a few hundred meters of ascending separating us from this masterpiece. With a final push of about 3 hours, we not will reach the Makalu Base Camp. Thus, we spend the overnight at this glorious base camp.
We start this day, early in the morning. Our goal is the Advanced Base Camp. The trail to Advanced Base Camp is just steep ascends and hours of hike. We will reach there around the 1 o’clock mark. Then, spending some time looking at the marvelous view it offers, we will now begin our descent.
We will return all the way to Langmale for the overnight stay here. Getting a comfortable sleep and a delicious dinner, we spend the night here.
The same path that leads us to the base camp, is now waving us goodbyes. We will use the same trail to drop all the way from Langmale to Yangle Kharka. Thus, this will really be a taxing day. We will spend the night in Yangle Kharka.
With reaching Dobato, experience the same lush forests, streams, and the famous Makalu Barun National Park for one last time. We stop at Dobato for the day.
Continuing our trail with the Arun River, we pass around the Arun valleys until we finally return back to Seduwa. We stay overnight there.
This will be our last day in the mountains, we thank this amazing region for providing us with such a hearty experience. The rivers, waterfalls, valleys, and villages are there for us to witness one last time. We once started our journey from this point, and now returning back to this point and collecting a load of memories is really an emotional moment. We return all the way to Num and stay there overnight.
From Num, we will take a jeep to Tumlingtar. From there a short flight will take us to Kathmandu, where we will gather one last time. Exchanging experiences and moments throughout our journey. This day 14 now officially marks the end of our journey
Price Includes
- Airport pick up and drop off, upon arrival and departure in Kathmandu (International and domestic both)
- Makalu Base camp all required permit fee and Makalu Barun National Park entrance fee
- Flight ticket to Tumlingtar both ways
- Food and accommodation during the trek and climb (full board with breakfast, lunch and dinner with tea/coffee and seasonal fresh fruits)
- One licensed English or Chinese or Korean or Hindi along with Nepali speaking trekking guide
- Transportation, food, accommodation and insurance of Guide during the trip
- Down jacket, all-season sleeping bag, duffel bag and trekking map(in case if you don't have your own. Down jacket, sleeping bag and duffel bag must be returned after completion of the trip)
- First Aid Medical Kit(Carried by the guide)
Price Excludes
- International Airfare
- Visa Charges
- Your travel and medical insurance
- Personal Expenses such as shopping, bar bills, hot shower, telephone, laundry, titbits etc
- Services not mentioned or not promised by the Agent / Agency
- Emergency expenses such as expenses on charted Flights / Helicopter
Cost and Date
Select a departure month
Select year
| Start | Finish | Availability | Price |
|---|
If the above Makalu Base Camp Trek 14 days
does not meet your needs, we can design individualized travel plans based on your preferences and
specifications.
Elevation Chart: Makalu Base Camp Trek 14 days
Download
Altitude in:
Review Requests
Enter a recent customer’s contact info and we’ll ask them to leave you a review.
