21-day Makalu Base Camp Trek

After being picked up in the Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport by one of our representatives, they will transfer you to the hotel. Once there, you will get a short briefing of your trip and have the rest of the day off. Overnight at Hotel.

A 50 minute flight from Kathmandu will take us to Tumlingtar. From Tumlingtar, we will have about 3 hours of jeep drive on a bumpy road to the first camp at Chichila.

We will begin with a moderately paced walk through  picturesque villages and lush mountain forests. Then we will pass a ridge line with great views on both sides until we reach Num. Thunder and lightning make interesting displays on Num evenings.

First we will make a steep descent down through the forests and terraced plots of land to Arun Khola. Then, we will ascend up to the other side again until we reach Makalu National Park. There, we will register our permits and head to the camping site at the top of the village.

We will start the day with an ascent of the ridge between Ipsuwa Khola on the west and Kasuwa Khola to the east. Crossing the hillside through quiet villages and passing by small paddy fields, we will reach the village of Tashi Gaon.

On day 6, we will trek upwards towards Khongma. Khongma is the last stop before crossing the Shipton La and dropping down into the upper sections of the remote Barun Valley. The green forests are replaced by scrub and rhododendrons that cover the lower reaches of the mountains.

On day 7 we will rest in order for our bodies to catch up with us before gaining more height. The following Day we will take on the crossing of the Shipton La.

We will kick off the day with the summit of the Shipton La as our goal. After we reach lake Kalo Pokhari, we will pass over the Keke La at 4,152 m. There, we will have marvelous views of Chamlang 7,319 m, Peak 6 (6,524 m) and Peak 7 (6,758 m). After crossing the Keke La pass, we will descend down through the beautiful valley to Debotay.

From Debotay, we will pass through a Rhododendron forest that leads to the Baruni River and the upper reaches of the valley. It is a pleasant walk, gaining altitude slowly, until we arrive at Yangle Kharka situated at the base of the valley.

On day 10 we will trek to Merek. Since we will gain height above 4, 000 meters, we need to be sure to allow our bodies the necessary time for acclimatization.

On our way to Shersong we will climb up a valley, through yak pastures and boulder fields. As we approach our destination, the southeast ridge of Mount Makalu comes into view. Campsite at Shersong.

We will walk up to Makalu Base Camp and enjoy the superb views of the Himalayan mountains. After, we will return back to Shersong.

We will start by descending back down the valley and taking our last glimpse of Makalu before turning the corner and eventually reaching Yangle Kharka.

We will start the day by continuing with our descent through a rockfall. Then we will climb up a rock gully to Mumbuk. We will be greeted by the greeneries below.

First, we will start with an initial steep climb from Mumbuk through a forest of firs and rhododendrons. Then, we will cross the Keke La, Shipton La and Ghungru La. Finally, we will descend to Khogma again.

The descent to the Sherpa town Tashi Gaon will be long and steep.

To get to Num we will retrace the path we took on our ascent. We will first exit the Makalu Barun Camp. Then we will descend down to Arun Khola and Seduwa. After that, we will hike through a forest and follow our footsteps all the way back down to the river. Finally, we will climb back up the opposite side of the valley to Num.

Again, we will retrace our steps to Chichila.  We will then spend the night at Tumlingtar, ready for an early departure to Kathmandu the following Day. Transfer to Tumlingtar.

We will complete our journey with a flight to Kathmandu. We will return to the welcome haven of the Hotel. Once back in Kathmandu, we will host an evening barbecue to celebrate the expedition and as a farewell party to thank the Sherpas for their support and friendship.

After a fun packed journey you will have a full day at leisure on your own. Otherwise,  if you wish to extend your trip with us for an additional fee, we can organize to explore the Thamel for one last day shopping and evening farewell dinner at a Nepali restaurant.
Overnight at Hotel /B.

GuideSource will transfer you to the International Airport for your departure flight.