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Makalu Base Camp Trek is a stunning hike to the foothills of the world’s fifth tallest peak, Mt Makalu(8,485m/27,838ft). The mountain is about 19km southeast of Mt Everest in the same Mahalangur Himalayas as Mt Everest, Cho Oyu, Lhotse.
Despite being home to one of the highest peaks in the famous Khumbu Region, the path to Makalu is a secret and isolated path. Regardless, it can be a great alternative to Everest Base Camp Trek. That is why Sabbatical Explore Nepal is inclined to present this best-kept hidden trek to you all.
The path to Makalu Base Camp(4,900m) is perfect for trekkers looking for a peaceful walk in the mountains. This journey offers you terraced farm fields, traditional remote villages, rich cultures, dense forests, diverse landscapes, alpine meadows, glaciers, mountains, and probably more.
Similarly, the off-the-beaten Makalu-Barun Valley, which you explore on the trek, is one of the heavenly valleys in Nepal. The tour also goes via Makalu Barun National Park, one of the biggest parks in the country. For more highlights, you can look around somewhere down.
Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary starts with a panoramic flight to Tumlingtar. The trek will begin from Chichore to the countryside. The walk will get more and more scenic with the days. You will pass via numerous villages, hills, valleys, and meadows of the region to reach the trek's rough, higher but picturesque parts.
And the exciting hike of several days will finally bring you to the base camp of Mt Makalu. Overall, the trek from Tumlingtar-Makalu Base Camp-Tumlingtar will be full of beautiful and worth remembering experiences.
Nevertheless, Makalu Base Camp Trek will not be an easy trek at all. The region's remoteness, ruggedness, and high elevations are the dark sides of the tour. It is a long journey of around 20 days. You shall have some arduous and lengthy trekking days.
This trek is for you if you love taking on challenges and have already done similar tours. The rewards of this sheer trek are countless; we bet you!
Day 1: Arrival at Kathmandu(1,400)
Day 2: Kathmandu Sightseeing and Trek preparation day.
Day 3: Fly to Tumlingtar & drive to Chinchela(1,980m).
Day 4: Trek from Chinchela to Num(1,500m)
Day 5: Trek from Num to Sedua(1,540m)
Day 6: Trek from Sedua to Tashigaon(2,070m)
Day 7: Trek from Tashigaon to Khongma(3,560m)
Day 8: Trek from Khongma to Mumbuk(3,550m)
Day 9: Trek from Mumbuk to Yangle Kharka(3,600m)
Day 10: Trek from Yangle Kharka to Merek(4,570m)
Day 11: Trek from Merek to Shersong(4,660m)
Day 12: Day Trip to Makalu Base Camp(5,000m)
Day 13: Trek from Shersong to Yangle Kharka(3,600m)
Day 14: Trek from Yangle Kharka to Mumbuk(3,550m)
Day 15: Trek from Mumbuk to Khongma(3,560m)
Day 16: Trek from Khongma to Tashigaon(2,070m)
Day 17: Trek from Tashigoan to Sedua(1,540m)
Day 18: Trek from Sedua to Num(1500m)
Day 19: Trek from Num to Tumlingtar(901m)
Day 20: Fly from Tumlingtar to Kathmandu(1,400m)
Day 21: Departure
A warm welcome! Our team will receive you on your arrival. Your journey with us starts from here. We will head to your hotel in Kathmandu to drop you there. At the hotel, you’ll take some rest. In the evening, you will join us for a welcome dinner. We’ll have some talks about ourselves and the trek. Overnight in Kathmandu’s hotel.
A sightseeing day! On the second day of the trip, we will do sightseeing around Kathmandu, the city of temples. On the other side, our team will arrange things for the trek. There are so many places in the city to explore. We’ll go to see World Heritage sites such as Swayambhunath Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, and Bouddhanath Stupa. The day will get done with the visit to these sites. Overnight in Kathmandu’s Hotel.
The adventure starts! From Kathmandu Airport’s domestic terminal, we’ll fly to Tumlingtar in the morning. The one-hour flight will be scenic as we’ll see the Himalayas and Nepal’s landscapes. Then we’ll land in Tumlingtar to start an intriguing drive to Chinchela. We’ll get our things together and start riding towards our overnight destination. It will take around 4 to 5 hours to reach there. Overnight in Chinchela.
The first day on the trail! We’ll join the Makalu Base Camp Trekking from Chinchela. The walk will start by crossing a small ridge that is all forest. Then we’ll traverse through several villages such as Kuwapani, Baisake, Sakuranti Majuwa. In between, we’ll enjoy walking via a dense oak forest. To rest and have lunch, we’ll stop in Mure. We’ll take a rapid descent via a rocky area to reach Num from Mure. Overnight in Num.
The hike continues! We will leave Num village at dawn to join a descending trail. We will descend through Num village’s ridge to Lumbang village. And from there, we’ll have a highly steep trek to the Arun Koshi River. We’ll start another ascent to end up in Sedua village by crossing the bridge. Overnight in Sedua.
The day of paddy fields! We’ll start the trek towards Tashigaon through a descending trail of paddy fields. The Kasuwa River and Ipsuwa will be with us until we cross a hill. We’ll walk past some peaceful Buddhist villages while passing paddy yards. Hindrungma village, another village full of paddy, will come along as we reach Tashigaon after crossing some meadows and streams. Overnight in Tashigaon.
The ascend is on! We’ll gain more elevations today as the trek will start with a climb over a ridge. Then we reach a vast forest area and then to a stream. We’ll cross several streams, and a cliff to reach Kharkha, a meadow. From there, we’ll hike up to Unshisha. Having a short rest, we’ll begin the day's final stretch, which leads us to Khongma. Overnight in Khongma.
The mountain viewing day! To begin this scenic day, we’ll climb a ridge to its top. From the point, which stands at 3840m, we’ll enjoy stunning sights of Chhamlag, Peak 7, and Peak 6. After the view, we’ll ascend more through a stone staircase to reach Ghungru La, one of the famous passes of the Barun Valley. We’ll have more mountain vistas to watch there as well. Then we’ll descend to a small lake before climbing another two mountain cliffs, Shipton and Keka La. After this, we’ll drop via a fir forest to reach Mumbuk.
A meadow day! From Mumbuk, we’ll set off to reach Yangle Kharka, a vast meadow in the Makalu and Barun Valley. The hike will start with a descent from Mumbuk to a rough canyon and then through a fir forest. We’ll cross several streams via wooden bridges. One of those bridges will land us in Yangle Kharka, the scenic overnight destination.
A day to cross 4000m! Leaving Yangle Kharka and walking through Nghe Kharka, a grassy meadow, we’ll walk to Riphuk Kharka. We’ll enjoy the mountains throughout the day. A little away from Riphuk Kharka is a potato field in Jhak Kharka. We’ll pass that field and start climbing upwards. The climb will bring us to Yak Kharka, yet another meadow. The next place after Yak Kharka is Merek, where we’ll end up for the day.
The Makalu Base Camp is almost upon us! We’ll walk on an ascending sandy trail by a stream and a lateral moraine. Now our walk turns towards the north, where the Himalayas lie. The more forward we walk, the more scenic the valley turns. Enjoying the beautiful vicinity of the valley, we’ll march across a small ridge to reach Shersong. Overnight in Shersong.
The most awaited day of the trip is here! We’ll start the big day quite earlier than normal. After having breakfast, we’ll leave Shersong, for now, to ascend towards Makalu Base Camp. It will be a gradual climb through the valley. From the top of that climb, we’ll descend to a stream, and after crossing it; we will reach Makalu Base Camp. We will have great views of Mt Makalu and other mountains from the base camp. There are no shelters to stay in the camp; we’ll trek back to Shersong after the panorama enjoyment.
Now retrace back! After seeing and exploring the world’s fifth tallest peak base camp, we have to return to where it all began, Tumlingtar. For today, we’ll aim to reach Yangle Kharka, the scenic meadow if you remember. The trek will happen via Barun Valley as we retrace our footsteps to Yangle Kharka. Overnight in Yangle Kharka.
Retracing continues! From Yangle Kharka’s scenic meadow, we’ll descend through a rough and forested trail. It will be an easy walk as we’ll have more of a down going trek now. After retracing through the same path, we’ll stop in Mumbuk for the night.
It continues! We’ll pass via the exact places where we had good moments earlier. On this day, mainly, we’ll cross Shipton La Pass to reach Khongma. There will be enough mountain vistas to enjoy as well until it is dark.
Another easy day! The trek’s climbing sections are almost over. On this day, when we’ll trek back to Tashigaon, we’ll have to walk downwards only. The easy trail will allow us to enjoy the nature of Makalu Base Camp Trek to the fullest. The long descending day will end in Tashigaon.
The traditional villages come again! Today, we’ll leave the boundary of Makalu Barun National Park and join a riverbed trail by the Barun River. We’ll climb a small hill from the river to reach the civilizations. Observing the villages and lives around there, we’ll get to Sedua to call it a day.
We are almost there! The trek for the day will happen through dense vegetation. As we pass via some Sherpa villages, it will have several ups and downs. We will reach Num village after being on the trail for 5-6 hours.
Tumlingtar is here! The last day of trekking will lead us through Chichira village. We’ll have the last views of Mt Makalu from the region's land on this day. Via the same trail, we’ll arrive in Tumlingtar. Overnight in Tumlingtar.
The scenic flight back to the capital! After having our breakfast in Tumlingtar, we’ll hop into the flight. If everything is alright for the flight, we’ll join the clouds. It will be 45 minutes of panoramic time in the air. Then we’ll land in Kathmandu to head to our hotel. This will be a moment to celebrate the completion of Makalu Base Camp Trekking. Overnight in Kathmandu.
The day to bid farewell is here! We will head to the airport at the time of your departure. The airport transfer will be the last assistance from our side to you on this trip. Farewell! See you on another trip!
What kind of meals should I expect during the trek ?
You will get hygienic, energetic, and well-cooked meals three times a day. The food items available on the trek are the most common ones from Nepali, Indian, Chinese, and Western but local style.
What are the odds of getting altitude sickness during the trek ?
If you do not follow health precautions and take mountain sickness lightly, you never know when. You have to be careful up in the higher areas and follow what your guide has to say. This way, you can lower the chances of sickness.
Can I do this trek alone ?
No, this trek lies in the restricted region of Nepal. And, you must have a certified guide and at least two people in your group to do this trek.
Will I get WiFi on this trek?
Yes, but not in all the places. The teahouses of the lower areas have WiFi services. But the higher areas teahouses may lack the service.
What is the best time for this Trek ?
March till May and September till November are the two-time intervals that are best for the trek.
Is it necessary to have training for the trek ?
If you are an experienced trekker, you do not need that. But if you are an amateur, it is helpful to have training like cardio, hiking, and running. Those sorts of activities will make you ready for the rugged trails of the trek.
Do I need a visa to visit Nepal?
Yes, a visa is necessary to visit Nepal for all tourists except Indian nationals. You can get a visa from the Nepalese Embassy in your country or an on-arrival visa from Kathmandu (TIA) Airport. For that, you will need a valid passport before 6 months, some passport-sized photos, and a visa fee.
How much is a Nepalese Visa fee?
The up-to-date visa fees (as of 6/6/2024) for a Nepalese visa is: US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, US$125 for 90 days. For Visa Extension: 3 USD per Day(minimum 15 days) 5 USD per day as late fine in the case of delay
Which time is best for a Nepal tour?
The best times to visit Nepal are September to November and March to May. If you are not doing any high-altitude tours, you can visit Nepal all year round, including Monsoon and Winter.
What is Nepal best known for?
Nepal is known for multiple reasons. The country is geographically, culturally, architecturally, and religiously a gifted one. It is the birthplace of Buddha, home of Mt Everest and eight other world & highest peaks, the world best trekking trails, the land of brave Gurkhas, and more. Therefore, multiple reasons make Nepal popular across the globe.
Sabbatical Explore Nepal's team planned this excursion, which went excellent and was exceptionally well planned. We had the best guide on this trip who was friendly, humorous, and professional. He made us feel easy throughout the excursion. He was always there to explain the new things of the journey from the unique hanging bridges to the rapid Dudh Koshi River. The entire team for the journey was great. I can say the trip to Everest Base Camp is a trip for my lifetime. Thanks a lot to the entire team of Sabbatical!
Sarah Green
The trip was well worth it! I was in Nepal last Autumn with the team of Shiva and Kiran, whom I knew from my colleagues. I was confused about where to go. But my expert friends, Shiva and Kiran, suggested I do their best-selling Nepal Panorama Tour. I'm glad they suggested it. I am not a hiking person, my body does not let me be. So I went on a tour of Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan. In Kathmandu, I saw a lot of historical and time-traveling sites. Pokhara was so much vivid by Fewa Lake; I enjoyed the boat riding there. And Chitwan was unimaginably full of nature. I saw rhinos, elephants, birds, crocodiles. I was expecting the Bengal Tiger, but luck did not favor me. Except for that, Chitwan treated me quite well. Overall, the trip felt so smooth and rewarding. I traveled around Nepal panoramically. Thanks!
Dr. M.H. ALHAMRAN
After Everest Base Camp Trek, I did tour to Pokhara and Chitwan National Park. I am thankful to Shiva and his Sabbatical Explore Team for managing a great guide for my trek. I knew the trek is beautiful but not entirely. All the prayer flags, busy farm fields, like traditional hamlets, and yes giant peaks, these all are running through my mind while writing this. Thanks for this amazing trek. The guide helped me deal with the challenges of the trek without getting anxious. Thanks to him and the team! I suggest this group of experts to everyone reading my experience. You won't regret joining them. I am not!
Stefanie Zendler
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