Makalu Base Camp Trek

Every single day, only a single flight leads to Tumlingtar; it is not a popular destination, so multiple flights per day are not practical for airlines. This flight usually departs at around 9:30 AM and lands at the Tumlingtar Airport at around 10:05 AM, making it a 35-minute flight. Along the way, you will get to see views of Mt. Kanchenjunga, Makalu, and the mighty Everest. But sometimes, clouds tend to block this amazing view.

After we arrive at Tumlingtar, the porters will get ready to handle your heavy bags while you just have to get out of the airport and get on the ride to Seduwa town. Tumlingtar is a charming town located within the Sankhuwasabha district, bordered by the Sabha and Arun rivers on opposite sides. With an average elevation of 428 meters, this town is dominated by the Kumal community, who are popular for their artistic pottery skill. You will also find Brahmin, Rai, Magar, and Tamang families in the village.

Over the years, this village has seen some developmental efforts since it is the last main town on the Makalu Base Camp trek itinerary. From there, we will first drive towards Num village, the starting point of many treks in the Makalu region. We will cross Khandbari to get there.

From Num village, we will descend over 350 meters through a lush woodland to get to a suspension bridge. This bridge goes over the Arun River and presents us with an ascent of 900 meters. This is the final climb to Seduwa village. This village serves as the entrance to the Makalau Barun National Park.

Day 2 of the Makalu Base Camp Trek is our first trekking day of the journey. Since it’s the first day, we will be taking it slow, trekking just about 8 km, which will keep us on the trail for approximately 5 hours. The elevation gain of the day is 525 meters, taking us to 2100 meters above sea level at the end of the day.

The trek starts from 1575 meters of elevation at Seeduwa village, passing by the terraced farmlands over the slopes of a lush hill. As we move along the trail, we will go past many Rai and Sherpa settlements, offering a peek at their daily chores and self-sustaining lives. Like most other villages of Nepal, the villages within this trek itinerary are heavily reliant on agriculture as their main source of income and food. The trail slowly turns into a gentle ascent with a few stone step sections.

At the midpoint of our trek, we will arrive at Chyaska Danda, a great place to rest and have a re-energizing lunch before we proceed further. After lunch, we will get to a steep ascent, the final climb that leads us to our destination of the day. The village of Tashigaon is the last permanent settlement on this entire Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary. It is a Sherpa village and a significant overnight stay that helps trekkers acclimatize to the highlands.

Today’s trek is 7.2 km long, shorter than yesterday’s, but requires about 5 to 6 hours to complete since it’s steeper and rugged. The trek starts from 2100 meters of elevation and takes us to 3500 meters above sea level at Khongma Danda, a whopping 1400 meters of elevation gain.

The initial segment of the trek has a steep ascent and a few sets of stone stairs. This part of the trail is covered by Bamboo and Rhododendron trees. It can be a bit exhausting to cross this initial part, but it sets the tone for what’s coming next. After 3 hours of trekking from Tashigaon, we will reach the village of Dhara, a tiny village with only a couple of tea houses to accommodate trekkers. Since this village is not a standard overnight place, it does not have many accommodations.

Our lunch will be served at Dhara since this is the last major settlement on the trail today. Continuing the trek after a filling meal, we will first get to Unshisha, a rock formation going over 50 meters. This marks the turning of the trail into a rugged terrain, full of pebbles and loose rocks. Crossing that part leads us to the final climb to Khongma Danda, a steep ascent over a narrow, rocky trail through a thin forest.

The 4th day of our Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary is the first acclimatization day of the journey. Proper acclimatization is the key to a successful Himalayan trekking adventure, and we at Ambition Himalaya take it very seriously. Our guides are well-trained and very well-versed in the preventive measures of altitude sickness.

As our acclimatization hike, we will climb up the Khongma La Pass, reaching 3870 meters above sea level. This will gain us 370 meters of elevation and takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete round-trip. This 5-km-long hike starts with a gentle ascent through an alpine setting, over a well-trodden path with a wide view of the valley and the peaks in the distance.

Passing by chortens and a plethora of cairns, we will climb up to the summit with the Makalu Base Camp Trek guide leading the way. The Khongma La Pass is a major mountain pass that offers a great view of the entire Barun Valley, along with a panoramic view of the great Himalayas. We will spend quite some time there, enjoying the panoramic views, before getting back down to Khongma Danda for a restful afternoon. You can also explore the village if you prefer not to rest.

Today is going to be a long trekking day as we have to cross three different mountain passes, covering a total distance of 10 km in the process. The elevation change at the end of the day will be -356 meters, but we will climb to Shipton La Pass, gaining over 700 meters of elevation. We will start the trek with a steep climb along alpine vegetation and switchbacks over stone stairs.

As we gain elevation, we will get to see a beautiful view of Chamlang and Makalu peaks. Following the same route a yesterday, we will get to the summit of Khongma La Pass, and rest for a while there. From there, we will descend to Kalo Pokhari, a religious pond that appears black. It’s an aesthetic place to rest before moving further.

After a short break, we will get on the climb to Shipton La Pass, the highest elevation of day 5 of the Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary. Reaching its summit offers a great view of the valley and the Chamlang, Everest, Lhotse, Kanchenjunga, and Makalu peaks. Dropping down from this pass takes us to yet another ascent. This climb will lead us to the summit of Keke La Pass, reaching 4150 meters. Descending from this pass takes us to our destination of the day.

Day 6 of the Makalu Base Camp Trek takes us down to Yangri Kharka, losing almost 300 meters of elevation at the end of the day. However, on the way, we will gain over 200 meters of elevation since we will have to ascend a little. We will start the day at 3860 meters in Dobate and get down to 3557 meters, reaching Yangri. The total distance stretches over 12 km, which takes about 6 to 7 hours to complete.

We will start the trek with a downhill trail alongside a forested trail. This descent soon turns into plain land as we get closer to the Barun River. We will follow the curves of the river and ascend through alpine vegetation, crossing many bridges over small rivers. After a long trekking day, we will finally reach Yangri Kharka, a charming meadow accentuated by beautiful waterfalls and tall cliffs.

Waking up at Yangri Kharka, we will soon be served with a tasty breakfast as we enjoy the view of the hills and rivers. After our morning meal, sitting at 3557 meters above sea level, we will get on the path to Langmale Kharka, sitting at 4410 meters. This trek will gain us over 850 meters of elevation, taking about 5 to 6 hours of trek with a total distance of 10.5 km.

Leaving Yangri Kharka, we will climb a gentle ascent through an alpine setting and patches of grasslands where you can see Yaks and other cattle feeding themselves. Continuing the trek, the trail turns steeper, taking us to the village of Merek. This part of the trek is full of loose rocks, so be careful while stepping. We will have our lunch at Merek, rest a bit, and get on the road once again.

Soon, we will reach the final ascent to Langmale Kharka. It is not a sharp ascent, but rather a gentle climb via a narrow trail with cliffs on your right and left side. Just because the ascent is gentle does not mean that this will be easy. It is a long climb, and we will be gaining altitude as we proceed further; this will make us tired faster than usual.

Today is yet another acclimatization day on the Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary. Unlike previous acclimatization days, an acclimatization hike is not mandatory today, as we understand the importance of rest as well. However, we do offer the option of a hike for those who are interested. This acclimatization hike will take you to a nearby hilltop viewpoint, gaining almost 400 meters of elevation, taking us to 4800 meters above sea level.

This side hike will take just 3 to 4 hours to complete, round trip, with a total trek distance of 5 km round trip. It is a gentle ascent all the way through with alpine vegetation dominating the scene; sometimes it seems almost barren. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow, but we will be getting to considerable elevation, which makes us tired faster since we have to breathe more to make up for the lower oxygen concentration in the air.

As we trek higher, we will pass by many chortens and get to see a panoramic view of the peaks in the north. We will soon reach the summit and get to see views of Makalu, Lhotse, Peak 6, Kanchenjunga, and the entire Barun Valley.

The trekking distance today spans over 8 km with an estimated trek duration of 4 to 5 hours, depending on the pace of the group. Today will be the climax of the Makalu Base Camp Trek as we will be trekking to the ultimate destination, reaching 4870 meters above sea level. The elevation gain of the day is 460 meters starting from Langmale Kharka, sitting at 4410 meters.

Our trek starts with a gentle climb alongside alpine meadows, offering an open environment with very few plants. The midpoint of today’s trek is Shershong, a beautiful alpine grazing land that is busy in spring and summer only. Some shepherds bring their cattle during the early spring, too. We will rest there a little before moving on. From this point on, the path turns sharply steep, and we have to trek over glacial moraines.

This walk over the ridgeline can be tricky, as we have to traverse over loose rocks and icy patches. Trekking poles are highly recommended for this section. Soon, we will make it to the base camp where an amazing face-to-face view of the Makalau peaks awaits us. This is the 5th highest peak on the planet, reaching over 4870 meters of height

Today, we will be reaching over 5300 meters above sea level as we will be climbing up to a viewpoint. This hike spans just 6 km but takes about 3 to 4 hours to complete, since we are at a considerable elevation. Hiking in higher elevations takes much more effort since the oxygen concentration is lower, the climate is harsh, and the trail is rugged and icy. The elevation gain of the day is 430 meters.

Our climb to the viewpoint begins with a sharp and difficult ascent. The terrain is rocky and full of icy patches that are slippery. The trail is not well defined, so we recommend you follow the Ambition Himalaya guide all the way. It should take us about 2 hours to get to the top, where the amazing panoramic scene of Lhotse, Makalu, and Everest is waiting for us.

We will spend some time there before descending all the way down to the base camp. After arriving at the base camp, we will have our lunch and go on to explore the Barun Glacier and the Barun Pokhari (pond). This pond lies on the foothills of Kangchung Ri, and the path is very easy to follow.

Day 11 of the Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary is our first day of descending. Today, we will descend to Yangri Kharka, reaching 3557 meters from 4870 meters above sea level at the base camp. This descent will lose us over 1300 meters of elevation, which takes about 6 to 7 hours of downhill trekking. The total trekking distance of the day is 16 km.

We will start the trek over a rocky terrain, leaving the Makalu Base Camp. We will soon pass the Shershong pasture land, where the path turns plain for a while. This will feel like a great relief from the constant downhill hike. From there, we will transition out of the alpine vegetation and into lush greenery as we enter the Barun Valley once again.

We will trek through rhododendron and pine forests, following the path of the Barun River downstream. As we continue going downhill, the river gets bigger and the sound of gushing water fills the air, along with birds chirping and winds chiming. We will soon reach Yangri Kharka and check into our accommodation for the night.

The elevation gain of day 12 is 243 meters, requiring 5 to 6 hours of downhill and uphill trek, covering a total distance of 12 km. At the end of the day, we will reach 3800 meters above sea level at Dobate. Starting from Yangri Kharka, we will head south over a gentle ascent, accompanied by lush vegetation. We will follow the Barun River for the most part and get to see incredible views of the peaks, jungles, and the Barun valley.

As we go over the gradual ascent, the trail turns steeper and takes us to Pemathang, a tiny Sherpa village, great for resting and snacking. Leaving Pemathang, we will soon get to a landslide-prone section where remnants of the previous landslide might still be present. Landslides usually occur in the monsoon period, so you do not have to worry about experiencing one.

After passing this section, we will get to a steep climb that leads us to Dobate, our destination of the day. This part is heavily forested but turns thin as we keep gaining elevation.

Leaving Dobate, we will trek over 10 km to get to Khongma Danga, reaching 3500 meters. The trek starts at 3800 meters above sea level at Dobate, requires 5 to 6 hours of trekking, and loses us 300 meters of elevation at the end of the day. However, we will be climbing a couple of passes, gaining considerable elevation throughout the day.

The trek starts with a gradual ascent through a barren, rugged trail. This trail will lead us to Keke La Pass, requiring about 2 hours of trekking. The climb to the summit is steep and difficult, but you will get there with the help of our guide and porter. Descending from Keke La Pass, we will now have to climb the Shipton La Pass. This climb will take us to 4216 meters above sea level.

Descending from Shipton La pass, we will go through a forest and steeply drop down to Khongma Danda. This part of the trek will take us about 2 hours to complete.

Today’s Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary will take us down to Seduwa, reaching 1530 meters, losing almost 2000 meters of elevation in a single day. This hike will cover over 15 km and take about 6 to 7 hours to complete. We will leave Khongma Danda, passing by a lush pine forest with a steep descent.

Moving on, we will pass by Unshisa and Danda Kharka settlements to get to Tashigaon. We will rest there for a while, have a great lunch, and continue the trek to reach Seduwa. This is our last day of trekking on the Makalu Base Camp Trek.

We have practically completed the trek; there are no more trekking days now, just driving and flying back to Kathmandu. Today we will drive to Tumlingtar, which takes about 5 to 6 hours, covering over 65 km. We will exit the Makalu-Barun National Park, take a last peek at the Arun River, and cross the river over a bridge to start the drive. We will pass the villages of Num, Chinchilla, Khandaru, and others to get to Tumlingtar.

Day 16 is officially the last day of the Makalu Base Camp Trek. After a morning breakfast, we will get on the flight to Kathmandu. It’s a short 35-minute flight, saving us 185 km of driving. After we get to Kathmandu, we will have a short meeting discussing your time in the highlands, your experience, and your feedback. In the evening, we will take you out for a celebratory dinner at a fine restaurant. We will also gift you an Ambition Himalaya t-shirt before we part ways.