Makalu Base Camp Trek

Landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu counts as the first day of your Makalu Base Camp Trek. After you get off the flight, the first thing you have to do is get your tourist visa at the immigration section. For this, you need to ask for a visa application, fill it out, pay your visa fees as per your intended stay, and present all the required documents to the visa officer.

You need to present your passport, your visa application, two passport-sized photos, a visa fee receipt, proof of accommodation, and proof of return tickets. After that, the immigration officer will validate your details and stamp the visa on your passport. This whole process will take slightly over an hour to complete. You can also apply for a tourist visa online, which is a great way to save time in crowded airports during the peak trekking season

This is reserved for applying and obtaining permits for the Makalu Base Camp Trek and a day tour around the city of Kathmandu. First, we will start the day with an energizing breakfast, followed by applying for the necessary permits at the Tourism Board Office in Kathmandu. Glory Adventure’s expert crew will help you get those permits while all you have to do is provide the necessary documents.

After our permits are sorted out, we will get on a private jeep/car to roam around the Kathmandu valley. Our itinerary for the day includes sites like Bouddhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and more. We also offer you the choice to design your own itinerary for the day. Lunch and dinner for today are not a part of the standard Makalu Base Camp Trek package.

Today is a heavy traveling day as we will first fly to Tumlingtar, which will take around 30 to 50 minutes, depending on the day of the week. We will be boarding a small plane that typically leaves before 10 in the morning. For the best views, you must book seats on the left side of the plane, which we will arrange to the best of our abilities.

After we reach Tumlingtar, we will get on a jeep/car to drive to Num village. This drive is about 65 km long, which will take us 4 to 5 hours to cover since the road condition is not great. The rough road, full of potholes, starts after we cross Khandbari, which takes about 30 minutes to reach. Somehow, we will make it to the village of Num and spend our first night at a tea house.

Day 4 of the Makalu Base Camp Trek is our first trekking day on the itinerary. The total trek distance is 8 km with an estimated trek duration of 6 to 7 hours. Although the net elevation change today is very trivial, the route includes many ups and downs with a total descent of about 772 meters and ascent of 700 meters. Leaving Num, we will descend through a lush forest and reach the Arun River. This is the 772-meter descent spanning about 2 km.

After trekking for about 2 to 3 hours, we will reach the Arun River suspension bridge. Crossing the bridge gets us into the Makalu Barun National Park. Suspension bridges are a huge part of any Himalayan trekking experience as they are the only thing connecting remote villages to the outside world. These rocking bridges can be kind of scary for the first time, but you will get used to them eventually.

Crossing the Arun River is also the part where the steep 700-meter ascent begins. This part is about 3 km long, taking about 3 to 4 hours to cover, and passes by Runmura village, where we will take a short break. Moving on, the trail is stone-paved all the way to Seduwa village, where the first checkpoint of the Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary is located.

Today’s trekking distance is just about 10 km with an elevation gain of 600 meters. The estimated trek duration is 5 to 6 hours, taking us to 2200 meters above sea level. Once we leave Seduwa, the trail gradually ascends through occasional tiny villages and forests. We will cross many streams over small bridges, passing by Sherpa villages and mani walls along the way.

Soon enough, we will arrive at Tashigaon, the last permanent village on our itinerary. Moving forward, all the villages up ahead are inhabited seasonally, during summer, spring, and autumn. Monsoon and winter are not preferred by the locals, and they tend to go to lower regions to avoid the extreme weather conditions during those seasons

Day 6 of the Makalu Base Camp Trek is 8.5 km long with an elevation gain of 1400 meters. This trek will take us 6 to 7 hours to complete, taking us to 3500 meters above sea level at Khongma Danda. The trek begins with an ascent over a set of stone stairs, a steep part that might be slippery. This path will lead us to the village of Dhara, which is 2867 meters high, taking about 3 hours of trekking.

We will have a short break there before moving towards Unshisha village, reaching 3200 meters above sea level. This part of the trek requires climbing over huge rocks. Following that, we will get to the final part of today’s trek, a steep ascent passing by alpine pasture lands. After hours of uphill climbing, we will finally reach Khongma Danda, where a couple of tea houses are established.

To make the most out of our rest day, we will take an acclimatization hike to Khogma La Pass, reaching 3890 meters above sea level. This 390-meter elevation gain will help us acclimate better. It will take us about 3 to 4 hours to complete this hike. We will start the hike with a steep ascent over stone stairs; after about an hour of climbing, we will reach the Khongma La Pass, decorated with prayer flags.

This pass offers a stunning view of the Chamlang, Peak 6, and Makalu Peak, along with a wide view of the Barun Valley. Alternatively, you can explore some other viewpoints nearby or just go around the village, exploring its different interesting aspects.

Our main aim of the day is to let our bodies acclimate well to the changes in temperature, climate, and overall environmental factors. The main aspect that affects us is the change in oxygen percentage in the atmosphere. Lower oxygen content is one of the main causes of altitude sickness, and it also makes us tire out quickly. Adapting to this change will help us a lot throughout the Makalu Base Camp Trek.

Today’s trek requires us to cover almost 8 km with an elevation gain of about 360 meters, which takes about 6 to 7 hours to complete. Throughout the day, we will gain over 850 meters of altitude and lose about 600 meters. Leaving Khongma Danda, we will start climbing a steep ascent, navigating a series of stone stair sections. Following yesterday’s trail, we will get up to the Khongma La Pass and descend to Sano Pokhari Danda, going over a series of ascents and descents.

Continuing the trek, we will shortly reach the base of Shipton La Pass, named after the British mountaineer Eric Shipton. The summit of this pass reaches 4170 meters and offers a great view of Peak 6, Peak 7, and Chamlang. Descending from this pass leads us to Kalo Pokhari, a sacred lake decorated with prayer flags. It’s a great place to rest, and so we will.

After a short break, we will get back on track and begin the short climb to Keke La Pass, reaching 4080 meters above sea level. This is our final climb of the day; moving on, we will descend to Dobate, reaching 3860 meters as our final elevation.

The 9th day of the Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary has us trek over 12 km with an estimated trek duration of 5 to 6 hours. The net elevation loss of the day is a little over 300 meters, but the overall route features many ascents and descents over 300 meters in altitude. From Dobate, we will gradually descend through a forest of pine. After about 2 hours of trekking, we will arrive at the Barun River Valley.

Moving on, we will have to cross many little streams, following the Barun River upstream. This path features waterfalls and cliffs, making up a great scenery. After a while, we will reach pasture lands where Yaks and sheep can be seen grazing, under the watch of local shepherds. This section of the route also has a rhododendron forest, which blooms beautifully during the spring season. After a few more hours of trekking, we will arrive at the destination of the day.

Today’s trek is going to be a difficult one as we will gain over 850 meters of elevation over a period of 5 to 6 hours of trekking. The trek distance of the day is 12 km, which is one of the longest trekking days on the Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary. Leaving Yangir Kharka, we will follow the Barun River and ascend gently for 2 to 3 hours. This will lead us to the village of Jak Kharka.

After a short break at Jak Kharka village, we will continue the trek with an ascent towards the village of Yak Kharka. The trail now turns steeper, especially as we get closer to Yak Kharka, a seasonal pasture land. Most local shepherds visit this meadow in the summer months, while a few might be there in spring.

Leaving Yak Kharka, we will head towards the village of Merek, reaching 4500 meters above sea level. Passing this open highland meadow will lead us to our destination of the day, Langmale Kharka.

Day 11 of our Makalu Base Camp Trek is probably the most difficult trekking day, featuring about 9 km of trek distance, 460 meters of net elevation gain, and an estimated trek duration of 6 to 7 hours. These numbers do not appear very intimidating, but the trail will definitely get you worked up. From Langmale Kharka, we will traverse a gentle ascent that slowly turns into a rugged trail as we gain elevation.

Following a 2 to 3 hour of trek, we will arrive at the village of Shershong, reaching 4650 meters above sea level. It is a great place to rest our tired bodies before beginning the push towards the base camp. From Shershong, the trail goes over rocky paths and glacial ridges full of loose rocks. This section is also icy at some points, especially during the early hours of the day.

Continuing the trek over rugged and icy terrain, we will eventually reach the Makalu Base Camp, sitting at 4870 meters above sea level. The scene from the base camp is too good not to fall in love with. We will spend the night at a tea house.

This exploration day also serves as an acclimatization day, keeping us safe from altitude sickness. There are many options for an acclimatization hike, including a hike to Barun Pokhari, a climb to a ridge, and hiking to nearby viewpoints about the base camp. The most preferred option is the hike to Barun Pokhari since it is scenic and short. The net elevation gain is 230 meters, taking us to 5100 meters above sea level, with an estimated trek duration of 2 to 3 hours.

The 3-km hike to Barun Pokhari (pond) begins with a steep ascent, heading towards the Barun Glacier. Over a period of 1 to 1.5 hours, we will reach the pond, offering a beautiful scene of the entire surrounding area, including the valley and peaks. Descending back to the base camp takes about the same amount of time.

Our other hiking option includes climbing all the way to the ridge above the base camp. This hike will gain us 430 meters of elevation, taking us to 5300 meters above sea level. The total trek distance is 6 km with an estimated duration of 3 to 4 hours. Leaving the base camp, we will go over a steep ascent, which is a difficult part, primarily because of the high altitude we are in.

Taking it slow and steady, we will gradually make it to the summit of the ridge and enjoy a panoramic scene of the surrounding peaks, including Mt. Makalu, Everest, Lhotse, Chamlang, Baruntse, and more.

The 13th day is our first descending day of the Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary. This trek features a long 16 km trek distance, a net elevation loss of 3600 meters, and an estimated duration of 6 to 7 hours. Leaving the base camp, we will descend a long trail through the Barun Valley, traversing a rocky trail. First, we will pass by the village of Shershong, followed by a descent to Langmale Kharka.

Going further downhill, we will soon arrive at the village of Merek. Leaving this village, the vegetation starts to change a little; dense woodlands are en route. Before we get to Yangri Kharka, we will pass by a couple of forests.

Today’s elevation loss is a little over 480 meters, with an estimated trek duration of 6 to 7 hours. The trek distance is just 9.3 km, starting with a descent to the Barun River. Following a 1.5-hour trek, we will pass by Themathang and reach a bridge that goes over the Barun River. Crossing the bridge leads us to a landslide-prone area, which takes us an additional 1.5 hours to cover.

Passing that section, we will arrive at a beautiful rhododendron forest, which also marks the beginning of an ascent. This climb will last about 2 hours, which will definitely tire you out. Completing this climb will take us to Dobate, our destination of the day.

The elevation loss of the day is trivial, just over 150 meters, featuring a trek duration of 6 to 7 hours and a total trek distance of 10.5 km. However, the trek is going to be a difficult one as we will cross 3 different mountain passes once again. Leaving Dobate, we will ascend a lush forest, moving towards the Keke La Pass, reaching 4170 meters above sea level. This part of the trek will take us about an hour and a half to complete.

After that, we will descend the pass and get on the climb to Shipton La Pass, also known as Tutu La Pass. Climbing this pass will take an additional hour and a half. Descending from the pass, we will move towards the Sano Pokhari Danda, which takes about 1 hour to reach. We will take a short break there before climbing the final pass of the day, the Khongma La Pass (3890 meters). We will climb this pass in just one hour and finally get on the last part of today’s trek.

Day 16 of the Makalu Base Camp Trek loses over 1400 meters of elevation. The total distance is around 13 km with an estimated trek duration of 5 to 6 hours, taking us down to 1500 meters above sea level. Leaving Danda Kharka, we will begin the descent over a thick forest of fir. Crossing this forest will get us to a stone-paved section, ascending a little before descending out of the Khongma Danda. After about 3 hours of trekking, we will reach Tashigaon village, followed by a descent to Seduwa.

This is the last trekking day of the Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary. Today’s trek features 7 km of trek distance, and an estimated trek duration of 4 to 5 hours. Leaving Seduwa, we will reach the Arun River after about 2 hours of trekking. Crossing the river over a suspension bridge leads us to the ascent to Num village. This ascent is over 900 meters tall, which makes it a difficult climb.

After reaching Num, we will get on our ride back to Tumlingtar. This drive will last about 4 to 5 hours.

The following day, we will have breakfast from last night’s accommodation and head towards the airport to catch our flight back to Kathmandu. After landing at Kathmandu, the driver will drop you off at your 3-star accommodation for the night. If you are up for it, you should try to explore some attractions around the city and have some local delicacies while you are at it. Later in the evening, we will pick you up from the hotel for a special farewell dinner at one of the finer restaurants in the city.

This is the final day of the Makalu Base Camp Trek itinerary. After we cover all the final procedures, we will hold a brief farewell ceremony and drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport.