Makalu Base Camp Trek
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Trip Information
Trip Duration
21 Nights 22 Days
Difficulty Level
Moderate
Destination
Nepal
Maximum Height
4870 m
Guiding Method
Trekking
Best Season
Spring & Autumn
Highlights
- Marvel at a fine view of world’s fifth tallest mountain (Mt.Makalu-8485m).
- Trek through the authentic Sherpa and Rai villages.
- Explore the traditional lifestyles of ethnic people and soak up the local culture.
- Experience the majestic views of the gigantic peaks from its base camp.
- Walk through the dense rhododendron forests.
Makalu Base Camp trek is our special trekking package for those who seek to traverse the less travelled trails across the remote Nepal. If you want to get on a trek through the less populated trail, Makalu Base Camp trek can be the best choice for you. This trek will take you through the areas that have wildest and richest natural beauty. You will be walking through the rugged, rocky and dry terrain and through the glacial trails. You will also get to explore the traditional lifestyle of people around the area when passing through number of villages on the way.
You will be trekking through higher altitude and thus the trails get rockier and would take careful attention. You will be enjoying the great view of mountain peaks, glaciers and will be walking through dense rhododendron forests. The major highlight of this trek is reaching the Makalu Base Camp. You will enter Makalu Barun National Park area before reaching Makalu Base Camp. The base camp area offers the best view of gigantic peaks like Mount Makalu, Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse and many others.
Altitude Graph
Itinerary
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport we offer you pick up facility from the airport and manage your stay at the most comfortable hotel in the city. You get to meet the team of trekkers and together we prepare for the trek. At the evening we offer you lavish welcome dinner with authentic Nepali Cuisine.
Accommodation
3 Star Hotel
Meal
Dinner
Transportation
Private car
We offer you short trip to historical and cultural sites around Kathmandu valley: Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath Stupa and Pashupatinath temple. You can also do some souvenir shopping during the sightseeing. After sightseeing we head back to hotel and get our clothing and trekking equipments ready and prepare for the trek.
Accommodation
3 Star Hotel
Meal
Breakfast
Transportation
Private car
We will get on an early flight from Kathmandhu to Tumlingtar. If the weather is favourable, we will get to see the beautiful landscapes and hills and get the glimpses of mountain peaks from the flight. Upon reaching Tumlingtar we will then drive to Chichira. It is a beautiful village mostly populated by Gurung community. We will then take rest and prepare for our night’s stay there.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Flight / Private Jeep
Our trek on foot formally begins today. We will mostly be walking through number of villages and forest areas. After few hours’ walk we will reach the village of Num. The view of surrounding landscapes seen from there is quite amazing. We will spend our night at Num.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
We leave Num and head for Seduwa today. The trek begins with the downhill walk through the forest area. There are also vast cultivation areas around. The walk will shortly bring us across Barun river. We will cross thr river and start the uphill walk through the forest area. From here the Makalu Barun National Park area begins. We complete the check in formalities and head ahead. We then finally reach Seduwa village. We will spend our night in a camp.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
We start our trek leaving the village of Seduwa. We will walk ahead with the great view of rivers on our both sides. We pass the hills, village area and terraced fields before reaching the village called Tashigaon. Once at the village we can enjoy the beautiful view of Himalayan peaks around. Overnight at Tashigaon.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
We leave Tashigaon and continue our trek towards Khongma Danda as our destination for the day. The walk today might get tough as we will mostly be climbing uphill in great height and the trails are quite rough. We will bombing through the forest area and the then the trail will take us further higher. We pass through grazing land on the way. We will then climb further ahead through stone paved stairs and then climb down Khongma Danda. We will be spending our night here.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
We will give a day for acclimatization purpose as it is essential to adjust our bodies to the increasing altitude and changed environmental conditions. In order to aid to the acclimatization process we will go around Khongma Danda and enjoy the views. Night at Khongma Danda.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
We will start the trek by climbing uphill. The walk will take us to the pass called Shipton La. From here we walk further ahead and in a short while we will reach Kalo Pokhari. The trek continues and shortly brings us across Keke La pass. From here the great view of mountain peaks can be observed from up close. The trail then takes us through downhill walk and passing through the valley we finally reach Dobate. Night at Dobate.
The walk for today starts with the hike through the rhododendron forest area. The walk ahead will bring us across Barun river. The walk gets tougher as we will have to pass through steep ridges. After few hours we will finally reach Yangri Kharka and prepare for our night’s stay.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
Leaving Yangri Kharka behind, we will head ahead by walking through the valley. We then pass through grazing land then cross the forest area. We pass through Merek on the walk. During the walk we can enjoy the view of gigantic peaks around. Then we will finally reach Langmale Kharka and get ready for the night’s stay.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
Today we will head towards Makalu Base Camp. The altitude increases further during this walk. The trail passes through Shershong on the way. We continue walking until finally reaching the base camp. The trail might get covered with ice and get slippery so we should be careful while walking through this area. The giant Mount Makalu can be viewed towering before us. The base camp is surrounded by the panoramic beauty of number of mountains. We will spend our night at the base camp.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
We will give a day for exploring around Makalu Base Camp. This is the highest altitude we will reach in this trek. It also offers the great view of Mount Everest and Mount Lhotse along with Mount Makalu. We will walk around and explore the area. There are also few lakes around the place. We will then get back to the base camp, enjoy our time together and take pictures. Noght at the base camp.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
We will leave Makalu Base Camp and head towards Yangri Kharka. We will walk through the same trail that we took before. The walk gets somewhat easy as we will mostly be walking downhill. We will pass through Shersong, Langmale Kharka and Merek on our walk ahead. We walk downhill through the valley and reach Yangri Kharka. Then we will stop for the night.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
We start the day by walking through the forest area and through the valley. We will then be walking alongside the Barun river. The walk ahead will finally bring us to Dobate after the short downhill walk. We will then prepare for our night’s stay at Dobate.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
We will be walking through the same trail that we took on our way up. From Dobate the trail will pass through forest area. We will be climbing uphill till we pass the forest. After that, we will cross few passes like Keke La, Shipton’s Pass and Kauma La on the way. Then the trail takes us downhill and finally to Khongma Danda and we prepare for our night’s stay there.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
From Khongma Danda we start the trek by walking through hills taking the downhill trail. We will be walking through the forest area. The walk is made pleasurable by the beautiful surrounding views. We enjoy the walk and head ahead. Finally we reach the beautiful village of Tashigaon. We will be spending the night at Tashigaon.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
From Tashigaon we walk past Makalu Barun National Park area. Then we walk through the downhill trail that will take us to Barun river. We pass through village areas on our way ahead. We continue our walk until finally reaching the village of Seduwa. We will spend the night at Seduwa.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
From Seduwa we will head back to Nu today. The walk, like before, will be accompanied by the beautiful dense forests. We will have to pass through few uphill and downhill trails. After that we come across a small village. We walk further downhill towards Num. We will get ready for the night’s stay at Num.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
From Num we will head towards Chichira. We can have final glimpse of Mount Makalu on the way. Our trek on foot ends at Chichira. From Chichira we will then drive to Tumlingtar. At Tumlingtar we will take a good rest and prepare for departure to Kathmandu tomorrow.
Accommodation
Basic Teahouse / Lodge
Meal
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Transportation
Walking
Today we will fly back to Kathmandu from Tumlingtar. We will bid final goodbye to the beautiful peaks, landscapes and hills from the flight. Upon reaching Kathmandu you will be driven to the hotel where you can good rest. We will offer you lavish dinner to celebrate successful completion of the trek and then prepare for the departure tomorrow.
Accommodation
3 Star Hotel
Meal
Breakfast | Dinner
Transportation
Flight
Today is the final day and we get ready for the departure. We offer you the facility to drop at the Tribhuvan International Airport. We exchange final greetings and wishes and hope to see each other next time as well. We wish pleasant journey and bid the final goodbye.
Meal
Breakfast
Transportation
Private car
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What's Included
Meal
- Breakfast,Lunch and dinner during the trek.
- Fresh seasonal fruits after the dinner (while on the trek).
Accomodation
- Lodge expenses during the trek.
- Stay in the city at finest hotel (Can upgrade of the accommodations to luxury hotels / lodge is possible at extra cost).
Staffs & Crew
- A porter and his entire expenses.
- Insurance of guide and porter.
- Licensed, experienced and English speaking trekking guide.
Transportation
- Airport pickup and drop facility.
- Kathmandu-Tumlingtar-Kathmandu flight tickets.
Permits & Paperworks
- All necessary paperwork and trekking permits (National Park Permit, TIMS)
Activities
- Full day guided city tour in Kathmandu (Day 2) by a private vehicle.
Other
- Down jackets and sleeping bags (provided upon request).
- Nepal Ascent Treks duffel bag, t-shirt, and trekking map.
- First aid medical kit
Complimentary Extras
- Welcome and farewell dinner at one of the finest Nepalese Restaurant with traditional ethnic music and dance.
- Local sim card
- 1 hour trekkers massage / Yoga after the trip completion.
What's Not Included
- Cost incurred during the tour around the city.
- Nepal arrival visa.
- Cost for additional trips.
- Travel insurance which covers emergency rescue and evacuation.
- Tipping to staffs (as an appreciation).
- Meals in the city except for breakfast and other mentioned special dinner.
- Personal expenses (phone calls, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, shower, etc.)
- International airfare to and from Kathmandu
- Extra night accommodation in Kathmandu in case of early arrival, late departure, and early return from the mountain(due to any reason) than the scheduled itinerary
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Essential Info
Physical Fitness
Many people have questions as to what level of physical fitness is required for visiting Nepal, and that is extremely reliant on what activity the visitor is engaging in. With that said, for a standard trek of moderate grading (Everest Base Camp Trek is an example of moderate) the daily activity will be 7-8 hours, and elevation will generally not exceed 5,500 meters. The day’s trekking is sustained and will involve both long steep climbs, and descents with a variety of terrain underfoot from well-trodden paths, to rocks covered with ice or snow. A typical day would include a number of climbs or descents of 500 meters or more, starting after breakfast, resting at lunch, then continuous trekking until arriving at the teahouse.
In preparation for the trek, it is important to begin a training requirement at least 4 months before departing for Nepal. Three to four hours of aerobic exercise like running, walking, swimming, cycling & some gym work per week is the minimum and most will find it beneficial to add some basic strength training to their physical fitness routine. One of the best ways to prepare is to take practice hikes with a daypack roughly the same weight as what you will be taking on the trek. Do this only after a baseline of fitness has been reached. Moving fast is not the end goal, rather endurance is the focus, and will provide a more enjoyable and safe adventure.
Trekking Seasons in Nepal
There are two main seasons in which Nepal sees the most amount of visitors. Fall (September through November) being the most popular, and spring (March to May) coming in close behind. The summer months of June, July and August are the monsoon season and as such the trails are mostly washed out, and roads can sometimes be impassible due to landslide activates. Not to mention the view is non-existent. Still, there are a few places that lie in rain shadow areas and see significantly less rain if any at all, and summer can be a good time to visit these places.
Winter in Nepal is dry, with very cold nights where temperatures can drop to -20°C at the highest altitudes, but the days are pleasant and sunny. Additionally, the trails are much less crowded during this time of year. In Kathmandu, maximum daytime temperatures reach around 20°C.
Fall is the most popular because it’s after the monsoons, and the air is dry, the days are sunny, and everything is green in the lower valleys from the excessive rains. Spring is a popular choice because some rain returns, but the weather is generally warm and dry, and flowers are in bloom in the lower elevations.
Trekking Day
A typical trekking day begins with a cup of tea at around 6 in the morning. It is advised to pack your trekking gears in a duffle bag and essential supplies in your day pack in these early hours. After having breakfast, we begin the trek and head along the trail at around 8 am. The morning walk is designed to be longer as we begin with refreshed bodies and enthusiasm. Following a good morning’s walk, we make stop for lunch at around 11.30 am. The lunch involves group meals enjoying the vicinity around the stop. You can explore the surrounding or use the time according to your own consent. After resting for about an hour or two, we resume our trek to reach teahouse or camp by 3-4 pm. The afternoon walk is relatively shorter and can involve games and side trips as organized by the trekking guides. You also can enjoy breaks during the trek to relax, read or stroll around the area. You can converse with the local people and observe their lifestyle. Dinner is served around 7 in the evening to round off the day.
Meals and Accommodations
During the length of the trek, the accommodation style is commonly referred to as teahouse. These are family-run basic lodges that fill the role of the restaurant, meeting place, and boarding house for tourists. Electricity can be found in the rooms, which means one light bulb, and one or two outlets for charging electronics. The common areas are also lit by electricity. Teahouses may use solar, hydroelectric, or have electrical lines running into the village, so the commonality and availability of electricity may vary.
Most teahouses have private rooms, though if the trek is in a more remote or high altitude place dormitories are the norm. Each room has 1 or 2 single beds with basic bedding, and the bathroom is shared. Expect a mix of western and squat style toilets in the bathrooms.
Breakfast and dinner are taken at the teahouse and these lodges have large family style dining rooms centered on a stove to provide heat. The menu will have Nepali style western foods such as pasta, pizza, pancakes, burgers, and fries. Also on the menu is the traditional Dal Bhat meal. This is a lentil soup with rice and vegetable or meat curry. Most menus will also offer a smattering of local cuisine.
Travel Insurance
Many expeditions and tours require that travel insurance is purchased prior to arriving in Nepal, but other treks and tours may not. However, travel insurance is definitely an important consideration. There are a number of reasons to consider insurance. Firstly, it may be required, so check to see what is being asked for by the company. Second, Nepal is a landlocked country, and there are few direct flights. Travel in and out can encounter some disruptions and if purchasing insurance, make sure flight delays and cancellations are included. The next reason to choose insurance is that, though every safeguard is in place during your tour, there are always extenuating circumstances that may result in an accident. Read the fine print of insurance policies to ensure trekking or any other activity you are engaging in is covered, as some policies have stopped covering trekking in certain places. It is impossible to have a relaxing trip without the comfort of good insurance, so do the research and choose carefully.
Nepal Visa Entry Procedure
For entry into Nepal, there are visa requirements everyone (except Indian nationals) must complete before being allowed to pass through immigration. This is for air travel as well as overland transportation. Most visitors may obtain a visa to enter Nepal, however, there are exceptions. There are a number of entry points where you can obtain the visa upon arriving by land, but Tribhuvan International Airport is the only one for air transport.
Visa on Arrival Tourist Visa
Three options are available for entry
15-day single entry: US $30
30-day single entry: US $50
90-day multiple entries: US $125
Please have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the time of entry, and have cash ready, preferably in US dollars, though there are other currencies Nepal Immigration accepts. If you are entering via overland, you must have US cash and 3 passport photos. For arrival by air, the kiosks at the airport take your picture for you.
For the most up to date list of exceptions for visa on arrival or to obtain the most current visa information, visit the Nepal Department of Immigration website.
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
Acute Mountain Sickness is usually seen in un-acclimatized people shortly after ascent to high altitudes. The condition occurs due to the thinning of air as the altitude increases. The condition, if not taken seriously and treated immediately, can be life-threatening and its symptoms can be seen generally above 3000 meters. Some of the symptoms of AMS are nausea, vomiting, tiredness, shortness of breath and cerebral pain. The treks are designed to properly acclimatize you to the change in high altitude climate and sufficient precautionary measures too are taken to take utmost caution. We also equip our staffs with cell phones and satellite phones in occurrence of any emergency cases. We are greatly driven to keep the safety and security of our clients as our foremost concern.
Drinking Water
Water is essential for life, and clean water is imperative while on holiday. When choosing to visit less developed countries it is a concern that all travelers should consider. A few options are available when trekking or traveling in Nepal that will mitigate any chances of drinking contaminated water which could cause disruption of an otherwise fun adventure. The first consideration to take into account is that tap water should not be ingested. That even means when brushing your teeth. Most will choose to buy bottled water and if doing so make sure the cap has not been opened previously. Plastic bottle refuse is a problem, and with that being said there are other options on the market to assist in making water drinkable. Your local outdoor store can help with choosing what option might be best to use in conjunction with a reusable bottle. Your guide can also steer you to water that has been filtered and purified so ask him or her what is available.
Arrival Instruction
Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, our company representatives are stationed to welcome you to the country. We request you to carefully look for your name being held by our representatives following the events upon landing. The representatives are responsible to escort you to your hotel in Kathmandu. You will see men offering you to carry luggage and take you to your destination as you exit the airport. We request you pay no attention to these people and follow the designated representatives and follow their instructions. You will also need to keep an eye on your luggage and belongings to avoid any complications.
A great experience with great service!
Michelle Pinkis
AUAn Amazing Experience with Nepal Ascent Treks
Gina Poncini
ITLife time trip to Langtang with NAT
Ann Ross
USGreat trekking experience
Dan Garfinkel
USAnnapurna Trek was fantastic!
Alexis Carey
AUPrice per person