Shiva Dhara Trek - Itinerary & Cost 2026

Shiva Dhara Trek 2026

14 Days

Destination
Shiva Dhara, Makalu Base Camp
Trip Type
Tea House Trek
Duration
14 Days
Difficuclty Level
Sterneous
Maximum Elevation
Shiva Dhara (4310m), Parbati Gupha (4316m)
Best Season
September to October.
Walking Hours
5-6 Hours
Program Start and Finish
Khandbari
Group Size
1-6 people.
Accomodation
Tea House/ Home Stays/ Hotel.
Transportation
Airlines, Reserved Jeep, Regular Jeep.
Permits
TIMS Card, Makalu Barun National Park Entrance Fee.

Shiva Dhara Trek Overview and Highlights

The Shiva Dhara Trek is an extraordinary journey that perfectly blends rugged adventure, deep spirituality, and the natural beauty of the Himalayas. Nestled in the lap of Mt. Makalu (8,463m), this challenging route leads to the highly sacred Shiva Dhara site, situated at 4,310 meters above sea level. Culturally celebrated as the holy bathing place of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, it draws both adventurous trekkers and devout pilgrims alike.

The entire trek takes approximately 6 days to complete, starting from Seduwa (1,540m). Trekkers follow a well-trodden route that climbs rapidly through the following waypoints:

Tashigaon (2,070m): A traditional Sherpa village offering a glimpse into local Himalayan culture.
Khongma Danda (3,560m) & Shipton La Pass (4,216m): A demanding high-altitude crossing with stunning panoramic views.
Dobato (3,550m) to Yangle Kharka (3,600m): The final valley base before your spiritual ascent.

After an overnight stay at Yangle Kharka, an early morning climb leads to the sacred Shiva Dhara shrine. The site features three distinct spiritual landmarks: the Shiva Cave (4310m), the Parvati Cave (4316m) and the Ganesh Abode (4310m).

Physical Fitness and Logistics.

Difficulty Level: Due to the steep terrain and rapid altitude gain, a high level of physical fitness and proper acclimatization are strictly required.
Accommodation: Tea houses providing basic food and lodging are available along the route. Because these local tea houses provide basic accommodation facilities now a days, you can experience this spiritual trek with a light backpack rather than heavy camping gear.

Shiva Dhara Trek Highlights 2026

500-foot (152m) long Sacred Waterfall cascading from a hole in a massive stone cliff believed to be a "sacred tap" created by Lord Shiva. Have a holy bath hand wash away sins and cure chronic diseases.
Believed to be an ancient bathing place and playground of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
One of the famous Pilgrimage Sites for Hindu, Buddhist, and Kirat devotees,
An off-the-beaten path trekking route which includes traditional villages diverse landscapes, green forests, alpine meadows, snow-covered terrain.

Shiva Dhara Trek Itinerary 2026

A. Outline Itinerary

Elevation profile High point 4,310m on day 8

Day 1 1,036m
Day 4 3,560m
Day 7 3,600m
Day 8 4,310m
Day 10 3,650m
Day 13 1,036m
Day 14 579m

Day	Description	Altitude (Meters)	Net Gain/Loss	Trek Duration.
1	Arrival in Khandbari	1036	0	0
2	Drive from Khandbari to Num to Seduwa	1540	504	5-6
3	Trek from Seduwa to Tasigaun	2070	530	4-5
4	Trek from Tasigaun To Khongma	3560	1490	4-5
5	Trek from Khongma Danda to Dobato	3550	-10	4-5
6	Trek from Dobato to Yangle Kharka	3600	50	0
7	Yangre Kharka Rest Day	3600	0	6
8	Trek from Yangle Kharka to Nghe Kharka (3750m) to Shiva Dhara (4310m) to Yangla Kharka	4310	710	0
9	Trek from Yangle Kharka to Dobato	3550	-760	4-5
10	Trek from Dobato to Khongma	3650	100	0
11	Trek from Khongma to Seduwa	1540	-2110	0
12	Drive from Num to Khandbari	1036	-504	5-6
13	Khandbari Area Exploration Day	1036	0	3-5
14	Drive from Khandbari to Tumlingtar, Flight from Tumlingtar to Kathmandu	457	-579	4-6

B. Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 :

Khandbari (1036m)

Take a daily 30-minute Buddha Air flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar Airport. Meet the company representative there. Next, catch an auto-rickshaw or a private car to travel 13 kilometers (15 minutes) to your pre-booked hotel room in Khandbari. Meet and get introduced to your porter guide there. Finally, discuss, plan, and pack the necessary gear for your 16-day Makalu Base Camp Trek.

Day 2 :

Drive from Khandbari to Num (1500m) (38 km) to Seduwa (1540m)

This is your first day of the Shiva Dhara Trek. After breakfast at your Khandbari hotel around 7:45 AM, you will catch a reserved jeep and drive for about 4 hours to reach Num. After resting briefly in Num, your jeep will take you down to the Arun River and up to Seduwa. Register your TIMS card and pay the Makalu Barun National Park entrance fee of Rs. 3,000 per person at the park site office. You will stay overnight at a local teahouse there.

Day 3 :

Trek from Seduwa to Tasigaun (2070m)

Your destination for this day is (Tasigaun 2027m). After your breakfast at Seduwa teahouse you commence your trek, walk for four to six hours completely uphill. You pass Chyaksedanda (1890m) a primary school at the foot of Tasigauun and get Tasigaun in the evening for an overnight stay at one of the teahouses there.

Day 4 :

Trek from Tasigaun to Khongma (3560m)

Your hiking destination for today is Khongma Danda (3,560m). You will trek uphill slowly and reach Danda Kharka for lunch. After lunch, you will resume your uphill trek, passing through Chipla (2,520m) and Unishisha (3,180m), to finally reach Khongma (3,560m) after 4 to 6 hours of walking. Be careful and stay alert, as you may notice the first signs of altitude sickness here. You will stay overnight at a local teahouse.

Day 5 :

Trek from Khongma to Dobato (3550 m)

After a hearty breakfast at your teahouse, you will begin today's 4 to 5-hour trek. You will cross three high passes: Ghenguru La (4,045m), Shipton La (4,216m), and Keke La (4,150m). Along the way, enjoy breathtaking views of Chamalang (7,319m) and Baruntse (6,424m), and admire the imposing peaks of Peak 6 (6,739m) and Peak 7 (6,105m). Finally, you will arrive at Dobato for your overnight stay at a local teahouse

Day 6 :

Trek from Dobato to Yangle Kharka (3,600m)

Yangle Kharka (3600m) is your this days’ trekking destination. You will have to walk for 4-5 hours to get Yangle from Dobato. After your big breakfast at Dobato, you begin your trek down, pass Phematang, cross suspension bridge on Braun river and finally reach Yangle Kharka (3600m) for your overnight stay there.

Day 7 :

Yangre Kharka Rest Day. ( 3600)

This is your rest day in Yangle. Use this time to fully relax and enjoy observing the stunning natural beauty around. Overnight in the same tea house.

Day 08 :

Trek from Yangle Kharka to Nghe Kharka (3750m) to Shiva Dhara (4310m) to Yangla Kharka (3600m)

Start your trek early in the morning, making sure you carry enough food and drinking water. Head slowly uphill for 4 to 6 hours past Nghe Kharka (3,710m). With the help of your guide, you will make your way to the sacred site of Shiva Dhara (4,310m). Here, you can bathe in the holy water of the sacred waterfall that cascades from a high cliff. You will also visit Parvati Gupha (4316m) Ama Bhujung, and other nearby attractions. After enjoying the sights and peaceful atmosphere, return to Yangle Kharka (3,600m) to spend the night at the same teahouse.

Day 09 :

Trek from Yangle Kharka to Dobato

This day you come back to Dobato from Yaqngle. After you breakfast at a tea house in Yangle, you start your trek back to Dobato which will take around 4 to 6 hours. Your overnight stay at a tea house there..

Day 10 :

Trek from Dobato to Khongma

After your big breakfast at Dobato, begin your 4-to-6-hour trek to Khongma. Find a room for your overnight stay at a teahouse there.

Day 11 :

Trek from Khongma to Seduwa

After having breakfast at Khongma, start your hike down to Tashigaon for lunch. After that, you will walk for 4 to 6 hours and arrive in Seduwa for your overnight stay

Day 12 :

Drive from Num to Khandbari

After breakfast at the teahouse in Seduwa, catch a pre-booked jeep for a 5-to-6-hour drive to reach your hotel room in Khandbari. Say goodbye to your porters and guides, and meet with the MAST staff to review the entire trek

Day 13 :

Khandbari Area Exploration Day

Visit the Khandbari market to buy local products and souvenirs. Popular options include Allo (giant nettle) clothing, Rudraksha beads, sugarcane molasses (Sakhar), traditional sheep-wool blankets (Radi), and locally woven coin purses. You will also have time to visit a local school, hospital, or company-supported project, where you can participate in any volunteer work you enjoy

Day 14 :

Drive from Khandbari to Tumlingtar, Flight from Tumlingtar to Kathmandu

"After having breakfast at 7:30 AM, take a 15-minute drive (13 kilometers) from Khandbari to Tumlingtar. Then, board your flight from Tumlingtar to Kathmandu.

Cost

The Cost Includes (For a Two-Person)

Daily salary for one (1) porter-guide (includes food and accommodation).
Shoes, socks, gloves, and park entrance fee for the porter-guide.
Insurance for one (1) porter-guide.
Trekking permits (TIMS Cards) for two (2) guests.
Makalu Barun National Park entrance fees for two (2) guests.
Reserved jeep transportation costs for the route: Tumlingtar - Khandbari - Num - Seduwa - Khandbari - Tumlingtar.
Contribution to the company's community project.
MAST Agency service charge, including government tax (VAT), Tumlingtar airport reception, etc. (15% will be added to the total cost).
Khandbari hotel room charge (one room for two nights).

The Cost Excludes

International as well as Nepal domestic airfare.
Nepal Visa Charges
All Hotel expenses in Kathmandu.
Local tea house or homestay food and accommodation expenditure throughout the trekking route will be your responsibility. You pay directly to your service providers from your pocket.
Your travel and medical insurance
Personal Expenses such as shopping, bar bills, hot shower, telephone, laundry, etc
Services not mentioned or not promised by the agent/agency
Emergency expenses such as expenses on chartered helicopter.
Nepal entry visa fee is $30 for 15 days and $50 for 30 days.
Other unforeseen expenses incurred due to accidents, strikes, natural disasters, political unrest etc.
Your porter guide tips at the end of your trek.

Shiva Dhara Trekking Map

FAQs

Expand All

Question 01: Can I customize this trek program as per my requirement?

Yes. You can if you need. No problem. After we finalize the detail itinerary, we calculate the total cost you need to pay us and send you for your consideration.

Question 02: How long do we walk every day when doing Shiva Dhara Trekking?

On average, you walk about 4 to 6 hours per day. One or two days can be as less as 3hrs and one or two days can be as long as 7hrs.

Question 03:What is the highest altitude reached in this trek?

The highest altitude reach Shiva Dhara (4310m), Parbati Gupha (4316m). This is the highest point of Shiva Dhara Trek.

Question 04: What about battery charging and hot shower facilities?

Yes, you can charge batteries with solar power. Charger should be brought. There are no hot shower facilities along this trekking route.

Question 05: Are there ATMs on the way to Shiva Dhara Trek?

No. There are no ATMs on this trek route away from Khandbari area. You will have to draw enough cash in Kathmandu or in Khandbari. There are a number of ATMs in these cities. Everything is paid in Nepali rupees. So y money should be exchanged before the start of the trek.

Question 06: What about internet access?

The Internet cannot be accessed away from Khandbari Area.However themobile phone can work up Shipton la. Away from the place no mobile works. Sometimes, there might be some technical problems.

Question 07: Is it necessary to hire a porter Guide for Shiva Dhara Trek?

Sinc e this trek is one of the most difficult one you need a good porter guide to support you for thsi trek.

Question 08: How much do guides and porters cost?

For the Makalu Region , pay for guides range from $20 to $30 per day and porters take $20 to $25 per day.

Question 09: Why has food and accommodation cost not been included in Makalu Arun Social Trek's trekking package cost?

At Makalu Arun Social Trek’s total trekking packages cost food and accommodation cost for the guest along any trekking routes has not been included.
We would like to provide you freedom to choose whatever food and drink and accommodation you like to have and pay yourself directly to your service providers. Your porter guide pays for his own food and accommodation, and you pay for your part.
Although we offer all-inclusive packages, we think it is cheaper and better for you to pay for your own food and accommodation along the trekking route.

Question 10: My flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar cancelled because of bad weather. And I could not find a flight ticket for the next day. What Can I do to travel from Kathmandu to Khandbari?

Fly to Biratnagar from Kathmandu at 7am, 11 am, 12 pm, or 2 pm (a 30-40 minute flight). Upon landing at Biratnagar airport, head to the main road and take an express bus to Dharan (fare of Rs.120 per person, 1 hour of travel time). From the Dharan bus station, go to the Dharan-Khandbari jeep counter. You can call us from there if necessary, but keep in mind that a jeep will only leave Dharan once it is fully loaded with 10 passengers. To ensure your travel, consider reserving a jeep to Khandbari (Rs.10000). Otherwise, you will have to spend the night at a hotel in Dharan and take a bus or jeep to Khandbari the next day (6-8 hours of travel time, Rs. 1000 for jeep/bus fare).

Question 11: What will happen if I add some extra day in my itinerary?

If you are interested to enjoy adding some more days in the itinerary, we welcome you to do it. But you will have to pay us for the additional days salary for the porter guide after you come back from your trek.

Book This Trek

Trip name: * Shiva Dhara Trek 2026

Your name: *

Your email: *

Country *

Contact number: *

No. of Adults *

No. of children

Enquiry Subject: *

Your Message *

Send Us Message

Trip List

Guests' Reviews

    
 
 
       Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   hugo m 
 
 
 
 Verified Nepal best 's trek Nepal best 's trek, very remote, very wild, lots of different scenery. If you want to trek in a place that is still very authentic you should go for it.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Mola k 
 
 
 
 Verified Makalu Base Camp Makalu Base Camp trekking is definitely not for the faint-hearted. It's a challenging route that requires a lot of experience and good physical condition. You'll pass through snowfields such as Shipton La & Keke La, which are located above 4000m and covered in deep snow, making it difficult to trek. The snow blizzards and strong winds add to the challenge. You'll also encounter big boulders before reaching Yangle Kharka, which requires good balance and experience to navigate. The trek involves constant ascent and descent between 3500m to 4200m, and you'll climb (and descend) 8500m overall, including the viewpoint at 5900m elevation. However, all the hard work pays off when you witness the breathtaking mountain, river and lake sceneries that are unlike anything you've ever seen before. One of the most striking things about this trek is that you'll rarely see other hikers on the route. This gives you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and see firsthand how the Sherpa people live their everyday lives. We highly recommend using a local company like Makalu Arun Social Trek (MAST) and local guides/porters like Mr Suk Bahadur Ghimire and Mr Ratna Bahadur Rai, who have extensive knowledge of the area and are incredibly helpful.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   arun u 
 
 
 
 Verified The best and the only trekking company registered in Makalu region Right from the beginning Mr. Tejanath was very involved and helped with the planning and obtaining all the permits. His company is the only trekking company registered in the Maklau region so they only work with locals who have great knowledge about the region.Rajkumar Rai was my porter/guide who was incredibly helpful and without his support I wouldn't have made it to the base camp. From picking me up at the airport, inviting me to his lovely home for lunch Tejanath helped me prepare for the trek. After I finished the trek he made sure everything went well right until my return flight from Tumlingtar and even helped me with making alternate arrangements when my flight was cancelled.Overall if you want a real local experience for me exploring the Makalu base camp and very reasonably priced compared to what other companies from Kathmandu charge your best option is Maklau Arun Social Trek
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Peter M 
 
 
 
 Verified A highly recommended trek This was my tenth trek in Nepal and my fourth trek this year as I am making up for lost time during Covid. In October 2002 I trekked in Dolpo with a group for a month and then wanted to do a shorter and cheaper trek in November 2002 before returning to the UK. The Makalu Base Camp trek seemed ideal as I wanted to have close up views of the mountains and trek somewhere that wasn’t too commercialised or busy.Makalu Arun Social Treks (MAST) was mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide book and, after looking at their website and reading the good Tripadvisor reviews, I decided that the service they were offering was what I wanted. What I wanted was a good porter/guide at a reasonable rate and for someone to organise the required transportation and other aspects of the trek like the TIMS card.MAST was set up to help fund an orphanage but no longer does this as the government has taken over this responsibility. MAST is run by Tejanath who is a retired English school teacher who lives in Khandbari. This year they haven’t organised many treks and mine was their fourth trek for the year. Tejanath was extremely helpful from the moment I contacted him and always promptly replied. He prefers Whatsapp so we soon switched to that and he is happy to talk on Whatsapp also.Tejanath allocated me a porter/guide called Suk (aka Strong Man) who was very good and friendly, strong enough to carry all my gear and spoke some English. He also lives in Seduwa, which is at the start of the trek, so he knew the trek and the local people very well. I didn’t expect him to speak English and the only problem was that he thought his English was better than it was. As a result it was sometimes a bit difficult and frustrating trying to understand him.Tejanath personally met me at Tumlingtar airport and brought me by tuk tuk to my hotel in Khandbari and also took me back to the airport. He and his wife were both very hospitable and looked after me very well whilst I was in Khandbari. The trek was very well organised and I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending MAST for the Makalu Base Camp trek. It is much better and cheaper to use MAST than a Kathmandu based trekking agency. I also think that the Makalu trek is excellent and one gets very close up to so many 6,000 to 8,000 metre peaks. You can fairly easily get up to 5,738 metres on this trek, which is higher than on a lot of other treks in Nepal.I have posted a trip report on the Tripadvisor travel forum:https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g293889-i9243-k14193957-Lower_Dolpo_and_Makalu_Base_Camp_Treks_Trip_Report-Nepal.html
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   ELCAMINENTE 
 
 
 
 Verified Makalu basecamp yrek I returned to Nepal for the 8th time, to do Makalu basecamp trek in October 2022, starting from Phaplu to the Arun river and up the high passes to the Barun river towards the basecamp and back the same way to Tumlingtar. I used the services of Makalu-Arun social trek (MAST) because it fits my budget supplying a porter/guide only (a porter who knows the trail). The walk was great and Tejanath of MAST took care of all the details. Really there was no need for a guide as the trail was clear all the way and it was nice to walk alone in the nature as my porter was most of the time well ahead or behind. Here follows some notes for other travellers :1- For the first time i noticed a lot of Nepali trekkers on the trail, this will definitely make the experience richer and change the old image of trekking in the Himalayas forever.2- The trail is a lodge trek with new and big lodges all the way, there are even smaller lodges halfway for lunch or a less crowded experience. Note that prices here are higher than elsewhere in Nepal (rooms from 500 to 700 per person and same for a Dahlbat). The smaller lodges tend to charge more than the big ones.3- the big "draw back" for this trek is the terrible jeep ride from Khandbari to Num, really 4 to 5 hours of non stop shaking through deep muddy trenches and big rocks. I hope that the national park authority will really try to find a walking alternative adding 2 more days to the trek.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   splixer 
 
 
 
 Verified Scenic and strenuous hike in the Himalays I completed the Makalu Base Camp trek early October and had a great experience. The trek itself is a pretty hard one. Harder than Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Cicuit trek which I did back in 2016. But it is more rewarding. Still a pristine off-the-beaten path trail. Especially the Barun valley is heaven on earth. During 14 days I just met one foreign tourist. Besides him just friendly locals on the trail. On the lower section of the trail you will see mainly Hindu people. The higher you go the more Bhuddist people you will meet. This gives the trek a nice contrast. Accommodations and food a pretty basic on this trek (don’t expect deep fried chocolate bars). I recommend vegetarian food while hiking in order to prevent food poisoning.With MAST you pay for the porter guide and transportation in advance. Your personal expenses on the trek you pay as you go. This consists mainly of food and accommodation. Sometimes I experienced some bigger price differences between the accommodations/food places. I recommend you confirm the price in advance at these places. In short this is a more cost-effective way to hike. If you go for a Kathmandu based agencies you could easily spend double the price.My guide was a local from Seduwa village on the trail. He was very strong and helpful person. However I experienced a culture-shock sometimes 😉.While hiking I recommend to get up as early as possible to experience clear conditions. Yes, it still rains a lot even during mid-September. Also you should bring good hiking sticks hence the trek can be quite technical at some points. Expect landslide areas and rough river crossings.In a nutshell I recommend this trek to the experienced hiker. This is not a hike for rookies. But it is definitely worth the struggle. Your reward will be higher than on other treks in Nepal.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Sham Tatkare 
 
 
 
 Verified Brief Trek Report and Feedback about Makalu Arun Social Trek (MAST) Makalu (27,820 ft.) is worlds 5th highest mountain. It is located at 20 km southeast of Mount Everest, Nepal. Our journey and trek route was, Pune - Delhi - Kathmandu - Biratnagar – Dharan – Khandbari - Num – Seduwa – Tashigaon - Danda kharka – Khongma – Dobato - Yangle kharka - Shiv Dhara - Langmale Kharka - Makalu Base Camp. Trek route is initially through Arun valley and then we enter in to Barun Valley. Due to lack of basic facilities & development, this region of Himalaya has been preserved in its best form. Quality of air, water and vast variety of fauna & flora are really exceptional. Barun valley has many Rudraksha trees and medical plants (Jadi-Buti). As per local belief, people living in Barun valley never have any disease and look much younger than their age. Recently (April 2019) Yati foot prints were reported by Indian army expedition team near Langmale Kharka. Tashigaon is the famous village of high altitude specialist mountaineers i.e. “The Sherpas”. At Danda Kharka, near Tashigaon, we had a tea break. The hotel owner Sherpa Mr. Lakpa Gylzen, 22 years age, casually told us that he had climbed Mount Everest twice and few more peaks. I felt ashamed that Everest climber was serving tea to an ordinary trekker like me. . . Shiv Dhara is a 500 feet tall waterfall, on the mouth of a huge dome shape cave. It is believed that God Shiva using his Trishul made a hole in the cave (top side) to solve water scarcity problem in this region. Guide asked me to stand at about 8 feet away from main stream of water fall and then we started praying God Shiva. After about 5 minutes, the water fall changed its position and water started falling on our heads. Guide informed that we are blessed by the God. Of course, there is a scientific reason for this natural phenomenon. However, such incidents help to strengthen one’s belief in God and inspire us to follow the path of righteousness & virtues. . . No words will be enough to Thanks my brave guide Mr. Shuka Bahadur Ghimre & the respected school teacher, Mr. Tejanath Pokharel, Chairperson, Makalu Arun Social Trek (MAST) & his family for organizing such a wonderful trek and all the help. We are also thankful to Mr. Mohan Kumar Kafle, Chairman (MAST) for the coordination & arranging necessary trek documents.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   gillgill999 
 
 
 
 Verified Well organised trek We did the Makalu Base Camp trek in November 2017. This was our ninth trek, organised through different agents in Nepal. For this trek we chose a local agent rather than one based in Kathmandu because the route is still relatively undeveloped and we wanted the benefit of local knowledge and contacts. We have no hesitation in recommending Tejanath. He always answered our email queries promptly and fully, gave us wonderful hospitality before and after the trek, found us an excellent porter and guide, and efficiently organised all the paperwork and land transport before and after the trek. Our guide was related to the extended family that runs all the guest houses on the trek, which enriched our experience. Makalu Base Camp is a beautiful and relatively uncrowded trek, well worth the extra hassle and expense of the flight into Tumlingtar. But you need to be prepared for quite basic food and accommodation, and be aware that once over the Shipton La communications (and hence rescue, should it be necessary) are difficult. Best for trekkers who have some experience.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Alex W 
 
 
 
 Verified Makalu BC Trek Nov. 2016 Tejaneth of MAST organized a porter/guide (Suk Bhadur Ghimibre) and porter (Raskamar Ghimibre) from the village of Seduwa for our teahouse trek to Makalu Base Camp in November 2016. What an amazing experience! The route and teahouses along it were relatively uncrowded, the natural landscape was epic, the cultural tapestry overlaying all of it was fascinating. Our guide and porter were fantastic and everyone we met along the way was friendly. I would definitely recommend this trek and MAST. I would love to return someday to do this same trek again, and/or one of MAST's Social Treks. Tejaneth and his wife were very gracious and welcoming at the beginning and end of our journey. Namaste, Dhanyavaad, and Feri Betonlah!
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Ejeebee 
 
 
 
 Verified Makalu base camp April 2019 I did the trek in April 2019. MAST was very helpful in helping organizing the trek in general. Tejanath coordinated a porter guide for my solo trip and also arranged accomodation in Khandbari. He also helped me get a seat on a plane back to KTM, thank you again! My guide Suk Bahadur was very knowledgeable about the trail and did speak some english. I also stayed at his house and his family was very welcoming. He helped arrange accommodation in tea houses and was regularly asking other sherpas for trail updates along the way. I would just recommend anyone who does this trek in general to bring lots of snacks - past Shipton La expect a diet of rice and potatoes. I got really hungry on the way down. If you do the trek with MAST specifically, be aware that not all porter guides are equipped equally. All i had for my guide was a duffle bag, which he ended up carrying in a very uncomfortable way for 16 days because he didn't like to use straps or baskets like most porters across Nepal. So i would recommend that you ask in advance who your guide will be and what kind of equipment they have or don't have. In doubt, bring a backpack for you and for your porter.The trail conditions were unexpectedly snowy last April (several meters of snow and warm T up and down Shipton La). Nepalese people have no training/awareness of avalanche risks. Use your best judgement and speak up if you feel uncomfortable.