Yes. We can add rest days, start from Suketar airport near Taplejung or continue to Makalu Base Camp. Extra days are charged at the daily rate for your guide and porter

Lumba Sumba Pass Trek: 17-Day Itinerary & Cost | MAST

Lumba Sumba Pass Trek.

17 Days

Trek
Lumba Sumba Pass Trek.
Trek Type
Tea House / Camping Trek
Duration
17 Days
Program Start/End
Bhadrapur/Tumlingtar
Trek Difficulty
Sterneus
Maximum Elevation
M. B.C (5520m), Viewpoint (5900m)
Walking Duration
5-6 Hours
Group Size
1-4 People
Best Season
September to November, Mid-March to May.
Accomodation
Tea House, home Stay, Lodge, Camping
Transportation
Jeep, Airlines, Auto Rickshaw
Permits
Restricted Area Permit (RAP), Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAP) Permit,TIMS Card.

Overview

The Lumba Sumba Pass Trek links two of Nepal’s great mountain areas: the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area in Taplejung and Makalu Barun National Park in Sankhuwasabha. It is one of Nepal’s newer and least-trekked routes, opened to trekkers around 2012 and now part of the Great Himalaya Trail

From Taplejung you follow the Tamor River north through Rai, Limbu and Sherpa villages, dense forest and bamboo — home to the red panda — to Olangchung Gola, a traditional Sherpa village near the Tibet border. You then climb through high pastures to the Lumba Sumba Pass (about 5,177 m), with views of Kanchenjunga, Makalu and the peaks along the border.

On the far side you descend to the remote Bhote village of Thudam, through forest to Chyamtang, and down the Arun Valley through Hatiya and Gola to Num. A jeep takes you to Khandbari, MAST’s home town, before your flight from Tumlingtar.

This is a true wilderness trek, with several camping nights, a high pass and very few other trekkers. It suits fit, experienced trekkers. You trek with a licensed guide, which is required for the restricted area permits, and local porters.

Highlights

Cross the Lumba Sumba Pass (about 5,177 m) between the Kanchenjunga and Makalu regions
Visit Olangchung Gola and Thudam, remote Sherpa and Bhote villages near the Tibet border
See Kanchenjunga, Makalu and the border peaks from high, empty valleys
Walk through red panda forest in the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area and Makalu Barun National Park
Trek a section of the Great Himalaya Trail that very few people have walked
Finish in Khandbari, MAST’s home town, and see the community projects your trek supports

Itinerary

A.Outline Itinerary

Day	Description	Trek Duration.
1	Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur	0
2	Travel from Bhadrapur to Talplejung	5-6
3	Trek from Taplejung to Chiruwa (1270m)	4-5
4	Trek from Chiruwa to Lelep (1687m)	4-5
5	Trek From Lelep to Illa Danda (2015m)	4-5
6	Trek From Illa Danda to Selep Kharka (2525m)	0
7	Trek From Selep Kharka to Olangchungola (3280m)	6
8	Trek From Olangchungola to Upper Langmane (3893m)	0
9	Trek From Langmane to Pass Camp (4747m)	4-5
10	Trek From Pass Camp to Chaurai Kharka (4545m) via Lumba Sumba Pass.	0
11	Trek From Chaurai Kharka to Thudam (3500m)	0
12	Trek From Thudam to Yak Kharka (2877m)	5-6
13	Trek From Yak Kharka to Chyamtang (2229m)	3-5
14	Trek From Chyamtang to Hatiya (1595m)	4-6
15	Trek From Hatiya To Simma Gaun	4
16	Trek From Simma Gaun to Num and travel to Khandbari.	0
17	Travel to Tumlintar and flight to Kathmandu	0

B. Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 :

Fly to Bhadrapur

Fly from Kathmandu to Bhadrapur in the eastern lowlands (about 45 minutes). Meet your guide and porter and check in to your hotel.

Day 2 :

Drive to Taplejung (1,820 m)

A long jeep ride on a paved road through the tea gardens of Ilam (Kanyam, Fikkal) and up into the hills to Taplejung (8–10 hours

Day 3 :

Taplejung to Chiruwa (1,270 m)

Start trekking along the Tamor River through Phurumbu and Sinwa Bazaar. Register at the KCAP checkpoint and continue to Chiruwa (4–5 hours). Overnight in a tea house

Day 4 :

Chiruwa to Lelep (1,687 m)

Follow the Tamor past prayer stones and alder forest, rest at Tapethok, pass the checkpoint and reach Lelep (4–5 hours). Overnight in tents.

Day 5 :

Lelep to Illa Danda (2,015 m)

Walk through dense forest, cross a suspension bridge and climb through pine forest, visiting a small monastery and the settlement of Gowatar, then cross the Tamor to Illa Danda (4–5 hours). Overnight in tents.

Day 6 :

Illa Danda to Selep Kharka (2,525 m)

A beautiful day through rhododendron and bamboo forest, red panda habitat, past Maguwa to Selep Kharka (5–6 hours). Overnight in tents

Day 7 :

Selep Kharka to Olangchung Gola (3,280 m)

Pass Jongim and walk along the Tamor through rhododendron forest, past waterfalls at Ramite, to Olangchung Gola, a traditional Sherpa village with an old monastery (about 6 hours). Overnight in a tea house. ⚠️ We recommend an acclimatization day here.

Day 08 :

Olangchung Gola to Upper Langmale (3,893 m)

Climb through pine and rhododendron forest past Jadak into high, open country to Upper Langmale (5–6 hours). Overnight in tents

Day 09 :

Upper Langmale to Pass Camp (4,747 m)

Follow the upper Tamor past Tangchetar to the high camp below the pass (4–5 hours). Rest, drink plenty and prepare for an early start. Overnight in tents.

Day 10 :

Cross Lumba Sumba Pass (5,177 m) to Chauri Kharka

The big day. Start before dawn with a packed lunch and climb about 5 hours to the Lumba Sumba Pass, with views of Kanchenjunga, Makalu and the border peaks. Descend into the Makalu side to Chauri Kharka (7–8 hours in total). Overnight in tents

Day 11 :

Chauri Kharka to Thudam (3,500 m)

Descend through Dobato to Thudam, a remote Bhote village with strong Tibetan culture (5–6 hours). Overnight in a tea house or homestay.

Day 12 :

Thudam to Yak Kharka (2,877 m)

Follow the Chujung Khola through scrub and bamboo forest to Yak Kharka (about 6 hours). Overnight in tents.

Day 13 :

Yak Kharka to Chyamtang (2,229 m)

Walk through dense rhododendron forest, then down to the Arun River, cross a suspension bridge and climb to the village of Chyamtang (5–6 hours). Overnight in a tea house

Day 14 :

Chyamtang to Hatiya (1,585 m)

Follow the Arun south to Hatiya, near where the Barun River joins the Arun, on the edge of Makalu Barun National Park (4–6 hours).

Day 15 :

Hatiya to Simma Gaun

Cross the sacred Barun River on a suspension bridge and continue along the Arun through Gola to Simma Gaun, arriving in the evening (4–5 hours).

Day 16 :

Trek From Simma Gaun to Num and travel to Khandbari.

Simma Gaun to Num, jeep to Khandbari (1,036 m)

Day 17 :

Fly to Kathmandu

After breakfast, drive 15 minutes to Tumlingtar airport and fly back to Kathmandu.

Permits

Parts of this route are restricted areas near the Tibet border. To trek here you need:

Restricted Area Permit for Olangchung Gola (Taplejung) confirm current fee
Restricted Area Permit for the upper Arun (Chyamtang and Hatiya area, Sankhuwasabha)
Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Project (KCAP) entry permit
Makalu Barun National Park entry (NPR 3,000 per person)
TIMS card
At least two trekkers in the group and a licensed guide for the whole trek

Restricted area permits are issued only through a registered agency. We arrange all permits for you in Kathmandu; please send a copy of your passport and a passport photo when you book.

Cost and Price Details

The price includes

A guide daily salary including his food and accommodation
A guide trekking insurance
Special Trekking Permits for restricted area.
Makalu Barun National Park Entrance Fee for 2 people
Jeep Reservation.
Khandbari Hotel room booking.
Company service charge cost including government Tax as well as miscellaneous cost.

The price does not include

Guest food and accommodation costs throughout the trekking route
Domestic and International airfare cost.
Kathmandu - Bhadrapur / Tumlingtar -Kathmandu Airfare cost
Nepal entry visa fees are USD 30 for 15 days and USD 50 for 30 days
Lodge, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner cost in Kathmandu.
Personal trekking gear and equipment cost.
Travel and medical insurance for the guest in case of emergency.
Emergency rescue evacuation for the guest.
Personal expenses such as battery charging, laundry, alcohol, cold drinks, hot showers at teahouses, etc.
Unforeseeable expenses incurred due to accidents, strikes, natural calamities, political unrest, etc.
Tips for porter guides.

Food and accommodation on the trek

In the villages (Chiruwa, Olangchung Gola, Thudam, Chyamtang, Hatiya, Simma Gaun) you stay in simple tea houses or homestays and pay your hosts directly -budget around US$50 per person per day . On the remote and high nights (about 7 nights) there are no lodges: you sleep in tents and the team carries and cooks the food confirm what is included

Your Guide and Porter

Your trek is led by a licensed guide, which is required for the restricted area permits. Our guides know both sides of the pass, the camps and the villages, and watch closely for signs of altitude sickness before the crossing.

For every two guests, a porter carries your main luggage (up to 20 kg in total ), so you only need a daypack. On the camping section, extra porters carry tents and food Everyone is fairly paid and insured.

Altitude and Fitness

This is a long, strenuous trek. You walk for 14 days, many of them on rough, remote trails, and cross a pass of about 5,177 m. You should be very fit, in good health and have previous high-altitude trekking experience. The weather on the pass can change quickly, and snow can close it. Tell your guide straight away if you have a headache, nausea or dizziness. Travel insurance with helicopter rescue up to 5,500 m is required

Lumba Sumba Trek Map

FAQs

General

Expand All

Question 01: How difficult is the Lumba Sumba Pass Trek?

Question 02: What is the highest point of the trek?

Question 03: Why do I need special permits?

Question 04: Can I do this trek alone?

Question 05: Where do we stay?

Question 06: When is the best time to trek?

Question 07: Can I charge my phone?

Question 08: Is there internet or mobile signal?

Question 09: Are there ATMs?

Question 10: What if my flight is cancelled?

Question 11:

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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.