Take the 30-minute Buddha Air flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar. Our team meets you at the airport and takes you 15 minutes by jeep or auto-rickshaw to your hotel in Khandbari. In the afternoon, meet your porter-guide and pack for the trek..
Makalu Base Camp Trek
18
Days
Overview
The Makalu Base Camp Trek is one of Nepal's most remote and least crowded treks. It takes you from the green Arun Valley, over the high Shipton La pass, and into the Barun Valley to the foot of Mt Makalu (8,463 m), the world's fifth-highest mountain.
Your journey starts with a 30-minute flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar and a short drive to our home town, Khandbari. From there, a jeep takes you to Num, and you begin walking to Seduwa, the gateway to Makalu Barun National Park and Conservation Area. Over the next days you climb through Tashigaon and Khongma, cross Shipton La (4,216 m ), and descend into the Barun Valley, past Yangle Kharka and Langmale Kharka to Makalu Base Camp (4,870 m).
Tea houses now operate along the whole route, so you can trek with light luggage while your local porter-guide carries the rest. It's a strenuous trek, similar in difficulty to the Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek, but the reward is some of the wildest, most peaceful mountain scenery in Nepal.
Highlights
- Stand at Makalu Base Camp (4,870 m) beneath the world's fifth-highest mountain, with optional hikes to Barun Pokhari and the Hillary Base Camp viewpoint (5,900 m)
- Cross high passes: Shipton La (4,216 m) and Keke La (4,150 m ), with views of Chamlang, Baruntse and Peak 6 and Peak 7
- Explore the Barun Valley, known locally as a "paradise on earth"
- Rich wildlife and plants: rhododendron and orchid forests, rare medicinal herbs, and a habitat for the red panda, snow leopard and over 400 bird species
- Trek with purpose: your trip employs a licensed guide and local porters and supports village tea houses and MAST community projects
Itinerary
A. Outline Itinerary
- Day 1 1,036m
- Day 4 3,560m
- Day 7 4,400m
- Day 10 4,870m
- Day 13 3,560m
- Day 16 1,036m
- Day 17 1,036m
| Day | Day | Description | Altitude (Meters) | Net Gain/Loss (Meters) | Trek Duration. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Arrival in Khandbari | 1036 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 2 | Drive from Khandbari to Num (1500m) (38 km) to Seduwa. | 1540 | 504 | 5-6 |
| 3 | 3 | Trek from Seduwa to Tasigaun | 2070 | 530 | 4-5 |
| 4 | 4 | Trek from Tasigaun To Khongma | 3560 | 1490 | 4-5 |
| 5 | 5 | Trek from Khongma Danda to Dobato | 3550 | -10 | 4-5 |
| 6 | 6 | Trek from Dobato (9.96km) to Yangle Kharka | 3600 | 50 | 0 |
| 7 | 7 | Trek from Yangle Kharka to Lagmale Kharka | 4400 | 800 | 6 |
| 8 | 8 | Langmale Kharka (4400m) Rest Day. | 4400 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | 9 | Trek from Langmale (8.56km) to Makalu Base camp | 4870 | 470 | 4-5 |
| 10 | 10 | Makalu Base Camp Exploration Day | 4870 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | 11 | Trek from Makalu Base Camp to Yangle Kharka | 3600 | -1270 | 0 |
| 12 | 12 | Trek from Yangle Kharka to Dobato | 3550 | -50 | 5-6 |
| 13 | 13 | Trek from Dobato To Khongma | 3560 | 0 | 3-5 |
| 14 | 14 | Trek from Khongma to Tasigaun | 2070 | -1480 | 4-6 |
| 15 | 15 | Trek from Tasigaun to Seduwa | 1540 | -530 | 4-6 |
| 16 | 16 | Travel from Seduwa to Khandbari | 1036 | -504 | 5-6 |
| 17 | 17 | Khandbari Exploration Day | 1036 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | 18 | Travel from Khandbari to Tumlingtar, Flight from Tumlingtar to Kathmandu | 0 | 0 | |
B. Detailed Itinerary.
Itinerary
Day 2 :
Day 2: Jeep to Seduwa (1,540 m)
After breakfast (around 7:45 am), a reserved jeep drives about 5-6 hours to Num to Seduwa. Register your TIMS card and pay the Makalu Barun National Park entrance fee (NPR 3,000 per person at the park office. Overnight in a tea house in Seduwa
Day 3 :
Seduwa to Tashigaon (2,070 m)
A steady uphill walk of 4–6 hours past Chyaksedanda (1,890 m) and the village school below Tashigaon. Tashigaon is the last main village on the route. Overnight in a tea house.
Day 4 :
Tashigaon to Khongma (3,560 m)
Climb through forest past Danda Kharka, Chipla (2,520 m) and Unishisha (3,180 m) to Khongma, a 4–6-hour walk. At this altitude you may notice the first signs of altitude sickness, so walk slowly and drink plenty of water.
The most scenic crossing of the trek: over Ghungru La (4,045 m), Shipton La (4,216 m) and Keke La (4,150 m), with views of Chamlang (7,319 m), Baruntse and Peaks 6 and 7. The walk takes 4–5 hours. Overnight in Dobato.
Descend steeply through forest to Phematang, cross the Barun River on a suspension bridge, and follow the valley to Yangle Kharka (4–5 hours).
Walk up the widening Barun Valley past Nghe Kharka (3,750 m), Ripuk Kharka (3,930 m) and Jhak Kharka (4,210 m) to Langmale Kharka (4–5 hours).
Rest to help your body adjust to the altitude. Take a short walk above the village to enjoy views of Chamlang and the surrounding peaks
A 4–5-hour walk up the moraine brings you to Makalu Base Camp, with the huge south face of Makalu towering above. Overnight in a tea house at base camp.
Day 10 :
Exploration day at Makalu Base Camp
With your guide, explore Barun Pokhari (4,950 m), the ridge above Shershong (5,250 m) or, if you're fit and well acclimatized, the Hillary Base Camp viewpoint (5,900 m). Return to base camp for the night
Begin your descent back down the Barun Valley to Yangle Kharka.
Day 12 :
Yangle Kharka to Dobato (3,550 m)
Climb back out of the Barun Valley to Dobato (5–6 hours).
Day 13 :
Dobato to Khongma (3,560 m)
Recross Keke La and Shipton La, enjoying the mountain views one last time, and descend to Khongma (4–6 hours).
Day 14 :
Trek from Khongma to Tasigaun
After breakfast at Khongma, descend to Tasigaun, which will require four to six hours of walking. Find a cozy room in the tea room, relax for a while and enjoy food and some drinks. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the local sights and sounds. Stay overnight at Tasigaun Tea House.
Day 15 :
Tashigaon to Seduwa (1,540 m)
Tashigaon to Seduwa (1,540 m)
Day 16 :
Seduwa to Khandbari (1,036 m)
After breakfast at a teahouse in Seduwa catch a reserved jeep and travel for about 6 hours and get Khandbari Pre Booked Hotel Room. Say goodbye to your porter guide.
Day 17 :
Free day in Khandbari
Relax, visit the local market for handmade souvenirs such as Allo cloth and Rudraksha, or visit a school or project that MAST supports.
Day 18 :
Fly back to Kathmandu
After breakfast at the hotel, drive 20 minutes to Tumlingtar for your flight to Kathmandu.
Flights to Tumlingtar are sometimes delayed by weather. We recommend adding 1–2 spare days to your travel plans.
Our Trekking Team & Support
We employ a well- experienced local Porter-Guide from the local community. He carries your 15-20 kg of luggage lead your trek. While he can speak basic English, his deep knowledge of the local trails and culture ensures your successful trek
Cost and Price Detail
The Price Includes
- A licensed holder guide and one porter's daily wages, food, accommodation and insurance (one porter- per [2] trekkers)
- Shoes, socks, gloves and park entry for your porter-guide
- TIMS card and Makalu Barun National Park entry fee
- Reserved jeep: Tumlingtar – Khandbari – Num / Seduwa – Khandbari – Tumlingtar
- 2 nights in a hotel in Khandbari
- Airport pick-up and drop-off at Tumlingtar
- MAST service charge and government tax (VAT)
- A contribution to our community projects
The price does not include
- International and domestic flights (Kathmandu–Tumlingtar)
- Nepal visa (currently $30 for 15 days, $50 for 30 days ⚠️ check current fees)
- Hotels in Kathmandu
- Food and accommodation on the trek (paid directly to tea houses, see below)
- Travel and medical insurance, including helicopter rescue
- Personal expenses: drinks, hot showers, charging, laundry, shopping
- Tips for your porter-guide
- Costs caused by events outside our control, such as flight cancellations, landslides or strikes
Tea houses: pay as you go
We don’t include trail food and accommodation in our price. Instead, you choose and pay for them directly at family-run tea houses, so 100% of that money stays with local families. Budget about 5000 per day for food and accommodation
Your Porter-Guide
All our porters come from villages in the Makalu Arun region. They know the trails, the weather and the tea-house families. Your porter carries up to 15–20 kg of your luggage and speaks basic English.
Altitude and Fitness
This trek reaches 4,870 m and crosses passes above 4,000 m. You should be fit enough to walk 5–6 hours a day on steep, rough trails. Our itinerary includes an acclimatization day at Langmale Kharka. Walk slowly, drink plenty of water, and tell your porter-guide straight away if you have a headache, nausea or dizziness. Travel insurance with helicopter rescue is required.
Makalu Trekking Map
FAQs
General
It's strenuous. You cross passes above 4,000 m (Shipton La and Keke La) and reach 4,870 m at base camp, on remote trails with basic facilities. It's harder than the Everest Base Camp trek, so good fitness and some trekking experience are recommended.
Our standard itinerary is 18 days from Tumlingtar, with 14 days of walking. We can shorten or extend it to suit you.
Spring (March–May), for rhododendrons in bloom, and autumn (September–November), for clear skies and mountain views. The high passes can be snowy in early spring and winter.
From $1,176 per person plus trail food and accommodation paid directly to tea houses flights and insurance.
So your money goes directly to the families who run the tea houses, and so you're free to choose what you eat and where you stay.
Yes. Tell us what you'd like to change and we'll send you an updated itinerary and cost. Extra days are charged at your porter-guide's daily rate.
We only offer porter-guides as part of our trekking packages, so we can arrange permits, transport and insurance properly and make sure every trek is safe.
There are no ATMs after Khandbari, so bring enough Nepali rupees for the whole trek. Mobile data usually works up to Tashigaon, and phone signal up to about Shipton La.
Warm layers, a down jacket, a sleeping bag, good boots, microspikes (for snowy passes), a water filter or purification tablets, a power bank or solar charger, snacks and toilet paper.
Fly to Biratnagar instead and travel by road via Dharan to Khandbari (6–8 hours). We can reserve a jeep for you.
Book Makalu Trek with us
Send Us Message
Trip List
Guests' Reviews
Featured
$1,764
Legendary Himalayan landscapes and Sherpa culture on a responsible trek that still supports local porter-guides and tea houses.
Featured
$1,056
A sacred Himalayan journey beneath Makalu to the holy Shiva Dhara waterfall and Parbati cave, through Sherpa and Rai villages.
Featured
$1,764
Remote valleys, rich cultures and rare wildlife on a strenuous trek beneath Kanchenjunga, the world's third-highest mountain.