Makalu Base Camp Trek

Welcome to Kathmandu, the city of temples, you can call it the most developed city of Nepal as of now, and it is here, where we are located to serve you in a way you want right from TRIBHUWAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, where you can see us waiting for you with our TRAVEL MAX GUIDE SIGNBOARD, and your name so that you can spot us at once, and you will be taken to your hotel in a vehicle, or to our office where you can ask us questions, having tea or coffee, after all these activities, if you have time, then there is nothing better than spending your time in Thamel, the tourist hub which is just outside the door of our office, you ask us, what you want to eat, what you want to enjoy, we will show you that the tourist like you most desired in a new place.

The sightseeing that you are going to do, today, comprises of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and they can be categorized as Stupas, Temples, and Palaces. The sightseeing can be personalized, according to your interest, and all the effective route planning for the sightseeing will be done by the city guide of TMG.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

From the hotel where you are staying, nothing is near the Kathmandu Durbar Square. It was a ceremonial site; it was a palace where the would-be kings used to be coronated in the past, now it is a palace cum museum, and to be there is to experience how the royals spend their life. Stand among the monuments, temples, and statues that back to the 17th and 18th centuries. 

Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)

Be well prepared in advance because this stupa is located at quite an altitude and is more than 2,000 years old. This is the most important of all the Buddhist Stupas in Nepal and has a fascinating face of Lord Buddha on every side, and its base has the stonework of 5 Dhyani Buddhas – Vairocana, Ratnasambhava, Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi, and Aksobhya, and each of these represents the wisdom of Lord Buddha. People flock to this stupa to see the birds-eye view of Kathmandu.

Pashupatinath 

Pashupatinath is as old as the hills, but the Hindu Committees of Nepal, looks after it, such as renovation and maintenance, and there are new adds on in and around the temple. Pashupatinath is the most important temple of Lord Shiva and located not far away from the heart of Kathmandu. Only Hindus are permitted to enter from the main gate to Pashupatinath Temple. As a visitor, you will enjoy the rich combination of architecture from a distance. If you are lucky, then you might see the Hindu Cremation taking place.

Bouddhanath 

Bouddhanath is also a stupa. It is one of the holiest pilgrimages of the Buddhists. It has a white doom just like Swayambhunath, whatever the myth is, it contains the bones of Kasyapa Buddha (Buddha incarnation), while others say it contains the bone of Lord Buddha. Around the base of the stupa are 108 small images of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha. Go anytime to enjoy these images.

A guide will pick you up from the hotel; he will take you to the airport. You will do a morning flight; the earlier you start, the more time, you have for other activities. On the way to Tumlingtar, you will see beautiful landscapes, such as snow-covered mountains, green hills, and mountain rivers. From Tumlingtar, you will take a jeep up to Num Bazaar. You will see the beautiful view of the mountains. You will have a wild experience as it takes you to a dense forest, and you will feel somewhere when it takes you to traditional villages.

Following the descending trekking trail, you reach the forest, terraced farmland, and the Barun River. You will cross this river. You will also walk through cornfields and reach a village called Lumbang. Apart from crossing the Barun River, you will also cross the Arun River. Through a suspension bridge, you will do this. You will not only come across the above-mentioned places but also a tea shop and a barley field. The way to Seduwa comprises of long steep uphill trekking trail.

The trekking trail is unique because it takes you to a hill that has two rivers. To disclose, their names are the Ipsuwa Khola and the Kasuwa Khola. Khola means a river in the Nepali. Even on such a hill, how the people built villages; it is not a surprising thing in a remote place; it is a nice model of the village by the river as well as the village that protects itself from the flood. Even at such an altitude, people grow rice. Other villages that come are Gyang, Hindrungma, and Rupisa. What lies between these villages are meadows and streams. All these villages belong to the Sherpa, including Tashigaon.

It is said that today’s trek is tough because it takes you to a steep hill. This hill also means a higher elevation. On the way, you will come across a beautiful forest. This dense forest has small streams that you can cross easily. These forests are located in the hills, and so are the streams; you will be in a new kind of landscape. The trekking trail becomes steeper and takes you to a place called Kharka where sheep graze. It takes you to the top of a ridge, from there, you descend to Khongma Danda, a small hill.

This will help you to prepare for tomorrow’s trek. You will be crossing a high pass. The name of this pass is Shipton La. Today, you can explore nearby hills.

First, you will climb uphill and then reach the top of the pass. The name of the pass is Shipton La. On the way, you will walk on switchbacks and by chortens and through colorful Buddhist flags. The superb view of Makalu is breath-taking. You will walk through a rhododendron forest and also on stairs made of rock. During springtime, you will see a lot of wildflowers. You will also walk through boulders. You descend from this pass and reach the lake called Kalo Pokhari. From this lake, you head to another pass called Keke La, from its top, you can see Chamlang (7321m), Peak 6 (6,524m), Peak 7 (6,758m) as well as false summits.

You are at the lower elevation because there is an uphill trekking trail ahead. Once again, it takes you to the forest of rhododendron. Once, again, the trekking trail takes you to the Barun River, and you are in the valley. Then it takes you to the upper valley. There, the trekking is difficult and tiring. But later, it becomes easy, and you will have a pleasant walk. Yangri Kharka is a village that is located in the valley, unlike other villages that are on the top of a hill.

The trekking trail comes under the category of moderate although it takes you to the valley, yak pastures, lush forests, and boulder fields. The nature of the trail is rocky. You have to follow a rocky path. You will pass by terraced hills and come across meadows, and you will also see snow-covered peaks all at once. You will see yaks grazing as well as small huts. As you walk between the valleys, you will find their walls high. As you walk further, you reach Merek, at the same time, you will see the scenic view of the Himalayas.

Today is the most important day because you will be at the Makalu Base Camp. On the way to the base camp, you will walk uphill and reach Shershong. You will descend and cross a small pass. You will also reach a small stream, and from there, you will see the stunning view of Makalu. You will also ascend a buttress, and from there, you can see Peak 6, 7 Baruntse; Everest, and Lhotse. The trekking trail to the base camp is flat with glaciers, and it shows snow-covered mountains. And it is from there, the view of Makalu becomes prominent.

Explore the base camp by asking your guide to show its main highlights. You can visit its barren area; it is rocky, and you can also go to visit the Barun Glacier. The south face of Makalu that you see from here is stunning. As you head to this glacier, you will see the complete view of Everest and Lhotse. Near this glacier, you will see the lakes. After seeing all this, you have accomplished your dream. You can also do a short trek from here.

It’s time to go back to Yangri Kharka. As you head, you still see Makalu, the fifth highest mountain in the world. The trekking trail descends, and you follow this till you reach the valley, including the villages like Shershong, Langmale Kharka, and Merek.On the way, you will see the beautiful sunset over Makalu as well as Chamling. This part of the trekking trail is easy, and from its corner, you will not see Makalu.

Following the downhill trekking trail again, you reach the areas of rock, forest, and valley. As you walk in the forest, you will come across the green forest, then you reach the Barun valley. The trail not only takes you there but also to the bank of the river. The trekking trail descends to Dobate.

Today, it is an uphill trekking trail, but a very steep one. You have to be careful, and as you are on the way, you will come across the forest that has the trees of firs and rhododendrons. After this forest, you have to cross the passes named Tutu La Pass (4080m), Shipton La Pass (4170m), and Keke La Pass (4127m).

On the way, you come across the dense forest and lakes. The trekking trail that you are following goes downward, and as you head from one place to another, you also come across the steep trail. This steep trail marks the end of the Makalu Barun National Park. From there, Tashigoan is not so far.

The trekking trail runs by the small streams. Following this trail, you leave the valley, and you will also have the last glimpse of the Barun River. As you are walking on the trekking trail, you pass through villages and also walk by the sides of these rivers, such as the Isuwa Khola and the Hingsa Khola.

There is a dense forest on the way. This forest has trees of rhododendron and bamboo. After crossing this forest, you head to the Arun River. The crossing of this river marks the end of the Makalu Barun Conservation Area. As you are there, you come across many Sherpa villages.

The trekking trail is very steep, so you have to walk carefully, as you might slip. You are gradually leaving the Makalu Region, and you may be sad, but the beautiful view of mountains keeps on coming to your eyes, especially the view of Makalu (8,481m). As you reach Tumlingtar, you feel your trek has come to an end.

You fly to Kathmandu. From the window of an airplane, you will see the dramatic landscapes. They consist of rivers, hills, mountains, and valleys. The mountains that you see are Makalu, Lhotse, and Everest. All of these are mountain giants, and their aerial views are equally beautiful.

Before 3 hours, we pick you up from the hotel and take you to the international airport.