The Makalu Base Camp Trek is a super exciting base camp trek in the Himalayas of Nepal, where you get to see amazing natural beauty, different landscapes, and experience cool cultures. Makalu trekking follows the path in the eastern part of Nepal and takes you to the base camp of Makalu, which is the fifth-highest mountain globally.
Makalu Base Camp Itinerary starts with a nice drive from Kathmandu to Khadbari, a small town by the Arun River. Then, you walk through forests with colorful rhododendron flowers, small villages, and fields. You’ll see traditional rural life and awesome views of snowy mountains like Makalu.
As you keep going through the Barun Valley, the scenery changes a lot. There are meadows, clean glacial lakes, and big waterfalls. The trek also goes into the Makalu Barun National Park, a wild place with lots of different plants and animals, even rare ones like red pandas and snow leopards. The best part is reaching Makalu Base Camp, where you see a breathtaking view of the big Makalu mountain.
It’s like a dream with tall peaks, huge glaciers, and a really amazing feeling. The base camp is a perfect spot to take in the enormity of the Himalayan mountains. During the trek, you can chat with the local Sherpa people who are super friendly and kind. You’ll also get to visit old monasteries, see prayer flags in the mountain wind, and hear the sound of prayer wheels, adding a spiritual vibe to your trek.
Nepal Mountain Adventure extends an exclusive opportunity for trekkers seeking the awe-inspiring journey to Makalu Base Camp. Our all-inclusive package, Makalu Base Camp Trek Cost nearly $1500 to $2200, encompasses not only the trek cost but also essential equipment and the expertise of a seasoned professional guide. We understand the significance of an enriching and safe trekking experience, which is why we prioritize ensuring our guests receive nothing short of the best.
The Makalu Base Camp Trekking is a bit tough, but it’s also super rewarding. It’s great for people who love nature and want to try something different in the Himalayas. It’s a chance to dive into the wild beauty of Nepal and make memories that will stick with you forever.
We also offer 23 days Makalu Base Camp Trek if you want to do the trek a bit longer.
Thamel Marga Central Thamel Kathmandu (Google Map)
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
As you get to land in Kathmandu, our representative will be there to welcome you at TIA. Then he will settle you to the hotel in Kathmandu. Now you will have time to make yourself comfortable and freshen up in your room.
We will be greeting you with delicious dinner in the evening as welcome. Overnight stay in the hotel in Kathmandu.
Overnight at Kathmandu.
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Today, you will have plenty of time in Kathmandu to visit the UNESCO world heritage site located inside the valley. You will get to see beautiful places carrying their own historical and cultural beauty; you can also try some locally available famous Nepalese dishes and hence enjoy your day.
After you arrive at the hotel, you will be provided our detailed itinerary, which will guide you throughout your trip. As tomorrow our trip starts, you will have time to prepare for the journey.
You will stay overnight in a hotel in Kathmandu.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
You will start your journey by driving from Kathmandu to Khadbari. The drive takes about 11 hours. During this long road trip, you’ll leave the busy city behind and travel to Khadbari, which is at an elevation of 1040 meters. It’s the beginning of your adventure, and the drive offers a chance to see the changing landscapes on the way to your destination.
As you leave the busy city scenes, the road takes you through beautiful hills, showing you a preview of the natural beauty ahead. This day might feel a bit slow because of the long drive and the condition of the roads in Nepal. However, the scenic views along the way make it a journey worth taking.
Overnight at Khadbari.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
First, you’ll have a 3-hour drive from Khadbari to Num. After that, you’ll start walking and trek to Seduwa, which takes about 4 hours. It’s a combination of driving and walking on this part of the journey. The drive gets you closer to the starting point of the trek, and then you continue on foot to reach Seduwa at an elevation of 1500 meters.
Following a beautiful three-hour drive to Num, the trek begins towards Seduwa. As you walk through lovely villages, you’ll feel the friendliness of the local culture. You’ll also notice the surroundings changing from forests in lower areas to higher elevations. It’s a journey that lets you see different landscapes and experience the welcoming atmosphere of the villages along the way.
Overnight at Seduwa.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On this part of the trek, you’ll walk from Seduwa to Tashigaon. It takes about 5 hours. The trail goes through the mountains, and you’ll reach an elevation of 2100 meters. It’s a day of walking, experiencing the journey to Tashigaon and enjoying the scenery along the way.
The path goes up through green forests and charming villages, giving you amazing views of the valleys around. When you reach Tashigaon, it’s a beautiful village that combines Sherpa and Rai cultures. The place welcomes you with its unique and picturesque atmosphere, letting you experience the local way of life.
Overnight at Tashigaon.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On this day, you get to take a break in Tashigaon at an elevation of 2100 meters. It’s a day to rest and relax, giving your body a break from walking. Use this time to enjoy the village, interact with locals, and take in the peaceful surroundings. It’s a chance to recharge and get ready for the upcoming adventures on the trek.
Take a much-needed break to get used to the high altitude and explore Tashigaon. Dive into the local way of life, chat with the friendly people who live there, and enjoy the calm and peaceful atmosphere of the Himalayan foothills. It’s a time to rest and connect with the surroundings before continuing your trek.
Overnight at Tashigaon.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On this part of the trek, you’ll walk from Tashigaon to Khongma Dada. It takes about 5 to 6 hours. The trail leads you through the mountains, and you’ll ascend to an elevation of 3500 meters. It’s a day of walking, experiencing the journey to Khongma Dada and enjoying the scenery along the way.
The trail takes you through fields full of flowers and forests with bright rhododendron trees, gradually revealing the beauty of the large Himalayan mountains. Khongma Dada offers wide views of the area and a peaceful atmosphere, preparing you for the challenging days ahead.
Overnight at Khongma Dada.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Today’s walk is special because you’ll go through tall mountain passes with amazing views. The rough, uneven land will take you to Nambuk, where you’ll see the mountains in all their magnificent beauty.
On this part of the trek, you’ll walk from Khongma Danda through two mountain passes, Shipion’s Pass at 4125 meters and Keke La Pass at 4170 meters, before reaching Nambuk at 3540 meters. It will take about 6 to 7 hours. During this time, you’ll experience the challenge of higher altitudes, and the journey will bring you closer to the beautiful Nambuk area.
Overnight at Nambuk.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
The path leads you across high meadows up in the mountains and different kinds of landscapes. There are lots of chances to see the special plants and animals that live here. Yangla Kharka is a beautiful place where you can rest for the night and enjoy the scenery.
On this part of the trek, you will walk from Nambuk to Yangla Kharka. It takes about 6 hours. The journey involves going through the mountains, and you will reach an elevation of 3557 meters. It’s a day of walking where you get to experience the beauty of the natural surroundings and enjoy the higher altitude.
Overnight at Yangla kharka.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On this day of the trek, you will walk from Yangla Kharka to Langmale Kharkha. It takes about 5 to 6 hours. The journey involves going higher up in the mountains, and you will reach an elevation of 4410 meters. During this time, you’ll experience the natural beauty of the surroundings and the views from this elevated place. It’s a day of walking as you continue your adventure in the Himalayas.
Climb higher into the middle of the Himalayas, with really tall mountains all around you. Langmale Kharkha is a place where animals graze at high altitudes, and the views are amazing. This sets the scene for the last part of your journey.
Overnight at Langmale Kharkha.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
The most exciting part of your trek takes you to the amazing Makalu Base Camp. It’s like a special spot right under the really tall Makalu mountain. The place where you set up camp gives you a surreal and incredible view of mountains covered in snow and super clean glaciers. It’s a really breathtaking and awe-inspiring sight.
On this part of the trek, you will walk from Langmale Kharka to Makalu Base Camp. It takes about 6 hours. The trail goes through the mountains, and you will reach an elevation of 4870 meters. It’s a day of walking, and you’ll experience the excitement of getting closer to one of the tallest peaks in the world.
Overnight at Makalu Base Camp.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Take some time to fully enjoy the amazing Makalu Base Camp, which is surrounded by the tallest peaks in the world. You can go on a day hike to explore the area around and see the beauty of the remote Himalayan wilderness. It’s a chance to really soak in the stunning views and experience the grandness of this special place.
After exploring the area, you’ll return to stay at the Makalu Base Camp for the night. It’s a day to enjoy the surroundings and relax in this beautiful spot beneath the towering peaks.
Overnight at Makalu Base Camp.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Say goodbye to Makalu Base Camp and walk back the way you came, taking in the beauty of the landscape one last time. Enjoy the magnificence of the mountains around you. Then, you’ll arrive at Yangla Kharka for a calm and peaceful night surrounded by the mountains.
On this part of the trek, you will walk back from Makalu Base Camp to Yangla Kharka. It’s a bit longer today, taking about 7 hours. The trail leads you through the mountains, and you will descend to an elevation of 3557 meters. It’s a day of walking, retracing your steps and enjoying the landscapes you passed through earlier in your journey.
Overnight at Yangla Kharka.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On this part of the trek, you’ll walk from Yangla Kharka to Nambuk. It takes about 6 to 7 hours. The trail leads you through the mountains, and you’ll descend to an elevation of 3540 meters. It’s a day of walking where you’ll experience the familiar surroundings and enjoy the journey back to Nambuk.
Go downhill through different types of landscapes, going back to places you’ve seen before as you head towards Nambuk. This journey gives you time to think about what you’ve accomplished and the memories you’ve made during the trek. It’s a chance to look back and appreciate the experiences you’ve had.
Overnight at Nambuk.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Keep walking downhill, going through the beautiful Nambuk village as you make your way back to Tashigaon. Enjoy the company of other trekkers and the friendly welcome from the local people. It’s a time to appreciate the connections you’ve made and the hospitality of the communities along the trail.
On this part of the trek, you’ll walk from Nambuk to Tashigaon. It’s a bit longer today, taking about 7 to 8 hours. The trail leads you through the mountains, and you’ll descend to an elevation of 2100 meters. It’s a day of walking, and you’ll experience the journey back to Tashigaon, enjoying the scenery along the way.
Overnight at Tashigaon.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
On this part of the trek, you’ll walk from Tashigaon to Num. It takes about 5 hours. The trail leads you through the mountains, and you’ll descend to an elevation of 1500 meters. It’s a day of walking, and you’ll experience the journey back to Num, enjoying the scenery along the way.
As you get close to finishing your trek, you’ll follow the trail back to Num, going the same way you went up at the beginning. Num acts as a starting point to head towards lower areas and begin the journey back to Kathmandu. It marks the end of your adventure in the mountains.
Overnight at Num.
Accommodation: Tea house
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
The last part of your journey includes a beautiful drive from Num to Khadbari, and then a long drive back to Kathmandu. Take some time to think about the difficulties you overcame and the special moments you experienced during this unforgettable trek in the heart of the Himalayas.
On this part of the journey, you’ll first drive for about 2 hours to reach Khadbari. Afterward, there is a longer drive of about 11-12 hours to get back to Kathmandu. It’s the last leg of your trip, taking you from the town to the bustling city, completing your travel from the mountains to the capital.
Overnight at Kathmandu.
Meals: Breakfast
Today is the last day of the Makalu Base Camp Trek. For your return flight, you will be drop at Kathmandu Airport. We hope to see you again in the future
This is an 18 day structured itinerary with Nepal Mountain Adventure designed to reach Makalu Base Camp at 4,870 m with optimal acclimatization, flying from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar and trekking through the Barun Valley and Makalu Barun National Park to the base of Makalu (8,485 m), the fifth highest mountain in the world.
The 18-day Makalu Base Camp Trek with Nepal Mountain Adventure starts from USD 2,199 per person including the Makalu Barun National Park permit, licensed guide, porter, camping equipment and teahouse accommodation, all meals, and domestic flights to Tumlingtar.
The 18-day version builds in two full acclimatization days at key elevations and moves at a deliberately slower pace to allow the body to safely adjust to the extreme high altitude terrain above 4,000 m in the Barun Valley. The extra days also allow for side hikes to viewpoints above base camp and more time in the extraordinary Makalu Barun wilderness without rushing.
The main destination is Makalu Base Camp at 4,870 m with optional viewpoint hikes to Shershon (4,615 m) which provides a direct face to face view of Makalu’s south face, and experienced trekkers can push to approximately 5,000 to 5,100 m on side hikes above the main base camp area on clear days.
This trek is rated strenuous due to the remote and rugged terrain of the Barun Valley, multiple days above 4,000 m, camping requirements for most of the high altitude sections, and the significant physical demands of reaching 4,870 m. Prior high altitude trekking experience above 4,500 m is strongly recommended.
Spring (April to May) is the best season when the Barun Valley rhododendron forests below 3,500 m are in full bloom and the high altitude sections are free of winter snow. Autumn (October to November) is the second best option. Nepal Mountain Adventure strongly advises against the monsoon season (June to September) due to trail flooding and extreme landslide risk on the Barun Valley approaches.
Two permits are required which are the Makalu Barun National Park Entry Permit (USD 30) and the TIMS card (USD 20). Nepal Mountain Adventure arranges both permits in Kathmandu before departure. The Makalu Barun National Park is one of the most biologically diverse protected areas in the entire Nepal Himalayan region.
The 18-day itinerary provides significantly safer and more enjoyable acclimatization to the 4,870 m base camp altitude with proper rest days built in at critical elevation thresholds. It also allows time for the extraordinary side hike to Shershon viewpoint, exploration of the upper Barun Valley glacial terrain, and unhurried time at the base camp itself which the shorter versions must sacrifice.
From the Makalu Base Camp area at 4,870 m trekkers see the breathtaking south face of Makalu (8,485 m) towering directly overhead along with Kangchungtse (7,678 m), Baruntse (7,129 m), Chamlang (7,321 m), and on clear days the summits of Everest (8,849 m) and Lhotse (8,516 m) visible to the northwest across the Barun Glacier making this one of the most concentrated 8,000 m peak viewpoints in all of Nepal.
Essential items include trekking boots, warm clothing, a sleeping bag, water purification tablets, a first aid kit, and personal items. Check the weather and pack accordingly.
Makalu Base Camp is higher, more remote, less crowded, and more physically demanding than EBC in almost every measurable way. The 18-day Makalu trek reaches 4,870 m compared to EBC at 5,364 m but the wilderness character, absence of commercial infrastructure, biodiversity of the Barun Valley, and sheer dramatic scale of Makalu’s south face create a trekking experience that many experienced trekkers consider more profound and memorable than the crowded EBC corridor.
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