The Makalu Base Camp Trek is one of the tranquil and unspoiled destinations in the Himalayas, offering thrill seekers the pristine views of the intimidating peaks and the Makalu Valley. The hidden gem of a destination is located amidst the North-East part of Nepal and takes us to the base camp of the 5th highest Mountain Peak of the world, Mount Makalu standing tall at a staggering 8485 M. The trek takes us through the tantalizing Makalu Barun National Park, rich with a diverse range of flora and fauna. The thrilling and adventurous trail blends perfectly with the abundant natural beauty that makes the Makalu Base Camp Trek undisputedly one of the most beautiful destinations in the Himalayas perfect for trekkers seeking for Shangri-la and solidarity.
The trek begins from the gentle slopes of Num through the picturesque settlements of the local Sherpa, Rai and Limbu community. The rugged trail passes through lush abundant forest, step farms, meadows, and glacier streams. The trekkers will be honored with the sights of other intimidating peaks above 8000 M including Kanchenjunga, Lhotse and Everest. The trail is adventurous and demanding, challenging the trekkers to their absolute limits with its remote and rugged location.
The Makalu Base Camp Trek organized by the Mountain Ram Adventures is a 19 day journey and is less crowded than other trekking destinations in the Himalayas, offering trekkers a blissful and intimate experience with nature. The journey peaks at Makalu Base Camp, from where the views of the snow capped peaks and ridges surrounding us are simply mesmerizing. The Makalu Base Camp Trek is a perfect option for trekkers searching for less to no trekking crowd with immaculate views of the Himalayas, filled with thrilling slopes and hurdles, and to accommodate the trekkers on their journey to the Makalu Base Camp will be a huge honor for the Mountain Ram Adventures team.
The bold journey of the Makalu Base Camp Trek is beginning and we, the participants of the trek, will be arriving in the capital city, Kathmandu for the trek. Upon our arrival at the airport we will be welcomed by the representatives of the Mountain Ram Adventures team, who will be transferring us swiftly to our designated hotel in the Thamel area. We will check in to our rooms and freshen up after which we will be heading for a short briefing session at the head office of the company during which we will be meeting up with our guides for the trek and going over our trip plan. We will be heading back to our rooms for the night or explore the Thamel area..
We will have a preparation day in Kathmandu on our 2nd day of the trip and we will be purchasing the required gears for the trek from the Thamel area. The team will be issuing the permits for our journey. We will be heading to the office of Mountain Ram Adventures and meet up with our guides assigned for the trek. After the meeting we will be heading back to our rooms in the Hotel and packing up our bags for the great adventure beginning the next day.
Today, on day 3 of the tour we will be heading to Tumlingtar via a scenic flight from Kathmandu. The flight will be around 35 minutes long, filled with scenic views of the eastern Himalayas of Nepal including some iconic peaks like Langtang Lirung(7234 M), Gaurishankar Himal(7134 M), Cho Oyu(8188 M), Lhotse(8156 M), Mount Everest(8848 M) and Mount Makalu(8463 M). After arriving in Tumlingtar we will be transferred to Num in a private vehicle which will take us around 5 hours(68 KM). The journey to Num is picturesque and filled with views of lush green valleys. After a beautiful journey we will be reaching Num where we will be staying in a cozy Guest House.
Today, we mark the beginning of our trek as we head from Num Bazaar to Seduwa which is 6 KM. The trek begins with a steep descent of around 900 M, through the rugged terrain to the banks of Arun Khola which we will be crossing and after the adventurous descent we will be ascending towards the Seeduwa village gaining around 900 M in elevation. The ascent is challenging but refreshing. Passing through the abundant lush forest, we will have a tranquil experience. We will reach Seduwa after hiking for 6 hours and we will be staying in Tea Houses.
The trek from Seduwa to Tashigaun is a complete ascend trek which is gentle and filled with beautiful views of the landscape. We will firstly explore the Navagaon Buddha Gompa in the village and begin ascending towards the Virthapla View Point where we will be resting for a bit. We will continue trekking forward towards Batse Danda and Has Pokhari located amidst the ancient Rhododendron forest. As we trek forward we will eventually reach Tashi Gaon where we will be staying for the night in a Tea House.
Today, we began ascending towards Kongma Danda from Tashigaun following the adventurous trail passing through the ancient rhododendron forest. We will be ascending towards Dhara(2870 M) firstly having our lunch there. We continue our trek forward to Unshisa at an elevation of 3250 M through the steep and challenging trail. The trail on our 6th day is completely inclined and ascends, leading us all the way to Kongma Danda at an elevation of 3500 M.
On our seventh day, we will be staying back in Kongma Danda soaking in the scenery of the lush valleys and the Himalayas. We will be exploring the small settlement and head for a comfortable ascent to the nearby hills for acclimatization and to enjoy the scenic views of the surrounding vista. We will be relaxing for the day and preparing ourselves for the strenuous journey leading us to the Makalu Base Camp. We will be calling it a night a bit early after having our dinner and resting for our journey ahead.
We have our breakfast in the morning, enjoying the views of the Himalayas and head towards Dobate via Shipton La Pass(4230 M). The journey is filled with incredible views of the snowy, intimidating peaks including Makalu and Chamlang. We begin ascending towards Khongma La Pass(3900 M) after a challenging incline. We will enjoy the views from top of the pass and make our way down and as the trail continues forward we will begin ascending towards Sano Pokhari Danda(4100 M) from where we will enjoy the stellar views of the pond below us. We march forward through the well maintained yet rugged terrain all the way to the top of Shipton La Pass(4230 M) which is marked by vibrant prayer flags and Mani walls. The trail is quite gentle after Shipton La as we gradually descend towards Dobate passing through Kalo Pokhari and Keke La Pass guiding us all the way to our destination for the night, Dobate.
Today, the trail begins with a comfortable descent down the lush forest, leading us all the way to the river. We will begin trekking beside the glacier streams, passing through the landslide zone and a beautiful waterfall leading us all the way to Themathang Kharka 3500 M where we will be having our lunch at a tea house. The trek to Themathang Kharka is around 4 hours and from there to Yangri Kharka it is around 2 hours. We will head through the rugged trail along the banks of the river which we will be crossing to reach the destination for our night, Yangri Kharka.
The trail from Yangri Kharka to Langmale Kharka is absolutely mesmerizing, filled with stunning views of the Makalu Peak, Peak 4 and Peak 6. We make our way through the ascending trail which leads us to Jhak Kharka, Yak Kharka and Merek, where we will be having our lunch and resting for a bit enjoying the beautiful vista around us. The trail is covered in prayer flags and Mani walls further enhancing the pure beauty of the Makalu Base Camp Trek. We will make our way towards Langmale Kharka which takes us around 2 hours from Merek where we will be staying in a cozy Tea House.
On day 11 of our journey we will be heading to Makalu Base Camp from Langmale Kharka as we make our way through the trail along the banks of the glacier stream. After each turn and incline we will be able to enjoy the beautiful views of the Himlayas and the deep valleys. We will need to be careful and steady on our ascend as we will make our way from boulder to boulder. After an adventurous trek we will reach Shershong at 4630 M where we will be catching our breath and having our lunch. We will be honored with the sensational views of Mount Makalu, Peak 4 and surrounding peaks as we gradually make our way towards the base camp. After trekking for around 6 hours in total we will reach the basecamp from where the views of the 5th highest peak, Makalu is simply awe-inspiring.
We will be exploring the Makalu Base Camp region after having our breakfast while soaking in the views. We will be trekking to a hilltop at an elevation of 5300 M to get an evenmore panoramic view of the Himalayas. The hike in total will take us around 2.5 hours through the rugged himalayan terrain. We will enjoy the views of Makalu, Peak 7, Peak 6, Peak 4 and also the staggering views of Everest, Lhotse and Nuptse. After taking some pictures and enjoying the views we will be heading back to the base camp and rest for the day. The trek to 5300 M can be challenging due to the elevation and oxygen level so, during any difficulties we will immediately inform our guides about it.
Today, we will be heading back to Yangri Kharka from Base Camp, leaving behind the amazing Himalayan valley. The trek mostly descends as we make our way slowly through the pasture land leading us to Langmale where we will be having our lunch. Gradually, as we make our way towards Yangri Kharka we begin to notice the dramatic shift of flora around us. We will be trekking slowly, turning back and enjoying the intimidating views of the peak and having a good time. The trek will take us around 7 hours intotal during which we will be staying in a cozy Tea House at Yangri Kharka.
The beautiful trail from Yangri Kharka to Dobate stretches firstly towards Themanthang along the river bank. We will rest there for a bit after our 2 hour trek. We will continue towards Dobate as we make our way across the landslide zone and ascend through the beautiful ancient Rhododendron forest. The trail to Dobate from Themanthang is completely incline and as we get close to the settlement the trail becomes a bit gentler. We will be staying in a beautiful Tea House on our 14th day of the journey.
Today we will be descending down to Tashi Gaon from Dobate which is mostly downhill and mesmerizing, filled with comfortable short inclines along the way. The trek is sensational and if the weather is clear then we will be greeted with the views of the Makalu Himalayas as well as Mount Kanchenjunga towards the eastern direction. The trail passes through the tranquil forest of the Makalu Barun National Park. If lucky we may also come head on with the native species of the Mid-hills of the region including the elusive red pandas. After a gentle trek of 13 KM we will reach Tashigaon where we will be staying for the night.
We will be trekking around 13 KM on our 16th day of the journey passing through Haas Pokhari, Batse Danda and Virthapla View Point. The challenging trail descents towards the Arun River which we need to navigate through, leading us to a wooden bridge over the river through which we will be crossing the river. The trail from the bridge is inclined with occasional challenging slopes eventually leading us to Num Village, the destination for our night.
Today, we will be heading back to Tumlingtar in a comfortable private vehicle, the entry point of the Makalu Barun Region. The journey will be delightful, passing through beautiful and scenic landscapes and a comfortable motorway. The journey will take us around 4 hours totaling to around 60 KM. We will reach Tumlingtar and unwind and checkin to our rooms for the night. We will be exploring the locality for a bit and calling it a night as we have a flight back to Kathmandu to catch on.
We wake up and pack our belongings as we have a flight back to Kathmandu to catch on. We will be heading to the airport for our flight which will take around 40 minutes, during which we will be greeted with the sights of Mount Makalu, Kanchenjunga(towards the east), Mount Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Gaurishankar, Langtang and many more. We will be transferred to our accommodation from the airport by the representatives in a comfortable vehicle. We can rest for a bit in our rooms and during the evening time we will be heading out for a dinner program organized by the Mountain Ram Adventures company to celebrate our successful trek to the Makalu Base Camp. The company will be providing us with the certificate for completing our trek and request us to share our honest review of the trek. After the dinner we will head back to our rooms or enjoy the nightlife of the Thamel area.
The Makalu Base Camp Trek is completed successfully and we will be dropped at the TIA by the representatives of the company who will be arriving at our hotel around 3-4 hours before our flight and assisting us with the checkout formalities and luggages. We will be dropped off at the airport by the representatives at the departure terminal and bid us farewell, marking the official end of the beautiful Himalayan Journey.
An elevated point of 5416m. You will be mountain climbing in the main on well established trails. Come and join a Great adventure trip.
The permits required for the Makalu Base Camp Trek are the Makalu Barun National Park Permit and the TIMS Card which can be obtained from the immigration Department of Nepal located at Kalikasthan, Kathmandu. The trekkers participating with the company can rest assured as the permit for them will be applied for and collected by the representatives of the company on their behalf.
The permit cost is 5000 NPR per trekker: 3000 NPR for National Park Permit and 2000 NPR for the TIMS Card. The price of the permit is included in the package offered by the Mountain Ram Adventures company and trekkers will not be charged extra for it.
Yes, the trekkers will be required to carry additional funds for their journey as they will need to cover for their personal expenses including hot shower, snacks, bar bills, charging, Internet and many more in the Himalayas. The trekkers for the entire trip can carry around 200 USD equivalent of NPR for their journey which will be sufficient to cover their personal expenses and emergency expenses.
There are no ATMs in the trekking trail of the Makalu Base Camp Trek and trekkers will need to be prepared for their trek while they are in Kathmandu. The trekkers can request for the assistance of the representatives of the MRA to exchange/ withdraw the funds for their journey. The trekkers will be charged for international transaction fees from the ATMs for each of their transactions collected by the bank.
The trekkers will be trekking through a landslide zone during their trek to the Makalu Base Camp however, if trekking during the season of Autumn and Spring the trekkers will not likely face any threat but if trekking during the Monsoon or Winter season the probability gets much higher. The trekkers will be accompanied by a professional guide who will make sure the trekkers trek comfortably and alert at times when required ensuring their safety.
The guides and porters for the Makalu Base Camp Trek are crucial as without them the strenuous trail of the trek cannot be conquered and due to its remote location trekkers trekking independently will have a much difficult time in the Himalayas especially during the off season. The trekkers journey will be relaxed and comfortable if they are trekking with an experienced guide and team members.
The trekkers can conquer the Makalu Base Camp Trek even if they are trekking for the first time if only they are accompanied by a well versed guide for their journey who will ensure the trekkers safety and make the journey comfortable. Trekkers will have a tough time navigating through the rugged and challenging terrain of the Makalu Base Camp Trek but having a guide for their journey will ensure their safety and success of the trek. The trekkers planning to trek independently during the off season are recommended not to trek alone and hire a guide for their journey.
The best season to trek in the Makalu Base Camp Trek is during the Spring Season and the Autumn season which begins from March to May and September to November respectively. The trekking conditions are perfect with immaculate views of the Himalayas and perfect weather for trekking. Trekking during the seasons is extremely popular and the trail can be a bit crowded during these times.
The trekking trail of the Makalu Base Camp Trek is not as popular as other trekking destinations of the Himalayas however, the views of the pristine Himalayas are immaculate. During the peak season the trekking trail can get crowded but it is still significantly lower than other popular trekking regions such as the Everest and Annapurna Region.
The trekkers will be accompanied by experienced guides and team members for their journey who will ensure the safety of the trekkers in each of their steps. During any emergencies during which the trekkers are unable to continue their trek the trekkers condition will firstly be examined by the guides and try to mitigate the problem and if the condition of the trekkers doesn't get better then they will be transported to a hospital in Kathmandu via a Helicopter.
The trekkers will be trekking to an elevation of around 4870 M, reaching the Base camp and exploring to elevations above 5000 M at which the trekkers can get sick. The trekkers are requested to inform their team members if they face any difficulties while trekking as the guides will swiftly tassist the trekkers to descend to lower settlements ensuring their safety. The elevation will not be a problem if they follow the itinerary presented above as extra days for acclimatization are included in the itinerary.
The flight to Tumlingtar from Kathmandu takes around 35 minutes and is filled with stunning views of the Himalayas and is completely safe. There are 7 flights operating to Tumlingtar directly from Kathmandu per week as of 2025 AD and they are completely safe. The flights to Tumlingtar from Kathmandu usually get cancelled if the weather conditions are unfavorable which happens usually during the season of Monsoon and Winter.
The trekkers cannot trek in the Makalu Base Camp Trek solo as trekking within the restricted area of Nepal is prohibited and the solo trekkers must be accompanied by a guide for their journey to the Himalayas. The trekkers will be required to be assisted by a guide for their journey to the Base camp. The trail of the trek is strenuous and without the assistance of a guide the trekkers will have a difficult time so, the trekkers are requested to be accompanied by their guide for the journey to the base camp.
Yes, there are tea houses along the trail of the Makalu Base Camp Trek from where the trekkers can fill up their flasks and bottles with drinking water. The trekkers are strongly advised not to drink the water directly from the source and filter it before consuming it as it can cause an upset stomach, making it difficult for the trekkers to continue their trek.
Makalu Base Camp Trek During Autumn Season
Makalu Base Camp Trek During Spring Season
Makalu Base Camp Trek During Winter Season
Makalu Base Camp Trek During Summer/ Monsoon Season