About Makalu Base Camp Trek
Country
Nepal
Duration
25 Days
Difficulty
Strenuous
Activity
Trekking
Max. altitude
6,180 m / 20,276 ft
Best season
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
Accommodation
Tea house and lodge
Meals
Included
Start/End point
Kathmandu
In Nepal, the Makalu Base Camp Trek is an untrodden trail. At 8,485 meters, Makalu is the fifth-highest peak in the world (27,838 ft). It is situated in the Mahalangur Himalayas, on the Nepal-China border, 19 kilometers (12 miles) southeast of Mount Everest.
The Makalu Base Camp Trek is an incredible trekking route in the Makalu region, which is near to the Everest region and is yet mostly unexplored. It is also known as Arun Valley because of the Arun River. The Arun Valley is a stunning region known for its culture and natural beauty. This location is a haven for naturalists, and it is filled with rare flora, creatures, and birds.
People in this rural location rely on farming, small-time trading, and herds of cattle. There are 32000 people living there. This population is made up of Sherpas, Gurung, Tamang, Magar, Newar, Brahmins, and Chhetris, among other castes and ethnic groups.
Highlights of Makalu Base Camp Trek
Trekking
220 km
Stay
19 nights in tea houses and lodges
Mountains visible
Kangchenjunga, Makalu, Jannu
Altitude gain
1,030–6,180 m (3,379–20,276 ft)
Destinations
Khadbari, Chichira, Num, Seduwa, Tashigaon
Activities
Tea house stays, Sherpa and Himalayan village visits, Sunrise viewpoints, Prayer flags, stupas and monasteries
Seasonality for Makalu Base Camp Trek
The best months to go are shown in green and the months to avoid in red. Weather in the mountains can change at any time of year, so ask us about your dates.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar (best)
- Apr (best)
- May (best)
- Jun (unfavourable)
- Jul (unfavourable)
- Aug (unfavourable)
- Sep (best)
- Oct (best)
- Nov (best)
- Dec
Best seasons: Mar–May, Sep–Nov (shown in green color)
Unfavourable seasons: Jun–Aug (shown in red color)
Altitude Profile of Makalu Base Camp Trek
Detailed Itinerary of Makalu Base Camp Trek
You will be met by our representative at the airport after which you will be driven to the hotel.
We will spend our day sightseeing around some of the attractive world heritage sites within Kathmandu valley. We also complete all necessary paper works and other preparations required.
Transfer to Tribhuwan International Airport (domestic terminal) for flight to Tumlingtar. After that, we take a short drive to reach the starting point of our Makalu Trek. Khadbari is a beautiful village mainly inhabited by Newar and Rai tributes community. There is also a Makalu – Barun National Park.
Leaving Khadbari, our trek passes a number of charming villages before reaching Mane Bhanjyang. Then, following a gentle ascending trail to scenic pass Bhotebas at 1740 meters we can have a view of Mt. Makalu if weather is clear. After crossing the pass, we start a smooth descent towards Chichila. There are a few number of tea houses and good camping site available.
After Chichila, we follow the trail towards Num village. We pass the village of Kawapani and follow a gentle ascend ridge to reach and cross another scenic pass Daju La at 2100 meters. After the pass, we continue our trek through a descending trail surrounded by forests. Finally, reaching the large village of Num.
We continue our trek by following gradual descents until reaching the Arun River. We cross a suspension bridge there and start to ascend towards another charming village Seduwa.
We leave Seduwa by following an easy trekking trail through Murmi Danda. Along the route we can see local people going on with their daily activities. We follow an ascending trail towards Narbugaon which is a small village. We again follow a trail passing through agricultural farmlands, forests and scenic hills to reach at Tashigaon. Here, we can buy any necessary things since Tashigaon is the last village settlement of the trail.

After Tashigaon, we follow the trail that heads steeply climbing through beautiful forests. After a couple of hours, we reach Unshisa where there is a good campsite and a few tea shops which is only open in the main trekking season. Then, we further ascend to finally reach our campsite at Kauma Danda.
Our trek starts early in the morning since on this day we will be crossing three passes; Kauma La Pass, Tutu La Pass and Keke La Pass. First, we take an ascending path to cross Kauma La pass from where we can see spectacular views of Mt. Makalu, Mt. Chamlang, Mt. Baruntse, Mt. Kanchenjunga, Jannu peak and many other snow-capped Himalayas. We further ascend to cross the highest pass of the day – Tutu La Pass at 4125 meters and we start to descend towards Kalo Pokhari – a large lake. After reaching there, we again climb towards Keke La Pass, from where we can have great views of Chamlang Himal, and Tibet to the north. We cross the pass and follow the rocky descending steps to reach our campsite at Mumbuk.
Leaving Mumbuk, we continue our trail that begins with a gradual descent to reach Barun River. There we start ascending along the steep hillside which is often affected by landslides. We continue the trail that leads through slack ground where we have to be careful while walking. After there, few hours of walking will take us to Nehe Kharka.
After breakfast, we leave Nehe Kharka and head towards Shersong. Our trek continues on loose trails until we reach and cross the Barun River and then to green grassy fields of Yangri Kharka. We continue the trek passing through the forest of rhododendron, pine and fir towards Langmale Kharka. Then, we walk through moraine followed by Barun River. To the left is the large glacial lake that fills the valley, an easy trail from here leads us to Shersong.
From Shersong, we start our journey by turning right and ascend through more moraine. After we reach the top, the trail dramatically starts to gradually descend and then we will cross a small bridge that continues toward the stone huts of Makalu Base Camp. From there, splendid views of world’s fifth highest mountain – Mt. Makalu 8485 meters and other Himalayan range.
We take a day for acclimatization at Makalu Base Camp.
We follow the trail towards Hilary Base Camp. Then, we walk through a narrow trail along the Barun Glacier Valley on south side and finally reach Swiss Base Camp.

Leaving Swiss Base Camp, we head towards Sherpani Col Base Camp through a steep boulder filled gully. After a couple of hours ascending, we reach a small flat area. Then, we again take further ascents that lead us to Sherpani Col Base Camp.
We take a leisure day at Sherpani Col Base Camp to become properly acclimatized before heading towards the challenging passes.
We cross the Sherpani Col Pass, starting our trek early in the morning and following the ascending trail through the ridge of glacier. We need to fix a rope and be ready with other essential gears to reach the top of Sherpani Col. After there, we start to gently descend down to West Barun Glacier. After crossing the glacier, we head towards Baruntse Base Camp campsite.
We start our day following the trail that ascends through loose rocks and rock walls until we reach the top of West Col. Once we reach at the top, we start to descend down until we reach Honku Basin. There we start to decline vigorously to reach our campsite at Amphu Labsta Base Camp.
Our trek follows an ascending trail towards crossing of a challenging pass – Amphu Labsta Pass at 5850 meters. The pass includes ice slopes and snow covered ridge where we need to have climbing equipments. After crossing the pass, we follow the downhill steps passing through rocky trail and Amphu Labsta glacier and finally at Chhukung.
After Chhukung, we start trekking towards Tyangboche, passing through several icy streams to reach Birbe. From Birbre, we continue walking along the stone walled fields and alpine landscape towards Dingboche. Dingboche is situated along the route of Everest Base Camp trail. After Dingboche, we descend toa fairly moderate trail towards Tyangboche.
Leaving Tyangboche, we follow descending trails to reach Namche Bazaar. A scenic walk through Khumjung leads us to Namche Bazaar.
Last day of our trek heads from Namche Bazaar to Lukla via Monjo and Phakding. We walk through pleasant trail, following few short ascents and gradual descents toward Bhote Koshi River.It takes us three hours to reach Lukla.

We take an early morning flight from Lukla to Kathmandu. Enjoy the scenic mountain flight after a wonderful trekking experience.
You have a free day in Kathmandu. Get an early to visit to the temples of Kathmandu. Go around the shopping area of Thamel.
Our representative will drop you off at the International Airport.
What's included and excluded
What's included
- Airport pick-up and drop-off by private vehicle
- Hotel in Kathmandu with breakfast
- Licensed trekking guide and porters
- Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) during the trek
- Tea house and lodge accommodation on the trail
- Trekking permits and national park fees
- Domestic flights or transfers as listed in the itinerary
- First-aid kit and 24/7 support from our office
What's excluded
- Meals in Kathmandu and Pokhara
- Extra nights in the city because of early return or flight delays
- Hot showers, battery charging and Wi-Fi on the trail
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and rescue insurance
- Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry and phone calls
- Tips for guides, drivers and staff
- Meals not mentioned in the program
- Any costs caused by weather, strikes or other events beyond our control
Equipment and things you need
Clothing
- Down jacket (warm enough for below -10 °C)
- Waterproof shell jacket and trousers
- Base layers and a fleece
- Warm hat, sun hat, gloves and buff
Footwear
- Broken-in waterproof trekking boots
- Spare socks (wool or synthetic)
- Light shoes or sandals for the lodge
Gear
- Sleeping bag rated for the altitude
- Trekking poles
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Sunglasses with UV protection and sun cream
- Refillable water bottle and purification tablets
Health and papers
- Personal first-aid kit and your regular medication
- Travel and rescue insurance covering your maximum altitude
- Passport, spare photos and copies of your documents
Frequently asked questions
You should be comfortable walking for several hours a day on uneven ground, with some steep climbs. Regular cardio and hill walking in the weeks before you travel makes a big difference. Ask us if you are unsure about a route.
Most mountain routes need permits and park or area entry fees. We arrange the ones your route needs; the quote lists what is covered.
Walk slowly, drink plenty of water and sleep lower than the highest point you reached that day. The itinerary includes acclimatisation time where the route needs it. Tell your guide straight away about headache, nausea or dizziness. If symptoms get worse, the safe response is to descend.
See the equipment list on this page for the essentials. We can also advise on what to hire in Kathmandu.
Yes. We build itineraries around your interests, dates and budget. Tell us what you would like to change and we will send a revised plan with the price.
Yes. Your trip is led by licensed guides. Chinese, Hindi, Spanish and English-speaking guides are available on request, so tell us your language when you enquire.
A booking amount (30% of the total) secures your trip and the balance is settled before departure. The full terms are in our Booking and Cancellation Policy. Read the policy
Pick any start date when you request a booking. We confirm availability for those dates before taking a payment.
Customer reviews
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5.054 reviews · 5.0 rating
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Creative Adventure Nepal provides excellent service and truly professional support in the tourism industry. Their team is friendly, knowledgeable, and well-organized, making every trip smooth, safe, and memorable. From planning to execution, everything is handled with care and passion. Highly recommended for anyone looking for an amazing travel experience in Nepal!
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- Anil GuptaOct 03, 2024
Service is very good
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Awesome experience with the group. Thank you Creative Adventure team.
- Shyamala Narayanan (Shammu)Jun 02, 2024
It was an excellent and memorable trip arranged by creative adventure. We were 15 family members planned for pilgrimage trip but later combined adventures too for the sake of our kids. From the arrival and till departure, Ramesh Ji ‘s support was excellent. He was able to reach even at night for some emergencies. Excellent vehicles were provided and especially kind and experienced drivers were arranged. Because of the change in climatic conditions , our flight got cancelled and we were supposed to do road travel. We afraid a lot but the drivers were really experienced and helped us a lot in all aspects. Food arranged in hotels were really good. ( Only concern was they could have separated veg n non veg in different places n not on the same counters). Especially chef in landmark Kathmandu was so kind n prepared food specially for us. Cultural village in Janakpur also provided homely n decent food. We had a great n enjoyable trip all over. Thanks Ramesh Ji for arranging everything. We definitely recommend Creative adventure to everyone.
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