Makalu Base Camp Trek

Also known as Makalu Barun Valley Trek.

Makalu Base Camp Trek is an advanced 14-18-day teahouse/camping mix trek in the Makalu region of Nepal, reaching 4,870 m. It starts at Num (via Tumlingtar and Chichila) and ends at Num.

Key facts

Region
Makalu (Sankhuwasabha)
Duration
14-18 days, 5-7 hours walking per day
Distance
125 km
Maximum altitude
4,870 m
Difficulty
Advanced — Remote, strenuous out-and-back through Makalu Barun National Park: brutal gorge profiles low down (Num-Seduwa drops ~800 m then climbs it back), a double crossing of the Shipton La pass complex (~4,200 m) in both directions, very basic and sparse lodges above Tashigaon, and no road or quick evacuation for most of the route.
Trek type
Teahouse/Camping mix, out-and-back route
Best season
Autumn (Oct-Nov) and Spring (Apr-May)
Guide
Mandatory. Not a restricted area, but under the NTB/TAAN rule effective 1 April 2023 solo trekking without a licensed guide is barred in national-park treks; agencies uniformly require a guide for Makalu. Enforcement on this remote route is via the Num park checkpoint.
Restricted area
No
Budget cost
NPR 140,000–190,000
Comfortable cost
NPR 190,000–250,000
Guided cost
NPR 230,000–350,000
Getting there
Kathmandu → Tumlingtar (flight, 35-40 min) → Khandbari → Chichila → Num (shared jeep, 4-5h on a rough hill road). Return by the same route. Overland Kathmandu→Tumlingtar bus (~20h) exists but is rarely used by trekkers.
Altitude sickness
High: the route climbs from ~700 m river crossings to 4,870 m, with the steep Tashigaon→Khongma Danda day gaining ~1,400 m and the pass complex reached soon after.

Weather

The Arun valley approach is hot and humid; the Barun valley above Dobate is alpine and cold. Monsoon (Jun-early Sep) makes the gorge trails and the Tumlingtar-Num road treacherous with leeches and landslides. The Shipton La complex holds snow late — it can be blocked into April and again from December. Autumn offers the most reliable pass conditions.

Permits

Itinerary

  1. Day 1: Kathmandu to Num, 0 h, 1,560 m — Flight to Tumlingtar (460 m), jeep through Khandbari and Chichila ridge villages
  2. Day 2: Num to Seduwa, 5-6 h, 1,500 m — Huge descent to the Arun river (~700 m) and steep climb into the national park
  3. Day 3: Seduwa to Tashigaon, 4-5 h, 2,100 m — Sherpa villages, terraced millet fields — last permanent settlement
  4. Day 4: Tashigaon to Khongma Danda, 6-7 h, 3,500 m — Relentless stone-staircase climb through rhododendron and fir forest
  5. Day 5: Khongma Danda to Khongma Danda (acclimatization), 2-4 h, 3,500 m — Ridge walk toward Shipton La for views of Chamlang and Makalu
  6. Day 6: Khongma Danda to Dobate, 6-7 h, 3,650 m — Crossing Shipton La (~4,229 m), Kalo Pokhari lake, Keke La (~4,170 m)
  7. Day 7: Dobate to Yangle Kharka, 5-6 h, 3,557 m — Steep rockfall-prone descent into the Barun valley, waterfalls and yak pastures
  8. Day 8: Yangle Kharka to Langmale Kharka, 5-6 h, 4,410 m — Upper Barun meadows, Shershong plain, first close Makalu views
  9. Day 9: Langmale Kharka to Makalu Base Camp, 4-5 h, 4,870 m — Base Camp 4,870 m beneath Makalu's south face; Barun glacier
  10. Day 10: Makalu Base Camp to Makalu Base Camp (exploration), 3-5 h, 4,870 m — Ridge viewpoints (~5,200-5,250 m) with Everest, Lhotse and Baruntse views
  11. Day 11: Makalu Base Camp to Yangle Kharka, 6-7 h, 3,557 m — Long descent back down the Barun valley
  12. Day 12: Yangle Kharka to Dobate, 5-6 h, 3,650 m — Re-climb through the rockfall gully
  13. Day 13: Dobate to Khongma Danda, 6-7 h, 3,500 m — Re-cross Keke La and Shipton La
  14. Day 14: Khongma Danda to Seduwa, 6-7 h, 1,500 m — 2,000 m knee-hammering descent through the forest via Tashigaon
  15. Day 15: Seduwa to Num, 5-6 h, 1,560 m — Recross the Arun gorge (~700 m) and climb to Num
  16. Day 16: Num to Kathmandu, 0 h, 1,400 m — Jeep to Tumlingtar, afternoon flight to Kathmandu

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