Makalu Base Camp Trek

The typical 19-day trek itinerary at Makalu Base Camp consists of two flight days (Kathmandu to Tumlingtar and back), about 15 active trekking days plus two acclimatization days. The walking distance from Khartoum to Khartoum again is about 180 km, and 8 km to 18 km a day depending on the part of the trail.

The actual walking time each day ranges from 5 to 8 hours. For steep ascents like that of Khongma Danda, walking time may be 8 hours or more. The lower valley days are gentler at approximately 5 hours. The trail is poorly graded and may be difficult to traverse at times.

• Add 1 to 2 buffer days at Langmale Kharka for additional acclimatization
• Extend to Barun Plateau (5,200 m) for experienced groups with adequate fitness
• Side trip to Shershon Glacier viewpoint adds half a day
• Some groups choose to rest at Tashigaon for one additional night to pace the ascent

Makalu Base Camp Trek is a moderately hard hike and a class 4 in the Himalayan trekking category. It is a challenging trek when compared to the Annapurna Base Camp trek, as well as generally similar in physical demands to the Manaslu Circuit, albeit with the remote nature of the Barun Valley characteristics of a greater consequence for any logistical mistakes.

Physical Difficulty

Each day there are numerous steeps, rocky trails with daily rises above 600–900 metres. The 19 days is a longer duration, so trekkers will need to produce high physical output over a number of weeks. To become a strong pre-requisite, one must be in good cardiovascular condition, have lower body strength and have previously experienced high altitude climbing.

Technical Difficulty

Technical climbing equipment is not necessary for approach of the standard base camp route. But above Langmale Kharka, the area is rocky glacial with boulder fields, which need careful footing. The trail is not always well signposted, and it is advisable to take a guide.

Trail Conditions

• Lower valley sections (Num to Tashigaon): well-defined trail through forest and villages
• Mid-altitude sections (Tashigaon to Mumbuk): steep ascents with loose rock sections
• High-altitude sections (Mumbuk to Base Camp): glacial moraine, boulder fields, limited shelter
• River crossings may be challenging during monsoon runoff
• Snow cover is possible on high passes from November onward

• Trekkers with no prior high-altitude experience above 4,000 m
• Individuals with heart, lungs, or blood pressure conditions without medical clearance
• Those unwilling or unable to descend rapidly if acute mountain sickness (AMS) develops
• Solo trekkers without guide support given the remote rescue environment

Entry permits are a must for all trekkers to enter the Makalu-Barun National Park. The permits are not available for sale on the trail and must be booked in Kathmandu before leaving. Permits are required and otherwise trekking without a permit may result in fines, forced return and legal penalties.

National park permit is issued by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). The TIMS card can be obtained from the Nepal Tourism Board office in Kathmandu and registered trekking agencies. All clients’ permits are arranged by Royal Holidays Adventure as part of their package so that trekkers leave Kathmandu with permits in hand.

• Registered agencies are legally accountable to the Nepal Tourism Board
• Licensed guides carry certification from the Nepal Mountaineering Association or equivalent bodies
• Agencies are required to provide insurance coverage for guides and porters
• Regulatory compliance is verified through agency registration numbers on official permits
• Unregistered guides cannot facilitate permit checks at national park entry points

The trekking rules of Nepal stipulate that national park guides must be in possession of valid guide licenses, which are valid for one year. The Nepal government has made several changes in permit fee structures, and all fees in this guide are subject to change and as of the date of the publication. Trekkers are advised to check current permit fees on booking with Royal Holidays Adventure.

Spring (March-May) and Fall (September-November) are the best seasons to trek to Makalu Base Camp. The weather and sightlines are good, and the trail is not too steep at altitude in both windows. There are different characteristics to each season that may impact on your decision.

Spring: March to May

Spring is the best time to trek to Makalu Base Camp. The weather is mild, rhododendron is in full bloom below 4000m, and pre-monsoon skies are superb for mountain viewing. The months of March and April are especially good. More cloudiness is seen in the afternoon during May, when the pre-monsoon moisture is increasing; mornings remain clear.

Autumn: September to November

The second-best time to travel to Base Camp Makalu is during the autumn season. The skies are very clear in the post monsoon season and vegetation is fresh from seasonal rains and temperatures are crisp but not dangerously cold at altitude. October is the best month of the year for all of the Himalayan treks and this one, too.

Winter Considerations: December to February

This trek is also suitable for winter trekking by advanced and well-equipped trekkers but presents high risk. Snow is always found on high passes of over 3500 m and at night below 300 m the night temperatures can reach minus 15 degrees Celsius or less at Shershon and above. Rescue logistics become more complex and challenging. All winter trips must be fully equipped for cold weather camping.

Monsoon Risks: June to August

• Heavy rainfall makes high-altitude trails slippery and dangerous
• River crossings become hazardous with swollen water levels
• Leeches are prevalent below 2,500 m from June through August
• Landslide risk in steep sections between Num and Tashigaon increases significantly
• Visibility of mountain views is almost entirely obscured by clouds

Royal Holidays Adventure offers a fully packaged Makalu Base Camp trek including all the major expenses from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. Here are some examples of the items included and not included in the standard package cost.

What Is Included

• Round-Trip Domestic Flights
• Accommodation
• Standard Three Course Meal
• Professional Trekking Staff
• Permits and Entry Fees
• Transportation
• Safety Equipments

What Is Excluded

• International airfare to and from Kathmandu
• Nepal visa fees
• Travel and rescue insurance (mandatory; arranged independently)
• Personal trekking gear and clothing
• Tips for guides and porters
• Extra nights in Kathmandu due to weather-related delays
• Bar bills, laundry, phone calls, and personal expenses
• Helicopter evacuation costs are not covered by personal insurance

This is a fixed date group departure with 2 minimum and 12 maximum trekkers. Private tours are available year-round and are available on any date they might be requested and can be arranged at the group rate. Private bookings give more flexibility with respect to acclimatization schedule, pace and daily distance. The ratio of guides to trekkers and the safety measures are the same for both.

The Makalu Base Camp Trek is a trek at extreme altitude and remote with low infrastructure. Royal Holidays Adventure has a detailed safety plan based on guidelines from the Nepal Mountaineering Association and global rescue standards. Each guided departure also has a specific safety training session prior to and during the trip.

• All guides hold a valid license from the Nepal Tourism Board or Nepal Mountaineering Association
• Senior guides on this route have a minimum of 5 years of high-altitude trekking experience
• Guides are trained in Wilderness First Aid and AMS recognition
• Assistant guides carry supplementary first aid supplies and a portable pulse oximeter

All the following practices are standard on each departure of Makalu Base Camp: All trekkers are checked every morning and are required to have blood oxygen saturation reading checked each day starting from Langmale Kharka. If a trekker is reading below an acceptable blood oxygen saturation reading, they are not allowed to ascend; If they do, there is a clearly communicated descent decision tree available for all in the group. If AMS symptoms are present, no trekker will be allowed to get to base camp.

Royal Holidays Adventure keeps the things at their fingertips with the helicopter services in Kathmandu before all the departures. All group leaders have a satellite communicator or local emergency SIM card. Trekkers must have full travel insurance which also includes helicopter rescue and high-altitude medical evacuation to 6,000 metres. The pre-departure meeting involves a briefing of a rescue deposit framework.

• Satellite phone or BGAN device carried on all expeditions above Mumbuk
• GPS tracking enabled group leaders on multi-day high-altitude segments
• Pre-established check-in points with the Kathmandu operations desk every 24 to 48 hours
• Emergency contacts for Sankhuwasabha District Hospital and Kathmandu medical centers on file

The remoteness of the Barun Valley can lead to an unmanaged medical emergency to become life threatening within a few hours, unlike lower altitude expeditions where self-rescue or even improvisation is possible. Beyond Num there is no road access, and a long way down from the high camps, is only a medical post staffed by personnel. The presence of the expert guides is not a ‘comfort’ thing, it is a ‘safety’ one, at this height level and in this terrain.

One of the most unique aspects of Trek Makalu Base Camp is the opportunity to experience Nepalese culture in villages with only a small number of tourists when compared to the more popular routes. The villages are mainly inhabited by the Rai and Sherpa communities whose way of life has not been significantly affected by modern development along the trail.

Key Villages Along the Trail 

The Sherpa people of the upper Barun Valley have been working as porters and guides for the Makalu expeditions for a long time. They live in houses which are designed for cold weather, the walls are made of stone, the ceilings are low and their houses have wood-burning stoves. In the lower Arun Valley, the Rai people have a unique animist-Buddhist culture with festivals, weaving practices and farming techniques focused on the production of millets, maize and potato.

The trekkers passing through these villages are asked to treat the villagers with respect, buy products from the local villagers and not take photographs without their permission. The direct economic value of trekking in these long-distance areas is significant and relevant, such as staying at tea houses and employing porters.

The trek to the base of Makalu is accommodation on the trek itself, which is a tea house system in the lower and mid portions with basic lodges in the upper. As one ascends past Mumbuk, the standard of facilities gradually gets lower, and above 4,500m expect low expectations of comfort.

• Tea houses are family-run guesthouses providing a bed, blanket, and meals
• Rooms typically contain two single beds with mattresses; some offer shared or attached bathrooms
• Above Langmale Kharka, facilities are minimal: basic wooden bunks and pit latrines
• Hot showers are available in lower altitude villages; above Mumbuk, bucket washing or no shower facilities
• Wi-Fi and charging facilities are available only in lower villages

The meals in the lower villages consist of dal bhat, noodle soups, fried rice, omelettes and simple bakery products. In the upper elevations menus become limited to foods that are rich in carbohydrates, such as dal bhat, pasta, and instant noodles. Above Mumbuk fresh vegetables and protein sources are becoming scarce. If there are dietary requirements, please inform Royal Holidays Adventure beforehand so they can bring additional supplies.

• Drink only boiled or filtered water; bottled water availability decreases at high altitude
• Water purification tablets or a personal filter is strongly recommended above Tashigaon
• Avoid raw salads or unpeeled fruits below 3,000 m to reduce gastrointestinal risk
• Guides carry basic oral rehydration salts and anti-nausea medication in the group first aid kit

Makalu Base Camp Trek traverses Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area which is the 1992 established 2330 sq.km. conservation area. One of the world’s few protected areas that have ecosystems from subtropical lowlands to permanent snow and ice and thus extraordinary biodiversity along a single trekking corridor.

• Protects a vertical range from 435 m to 8,485 m, one of the widest altitudinal ranges of any national park
• Adjoins Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park to the west, creating a vast protected mountain corridor
• The park is a UNESCO World Heritage candidate and maintains strict no-hunting and no-logging regulations
• Entry requires a valid national park permit; rangers at Seduwa checkpoint verify compliance

• Carry all non-biodegradable waste out of the national park; no burning of plastics
• Use designated campsites and latrine facilities only
• Do not feed or approach wildlife
• Purchase firewood only from permitted sources; use gas stoves above 3,500 m when possible
• Respect the minimum approach distance to grazing yak herds and domestic animals

Packing correctly for the Base Camp Makalu approach is critical given the remote environment and extreme altitude. The list below distinguishes between essential items and those that are optional but useful.

Clothing

• Thermal base layer (top and bottom): 2 sets
• Fleece mid-layer jacket
• Down jacket rated to minus 15 degrees Celsius or lower
• Waterproof and windproof outer shell jacket and trousers
• Trekking trousers: 2 pairs
• Wool or synthetic trekking socks: 4 to 5 pairs
• Sun hat and warm beanie
• Lightweight liner gloves and outer insulated gloves
• Gaiters (recommended above Langmale Kharka)

Footwear

• Waterproof trekking boots with ankle support, broken in before departure
• Lightweight camp sandals or flip-flops for tea house use
• Microspikes or crampons (optional, useful for late season icy sections)

Gear

• Trekking poles: adjustable, strongly recommended
• 60 to 70 litre trekking pack for porters plus 20 to 25 litre daypacks
• Sleeping bag rated to minus 15 to minus 20 degrees Celsius
• Headlamp with spare batteries
• Trekking poles
• Sunglasses with UV400 or greater protection (essential above 4,000 m)
• Sunscreen SPF 50+
• Personal water bottles (2 x 1 litre) or hydration bladder
• Water purification tablets or personal filter
• Personal first aid kit (blister treatment, pain relief, anti-diarrheal, antihistamine)

Documents

• Passport (original)
• Nepal visa documentation
• Travel insurance policy with emergency evacuation coverage (copy and original)
• Permit copies (Royal Holidays Adventure provides these)
• Emergency contacts list

• Trekkers who have completed Everest Base Camp or Manaslu Circuit and seek a greater challenge
• Those who prioritize wilderness solitude over teahouse infrastructure
• Nature enthusiasts with interest in biodiversity and conservation landscapes
• Trekkers willing to accept a higher logistical commitment in exchange for an exceptional experience