Mt. Makalu (8,463m) Expedition – 55 Days

After you arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you will need to go through customs. You will be greeted by our representative, who will be anxiously waiting for you with a placard displaying your name in his hand. We will transfer you to a 4-star hotel in a private vehicle. Once you get refreshed, you will get a briefing regarding the itinerary, and you will also be introduced to your crew members and other climbers who are going to join you on the trip. Enjoy a welcome dinner in the evening, where you can taste an authentic Nepali dinner. Stay overnight in a hotel.

The second day of the Mt. Makalu expedition is quite relaxing but equally important. After breakfast, we will leave our hotel and take a half-day UNESCO World Heritage sightseeing tour. On this tour, we will visit the sacred Pashupatinath and Swyambhunath or Boudhanath Stupa. These historical sites offer a meaningful glimpse into Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

After visiting these historical sites, we return to our hotel. We will meet our expedition teams, check our equipment, and upgrade it if needed. We ensure everything is prepared and under control with our team and us. After a brief meeting, we will have dinner and stay at the hotel overnight.

Today is the final preparation day for our expedition. Preparing well is essential because this journey will be long and challenging. We need to pack all the equipment and belongings we will need for a successful and enjoyable trip.
The team will check logistics, go over safety measures, and ensure everything is ready for a smooth start. Use the rest of the day to relax and mentally prepare for the exciting challenge of reaching the summit of Mount Makalu.

Today on our Mt. Makalu Expedition, we leave Kathmandu and fly to Tumlingtar. The flight is only 45 minutes, but it’s a scenic adventure that provides amazing aerial views of Makalu, Everest, Ganesh Himal, and Kanchenjunga. We land at the hilltop Tumlingtar airport. After descending from the airstrip, we board our vehicle and begin our drive towards Num.

We pass through different places like Khadbari, Mane Bhanjyang, Bhotebas, and other settlements. The trail passes through beautiful rhododendron forests and terraced hillside before reaching Num. Num is a small village at 1.560 meters. After arriving here, we stroll through the local towns and settle into our teahouse.

Today, our trek begins with a two-hour walk down the hill from Num. We then cross the suspension bridge over the Arun River and then walk through the rhododendron forest. Today, we are trekking in one of the lowest points of our entire expedition. The vegetation is unique, as we will see different bamboo clusters, hillside crops, and banana plants.

As we move along, we will start climbing a steady trail that eventually passes through a small Rai village in Seduwa. Upon reaching Seduwa, we can interact with locals, learn about traditional cultivation methods, and enjoy their hospitality. Here, the villages cultivate millet, corn, paddy, and potatoes. Seduwa is popular for being a small village and for its hospitable locals.

Today, we leave Seduwa and start ascending the rising trail. This trail will take us straight into Makalu-Barun National Park. We pass through different farm terraces, including maize, millet, and corn. Here we meet different Rai and Sherpa people and learn about their culture. The trail then continues through a vast, thick forest and past small wooden bridges. We make our way from streams fed by hillside springs, so be careful, as the path might be slippery. We can also engage in some bird-watching here, as birds like laughing thrushes, Himalayan Monals, etc., can be seen in herds.

We begin climbing steep elevation through the park’s mid-elevation forest zone. The several short but steep climbs here will take us over the ridge above Seduwa. We then pass through oak forests where the air is noticeably fresher. Now the final ascent of the day begins, after which we will be at Tashi Gaon (2100 meters). Tashi Gaon is the last permanently inhabited village located at the ridge top from where the surrounding villages are visible. We will settle into our teahouses and can stroll around the town to meet locals. The views of yaks and mules grazing in the fields are pretty standard here.

Today we leave Tashi gaon early in the morning by ascending a dense forest of oak and rhododendron. The steady climb takes us to a higher altitude, from which Kasuwa Valley and Tashigaon are visible, now far below us. We then pass through large natural meadows where we will see cattles and yaks grazing along with their herders, which shows the day-to-day life of the locals living here. As we get closer to Khongma ridge, the air becomes much cooler, and the vegetation starts to change.

We will ascend for several hours in the long sequence of stone steps that move along the ridge line before leading us to Khongma village (3,200 meters). Khongma Village is also the gateway to Shipton La Pass, one of our notable places to visit. After arriving, we settle in our teahouses or camps, depending on the situation. Khongma is a very peaceful village, which is also why it is an excellent place for acclimatization.

On the eighth day of our iconic Mt. Makalu Expedition, we will rest and acclimatize in Khongma Village. Acclimatization is essential to get used to the altitude, relax our bodies, and minimize the risk of altitude sickness. Despite it being a rest day, we will be hiking to nearby trekking areas, such as Shipton La Pass. First, we will trek towards Khongma Ridge, then towards Dhara Kharka, the viewpoint located right above the village.

Hiking to higher altitudes and returning to Khongma will help us acclimate to the climate and altitude. Sitting idly in our bed during the day of acclimatization is not recommended. You still need to walk around, reach a higher altitude, and drop down to sleep so you become used to the high altitude, which makes breathing easier. During our walks, we enjoy expansive views of the Barun Valley forests, the Kasuwa River drainage, and the area’s unique ridgelines. Our trekking team monitors our health, hydration, and energy levels throughout the day to ensure we are adjusting well.

After crossing both passes, we begin descending along a stone-stepped trail through rhododendron forests. The best time to trek is April and May, when climbers will see stunning blossoming flowers covering the entire slope. As we approach Dobato, the descent becomes gentler.

Dobato is a small village where trekkers and herders meet. After reaching dobato, we head into the teahouses and rest for a bit. In the evening, we can stroll through the village, meet local villagers, and talk about their day-to-day life. After a while, we will enjoy the dinner and get to our room for the overnight stay.

Today, the trek begins at Dobato and ends at Yangle Kharka First, the trek descends steadily towards the Barun River corridor. We then leave the ridgeline and make our way through juniper and rhododendron forests. We then follow the gradually narrowing trail into the dep Barun Valley. On this trail, we get our first glimpse of Peak 6(6,524m) and Peak 7 (6,105m), and get closer to Makalu Barun National Park.

We are not close to Yangle Kharka, where we willsee one of the most beautiful alpine meadows. From here, we pass different traditional stone huts, yaks pastures, and wooden suspension bridges. After reaching Yangle Kharka, we will start settling in theteahouses. We will have our dinenr and stay at the teahouse overnight.

On the 11th day of the Mount Makalu Expedition, we move from Yangle Kharka. We get deeper into the Barun Valley and continue trekking on the left side of the Barun River. We trek through a gradually narrowing glacial valley. We first pass through the small grazing meadows when we reach Riphuk. We then start climbing towards the alpine basin, and begin trekking beneath Peaks 4 and 6. The majestic view of the Barun Glacier gives us even more reason to keep going.

As we climb higher, the area opens up into a big, icy field. We can finally see Makalu’s huge south face in front of us. Behind us, the valley drops to the green meadows of Yangle Kharka, clearly delineating the snowy from the grassy. When we get close to Langmale Kharka, the path gets flatter, and we see some stone huts that herders use. From our overnight stay, we can see Peak 6, Peak 7, and the rocky ridge leading to the West Makalu Glacier. This long day is exciting as we get closer to Makalu Base Camp.

Walking on the eastern side of the valley, we can clearly see Makalu Mountain. As we walk, we’ll gently descend into a small pass, allowing us to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Climbing over the pass is an essential step in our journey, and after that, we’ll head down toward the river. The trail has rocky areas with boulders, which makes our trek more fun.

This part of the hike helps us connect with nature, with every step a chance to appreciate the environment. Eventually, we’ll reach Makalu Base Camp by the river. From there, we can admire the stunning view of Makalu’s south face. After soaking in the scenery, we’ll settle in at our camps, surrounded by tall peaks and the calmness of the base camp.

After reaching Makalu lower base camp, it’s time for rest and acclimatization again. We are gaining altitude day by day, and need to prepare for higher camps ahead. Over the next two days, we will gain some altitude along the lateral moraine above our camp and drop back to camp for overnight sleep. When climbing these moraines, we will climb viewpoints from where the Lower and Upper Barun Glaciers are visible.

From here, we can also see the route that goes through the Advanced Base Camp, including the steep ice terraces and the broad glacier plateau. We must continue to monitor our breathing, health, and overall adaptation. We then return to camp, check our gear, and brief our expedition team. We will go to bed early to prepare for the trek tomorrow.

After spending two days in the Makalu Lower base camp, it’s time to move towards the Advanced Makalu Base Camp. We will start trekking the trail that climbs steadily along the Barun Glacier. The trail becomes increasingly challenging as it crosses the rocky glacial moraine. The trail gradually rises along the glacier ridge, offering fantastic views of Peaks 6 and 7. As we climb to altitude, the view of Mount Makalu becomes even clearer.

As we walk through the high, empty valley, it gets quieter and looks more amazing. The path narrows as we step over icy rocks, and the air feels thin. Looking back, we can see the vast Barun Valley, surrounded by tall mountains near Makalu Base Camp. We finally climb a gentle slope to Advance Makalu Base Camp (5,600m), which is on a rocky ledge below a huge rock called Makalu’s West Pillar. Here, we relax and enjoy clear views of Makalu’s South Face, the Barun Glacier, and tall peaks around us. It’s a beautiful place to be.

After reaching the Advanced base camp, we focus on careful acclimatization around the area. We stay at the camp, which is adjoining slopes that lead toward the Chago Glacier and the lower reaches of the Makalu-West Pillar. Despite being the acclimatization day, we will make a short but well-needed climb towards Camp I. The route is quite challenging, as it weaves through the glacial rubble of the lower Barun Glacier. As we climb, we can see the tall mountains, Peaks 3 and 4, to the northwest. On clear mornings, we can also see the rocky ridge above Langmale Kharka. Each day, we go back down to Base Camp, a lower spot, to rest, drink water, and make sure we are feeling good.

After descending back to our high base camp, we will prepare for the climb tomorrow. We will check all the technical gear, fixed ropes, ascenders, and crampons. We should also coordinate load-ferry plans with the Sherpa team. Our practice climb will help us understand the essential aspects of the route, including the steep snow ramp and many crevassee zones between Base Camp and West Pillar. These four days help us get stronger and more confident, so we know the area well before we climb higher up Makalu.

From the 20th to the 48th days, we steadily climb the higher camps of Makalu.

Base Camp to Camp I (6100m)

From Base Camp, we follow the lower part of the Barun Glacier to reach Camp I. We pass through ice and snow and then climb onto steeper snow and mixed ground.

Camp I to Camp II (6,500m)

We move from Camp I to Camp II, which leads to Makalu La. During this time, we will acclimatize, load ferries, and keep on climbing to get used to high altitude.

Camp II to Camp III (7,400m)

During the climb from Camp II to Camp III, we get to see some of the most fantastic views of the Barun Valley, the rock walls of Peak 4, and the ice-crowned peak of Chamlang. At the high altitude of 7400 meters between Camp II and the Makalu La, the majestic views of Lhotse, Kangshung Face, and Everest motivate climbers to keep on going. Every time we practice on the mountain, we get better at it and learn the complex parts.

Camp III to Camp IV (7,800m)

When the weather is good, we start climbing to the top. First, we go from Makalu La to Camp IV From here, we will rush towards the summit, as we need to climb it early to avoid strong winds in the afternoon.

Summit Push and back

We climb up the steep path from Camp IV to the sharp summit. From the top, we can enjoy beautiful views of Tibet and Nepal’s tall mountains. After reaching the top at 8,463 meters, we carefully go back down the same way. We walk down to Makalu La and then back to Base Camp, passing glaciers and ice cracks. As we go lower, we see more open land and return to our camp, thankful for the amazing places we explored during our climb.

Now it’s time to descend from the Makalu Base Camp. Today’s destination is Yangle Kharka, so we have a long descent in front of us. We will descend the rocky moraine above the Barun Glacier, which is quite challenging due to the very slippery path. In the first hours of our descent, we will cross loose glacial debris and pass familiar viewpoints like Peaks 6 and 7, which we saw on our climb. The route is quite challenging on the steeper sections near Langmale Kharka, so trekkers must be careful while descending.

We stop for lunch at Langmale and, after a brief break, continue descending along the left bank of the Barun River. From here, the path is exceptionally well maintained, and the view of yak pastures and the rhododendron forest is breathtaking. The valley widens gradually as we approach Yangle Kharka. The landscapes become greener, with waterfalls spilling above the hills. We will stay at the camp at Yangle Kharka overnight.

After leaving Yangle Kharka, we go down a long trail through the Barun Valley. We walk past tall trees like fir and birch, and pretty rhododendron flowers. We see the two big mountains, Peak 6 and Peak 7. As we walk back towards the high passes, we climb up to a place called Shipton La. Here, we can see beautiful hills and the blue Kalo Pokhari pond, which is close to the pass.

Next, we walk over three passes: Keke La, Shipton La, and Ghurung La. After that, we go down to a village called Khongma, where small rhododendron bushes surround a nice path. On our way down, we see green hills leading to a river. Finally, we reach Khongma Danda, a quiet ridge where we can see more of the lower Makalu region.

We are descending from Khongma through thick rhododendron and oak forests, eventually reaching the Arun River drainage. We descend zigzagging through moss-covered rocks and waterfalls, losing elevation as we pass the ridgeline that opens onto the deep valley carved by the Arun River. As we continue downward, we rejoin the familiar route that we had taken earlier in the expedition.

After we get to the Arun River, we walk across a bridge and climb a little in the forest toward Sedua. Along the way, we see fields and small farms on the hills. When we reach Sedua, the air feels warmer. We see cardamom plants and wooden houses, and we enjoy the quiet and calm of the village, which is very different from the mountains we just left.

Today, we move from Seduwa along the Arun River. We first drop along a narrow forest trail and pass through mixed hardwoods and bamboo groves. We then start climbing to another beautiful Num village, which is quite fun but steep. The views of the Arun River gorge directly below our trail, along with the terraced hillsides around Hedagna Gadi and Kuwapani, are majestic. We reach Num after a few hours and have lunch.

From Num, we leave the trek behind and board a vehicle to reach Tumlingtar. This drive follows the ridge system above the Arun River, passing through Chichila, Mane Bhanjyang, and small Gurung and Rai settlements known for cardamom farming. We first reach Khadbari, where we see a broad river terrace, where the Arun River flows quietly, and then we reach Tumlingtar. After a long expedition, we stayed in a hotel in Tumlingtar, reflecting on the unforgettable moments from our Mt. Makalu climb.

After your time in Tumlingtar, you will fly back to Kathmandu. The flight is short and offers beautiful views as you rise into the sky. When you arrive at the domestic airport in Kathmandu, a transfer will take you to your hotel. This smooth transition helps you relax after your travels.

At the hotel, you can settle in and rest, allowing you to recharge. The hotel is comfortable, and you will stay there overnight. This gives you time to prepare for your next adventures in Kathmandu.

On our final day in Kathmandu, we can take our time to enjoy the city after weeks in the mountains. We can visit the Garden of Dreams, a beautiful garden built in the 1920s, and explore historic sites such as Durbar Square and various temples. We can also join a Nepali cooking class to learn how to make local dishes. For relaxation, Kathmandu offers many spa centers where we can get a massage.

After exploring the capital, we will end the day with a group dinner in Kathmandu. Sharing a meal feels special after being on the mountain for so long. We can share stories from Base Camp, the climb to high camp, and the long descent through Cheram and Torangdin. This is also a chance to thank our guides, Sherpas, and support staff.

Today is the last day of our trip to Mt. Makalu. We will eat breakfast at the hotel and pack our bags. We need to weigh our luggage to follow the flight rules and make sure we have everything we need. Someone will take us to the airport, and we’ll arrive early to check in and breeze through security before our flight home.