Delightful Makalu base camp trek

• HB Kham

Nepal is home to Mt. Makalu which holds the position of 5th highest mountain peak in the world. It is elevated to an altitude of 8485 meters from sea level.

It is situated 19 km southwest of Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha), along the borders of Nepal and Tibet. It has a four-sided pyramid-like shape and stands all alone across the Himalayan belt and keeps luring as many visitors as possible.

Tumlingtar is the starting point of your trip to Makalu base camp trek. This expedition is high altitude trekking that offers you stunning glimpses of snow-covered peaks, high altitude lakes, passes and rocks to cross while trekking. The trek is challenging and venturesome.

The trek will lead you through spectacular lower landscapes of green and lush meadows, blooming rhododendron, and dense forest with picturesque cultural glimpses of ancient indigenous Gurung settlements in juxtaposition with river valleys and Makalu Barun National Park.

Needless, strenuous, lengthy and varied is this trekking which may be appropriate for keen seekers of serene nature and unblemished natural beauty.

The base camp of Makalu is situated at an elevation of 5100 meters above sea level, which in other way offers you the chance to slowly acclimatize yourself for the high ascent as well.

Captivating views of Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) and Mt. Lhotse will grin at you as you observe them from the base camp at Barun glacier, the south of Maklu (8,481m).

While retreating, the trekkers usually cross the Tutu La Pass which is as high as 4, 125 meters which are by now known as Shipton’s Pass. It is named after the famous mountaineer Eric Shipton who was engaged in expeditions to Mt. Everest. It was he who mapped out the now popular trail over the Khumbu glacier.

Makalu Barun National Park has been established to preserve at least 3000 species of flowers, 440 species of birds for bird watching, 75 species of mammals including snow leopard, musk deer, wild boar, red panda, wild yak, and the Himalayan Thar.

Green pastures, villages, green forest, snowcapped peaks, glaciers, and rocky trails are the other things of major attractions for any nature and travel lovers during the trekking to this region.

Makalu is situated between Mt. Everest and Mt.Kanchenjunga and is considered to be the most difficult mountain to climb. The peak has a steep pitches and knife edges ridge.

Cradled in the lower reaches of Arun valley and Barun are ancient communities of Sherpa, Rai, and Bhotia, whose economic conditions despite being poor maintain a rich cultural heritage and are mainly responsible for the preservation of cultural and biological assets in the region although there is no external support for them.

How to get there?

Take a flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar and trek through Khadbari.

Best time to trek

April, May, October, and November are the suitable months to trek to Makalu base camp.