Trip Facts
Duration:
18 Days
Max Altitude:
5,000 m
Activities:
Remote high-altitude trekking
Region:
Makalu (Makalu Barun National Park)
Starting Point:
Kathmandu
Ending Point:
Kathmandu
Grade:
Challenging
Group Size:
Min 2
Accomodation:
Basic teahouses on the trail, hotel in Kathmandu
Best Season:
March-May and September-November
Notice
This is a remote, wild trek to the base of Makalu (8,463 m), the fifth-highest mountain on earth. It is one of the toughest base camp treks in Nepal. The days are long, the climbs are big, and you cross Shipton La (4,220 m).
A licensed guide and the right permits are required: the Makalu Barun National Park permit, the local permit, and a TIMS card. Spade Himalaya sorts all of these. Note that Makalu is in Sankhuwasabha, not the Everest region, so no Khumbu permit applies.
The high point is Makalu Base Camp (about 4,870 m), with rest-day viewpoints up to about 5,000 m. Teahouses here are simple and far apart. So this trek suits fit, experienced trekkers who want real solitude.
Overview of Makalu Base Camp Trek 18-Days
Quick answer: The Makalu Base Camp Trek is a remote, challenging 18-day trek to the foot of Makalu (8,463 m), the world’s fifth-highest mountain, reaching about 4,870 m. It crosses the Shipton La pass, sees few trekkers, and is best in spring and autumn.
The Makalu Base Camp Trek is an 18-day wilderness trek to the foot of Makalu (8,463 m), the fifth-highest mountain on earth. Makalu stands just 19 km southeast of Everest, in the Mahalangur Himalaya. It is one of the least-walked major treks in Nepal. So it feels like a real expedition into the Barun valley, with very few other people.
The reward is raw, untouched Himalaya. You walk past glaciers, waterfalls, and rhododendron forest. At the end of the trail, a ring of giant peaks opens up. The whole route lies inside Makalu Barun National Park, a 1,500 km2 park set up in 1992. It is the only protected area on earth with more than 8,000 m of elevation gain. It runs from warm forest in the Arun valley to the snow summit of Makalu. It is also home to snow leopard, red panda, and clouded leopard.
From Tumlingtar, the trail climbs through Sherpa and Rai villages. Then it crosses the high ridge of Shipton La (4,220 m). After that, it follows the Barun valley up to base camp. At Makalu Base Camp, you stand below a wall of ice and rock. Makalu’s two big neighbours, Kangchungtse (7,678 m) and Chomo Lonzo (7,804 m), rise across a high saddle. Baruntse (7,129 m) fills the head of the valley. On a clear day, you can even see the huge east face of Everest. Makalu was first climbed in 1955, and the trek still feels wild and pioneering.
Spade Himalaya runs this trek with licensed Nepali guides. So your guide sets a safe pace, watches the weather, and checks your health each day. Because Makalu is so remote, it suits fit trekkers with some past multi-day or high-altitude experience. Want a busier, more supported base camp trek? See the Everest Base Camp Trek and the longer Everest Base Camp via Kala Patthar. For the ultimate Khumbu loop, try the Everest Three Passes Trek. The Manaslu Circuit Trek offers similar quiet on a teahouse loop.
Makalu rewards preparation. First, read our Makalu Base Camp guide. Then check costs and difficulty. Curious how it compares to the famous trail? Here is our Makalu vs Everest Base Camp verdict.
Trips Highlights
- Trek to the base of Makalu (8,463 m), the fifth-highest mountain on earth.
- Walk one of Nepal's most remote and least-crowded trails, deep in the Barun valley.
- Cross the high ridge of Shipton La (4,220 m) with wide mountain views.
- See the great east (Kangshung) face of Mount Everest from the upper valley.
- Stand below Kangchungtse (7,678 m), Chomo Lonzo (7,804 m), and Baruntse (7,129 m).
- Explore Makalu Barun National Park, the only park on earth with over 8,000 m of elevation gain.
- Pass terraced fields, waterfalls, and rhododendron forest, then glacier and moraine.
- Meet the people of remote Sherpa and Rai villages like Tashi Gaon and Seduwa.
- Spot rare wildlife, from Himalayan tahr to signs of snow leopard and red panda.
- Enjoy a full rest day at base camp in one of the great Himalayan amphitheatres.
Route Details
Kathmandu (1,400 m) → fly to Tumlingtar (518 m), drive to Seduwa (1,500 m) → Tashi Gaon (2,100 m) → Khongma Danda (3,500 m) → Shipton La (4,220 m) → Dobate (3,068 m) → Yangri Kharka (3,557 m) → Langmale Kharka (4,410 m) → Makalu Base Camp (4,870 m) → retrace via Yangri Kharka, Dobate, Khongma Danda, Tashi Gaon → Seduwa → drive to Tumlingtar → fly to Kathmandu.
In short, you climb from Tumlingtar to Khongma Danda. Then you cross Shipton La into the Barun valley. After that, you follow the river up through Yangri Kharka and Langmale Kharka to Makalu Base Camp. Finally, you return the same way to Tumlingtar for the flight back.
Trips Itinerary
A Spade Himalaya representative meets you at Tribhuvan International Airport and drives you to your hotel, which is about thirty minutes away depending on the traffic.
Kathmandu sits at 1,400 m, so there is no altitude to manage yet. Your guide runs the briefing in the evening, checks your gear and handles the permit paperwork, so bring your passport, photographs and a copy of your insurance certificate.
- Max Altitude: 1,400 m
- Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
A scenic flight east to Tumlingtar, and then a long drive on rough mountain roads up to Seduwa, which is the gateway village for Makalu Barun National Park.
Tumlingtar is at 518 m and Seduwa at 1,500 m, with eight to ten hours of flying and driving combined. It is a long travel day but it takes you a very long way from anywhere.
The road passes terraced farms and small hill villages the whole way up. Very few trekkers come into this region, and that is obvious from the moment you leave the airstrip.
- Duration: Flight plus driving: 8 to 10 hrs total
- Max Altitude: 1500 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
The walking begins today with a gentle climb through forest, farmland and a string of small villages, ending at the Sherpa settlement of Tashi Gaon in the afternoon.
Tashi Gaon is at 2,100 m, so you gain around 600 m across five or six hours. It is an easy first day and a good one for finding your rhythm on the trail.
This is the last permanent village before the high country, so it is your last chance to see ordinary daily life for over a week. The big peaks are still hidden behind the ridges ahead.
- Duration: Walking: 5 to 6 hrs.
- Max Altitude: 2100 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
A steep and demanding day, climbing through dense forest and across streams and gaining a great deal of height to reach the ridge top camp at Khongma Danda.
Khongma Danda is at 3,500 m, which is 1,400 m of climbing in six or seven hours. That is a large gain in one day, and it is why a rest day follows straight after it.
The trees fall away near the top and the views open out along the ridge. Take this day slowly, because pushing higher too fast from here is the main risk on this trek.
- Duration: Walking: 6 to 7 hrs
- Max Altitude: 3500 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
A day up on the ridge to let your body settle, spent walking a little way above camp and then coming back down to sleep, rather than sitting still for the whole day.
The short walks reach around 3,800 m and take two to four hours. The open ridge gives wide views of the peaks in every direction, so it is a pleasant day rather than a chore. Eat well, drink plenty and keep the walking gentle.
- Duration: Walking: 2 to 4 hrs
- Max Altitude: 3800 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
The most dramatic day of the approach. You cross a series of small passes and then the main Shipton La ridge before dropping steeply into the Barun valley.
The Shipton La is 4,220 m and the camp at Dobate is at 3,068 m, six or seven hours in all. It is a climb of 700 m and then a descent of more than 1,100 m.
There are glacial pools along the crest and wide mountain views across the whole crossing. The change from open high ridge to deep forested valley in a single day is remarkable.
- Duration: Walking: 6 to 7 hrs
- Max Altitude: 4220 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
You follow the Barun river up the valley today, through meadows and forest and over rugged ground, with waterfalls coming off the cliffs on both sides of you.
Yangri Kharka is at 3,557 m, six or seven hours of walking for around 490 m of net gain. The trail rises and falls along the valley, so the effort is greater than that.
The Barun valley is one of the richest places in Nepal for wildlife and plants, and it is protected within Makalu Barun National Park. Yangri Kharka is a herders’ pasture.
- Duration: Walking: 6 to 7 hrs
- Max Altitude: 3557 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
The trail climbs steadily into wilder and more open country today, and this is the day the mountains you came all this way for finally show themselves.
Langmale Kharka is at 4,410 m, so you gain around 850 m across six or seven hours. The ground is rougher now, the air is thinner and the pace slows accordingly.
You get your first close views of Makalu and its neighbours from this stretch. Langmale Kharka is the last camp before base camp and sits among moraine and meadow.
- Duration: Walking: 6 to 7 hrs ·
- Max Altitude: 4410 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
The big day. A hard walk over rocky glacial ground takes you up the head of the valley to Makalu Base Camp, and the arrival is one of the great ones in Nepal.
Base Camp is at 4,870 m, about 460 m above Langmale across six or seven hours. The walking is slow because of the ground underfoot as much as the altitude.
Makalu at 8,463 m is the fifth highest mountain in the world and it stands right above you here, with Baruntse filling the head of the valley behind it.
Everest and Lhotse rise beyond them. Very few people ever see Everest from this side, because almost nobody walks in this far just to stand and look at it.
- Duration: Walking: 6 to 7 hrs ·
- Max Altitude: 4870 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse or Tented Camp
A rest day at base camp, with the option of climbing a little higher to the viewpoints around the bowl or simply staying put and looking at the mountain.
The viewpoints reach roughly 5,000 m and take two to four hours to visit. After the long approach, doing nothing at all is an entirely respectable way to spend the day.
From the higher ground you get the best angles on the south face of Makalu and on the east face of Everest, which is a view most trekkers never get anywhere near.
- Duration: Walking: 2 to 4 hrs
- Max Altitude: 5000 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse or Tented Camp
The return begins today. You retrace the Barun valley, dropping through moraine and meadow and back into the forest, and finish the day at Yangri Kharka.
You lose around 1,300 m across six or seven hours. Losing height makes the walking easier and the air noticeably richer, and the valley shows you different things walking this way, particularly the peaks behind you that you could not see on the climb up.
- Duration: Walking: 6 to 7 hrs.
- Max Altitude: 4870 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
A day of gentle ups and downs through forest and along the valley, with the country staying interesting the whole way down to the forest camp at Dobate.
Dobate is at 3,068 m, so you lose about 490 m across six or seven hours. It is easier ground than yesterday and the warmer air feels very welcome by the afternoon. This is the last day in the Barun valley proper, so take a good look at it.
- Duration: Walking: 6 to 7 hrs.
- Max Altitude: 3557 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
A shorter day today, which takes you back over the Shipton La ridge and then down again through meadow and forest to the ridge top camp at Khongma Danda.
The crossing tops out at 4,220 m and Khongma Danda is at 3,500 m, five or six hours in all. It is a climb and then a descent rather than a long haul across country.
This is your last time on the high ridge and the last of the big views, because from tomorrow you drop below the treeline for good. Stop at the top for a while.
- Duration: Walking: 5 to 6 hrs ·
- Max Altitude: 4220 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
A long descent through forest and small villages, giving back all of the height you worked so hard for on the way up, right the way down to Tashi Gaon.
Tashi Gaon is at 2,100 m, so you drop 1,400 m across five or six hours. It is steep in places, so poles are worth using. The last of the high views go behind you early on, and then the green and the birdsong return.
- Duration: Walking: 5 to 6 hrs.
- Max Altitude: 3500 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
The last walking day drops gently through villages and terraced fields, back down to Seduwa, where the whole trek first started nearly a fortnight ago now.
Seduwa is at 1,500 m, so it is around 600 m of descent across five or six hours, which makes a relaxed finish to the walking rather than a hard final push.
This is the evening to thank your crew and settle tips, because the porters usually leave the group here. It is also the first proper look back over the whole route.
- Duration: Walking: 5 to 6 hrs.
- Max Altitude: 2100 m
- Accommodation: Teahouse
A long drive on rough mountain roads takes you back down to Tumlingtar, watching the country change one last time from high hill country to warm lowland.
Tumlingtar is at 518 m and the drive takes seven or eight hours, slow and bumpy for most of it, so take something for motion sickness if that affects you. You spend the night near the airstrip so that you are in place for the morning flight.
- Duration: Driving: 7 to 8 hrs ·
- Max Altitude: 1500 m
- Accommodation: Hotel
A scenic flight west brings you back to Kathmandu and closes the loop, and the rest of the day is yours to rest, shop and celebrate the trek properly.
The flight is short but it gives a long look along the eastern Himalaya on a clear morning, so it is well worth asking for a window seat. The afternoon is free for Thamel and a proper meal after weeks of camp food, and there is a trip completion certificate in the evening.
- Max Altitude: 1400 m
- Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
Your trip ends today. After a relaxed breakfast a representative collects you and drives you to the airport, about thirty minutes from Thamel though traffic can stretch it. You leave having walked to the foot of the fifth highest mountain in the world.
Trips Include
- Airport transfers in a private vehicle.
- 2 nights' hotel in Kathmandu (arrival and post-trek), twin share with breakfast.
- Round-trip flights Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, with private airport transfers and domestic airport tax.
- 1 night hotel in Tumlingtar with breakfast.
- Tumlingtar to Seduwa and return jeep transport (shared).
- All teahouse and lodge accommodation during the trek, with occasional tented camps in the remotest sections.
- Three meals a day during the trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner), plus fresh fruit each evening.
- Makalu Barun National Park entry permit, the local rural municipality permit, and TIMS card.
- A licensed, English-speaking guide.
- Comprehensive first-aid kit.
Trips Exclude
- International airfare to and from Nepal.
- Nepal entry visa (US$30 for 15 days, US$50 for 30 days, US$125 for 90 days).
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Lunches and dinners in Kathmandu.
- Drinks, snacks, and desserts on the trail.
- Tips for guide, porters, and driver.
- Excess baggage over 15 kg on the Tumlingtar flight.
- Personal expenses and any costs from early return, trip extension, or unforeseen events (weather, landslides, strikes).
- Anything not listed under Cost Includes.
Trips Altitude
Packing List
General
- Four-season (zero degree) sleeping bag
- Sleeping bag liner
- Puffy down jacket
- Duffel bag
- Daypack, 30 to 45 litres, with a rain cover
Upper Body
- Warm hat or beanie that covers the ears
- Neck gaiter, buff, or scarf
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Sunscreen (SPF 35 to 60) and lip balm
- Technical base-layer tops (long and short sleeve)
- Fleece jacket or wool pullover
- Waterproof, windproof shell jacket
Lower Body
- Thermal base-layer trousers
- Comfortable trekking trousers
- Casual or sport trousers for camp
- Waterproof, windproof shell trousers
Hands
- Wool or technical liner gloves
- Insulated shell outer gloves
- Light gloves for using walking poles (optional)
Feet
- Waterproof trekking boots
- 4 to 5 pairs of warm wool socks and sock liners
- Light shoes or sandals for camp
- Micro spikes or instep crampons (useful on Shipton La with snow)
- Gaiters (light for dust, heavier for snow)
Undergarments
- Quick-drying technical underwear
- Sports bras (women)
- Thermal underwear set for cold nights
Choose Packaging List
First Aid Kits
Your guide carries a comprehensive kit, medication, and a pulse oximeter, but a personal kit is strongly recommended.
- Assorted adhesive and butterfly bandages
- Blister treatment cream and antiseptic ointment
- Ibuprofen or other pain relief
- Altitude medication such as acetazolamide (Diamox), only if advised by your doctor
- Insect or anti-itch ointment
- Water-purification tablets
Others
- Passport, 4 passport-size photos, and a copy of your insurance and flight details
- Reusable water bottle and a water filter or purifier
- Toiletry kit, quick-dry towel, toilet paper, hand wipes, and soap
- High-energy snacks (bars, nuts, dried fruit)
- Waterproof or dry bags for documents and electronics
Optional
- Trekking poles
- Power bank and spare batteries
- Camera with memory cards, charger, and spare batteries
Good to Know
Before you go
You only need a few things ready. First, bring your passport, four photos, and a copy of your insurance. Then Spade Himalaya can sort your park permit, local permit, and TIMS card. Also, carry enough cash in Nepalese rupees from Kathmandu. There are no ATMs on this trek, and cards are not taken. So budget for drinks, snacks, charging, and tips. Last, train hard, because this is a remote, demanding route.
Makalu is one of Nepal’s quietest big trails. There are fewer teahouses and simpler food, often potatoes, rice, and Tibetan bread. There may be no signal for days at a time. The trade-off is real solitude and a sense of expedition that busier routes cannot match. So pack a little extra patience and self-reliance.
The plan follows the climb-high, sleep-low rule. So it adds a rest day at Khongma Danda and a steady approach to base camp. Drink 3 to 4 litres of water a day, and walk slowly. Skip alcohol up high, and tell your guide early if you feel unwell. Carry altitude medicine if your doctor advises it. Because rescue here means a helicopter, good insurance is a must.
Accommodation. Basic teahouses lower down and simple lodges or tented camps higher up, with cold nights, so the provided or personal sleeping bag matters.
Food. Staples are potatoes, rice, oats, buckwheat, Sherpa stew, and Tibetan bread. Choice is limited at altitude, and potatoes are an excellent energy source for the long days.
Drinking water. Refill and purify with tablets or a filter rather than relying on bottled water, which is scarce in such a remote park.
Weather. Conditions on Shipton La can change fast. Your guide checks the forecast and adjusts timing for a safe crossing.
Trips Reviews
A True Wilderness Trek for Those Who Love Remote Mountains
Trips FAQs
Why Choose the Makalu Base Camp Trek?
Makalu is the fifth-highest mountain in the world, at 8,463 m (Wikipedia, 2026). It stands just 19 km southeast of Everest, in eastern Nepal. Its base camp sits at about 4,870 m in the Barun valley, inside Makalu Barun National Park. The trek starts and ends with a flight to Tumlingtar.
Makalu is the wildest and least crowded of the big base camp treks. The Everest Base Camp Trek and Annapurna Base Camp Trek are busier and more supported. The Annapurna Circuit Trek is a classic high-pass loop. The closest match for quiet is the Manaslu Circuit Trek.
Trek Difficulty: Who Can Trek?
It is graded challenging, and it is one of the toughest base camp treks in Nepal. The Makalu Base Camp trek difficulty comes from long days, big climbs, and remote ground. You walk 6 to 7 hours a day for over two weeks. You also cross Shipton La at 4,220 m and reach base camp at about 4,870 m. There is no climbing skill needed, but you do need strong fitness.
Guide Requirement & Trek Regulations
You need three: the Makalu Barun National Park permit, the local rural municipality permit, and a TIMS card. Spade Himalaya arranges all of them. Makalu is not in the Everest region, so no Khumbu permit applies. A licensed guide is required too. That makes sense here, because parts of the trail are remote and unmarked.
Trekker's Well-Being & Safety
It is a real concern. You spend several nights above 3,500 m and reach a base camp near 4,870 m, plus the Shipton La crossing. So the plan adds a rest day at Khongma Danda and a steady profile. Your guide also checks you each day with an oximeter. Drink plenty of water, walk slowly, and tell your guide early if you feel unwell. Going down is the best cure.
Yes, and it matters even more here. Your policy must cover high-altitude trekking and a helicopter rescue, because a road rescue is not possible in this region. Many normal policies do not cover this, so check the wording first. Arrange it at home before you fly, and leave a copy with Spade Himalaya at the briefing.
Remote Wilderness Experience & Accommodation
It is very remote. The Barun valley sees a tiny fraction of the trekkers on the Everest or Annapurna routes. You sleep in simple teahouses lower down. Higher up, you stay in basic lodges or tented camps. Food choice and connectivity are limited there. But that isolation is the whole appeal: real wilderness below an 8,000 m peak.
Best Time to Trek Makalu Base Camp
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are best. In these months, the weather is stable, the skies are clearer, and the Shipton La crossing is safer. Winter is severe and the high camps are bitterly cold. The monsoon brings rain, cloud, and leeches low down. For how winter affects high trekking, see our Annapurna winter guide.
Mountain Views & Trek Highlights
Yes. From Makalu Base Camp and the viewpoints around it, you can see the great east face of Everest, called the Kangshung face. You also see Lhotse, Baruntse, and Makalu’s neighbours Kangchungtse and Chomo Lonzo. So it is one of the few places to view Everest’s dramatic eastern side without a full expedition.
