Mount Makalu 8,463 meters is the fifth highest mountain in the world. The stunning mountain is a four-sided pyramid. Makalu Expedition is situated in the Mahalangur region, about 19 kilometres southeast of Mount Everest. Mt. Makalu considered as one of the most difficult mountains to climb. A further climb of Mt Makalu includes tackling and overcoming several technical sections comprising of steep pitches and knife-edged ridges. The final ascent of the summit pyramid involves a high level of technical rock climbing. Hence, previous experience of peak climbing and a good physical condition is an absolute requirement for Makalu Expedition.
The successful ascent of Mt Makalu was made on May 15, 1955, by Lionel Terray and Jean Couzy of a French Expedition Team led by Jean Franco. The views from the summit of Makalu offers an unforgettable experience. Makalu Expedition is an excellent opportunity for those seeking unlimited climbing challenges and to conquer the summit of the fifth highest mountain in the world. From Kanchenjunga in the East to Shishapangma in the West with countless snow-capped peaks in between.
Makalu Expedition with Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition starts at Kathmandu. After spending a full day sightseeing around Kathmandu. Then we will take a scenic flight from Kathmandu towards Tumlingtar’s grass airstrip. After landing at Tumlingtar, we will take two hours drive to reach Khadbari. Khadbari is the starting point of our trek. We start our trek from here following the trail that passes through terraced farmlands and dense forest filled with Rhododendron trees.
With mostly uphill trekking our trail leads us to Makalu Base Camp. Our Sherpa crew will quickly set up the camp and make necessary checks on our health conditions and climbing gears before heading further to higher camps.
Following the instructions of our experienced climbing experts, we will overcome numerous technical sections and head towards the summit of Mt Makalu. Our tiring climb to the summit is rewarded with panoramic views of snow-capped high mountains. After spending quality time at the summit, soon we will descend retracing our steps back to the base camp.
Having achieved our target summit of Mount Makalu, then we will follow the same trail that passes through Mumbuk, Tashigaon, Num, Khadbari, and heads back towards Tumlingtar. Finally, our incredible and memorable Makalu Expedition ends with a sweeping flight from Tumlingtar back to Kathmandu.
Equipment Needed During Climbing
Related Peak Climbing Packages ( 7001 – 8848m Peaks):
Himlung Expedition | Api Himal Expedition | Pumori Expedition
30 min Drive Hotel/Resort
Our representative from Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition will meet you at Tribhuvan International Airport on your arrival schedule. You will be greeted and then transferred to the hotel in the heart of Kathmandu city. Our staff will help you until the check-in procedure ends at Hotel. You can either have a rest at the Hotel or visit NGT’s office for gathering additional information about the trip. In the evening, join our welcome dinner program organized by Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition.
Meals: BB Plan + Welcome Dinner
Hotel/Resort
Click here for detailed information about World Heritage Sites of UNESCO in Kathmandu We will spend our day sightseeing around some of the attractive world heritage sites within Kathmandu valley. Also, today we will complete all the necessary paper works and other preparations required for Makalu Expedition with Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition. Note: It is not possible to visit all world heritage sites in Kathmandu within a day. So you can choose at least 3-4 places for day sightseeing.
Meals: BB Plan
45 min flight & 2 hrs Drive Lodge
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for an early morning flight to the grassy airstrip of Tumlingtar. After landing at Tumlingtar we take a drive of about two hours to reach the village of Khadbari. The village is largely inhabited by Newari and Rai ethnic tribe communities of Nepal. Khadbari is the main administrative centre of Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area. We must register at the park office check-post before continuing our trek.
Meals: All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
5-6 hrs Trek Tented Camp
After breakfast, we start our trek by following the trail that passes through picturesque villages to Mane Bhanjyang. Our trek continues over to a small ridge and then to a minor pass at Bhotebas at 1,740 meters. From the top, we will have great views of Makalu. Our trek heads further along dense forest area to reach Chichira for our overnight camping.
From Chichira we will follow the trail that heads towards the village of Kuwapani. After some time of trekking, our trailheads for the crossing of another minor pass - Daju La Pass at 2,100 meters. From the top of the pass, our trail descends steeply through dense forest to arrive at the village of Num. We will camp at the good camping grounds of Num village to end the day's trekking.
After breakfast, we will leave our campsite at Num village and follow the trail that descends down to the suspension bridge over Arun Nadi. We will cross the bridge and begin steep uphill trekking through dense forest area towards Seduwa. Seduwa is the large trading village of with National Park check-post office. We must register at the check-post before continuing further into high altitudes.
All set to go, we leave our campsite and follow an easy trail that passes through Murmidanda where we can spot local students going to school. Our trail from there is uphill trekking towards Narbugaon. Then, we continue to trek through dense forests and cultivated fields towards Tashigaon. Since Tashigaon is the last village on the trail, it is a good idea to buy the necessary items here.
6-7 hrs trek Tented Camp
After breakfast, we leave Tashigaon and follow the trail that climbs steeply through the beautiful cloud forest. Our trek continues as we climb towards Unshisa where there are a campsite and a tea shop which is open only in the main trekking season. We continue our uphill trekking until we arrive at the good camping grounds of Kauma Danda for the overnight camping.
7-8 hrs trek Tented Camp
Today is one of the toughest days on the trek as we continue on our trail crossing Kauma La Pass with magnificent views of Makalu, Chamlang, Baruntse, Kanchenjunga and Jannu. From there we climb further up for the crossing of Tutu-La Pass before descending to a large lake - Kalo Pokhari. Kalo Pokhari literally means 'Black Lake' in the Nepali language. Our trail from there is further ascend trekking towards Keke La Pass, from where we can get good views of Chamlang range and Tibet to the north. A steep and rocky descend from the top of the pass leads us to the campsite of Mumbuk.
4-5 hrs trek Tented Camp
Today we will have our breakfast and continue to trek on the trail that descends downhill to the riverbed of Barun (Nadi) River. From the riverbed, we climb up the steep hillside which is often affected by the landslides. Our trail from there goes along the loose ground, we should be very careful while trekking along the loose landslide trails. After a few hours of trekking, we arrive at Nehe Kharka. Meals: All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Leaving Nehe Kharka, we continue to trek over the loose trails before crossing the Barun (Nadi) River and head to the grassy fields of Yangri Kharka. From there, we trail passes through dense rhododendron, pine and fir filled forest towards Langmale Kharka. Hereon we will trek over an ancient lateral moraine through which Barun Nadi flows. To the left is the large glacial lake that fills the valley, an easy trail from here leads us to Shersong for our overnight camping. Meals: All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast, we leave Shersong and follow the trail that turns right and heads up for the climbing of more moraine. Once reaching the top we start to descend gradually to the crossing of a small bridge and continue trekking towards the stone huts of Makalu Base Camp. Makalu Base Camp offers one of the best mountain viewpoints in Nepal. Our Sherpa crew will set up the camps and start making checks on our health conditions and climbing gears.
31 days climbing toward Mt. Makalu Tented Camp
We will spend several days doing climbing training practices with adequate days for proper acclimatization. Our Sherpa crew will do all the hard works of setting up additional camps at higher altitudes. Fully equipped with all the climbing equipment and with proper acclimatization we will follow the guidance and instructions of experienced climbing experts. We will tackle several technical climbing sections and taking weather conditions into consideration we head towards the summit of Mount Makalu - the 5th highest peak of the world. Once at the summit, we are rewarded with breathtaking views of the world's towering mountains including Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Nuptse, Baruntse, and several other high peaks in the Mahalangur region. We will spend short quality at the summit and descend following the same route back to Base Camp.
6-7 hrs Trek Tented Camp
Having achieved our target - the summit of Mt Makalu, we prepare for our return journey. All set to go, we leave Makalu Base Camp and begin to retrace our steps on the trail that passes through Shersong and Nehe Kharka. From Nehe Kharka a rather easy trail will lead us back to Mumbuk for our overnight camping. We will celebrate the evening with folksongs and dances around the campsite. Meals: All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast, we pack our gears and leave Mumbuk. We continue to retrace our steps on the same trail that heads back through the crossing of minor passes before reaching Kauma Danda. From there we trek for some time and arrive at Tashigaon for the overnight camping. Meals: All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
From Tashigaon our trail goes through hillside forests and cultivated fields towards Narbugoan. From there a rather steep descent and then the easy trail will lead us back to the trading village of Seduwa. From Seduwa our trailheads for the crossing of Arun (Nadi) River and then climb gently to reach Num for our overnight camping stay.
5-6 hrs Trek Lodge
After breakfast, we leave Num and trek through a steep section of the forest to reach a minor pass Daju La at 2,100 meters. Our trail heads further to the village of Kuwapani. With great views of Makalu, our trek continues towards Chichira and from there we trek through the picturesque villages of Mane Bhanjyang to finally arrive at Khadbari where our trek ends technically.
2 hrs Drive Lodge
We will make a relaxed start today. After breakfast, we will take a drive from Khadbari and drive back to Tumlingtar or optionally we can trek from Khadbari to Tumlingtar which takes about 4-5 hours trekking. However, a relaxing drive journey after a long expedition of Mt Makalu would be a perfect way to end the trek. During the drive, we can see local villagers performing daily activities for survival.
After early morning breakfast, we take a scenic flight from Tumlingtar and fly back to Kathmandu. The flight takes approximately about 45 minutes. After landing at Kathmandu, you will be transferred to the hotel. You can either have rest at Hotel or pay a visit to attraction destination (world heritage sites of UNESCO) sites that weren’t possible on the second day of the trip. Walking around the busy streets of Kathmandu can be worth spending good time around Kathmandu city.
You would surely like to see as much of Kathmandu as possible. An early start is practical to visit the temples of Kathmandu. Also, walking around the shopping streets of Thamel is worth spending quality time at Kathmandu. We will celebrate the successful completion of the Makalu Expedition and have a final meal together in the evening.
Meals: BB Plan + Farewell Dinner
Our Airport Representative will drop you at the International Airport as per your flight schedule.
Meals: Breakfast
Immigration Office at Kathmandu Airport Facilitating Tourist Visa on arrival.
Two Weeks – 30 USD
One Month (Four Weeks) – 50 USD
Three Month (90 Days) – 125 USD
For more info, please email at info@nepalguidetreks.com
Tourist Visa Extension required a minimum of 15 days (USD 45)and USD 3 for each extra days.
Depending upon the steep hills, slopes and difficulties and high altitude of the trail one porter can carry 25 kilograms of weight.
Usually, we provide one porter for one client.
But, We will also provide porter according to the size of your group if needed.
If there is an emergency, our trekking guide will help you during difficult situations with safety care, medical treatment and communication services.
Communication is also available as the internet and satellite phone, so a guide would help you if something critical situation occurs.
Yes, there is a variety of communication facilities like internet, satellite phone etc.
For communication, we have satellite phone through which you can communicate with your friends or relatives for which you have to pay USD $3 per minute.
In case of an emergency, communication with our company will be free of cost.
Due to remote sections, the mobile network is not available but you can use the internet up to 5000 m.
Yes, Trekking Guide is very essential for Makalu Expedition because it is not just for being a bit technical, but also due to several reasons like:
Mount Makalu is the 5th highest mountain in the world and height of 8463 meters and located in Mahalunger Himalayan range. It is an attractive mountain having the shape of a four-sided pyramid. Makalu is considered one of the most difficult mountains in the world to climb having its steep ice and knife-edged ridges. The final ascent of the summit pyramid involves technical rock climbing. Makalu is the only Nepalese 8,000m peak which has yet to be climbed in winter condition. The
The name Makalu is a word from the Sanskrit Maha Kala, a name for the Hindu god Shiva that translates as “Big Black.” The Chinese name for the peak is Makaru.
Things You Should Know?
2016 September
Japan
We were a group of 7 people from Japan, who climbed mount Makalu Expedition with Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition. In the beginning, we were not sure how everything was going to be. But, as days passed by we could see all the hard work our team did from setting up the camps, cooking hygienic food and carrying the stuff during the trekking and climbing days. Our best man, Ang-Dawa Sherpa was a very wise climber with technical climbing knowledge. Without his assistance, we seriously couldn’t have made it to the top.
Thanks to his leadership and caring nature, everyone in the group made it safely to the summit and got back. Some of the members had altitude sickness problems, but then Ang-Dawa would stop the climb right away and continue only when they felt better. Much respect for a climber who knows the seriousness of being at high altitude. Overall, outstanding teamwork by Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition. We would like to recommend Nepal Guide Treks and Expedition to anyone interested to do any kind of adventure-related activity in Nepal. As for us, we have some good memories at the Mt Makalu summit, which will always remind us about our achievement !!!
Thanks once again to whole Nepal Guide Treks & Expedition team.
Best Regards,
Takahiro and group
Every traveler should deposit 20% of the total trip cost at the time of booking for guaranteed departure.The cancellation takes effect the day we receive your letter or mail.
Nepal Guide Treks & Expedition payment and cancellation policy is as follows:
