Makalu Expedition - 39 days

Arrive in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. Meet your trekking guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel. Spend the day exploring the vibrant streets of Kathmandu and preparing for the trek. Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Today, we will spend the day sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley with our guide. We will visit Pashupatinath, which is regarded as the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal and where pilgrims worship Lord Shiva (situated on the banks of the holy Bagmati River), Bouddhanath, a Buddhist temple known as ‘Little Tibet’ and then on to Swayambhunath known as the Monkey Temple. From Swayambhunath we drive to Kathmandu’s famous Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, and located in front of the old royal palace. Upon arriving back at your hotel you may have time to do some last-minute shopping around Thamel – the tourist hub of Kathmandu.

This day after having breakfast, we take a 50 minutes flight to Tumlingtar in eastern region, the starting point of our trek through Arun valley and landing on a steep mountain runway brings the village of Tumlingtar. When we are in aircraft we can enjoy the panoramic sights of great Himalayas of Nepal including Mt. Everest (8,848m), Mt, Makalu (8,463m), Mt, Cho Oyu (8153m), Mt. Lhotse (8,501m) and Mt. Lhotse Shar (8,393m),Kanchenjunga, Gaurishanker, Ganesh, Langtang etc., terraced land field, hills, forests, beautiful traditional villages. Lowering down from the plane, we will take 4 hours of drive through gravel road and cross Chichila to reach Num where we will stay overnight.

Today we continue along the trail descending steeply from Num village through the fields of Lumbang, the trail drops very steeply through a jungle to a suspension bridge over the Arun River (660 m). From the bridge we climb steeply to a primitive tea shop. Often quite hot – the forest on the valleys offer a bit of shade. Moving along the rocky path and tiny terraces planted with corn and barley, we make a long, steep, rough climb to Seduwa (1460m). This is where Makalu Barun National Park begins and where we register our permits.

Leaving Seduwa, we will make a gradual climb high above the Kasuwa Khola to Gyang (1770m). It is a gentle walk through terraced fields and forested areas to Hindrungma village, and on to Rupisa. En route, we cross meadows and several streams, pass by small paddy fields and then climb to the Sherpa village of Tashi Gaon, the last permanent settlement in the valley. . Once there, we are surrounded by breathtaking Himalayan panorama. Overnight in Tashi Gaon.

This is the last village up to the Makalu and after this village the walk is refreshing for an hour and a half in the beautiful shade of the rhododendron and oaks forest, after leaving the dense forest coming to a summer pastures with traces of temporary made shepherd huts. From here onwards to Khongma ridge is strenuous uphill climb, as the tree lines declines for the bushes of rhododendron and juniper. We'll stay here and can be seen scenic mountain ranges.

After the superb mountains view and the surrounding landscapes and snow capped peaks, our trek follows a gradual trail with few ups and down as we pass through the Thulo Pokhari (big pond) and Sano Pokhari (small pond). In the heavy snow, the path from here can be quite misleading and it will be arduous to find the trail sometime and further walk cross the pass of Shiptom-la at 4,075m. We onwards our journey, it is all downhill back to vegetation, a small clearing place for camping in the middle of the woods of pines, hemlock, birch and rhododendrons to reach at Dobate for the overnight.

The trail today is bit adventurous and strenuous. The trail continues though the forests and steeply (extremely steep) drops down to the river for the first hour. The trail now continuously undulates in through a very bad section. Most of this section goes through an eroded trail and boulders and makes a very uncomfortable walk. After an hour or so the trail finally starts to get better. Once on a better trail, it takes an hour to get to Femtang (a single lodge here). After Femtang, it takes one and half hours of easy walk to get to Yangle Kharka. It is big meadow with lodges on the rather side of Barun River that the trek had followed throughout the day. The Barun River through the trail adds more dimensions to the trail with its spectacular views of Mt. Tutse (Peak 6) 6739 m, Peak 7 (6185 m).

After having breakfast, we have to moving upwards to Varun valley with beautiful pasture place. It takes about 5-6 hours from starting point. Langmale the place where some tea houses are  build and running from local people of Makalu region. Background mountains and beautiful landscape downward it looks like heaven on earth.

From Langmale, we continue to more isolated area towards the higher  camp, which is less than three hour trek above Langmale, at the snout of the Barun glacier, near its glacial pond. On arriving at the camp afternoon free for short hike above this camp, a climb on the moraine ridge, for more spectacular views of Mt.Makalu, and of the usual hidden east sides of Lhotse and Everest, which looms above the Barun glacier to the North West. We will spend rest of the afternoon at leisure and preparing for the next big adventure. Some of the porters will set off back with equipment which we do not need to take with us making the load as light as possible to overcome the traverse over Sherpani Col and beyond.

Climbing period - establish and acclimatize at various camps, following the expedition operator's itinerary and weather conditions.

Camps typically include Camp 1 (6,000 meters/19,685 feet), Camp 2 (6,800 meters/22,310 feet), and Camp 3 (7,400 meters/24,280 feet).

Climbing rotations and acclimatization hikes to progressively higher camps.

Final summit push involves climbing from Camp 3 to the summit of Makalu (8,485 meters/27,838 feet).

After completing our expedition and leave Makalu Base Camp. Then continuing the walk following the same route, you cross minor passes , ascending and decending before arriving at till Num Bazar. Then we take reserve jeep to get Tumlingtar. 

You have not entirely toured around Kathmandu valley in earlier days, so this day is your leisure day. You will visit this town's remaining UNESCO heritage sites, i.e., Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square.

During the evenings, you can look around the local markets and buy souvenirs for your friends and families. Enjoy your last day in Nepal.

After an incredible time in the mountains, you now return to your home country today. The officials will drive you to the airport according to your scheduled time.