Makalu Trekking...
While trekking in the areas, we can enjoy with lush, tropical Arun Valley, dense forests or rhododendron, fir and alpine meadows that lead to Barun glacier. Makalu trekking trails rises from 850 meters height (2,788ft) to 5000 meters (16,900ft) above sea level. Makalu base camp trekking offers natural scenery and the main focal point of Makalu trekking is Makalu Barun National Park and Conservation Area, is home to varieties of wildlife. Chamlang Himal and Barun Valley are the major jewels of this area. Having a wide range of attitudinal and climatic variations, the Makalu Barun trekking offers a remarkable and diverse habitat for a rich variety of flora and fauna and rich in natural resources including with beautiful mountains, pristine forest and a wide variety of plants, animal life and the simple and warm hearted people local people with rich and varied customs. The nearest airstrip in this region is Tumlingtar. The lower valley is the settlement of the various ethnic groups-Rai, Sherpa, and Shingsawa (Bhotia) farmers, who retain a rich cultural heritage and hold the key to the preservation of the unique biological and cultural treasures.
Day 01.
Arrive at Kathmandu airport (1345meters). You will be met by our representative and transfer to hotel and a short brief about the trekking after refreshment.
Day 02.
Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Monkey Temple, Pashupatinath Temple and Baudhanath Stupa.
Day 03.
Fly from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar and Trek to Khandbari (1020m):
After breakfast drive to airport and fly to Tumlingtar, the focal point of our journey. On arrival before we begin with our trekking we take lunch at one of the hotels at Tumlingtar. We begin our trek to Khandbari. From the airstrip of Tumlingtar, we walk to Khumalgaon and immediately turn right and follow the trail that passes to the east of the small lake and temple. This leads onto a ridge, passes the school and begins an ascent between the Arun Koshi and the Sabha Khola. At Dhunge Dhara the climb leaves the ridge and becomes less steep as it contours to the outskirts of Khandbari.
Day 04.
Trek from Khandbari Chichila (1840m):
After breakfast at Khandbari we begin our trek to Chichila. It takes about 4 hours,On the trek between Khandbari to Chichila the trail emerges between shops onto a ridge, climb to Naya Bazaar, then remains fairly leveled to Mani Bhanjyang (1100m) from here there are two routes we take the better one for which we turn left of the northern end of Mani Bhanjyang, climbs in bamboo forests along the ridge to Arun Than at 1280m, then connect across the hillside, climbing through fields, bamboo groves and big rocks to Sheka. From their Bhotebas we descend a bit to the next ridge, and then follow the crest as it makes some ups and downs through a deep damp forest of rhododendrons and ferns for 1and half hours to Chichila.
Day 05.
Trek from Chichila to Num (1500m):
From Chilchila we follow the ridge in forests passing the Sherpa settlements of Baisake and Kuwapani then to Sakuranti Majuwa and Hururu from there the route climbs 100m and then drops into deep oak forests and follows alongside a stream and reach Mure. Below Mure the trail passes many tracts of burned trees. The route cuts across a ridge then makes a tedious descent on a rocky eroded trail to some steps and a final walk to Num.
Day 06.
Trek from Num to Sedua (1540m):
Descending steeply from the western end of the Num ridge the trail reaches to Lumbang, from where the trail becomes exceptionally steep as it reaches to the suspension bridge over the Arun Koshi at 620 m, from where we make a rough climb to Sedua. We camp at Sedua for the night.
Day 07.
Trek from Sedua to Tashigaon (2070m):
From Sedua to reach Tashigaon we pass through Manigaon, where the trail turns west and makes a gradual climb above the Kasuwa Khola and reaches to Chyaksadanda from there to Hindrungma Village and on to Ropesa. The route crossing the meadows and several streams finally reaches to Tashigaon.
Day 08.
Trek from Tashigaon to Khongma (3560m):
In this trek we first climb over the ridge ascend through forests to a stream, then onto a ridge. We climb through two small streams, and then get connected to Kharka and further up to Unshisha, from where the trail joins the ridge that separates two drainages, a short distance from there will lead us to Khongma.
Day 09.
Trek from Khongma to Mumbuk (3550m):
On the way to Mumbuk, we climb on steep switchbacks for a while to the top of the ridge, at 3840m, from where astounding view of Chhamlang, Peak 6 and Peak 7 of 6739m and 6105m respectively can be seen. Following the ridge through rhododendrons we ascend a staircase and reach to Ghungru La one of the first pass among the three passes we cross to reach the Barun Khola. From here descending a small lake we climb up to Shipton La then to Keke La (4150m). The route then enters to a valley filled with rhododendrons, finally making a steep descent through a forest of firs to Mumbuk.
Day 10.
Trek from Mumbuk to Yangle Kharka (3600 m):
Descending 300m down from Mumbuk to a rocky gully we continue our trail westward in fir forests at the bottom of the Barun Valley. We cross several streams, then cross the Barun on a wooden bridge to Yangle Kharka. Yangle Kharka is a large meadow at an elevation of 3600m, a fine place to make a camping site. We make the large meadow of Yangle Kharka our resting place.
Day 11.
Trek from Yangle Kharka to Merek (4570m):
Passing from Nghe Kharka, a large open, grassy plain, we connect our trek to Riphuk Kharka which is at an elevation of 3930m and then turning westward to reach to the potato field at Jhak Kharka, climbing from there we reach at Yak Kharka. Beyond Yak Kharka the trail climbs over a ridge and then from there, to Merek.
Day 12.
Trek from Merek to Shersong (4660m):
The trail from Merek climbs in sand beside a stream alongside the moraine. As we pass a ridge, the valley turns slightly north. Entering into an alluvial valley Makalu pops into view just before Shersong. Staying towards the eastern side of the valley we head up to the valley over a low ridge to Shersong (4660m). Rest of the day can be used for acclimatization.
Day 13.
Trip to Makalu Base Camp (5000m):
This day we make a trip to Makalu Base Camp. After early morning breakfast at Shersong, we stay to the right in a gully on the east side of the valley. It’s a gradual climb to a minor pass about 100m above Makalu Base Camp. Descending to a stream and crossing on the boulders to the base camp on the west bank of the river. There are terrific views of the south face of Makalu. There are no shelters and vegetation at the Makalu Base Camp, which is at an elevation of 5000m. We can make this a day trip and return to Shersong to spend a night.
Day 14.
Trek from Shersong to Yangle Kharka (3600m):
Now getting over with our day trip to the Makalu Base Camp begins our journey to return. So after a heavy breakfast at Shersong we begin with our trek. We retrace our steps down to the Barun Valley to the pleasant camp of Yangle Kharka.
Day 15.
Trek from Yangle Kharka to Mumbuk (3550m):
As descended from Shersong to Yangle Kharka on the earlier day, we continue descending through the rock fall area and then climb up the rocky gully to the trees of Mumbuk.
Day 16.
Trek from Mumbuk to Khongma (3560m):
From the steep hillside of Mumbuk where we had our campsite for the night on arrival from Yangle Kharka, we continue to retrace our way back- we trek across Shipton La and descend to Khongma.
Day 17.
Trek from Khongma to Tashigaon (2070m):
On this day we do not need to climb up we only descend; this will really help us to comfort our trek and reach to Tashigaon. We will make a long, steep descent back to the civilization.
Day 18.
Trek from Tashigaon to Num (1500m):
Trek to get our next stoppage point, Num. From Tashigaon we go to Sedua and from there to Num.
Day 19.
Trek from Num to Chichila (1840m):
Today the trek will lead us to Chichila from Num. On doing so we retrace the route we had approached. From Num we return to Mure and then Hururu also known as Kopdane and then from there, to the small Sherpa Settlement of Kuwapani and then to Chichila. We rest at Chichila for the night.
Day 20.
Trek from Chichila to Mani Bhanjyang (1100m):
From Chichila we arrive at Mani Bhanjyang. We are near about to finish with our trek. One more day of hiking and we are over with it. We camp at Mani Bhanjyang while returning instead of Khandbari, which will make us feel a little different, as this will be a new stoppage for us.
Day 21.
Trek from Mani Bhanjyang to Tumlingtar:
From Mani Bhanjyang we move to Khandbari, our first resting point and then to Dhunge Dhara. Crossing the temple and the small lake we reach at Kuhmalgaon and then to the point from where we had begun our trek, Tumlingtar. On arrival, check in at the local lodge and rest for the remaining day.
Day 22.
Flight from Tumlingtar to Kathmandu:
After breakfast at the lodge we are taken to the airport at Tumlingtar, to connect flight to Kathmandu.
Day 23.
Transfer to international airport for your final flight departure.
The above itinerary is a guideline and standard pattern which we provide you. Makalu Trekking can be modified according to your time and requirements.
I Just arrived back to Kathmandu from a Three week Everest Region Trekking. It was certainly an experience I will never forget and I owe special thanks to members of the "Outfitter Nepal" team: NG, Arjun and Raj. It was little bit hard to believe at the beginning only in the internet as whether we are able to get the services which we had agreed through the mails before we arrive...
Makalu trekking is of the popular trekking destination in Nepali Himalaya, is protected by the Makalu Barun National Park and Conservation Project, set up in 1992. The park covers altogether 2330 sq km. Mt. Makalu (8463m), is the fifth highest peaks in the world is the home of other mountains-Mt Chamlang (7319 m) and Mt. Baruntse (7129m). It is the restricted area; however, we can have trekking in Arun Valley and subsequently to the dense forests, alpine meadows and up to the Barun glacier and reach to the base camp, from where we have a spectacular view of Mt. Makalu. This is considered to be the low altitude trekking, mostly centered at Arun Valley, the eastern part of Nepal. The valley holds a mighty Arun River and dense forest, is contrasted with the terraced slopes, where you also can see that diverse tribal groups residing in unity and the Makalu-Barun National Park, an important conservation area of many species, which are on the verge of extinct.
