Makalu Expedition  |  49 Days

Itinerary

• 1Arrive in Kathmandu via respective airlines and transfer to hotel. On arrival at Kathmandu international airport you will be well received by Responsible Treks & Tour staff and guide and then transfer you to your hotels within the hub of Kathmandu city around the most happening and exciting place around Thamel. Evening after checking into your rooms with refreshment our guides briefs you of Mt. Makalu Expedition with welcome dinner in a nice authentic Nepalese restaurant with culture show
• 2In Kathmandu sightseeing tour at places of interest and trek preparation.Morning after breakfast, depart for exciting cultural and historical tour around Nepal's best World Heritage Sites which includes old Durbar Square (Palace Courtyard), Old Swayambhunath Stupa and other places of interest with time for trip preparations, a free day preparations for Mt. Makalu Expeditions packing and checking gears and equipments.
• 3IN kathmandu sightseeing hafe day Sightseeing and other places of interest with time for trip preparations, a free day preparations for Mt. Makalu
• 4Fly to Tumlingtar 448 m a scenic flight of 45 minsStarting with early morning flight to Tumlingtar for Mt. Makalu Expedition, 40 minutes flight offers grand views of mountain range with Everest and Makalu, on reaching Tumlingtar join with our trekking and expedition crew members and porters for wonderful adventure to Mt. Makalu base camp.
  At Tumlingtar overnight in a nice local lodge, here climate of warm and semi-tropical, located on the shelf above Arun River, afternoon free to explore this interesting town / village
  
• 5Drive to Num 1,490 m - 04 hrs with afternoon free to exploreFrom Tumlingtar starting the morning with a scenic interesting drive heading to the mid hills passing many farm villages and the large town of Khandbari, drive continues on the hill ridge rough dirt road leading higher to Chinchela village from here a long descend to Num village slowly turning into a town with the motor reaching this village few years back, at Num overnight in lodge or in tents with grand views of surrounding landscapes and peaks of Jalajala Himal and Makalu.
• 6Trek to Seduwa 1,540 m- 05 hrs.Today our first day walk starts with downhill and up to Seduwa village, a steep descend to the bridge over raging Arun River around this place quite tropical, and then with a climb towards farm fields and small villages of Runmura, here with lunch break and then with a gradual climb to reach overnight stop at Seduwa village, a small place with primary school and small health post with views of Num across the ridge and of other adjoining hills of Bhojpur and Jalajala rocky peaks.
• 7 Trek to Tashi Gaon 2,135m - 04 hours. After Seduwa village, morning walk on undulating winding trail to Tashigaon a Sherpa village, the last village before Makalu base camp, walk leads through farm areas with nice terraces of millet, a major crops after rice and wheat’s of this area, and then for 3-4 hours of good trek reaching at Tashigaon for lunch and overnight camp with time to visit the local village around, which is quite interesting. The Sherpa of this area is quite different to Khumbu highlanders.
• 8Trek to Kongma Danda 3,556 m - 05 hoursLeaving Tashi Gaon the last village for a week long, morning walk leads on gentle path into thick forest of rhododendron, oaks and tall pines trees passing many cattle herder’s temporary shelters of shades and stone huts after few hours of pleasant walk stopping for lunch on the grassy meadow and summer pasture ground.
  Afternoon walk with steep climb for few hours to reach Konngma ridge top, as the tall trees gives away for smaller rhododendron and juniper bushes and small birch trees.
  This high ridge offers excellent views of Kanchenjunga mountain range and of Mt. Makalu with adjoining peaks, from here in complete wilderness.
  
• 9Trek to Mumbuk 3,553 m - 06 hoursAfter Kongma Danda morning walk on a ridge line following a gradual path with few ups and down reaching at icy ponds of Thulo Pokhari (big) with Sano Pokhari(small) after crossing Tutu-la and Shipton la at above 4, 453 meters passes, and then downhill back into forest with views of Khumbakarna Himal range of mountains towards north, overnight camp on a level ground in the middle of tall trees.
• 10 Trek to Nghe (Nehe Kharka) 3,760 m - 05 hours.Today walks leads to scenic Barun valley famous for rare species of vegetation- plants and herbs including wild-life, starting the morning with down-hill for an hour and crossing a small stream to reach Barun valley, walk with gentle up views of peaks on both side of the valley passing few Sheppard’s shelters with a small Buddhist Gompa (monastery), after a pleasant walk of 5 hours reaching at Nehe Kharka for overnight camp around Barun valley.
• 11Trek to Shersong 4, 572 m - 05 hours. From Barun valley walk to Shersong leading at the end valley near Makalu base camp leading on gentle uphill crossing streams with great views of Mt. Makalu and Baruntse peaks, after a nice walk of 5 hours reaching at our destination at Sherson for two nights camps.
• 12Trek to Makalu Base Camp 4,812 m - 03 hrsMorning walk starts heading toward Mt. Makalu base camp with views of Baruntse peak and IV peak, including views of Mt. Everest rare East Face known as Kangshung Face with Mt. Lhotse walk leads towards moraine and ice near Baruntse Pokhari (pond).
  On reaching at base camp a fantastic spot beneath world's 5th highest mountain of above 8,463 m and 27, 766 ft high, one of the tough and technical mountains to climb.
  Afternoon free for short hike above this camp, a climb on the moraine ridge, for more spectacular views of Mt. Makalu with hidden east sides of Lhotse and Everest, which looms above Barun glacier towards North West.
  
• 13At Makalu Base Camp preparation and acclimatization for the climb.We have set two spare and free days at base camp which is very necessary and important for the climbers to get fully acclimatized and as well planning for the climb.
  Rest of the day relax and sorting gears and foods for the next day adventure towards Mt. Makalu summit covered in black rocks and ice.
  
• 14Climb to High Camp / ABC (Advance Base Camp) 5,800 m - 04 hrs .Morning leads to a climb westwards to reach our advance camp, below Makalu west pillar as the altitude gains slowly, taking time with few stops walk follows a faint path which climbs an ablation valley on the west side of the Barun glacier. Following this valley onto the glacier make the way over the boulder-strewn caves and ice to a camp known as Puja Camp below the towering Mt. Makalu West Pillar. Our strenuous climb on glacier to Advance Camp rewarded with unique views of Lhotse and the rare Kangshung face of Everest.
• 15At ABC (preparation for the climb of Makalu summit).A necessary spare and contingency day for proper acclimatization and preparation for the climb to Mt. Makalu summit, on this day where you will be busy sorting out the gear and foods for the climb and then final checking of the equipment, where our expert guides scouts possible and safe route for the climb.
• 1620 days) for the climbing expedition on top Makalu summit.We have reserved maximum of twenty days for the final bid and scent on top Mt. Makalu during these days allows with time to acclimatize and practice on rocks - ice, before heading for final climb.
  20 days includes climb to the summit, where our expert guides and team members will be busy ferrying loads to respective high camps. Makalu one of the tough mountains with high technical skill required where maximum of 3 camps needed.
  Our team of climbing guides will set camp III, at above 7,200 meters where members will sleep only one night at this top camp before heading to the top.
  After full preparation at ABC climb through moraine covered in glacier and then head towards Camp I at 5,350 meters, after climbing on boulders of rocks and ice within scree slope to reach the required
  Camp I.
  The camp located on a broad snow field at the foot of the ridge leading up to a serac barrier which is one of the few technical sections on route.
  At about 7,200 meters the ridge is a line of ice cliffs here fixing ropes and snow bars. Normally we will have one rope for the ascent and another for descent on this pitch, which is about 80 meters high.
  This is the toughest part of the climb but with some difficulty, high above the serac climb out onto a plateau cut by huge crevasses, a winding path between to pitch Camp II at about 6, 800 meters.
  Above Camp II broad snow slopes lead more easily to Camp III at 7,600 meters. This is the highest camp and make the summit bid from here. Summit day as always involves an early start. Depending on snow conditions might encounter some easy scrambling as the climb gets in progress making way up and across the low angled South West Face.
  The top of the summit a small plateau offering views of Everest-Lhotse-Baruntse Himal with adjoining peaks and as far towards Kanchenjunga at eastern horizon.
  After feeling in high spirit with successful climb head back to Advance Camp after a tough adventure to reach world 5th highest Mt. Makalu at summit at above 8,463 m and 27, 766 ft high.
  
• 17Back to Base Camp .After huge success taking maximum of two days to reach base camp with long descends where we need to clear and clean above camps, on these two days all the climbing members and staffs should be at the Base Camp for return journey and packing.
• 18Clean up and packing end of expeditions.At base camp with final packing and checking each members health, necessary spare day to clean up the Base Camp and leaving nothing except your foot prints and memory.
• 19 Trek to Yangle Kharka 3, 598 m - 06 hours.Retrace the journey back on the Barun valley to Yangle Kharka enclosed within high rocky cliffs with views of cascading waterfalls after a descend reaching the overnight camp at cow herders temporary summer grazing place at Yangle-Kharka.
• 20Trek to Mumbuk - 05 hours. After a wonderful time at Barun valley, walk leads past the valley with a climb to reach back into thick woodland at Mumbuk for overnight camp.
• 21Trek to Kongma Ridge - 05 hours. On the same trail back to Khoma ridge morning walk with a climb for an hour or more through forest on reaching the hill top ridge leaving the tree lines, and passing the ponds and over Tutu la and Shipton la reaching at Kongma hill top for overnight camp.
• 22Trek to Narbu Gaon 1,310 m via Tashi Gaon - 05 hours. Morning walk on downhill path back into forest of tall tree lines to reach villages and farm fields, on reaching at Tashi Gaon taking a different higher route to Nawa or Narbu gaon village, through cool shade of woodlands and farm terraces and then reaching a large Sherpa village of Narbu Gaon on for overnight stop, with afternoon free to explore this nice farm village.
• 23Trek to Num via Seduwa - 05 hours.From Narbu Gaon our last day walk of this wonderful adventure leading downhill with few short up to Seduwa village, after a rest here continue descend on a steep path to Arun River, after crossing a bridge a steep climb for few hours to reach at Num village for last overnight around the high hills of Makalu.
• 24Drive back to Tumlingtar - 04 hrs.After a wonderful time on the high hills and mountains with farm villages, from Num taking an exciting drive on the rough road passing past villages with beautiful views of surrounding green hills and peaks, after few hours of drive reaching at Khadbari, a major town and headquarter of Sanka Sabha district of Makalu region. From here an hour downhill back to Tumlingtar in the comfort of a nice lodge.
• 25Fly to Kathmandu and transfer to hotelFarwell to most of our staff and porters and then taking a smaller airplane for short flight to Kathmandu with super views of Himalayan mountains during on this 40 mins flight, reaching Kathmandu transfer to your hotels.
• 26In Kathmandu free day with optional sightseeing tour. Reasonable Treks Tour reserves two free days in Kathmandu in case of flight delay from Tumlingtar due to bad weather, final packing and sorting gear. Enjoy the free day for individual activities and shopping souvenirs or join in for another interesting sight-seeing tour around Kathmandu-Patan and Bhaktapur.
• 27International Departure for Homeward bound.As per your international flight time transfer towards Tribhuvan International Airport for the journey back home or to respective destinations after a super and amazing time in Nepal Himalaya on high hills around world's 5th highest Mt. Makalu Expedition.