The Makalu Base Camp trek is one of Nepal's quietest and most remote high treks. It follows the Arun valley and then the Barun valley to the foot of Makalu, which at 8,485 m is the fifth highest mountain in the world. Base camp sits at roughly 4,800 m. The route is long, the trail is rough in places and services are limited, so the schedule matters more here than on busy routes. Most itineraries run 18 to 23 days from Kathmandu to Kathmandu. The outline below follows a common plan, and operators vary the stops, so use it to compare quotes rather than as a fixed script.
Days 1 and 2: Kathmandu
You arrive in Kathmandu, meet your guide, check gear and collect permits. A second day is useful for sightseeing, a final kit check and buying supplies. Keep a spare day in your overall plan, because the flight to the east can be delayed by weather.
Day 3: flight to Tumlingtar and first walk
You fly from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, a short flight of about 40 minutes, and start walking through low, warm farmland toward Khandbari. This is a subtropical landscape of rice terraces, bamboo and small villages at a few hundred metres above sea level. Expect heat and humidity on these first days, so bring light clothes as well as warm ones.
Days 4 to 7: Khandbari, Num, Seduwa and Tashi Gaun
The next days follow the Arun valley and then climb steadily. You pass Chichila, cross the Arun river near Num and climb through forest and villages to Seduwa and then Tashi Gaun. Each day gains height gradually, from the low valleys into cool forest and Rai and Sherpa villages. The trail is up and down, with long climbs after each river crossing, so the days are physically heavier than the altitude suggests.
Days 8 to 11: Kahuma Danda, Mumbuk, Nhe Kharka and Sherson
Above Tashi Gaun the trek enters the Makalu Barun National Park. The forest becomes denser, with rhododendron, bamboo and oak, and the villages disappear. You cross ridges and descend into the Barun valley, camping or staying in basic lodges at remote stops. Expect long days, steep stretches and sections where the trail is narrow and exposed after rain.
Days 12 and 13: Sherson, rest day and Yangri Kharka
A rest day near the upper valley allows your body to adapt to height before you approach base camp. On the next days you climb along the Barun river with glimpses of Makalu, Lhotse and Chamlang, and reach the high meadow of Yangri Kharka, where yak herders spend the summer. From here a short day brings you to the foot of Makalu.
Base camp and the return
You spend a night near base camp at about 4,800 m with views of Makalu's pyramid and the glaciers around it. The return retraces the route, usually in fewer days because you are descending and fitter. You walk back to Tumlingtar, fly to Kathmandu and keep a free day at the end.
What to check in any Makalu itinerary
- A rest day before base camp and a spare day for weather and flights.
- Whether you sleep in lodges, tents or a mix, and where food is supplied.
- Who carries camping and kitchen gear, and how many porters are provided.
- What the plan is if the trail is blocked by a landslide or heavy rain.
If you tell us your dates and experience, our team can send a day-by-day plan with a free price.
