Makalu Base Camp Trek
Eighteen days from the lowland airstrip at Tumlingtar into the glacial cirque beneath the world's fifth-highest mountain, a route with the thinnest built infrastructure of the four we run. Past Tashi Gaon, this is camp trekking: our own kitchen crew carries the trip through the Shipton La complex and the Barun valley, because the teahouse network that covers Everest and Annapurna simply hasn't reached here.
- Duration
- 18 Days
- Max Altitude
- 4,870m
- Grade
- Strenuous
- From
- $2,100 pp
Photo: Ben Tubby, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Trip highlights
- Reach the base of Mt. Makalu, the world's fifth-highest peak, at the end of one of Nepal's least-trekked classic base camp routes.
- Cross the demanding Shipton La pass complex, one of the more serious high crossings in the eastern Himalaya, twice in one trip.
- Camp through the Barun valley's wild, glacially carved terrain with a dedicated kitchen and camp crew supporting the entire route.
- Stand at the base camp cirque with Makalu's southwest face directly overhead and Chomo Lonzo and Baruntse visible across the glacier.
- Trek through the Makalu-Barun National Park, one of Nepal's most biodiverse and least-visited protected areas.
- Travel a restricted region with permits, guide, and full camping logistics arranged for you from day one.
- Experience genuine wilderness trekking: minimal built infrastructure, minimal other trekking groups, maximum remoteness.
- Benefit from two dedicated acclimatization stops plus a full rest day at base camp itself.
- Fly directly into the remote Tumlingtar airstrip, cutting days off the approach compared to overland alternatives.
- Explore an optional viewpoint above Makalu Base Camp toward the historic Makalu-La climbing approach.
Overview
Makalu Base Camp is the trek for people who've already done the passes and the base camps and want the one route left that still asks something extra of you: a full camping expedition, not a teahouse walk. The Makalu-Barun National Park has never built out the lodge network that covers Everest or Manaslu, so from Tashi Gaon onward, your own kitchen and camp crew carries the trip — cooking, setting up shelter, and supporting the group through terrain that most operators simply don't run.
Like Manaslu and Kanchanjunga, Makalu is a restricted area under Nepali law, requiring a Restricted Area Permit and Makalu-Barun National Park entry, both arranged only through a licensed agency, alongside a mandatory guide for the full trip. What sets Makalu apart is the Shipton La complex — three linked high points (Shipton La, Keke La, and Tutu La) crossed twice, once on the way in and once on the way out, on rocky, exposed terrain with real route-finding demands in poor visibility.
The reward is proportional to the effort. Few operators run this route at all, and the final approach along the Barun Glacier into the base camp cirque puts you directly beneath Makalu's full southwest face, with Chomo Lonzo and Baruntse visible across the glacier — a view very few trekkers ever see in person.
Two acclimatization days, at Khongma Danda and Langmale Kharka, along with the natural rest of an exploration day at base camp itself, pace the altitude gain across the trek's more sustained camping sections.
Permits & logistics
Permit Stack
- → Restricted Area Permit (RAP): Makalu-specific, logged at Seduwa.
- → Makalu-Barun National Park entry: a park fee rather than a conservation-area permit, since the region is a national park rather than a community-managed conservation area.
Group & Guide
- → Minimum 2 trekkers per group, legally required for the RAP.
- → Licensed guide plus a full camp crew (cook, kitchen staff, and porters) from Tashi Gaon through base camp and back.
- → We cap groups at 6 trekkers on this route, matched to what one camp crew can support comfortably above Khongma Danda.
Day-by-day itinerary
All 18 days, open by default, including the Shipton La complex crossing and the two acclimatization stops that make sustained camping at altitude workable.
- Max altitude
- 4,870m
- Total distance
- ~180km / 112 miles
Detailed day-by-day
01Arrival in Kathmandu
You'll arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to your hotel, where our team briefs you on the Restricted Area Permit and national park entry paperwork already filed, and the full camp gear list for this, the most equipment-heavy of our four routes. A welcome dinner introduces you to your guide.
1,400m · Overnight: Hotel
02Fly to Tumlingtar
A 40-minute flight carries you over the Mahabharat range into the lowland Arun valley. Your camp crew and supplies meet the group here ahead of the trek.
472m · Overnight: Guesthouse
03Tumlingtar to Num
A jeep track followed by footpath along the Arun River climbs gradually to Num, the last road-connected village before the national park boundary.
1,560m · ▲ 1,088m · Overnight: Teahouse
04Num to Seduwa
A steep drop to the Arun River suspension bridge is followed by an equally steep climb into Seduwa, home to the Makalu-Barun National Park checkpoint.
1,500m · ▼ 500m then ▲ 440m · ~8km · 5–6 hrs · Overnight: Teahouse
05Seduwa to Tashi Gaon
The trail passes through Gyansila into forest, ending at Tashi Gaon, the last village on the route and the point where teahouse comfort ends and camp support begins.
2,100m · ▲ 600m · ~10km · 5 hrs · Overnight: Teahouse
06Tashi Gaon to Khongma Danda
A brutal, sustained climb — one of the steepest single days on this or any of our routes — brings you into a rhododendron forest camp just below the pass complex.
3,560m · ▲ 1,460m · ~6km · 5–6 hrs · Overnight: Camp
07Khongma Danda — acclimatization day
A mandatory rest day after the previous day's climb, with an optional short acclimatization hike toward the ridge above camp.
3,560m · Acclimatization · Overnight: Camp
08Khongma Danda over the Shipton La complex to Dobato
The trek's hardest day: Shipton La, Keke La, and Tutu La in one long push around 4,170m/13,681ft. No technical climbing is required, but rocky, exposed terrain and weather-dependent visibility make this a full-commitment day, attempted only with a clear forecast.
3,700m · Net ▲ 610m over three passes · ~10km · 8–9 hrs · Overnight: Camp
09Dobato to Yangle Kharka
A steep descent drops you into the Barun valley proper, with vegetation changing quickly as the trail loses and regains altitude before continuing toward the glacier.
3,557m · ▼ 143m, mostly lost and regained · Overnight: Camp
10Yangle Kharka to Langmale Kharka
Climbing up the Barun valley's true left bank, the tree line falls away behind you and your first real views of Makalu's south face appear.
4,410m · ▲ 853m · ~10km · 5–6 hrs · Overnight: Camp
11Langmale Kharka — acclimatization day
A rest day before the final push toward base camp, with an optional climb toward the moraine above camp for extra altitude exposure.
4,410m · Acclimatization · Overnight: Camp
12Langmale Kharka to Merek
A short, deliberately easy day onto glacial moraine terrain, where the trail underfoot turns rocky and the air noticeably thins.
4,570m · ▲ 160m · Overnight: Camp
13Merek to Makalu Base Camp
The final approach follows the Barun Glacier's edge into the base camp cirque, with Makalu's full southwest face rising directly overhead and Chomo Lonzo and Baruntse visible across the glacier.
4,870m · ▲ 300m · ~6km · 4 hrs · Overnight: Camp
14Makalu Base Camp — exploration day
A full day at base camp, with an optional climb toward the Hillary Base Camp viewpoint above the main camp for a wider look at the historic Makalu-La climbing approach.
4,870m · Rest / optional viewpoint · Overnight: Camp
15Makalu Base Camp to Yangle Kharka
A long, satisfying descent retraces the Barun valley in a single push, covering ground that took two days on the way in.
3,557m · ▼ 1,313m · ~20km · 7–8 hrs · Overnight: Camp
16Yangle Kharka to Tashi Gaon, back over the Shipton La complex
Re-crossing Tutu La, Keke La, and Shipton La in reverse, this day is shorter in daylight terms than the outbound crossing but still a full day, ending back at teahouse comfort in Tashi Gaon.
2,100m · ▼ 1,460m net over the complex and beyond · ~16km · 8 hrs · Overnight: Teahouse
17Tashi Gaon to Tumlingtar
Retracing the route through Seduwa and Num to the road-head, followed by a jeep transfer back to Tumlingtar, this long day covers three days of outbound walking in reverse.
472m · Overnight: Guesthouse
18Fly Tumlingtar to Kathmandu
A morning flight returns you to Kathmandu, where the trip concludes. Onward international flights typically depart the same day or the next.
Cost
Per person, group of 2–4
$2,100 – $2,600
Included
- → RAP and Makalu-Barun National Park entry fees
- → Licensed guide, cook, kitchen staff, and porters
- → Kathmandu–Tumlingtar–Kathmandu domestic flights
- → Teahouse lodging (Tumlingtar–Tashi Gaon) and full camping support above
- → All meals on trek (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Not Included
- → International flights and Nepal visa
- → Kathmandu hotel nights (Day 1 and Day 18)
- → Travel insurance with high-altitude evacuation cover
- → Guide/crew tips
This range is a placeholder estimate pending operator confirmation of current permit fees, flight costs, and crew rates. Request a firm quote before booking.
The trek in detail
Why choose this trek?
If you've done Everest Base Camp, Annapurna, or even Manaslu, and you're looking for the route with the fewest concessions to comfort, Makalu is it. It's a full camping expedition to the base of the world's fifth-highest mountain, run by an operator who handles the restricted-area permits and the camp logistics that keep most trekkers — and most operators — away.
How long and difficult is the trek?
Makalu Base Camp runs 18 days, with 15 full trekking days. Daily walking time ranges from 3–4 hours on shorter recovery days to 8–9 hours on the Shipton La crossing. The highest point is Makalu Base Camp itself at 4,870m/15,978ft. This is rated Strenuous: no technical climbing is required, but sustained high-altitude camping and consecutive long days set it apart from a standard teahouse trek.
Accommodation and food during the trek
Basic teahouses run from Tumlingtar to Tashi Gaon. Beyond Tashi Gaon, this becomes a full camping trek: our cook and kitchen crew prepare all meals and set up sleeping tents at each overnight stop through the Shipton La complex, the Barun valley, and Makalu Base Camp itself. Expect dal bhat, soups, pasta, and hot drinks prepared fresh at camp each evening, with the same meal inclusion as a teahouse trek.
Best time to go
Autumn (September–November) offers the clearest, most stable weather for the Shipton La crossing and the best visibility at base camp.
Spring (March–May) brings rhododendron blooms through the lower forest sections around Tashi Gaon and similarly reliable high-altitude conditions. Both windows align with the government's seasonal permit-issuing dates for restricted areas.
Is this trek suitable for you?
Makalu Base Camp is best suited to trekkers with prior high-altitude camping or trekking experience, ideally including at least one previous trek above 4,000m. The combination of sustained camping, consecutive long days, and the Shipton La complex's exposed terrain make this a second-or-third high-altitude trek rather than a first.
Safety measures and acclimatization approach
Your guide and crew carry a first aid kit, pulse oximeter, and standing evacuation protocol. Two acclimatization days — at Khongma Danda (3,560m/11,679ft) and Langmale Kharka (4,410m/14,468ft) — pace the ascent, and the full rest day at Makalu Base Camp itself adds a further buffer before the return journey. The Shipton La complex is only attempted with a clear forecast, given the terrain's exposure and route-finding demands in poor visibility.
Equipment / packing list
7 groups · 33 items
Upper Body
4- →Moisture-wicking base layer tops (2–3)
- →Fleece or light insulated mid-layer
- →Heavyweight down jacket for camp nights above 4,000m
- →Waterproof, windproof outer shell jacket
Lower Body
4- →Moisture-wicking base layer bottoms
- →Trekking trousers (2 pairs)
- →Insulated camp trousers
- →Waterproof, windproof outer shell pants
Footwear & Accessories
5- →Broken-in waterproof trekking boots with strong ankle support (essential for the Shipton La complex's rocky terrain)
- →Camp shoes or sandals
- →Wool or synthetic trekking socks (5–6 pairs)
- →Liner socks
- →Gaiters
Head & Sun Protection
4- →Sun hat and heavyweight insulated hat
- →Buff or neck gaiter
- →Glacier-rated UV-protective sunglasses
- →High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm
Personal & Medical
6- →Personal first aid kit and any personal medications
- →Diamox (consult your doctor before the trip)
- →Hand sanitizer and basic toiletries
- →Trekking poles
- →Headlamp with spare batteries
- →Reusable water bottle and purification tablets or filter
Documents
4- →Passport with at least 6 months' validity
- →Passport-sized photos (for permits)
- →Travel insurance documents
- →Printed or digital copies of flight and trip confirmations
Miscellaneous
6- →Duffel bag for crew-carried gear
- →Daypack (30–35L)
- →Sleeping bag rated to at least -20°C (this is a full camping trek with more nights above 4,000m than a standard teahouse route)
- →Sleeping pad, provided by the camp crew but worth confirming before departure
- →Power bank and universal adapter
- →Snacks or energy bars from home
Frequently asked
Camping or teahouse?
A mix, weighted toward camping. Basic teahouses run from Tumlingtar to Tashi Gaon. Past Tashi Gaon, the Makalu-Barun National Park has far less built lodging than Everest or Annapurna, so our own kitchen and camp crew carries meals and shelter from Khongma Danda through Makalu Base Camp and back.
How hard is the Shipton La complex?
The Shipton La, Keke La, and Tutu La together form one long, technically straightforward but physically demanding high point around 4,170m, crossed in a single push from Khongma Danda to Dobato. It's comparable in seriousness to the Larkya La on Manaslu, though the terrain is rockier and less traveled, so route-finding in poor visibility is a real factor.
What permits does Makalu require?
A Restricted Area Permit (RAP) for Makalu, plus Makalu-Barun National Park entry: a national park fee rather than a conservation-area permit, since the region is managed as a national park rather than a community conservation area like Kanchanjunga or Manaslu-ACAP.
Do I need mountaineering experience?
No technical climbing is required to reach base camp: no rope work, no crampons on the standard route. What it does require is comfort with sustained camping at altitude and several long days in a row, which is why we recommend it as a second or third high-altitude trek rather than a first.
Request a quote for Makalu
Tell us your target dates and group size. We'll reply with a firm price and the next open departure.