Makalu Base Camp Trek: The Ultimate Guide

The Makalu Base Camp Trek is an off-the-beaten-path expedition in the Himalayas of Nepal. It’s longer, more rugged, and presents an intense physical challenge compared to more established trekking routes in Nepal. The trek to Makalu Basecamp takes most trekkers at least 8 days to reach a top altitude of 5,050 meters. Trekkers then need to retrace their steps on the 5-6 day journey back out the same way they came in.

At the base camp, you truly sit at the base of Makalu and have a clear view of the mountain, unlike Everest Base Camp where the mountain is a little hidden from view. Each morning, you can watch the sunrise over the summit of the fifth tallest mountain in the world. A short walk up the slopes from basecamp reveals incredible views of Everest and Lhotse. The Makalu Base Camp Trek is perfect for adventurers who are looking to avoid the crowded trekking routes of Nepal and want an authentic experience trekking amongst the giants of the Himalayas.

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A GUIDE TO THE MAKALU BASE CAMP TREK

In this guide, you will find all of the valuable information you need to plan your trek as well as my personal experience on the entire expedition. I did this trek with Seven Summit Treks as a leadu-up to our climb of Makalu.

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MAKALU BASE CAMP TREK PACKING LIST

I packed pretty light and managed to wash most of my clothes each afternoon/night for the first half of the trip. In the latter stages of the trip, it was pretty cold so we weren’t sweating as much and we wore our warm gear basically nonstop while at the teahouses. There was no real need for multiple outfits.

This is just a guide and it worked quite well for me with no complaints from my set-up. You won’t need a sleeping bag as there are blankets in each guesthouse and when it got cold I just wore my down jacket to bed. This meant I didn’t have to carry a sleeping bag for the entire trek.

• 1 pair of pants that maybe convert to shorts
• 1 pair of shorts
• 1 Warm or thicker pair of hiking pants
• 1 Long sleeve quick-dry shirt
• 1 Long-sleeve thermal shirt
• 2 Short-sleeve t-shirts
• 1 Thermal long underwear
• 4 pairs of quick-dry underwear
• 1 Lightweight down jacket
• 1 Heavy-duty summit down jacket
• 1 Beanie
• 1 Cap
• Sunglasses
• 1 Neck Buff
• Gloves
• Hiking boots
• Headtorch
• 1 pair of warm summit socks
• 2-3 pairs of regular socks
• Sunscreen
• Trekking poles
• Water filter
• Powerbank

All of this should fit into a backpack no bigger than 50L and should be less than 14kg.

WIFI/ELECTRICITY AVAILABILITY ON THE MAKALU BASE CAMP TREK

• Wifi: Unlike many treks in Nepal there is almost no WiFi on this route. NTC sim card worked for the first day and a half on the trek but once we reached Tasigaun, the connection was over.
• Electricity: This was the least power I have experienced on a trek in Nepal so far. Once we left Tasigaun, most places ran off solar and didn’t have places to charge items for the clients. It was possible but not something offered for a fee like in other teahouses around Nepal.

MAKALU BASE CAMP TREK ITINERARY

Day 1	Fly to Tumlingtar and drive to Num
Day 2	Trek to Seduwa	1,500m, 6-7 hours
Day 3	Trek to Tashigaon	2,100m, 4-5 hours
Day 4	Trek to Khongma Danda	3,500m, 6-7 hours
Day 5	Acclimatization day in Khongma Danda
Day 6	Trek to Dobate via Shipton La (4,229 m)	3,650m, 6-7 hours
Day 7	Trek to Yangle Kharka	3,557m, 6-7 hours
Day 8	Trek to Langmale Kharka	4,410m, 5-6 hours
Day 9	Trek to Makalu Base Camp	5,000m, 4-5 hours
Day 10	Hike up to Everest Viewpoint	5,300m, 3 hours
Day 11	Trek to Yangle Kharka	3,600m, 6-7 hours
Day 12	Trek to Dobate	3,650m, 6-7 hours
Day 13	Trek to Khongma Danda	3,500m, 5-6 hours
Day 14	Trek to Tashigaon	2,100m, 4-5 hours
Day 15	Trek to Seduwa	1,500m, 4-5 hours
Day 16	Trek to Num	5-6 hours
Day 17	Drive to Tumlingtar, fly to Kathmandu	51 km/31 miles

INSURANCE FOR THE MAKALU BASE CAMP TREK

Nepal can be a dangerous place for trekking or hiking because the high altitude can lead to many illnesses, weakness in trekkers, and misjudgments. There is also a risk on trails for falls, avalanches, or other mishaps. Your regular travel insurance probably won’t cover you at high altitudes and won’t cover a helicopter evacuation. There is a solution though.

BEST TIME AND SEASON FOR THE MAKALU BASE CAMP TREK

The peak season for the Makalu Base Camp Trek is March to April and October to November. The time to avoid this trek is during the rainy season from June to August.

During the winter from December to February, this region gets very cold and there will be snow cover in the higher parts of the trek. Many of the guesthouses actually close up for the winter and re-open in late February to March. However, it is possible to hike the Makalu Base Camp Trek on the fringe of the season in late February/early March and it can be quite beautiful with snow cover.

I hiked the Makalu Base Camp Trek in late April/early May and it was warm during the day and got pretty cold at night. The Shipton La had good snow cover but other than that the paths were clear. We did not need crampons.

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE MAKALU BASE CAMP TREK

Day one of the Makalu Base Camp Trek begins by immediately dropping down into the humid forest. A series of stone-pathed switchbacks lead us down through quiet villages until we meet the river.

It’s here that we cross the suspension bridge draped in Tibetan prayer flags. This crossing marks the halfway point of the first day. The trail now heads uphill gaining 800m of elevation over just a few kilometers to reach Seduwa.

Day two of the trek is a much more timid trek although still gains 650 meters of incline. Through the forest, we continue on the beautifully crafted stone paths. Small villages are spotted along the route. It’s a glimpse into the mountain life of Nepal.

Unspoiled by over-tourism, this region has kept much of its charm and traditional culture. The day ends with hundreds of stairs, leading us up to Tashigaon.

Day three of the trek was a rest day in Tashigaon where we charged our gear, washed ourselves and our clothes, and had some intense carD games. The view from the lodge at Tashigaon is incredible, situated on top of the village. This was a sunny day to get ready for a big day of trekking to come.

Day four of the Makalu Basecamp Trek was the toughest. We climbed 1350m of the incline in just seven kilometers. The entire trail was stairway after stairway. Rarely did we find a stretch of flat path. Despite the incline, the trail began to open up with mountain views.

The Rhododendron (national flower of Nepal) was in full bloom with white, red, and pink flowers surrounding the trail. It was a tough day on the legs but a nice lodge with a big dining room made for a comfortable end to the day.

Day five brought us into the snow. The trail made its way across three passes, as we entered the mountains. We traversed snow ridges, frozen lakes, and steep downhills as we crossed Chungru La, Shipton La, and Keke La. With clear weather, the first glimpse of Makalu was a morning surprise. We sleep tonight in Dobate, lower than the previous night after a steep descent after the passes.

Day six began with a downhill track into the forest. Rhododendrons surrounded shone in the morning light as we descended down to the Barun River. The path was quite snowy and slippery at times on the steep descent. Once we reached the river, it was a steady incline alongside its raging rapids. With no shade around amidst the dry dusty terrain, this is a hot and exposed section of the trek.

The trail began to open up with magnificent views of peaks on the horizon. The highlight to end the day was the Makalu view as we reached Yangle Kharka.

Day seven of the Makalu Base Camp Trek, began as we headed up the hill to Langmale Kharka. This was a shorter day with just 8km of distance and 500m to climb. The scenery becomes grand with towering cliffs on all sides. A magnificent, stone stairway leads trekkers up to the plateau to spend the night at the picturesque lodge.

Day eight is the day we reach Makalu Basecamp. The trail winds alongside the Barun River, often with a rocky path to navigate. 7000m peaks tower over the trail as we follow the glacier up towards our destination.

Makalu Basecamp sits right below the mighty Makalu Mountain. A mix of lodging and camping makes it a comfortable place to acclimatize. Unlike some base camps, this has a great view of Mount Makalu and often in the morning, there’s a spectacular view of the clear summit (8,458m).

Day nine is spent at Makalu Base Camp. It can be a rest day our a day to go and hike up onto the nearby slopes. Here you can catch a glimpse of Everest, Lhotse and other surrounding peaks. The climb is slow and steep but very quickly, Everest and Lhotse appear down the end of the glacier.

Back at base camp, card games are in full swing and it is a chance to rest the legs before turning around tomorrow to make the long journey back to Num.

I was on my way to climb Makalu, so we continued by trekking up to advanced Makalu Base Camp (5,750m) but for most, this is where the journey ends. Alternatively, you can continue up to the Sherpani Col and cross into the Khumbu region. This is an advanced trek reaching heights of 6000m and involving some basic mountaineering skills and gear.

I hope you enjoyed this guide to the Makalu Base Camp Trek and have a great expedition in Nepal.

HAVE YOU READ MY OTHER NEPAL BLOGS?

I’ve been lucky enough to have many awesome adventures in Nepal, which you can check out below where I’ve listed some of my favorite blog poss from Nepal.

• The Most Iconic route: Everest Base Camp Trek
• The Most Scenic Route: Annapurna Circuit Trek
• My Favorite Trek in Nepal: Manaslu Circuit Trek
• An Easy Nepal Trek: Langtang Valley Trek
• A great beginner peak: Island Peak Climb (6,165m)
• My Favorite Climb in Nepal: Climbing Ama Dablam (6,812m)
• My first 8000er: Climbing Manaslu (8,163m)
• My toughest climb in Nepal: Climbing Makalu (8,463m)
• Where to stay: 16 Best Places to Stay in Kathmandu