Drive from Tumlingtar to Num, cross the Arun River, and climb to Seduwa, the national park entry checkpoint.
Makalu Base Camp Trek
19
Days
Overview
- NTB-certified guides experienced in the Barun valley's remote terrain
- Full camping crew, since teahouses run out above Tashigaon
- One of the least crowded major base camp treks in Nepal
- All-inclusive pricing: permits, camping gear, meals and porters
- Real support for the Sherpa and Rai villages along the Arun valley
The Makalu Base Camp trek is a 19-day camping trek to 4,870m in eastern Nepal, following the Arun and Barun valleys to the foot of the world's fifth-highest mountain. It's a genuinely remote route with far fewer trekkers than Everest or Annapurna. Full itinerary and cost details are below.
The Makalu Base Camp trek starts with a flight into Tumlingtar and climbs through some of the most biodiverse forest in the Makalu Barun National Park, a protected area the park's own management plan describes as home to over 3,000 flowering plant species. The reward at the end is a close, uncrowded view of Makalu's distinctive four-sided pyramid.
We run this as a fully supported camping trek, since teahouse infrastructure above Tashigaon is minimal. It's a serious undertaking, not a first Himalayan trek.
Trip snapshot
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Duration | 19 days (trek only, Tumlingtar to Tumlingtar) |
| Max altitude | 4,870m (Makalu Base Camp) |
| Difficulty | Strenuous, remote, camping-supported, includes the Shipton La crossing near 4,170m |
| Best season | March to May, October to November |
| Group size | 2 to 10 people |
| Price basis | Per person, full camping support included |
| Permits required | Makalu Barun National Park entry and Restricted Area Permit |
Booking
Email contact@aqtreks.com or visit aqtreks.com to check dates for this one well ahead of your travel window.
Itinerary
Day 1 :
Tumlingtar to Seduwa (1,500m)
Day 2 :
Seduwa to Tashigaon (2,100m)
The last permanent village before the high country. Restock and rest here.
A steep climb through rhododendron forest, with an acclimatisation day at Khongma before the pass.
Cross the Shipton La (around 4,170m), then descend into forest at Mumbuk. A genuinely tough day.
Follow the Barun River upstream through alpine meadows, with the terrain opening up as the valley climbs.
Short side hikes to help the body adjust before the final push to base camp.
The final climb to base camp, with Makalu’s full pyramid finally visible up close.
A full day at base camp, with an optional climb toward the Barun Glacier for closer views.
Day 9 :
Retrace to Tumlingtar
Descend the same route back through Langmale, Mumbuk, Khongma and Tashigaon to Num and Tumlingtar.
Day 10 :
Contingency day
Built in for flight or road delays out of Tumlingtar, which happen often enough to plan for.
The cost includes
- Makalu Barun National Park entry permit and Restricted Area Permit
- Full camping equipment: tents, kitchen tent and dining tent
- All meals prepared by our trekking crew
- Licensed English-speaking trekking guide
- Porter and kitchen staff for the full 19 days
- Ground transport, Tumlingtar to trailhead and return
The cost excludes
- International flights and the domestic flight to Tumlingtar
- Nepal visa fee
- Travel insurance with high-altitude evacuation cover
- Personal trekking and camping gear (sleeping bag, mat)
- Tips for guide, porters and kitchen crew
Before You Go
Best time to go
March to May and October to November are the only windows we run this trek in. The Shipton La crossing holds snow well into spring in a heavy winter, and we check conditions with our own crew on the ground before confirming any early-season date.
Check the regional forecast on Windy.com and, if you want to see the route in detail beforehand, the trail is mapped on OpenStreetMap.
Permits and practical info
You'll need the Makalu Barun National Park entry permit (USD 30) plus a Restricted Area Permit (USD 20 per week for the first four weeks) for the villages closest to the Tibet border. A TIMS card is also required for this trek, unlike some of the other restricted regions we run. We arrange all of it as part of your booking.
There's no meaningful mobile signal past Tashigaon and no hospital closer than a flight away, so this trek genuinely rewards choosing a guide who knows the ground. For altitude guidance generally, see the Himalayan Rescue Association, and check DHM Nepal for eastern Nepal's forecast before you fly.
Ready to plan it? Email contact@aqtreks.com or book at aqtreks.com.
Departures
No fixed departure dates published yet for this trek — send us an enquiry for a private departure.
Routes
Frequently asked questions
How many days does the Makalu Base Camp trek take?
Our itinerary runs 19 days, trek only, Tumlingtar to Tumlingtar. Shorter 14 to 15 day versions exist by cutting acclimatisation days, but we don't recommend rushing a trek that crosses the Shipton La near 4,170m and finishes above 4,800m; the extra days genuinely reduce altitude risk.
How high is Makalu Base Camp?
Makalu Base Camp sits at 4,870 metres, at the head of the Barun valley beneath Makalu's summit at 8,485 metres. It's a viewpoint and camp site for the mountain's expedition teams, not a technical climbing location trekkers need special skills to reach.
What permits do I need for the Makalu Base Camp trek?
A Makalu Barun National Park entry permit (USD 30) and a Restricted Area Permit (USD 20 per person per week for the first four weeks) for the villages nearest the border. A TIMS card is also required here, unlike some other restricted regions in Nepal. We handle all three.
How difficult is the Makalu Base Camp trek?
It's strenuous, with genuinely tough sections, especially the Shipton La crossing between Khongma Danda and Mumbuk. Good trekking fitness and ideally some prior high-altitude experience matter here more than on gentler routes like Annapurna Base Camp, since the terrain and remoteness both add real difficulty.
What is the best time for the Makalu Base Camp trek?
March to May and October to November. We don't schedule departures outside these windows since the Shipton La holds snow through winter and monsoon rain makes the lower Arun valley trail unreliable and, at times, genuinely difficult to cross safely.
How much does the Makalu Base Camp trek cost?
Our all-inclusive package starts at USD 2,100 per person for two trekkers, dropping to around USD 1,550 per person in a group of 7 to 10. That covers permits, full camping support, all meals, a licensed guide and crew for the full 19 days.
Where does the Makalu Base Camp trek start?
It starts with a short domestic flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, followed by a drive to Num and the trailhead at Seduwa. We arrange the Kathmandu-Tumlingtar flight and the onward ground transport as part of every booking, so you only need to plan the flight into Kathmandu.
Is there teahouse accommodation on the Makalu Base Camp trek?
Only up to Tashigaon. Above that, this is a fully camping-supported trek, since the infrastructure simply doesn't exist yet at higher elevation. We carry tents, a kitchen tent and a full cooking crew for the rest of the route, all included in your package price.
How crowded is the Makalu Base Camp trek?
Very lightly, compared to Everest or Annapurna. Most days you'll see only your own group and perhaps one or two other parties, if any. It's one of the genuinely remote major treks left in Nepal, which is exactly why we recommend it to guests seeking real solitude.
What is the elevation gain on the Makalu Base Camp trek?
You climb from Tumlingtar at just 410 metres to Makalu Base Camp at 4,870 metres, a gain of roughly 4,460 metres over the trek, though the route also drops and re-climbs repeatedly through the Arun and Barun valleys rather than rising in a straight line.
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