Day 01 : Kathmandu – Tumlingtar Fly.Trek to Khandbari (1020m / 4hrs)
After breakfast drive to airport and fly to Tumlingtar, the focal point of our journey. On arrival before we begin with our trekking we take lunch at one of the hotels at Tumlingtar. We begin our trek to Khandbari. From the airstrip of Tumlingtar, we walk to Khumalgaon and immediately turn right and follow the trail that passes to the east of the small lake and temple. This leads onto a ridge, passes the school and begins an ascent between the Arun Koshi and the Sabha Khola. At Dhunge Dhara the climb leaves the ridge and becomes less steep as it contours to the outskirts of Khandbari.
Day 02 : Khandbari - Chichila (1840m / 4hrs)
After breakfast at Khandbari we begin our trek to Chichila. On the trek between Khandbari to Chichila the trail emerges between shops onto a ridge, climb to Naya Bazaar, then remains fairly leveled to Mani Bhanjyang (1100m) from here there are two routes we take the better one for which we turn left of the northern end of Mani Bhanjyang, climbs in bamboo forests along the ridge to Arun Than at 1280m, then connect across the hillside, climbing through fields, bamboo groves and big rocks to Sheka. From their Bhotebas we descend a bit to the next ridge, then follow the crest as it makes some ups and downs through a deep damp forest of rhododendrons and ferns for 1and ½ hours to Chichila. Rest at Chichila.
Day 03 : Chichila - Num (1500m / 5hrs)
From Chilchila we follow the ridge in forests passing the Sherpa settlements of Baisake and Kuwapani then to Sakuranti Majuwa and Hururu from there the route climbs 100m and then drops into deep oak forests and follows alongside a stream and reach Mure. Below Mure the trail passes many tracts of burned trees. The route cuts across a ridge then makes a tedious descent on a rocky eroded trail to some steps and a final walk to Num.
Day 04 : Num - Sedua (1540m / 4-5hrs)
Descending steeply from the western end of the Num ridge the trail reaches to Lumbang, from where the trail becomes exceptionally steep as it reaches to the suspension bridge over the Arun Koshi at 620 m, from where we make a rough climb to Sedua. We camp at Sedua for the night.
Day 05 : Sedua - Tashigaon (2070m / 4-5hrs)
From Sedua to reach Tashigaon we pass through Manigaon, where the trail turns west and makes a gradual climb above the Kasuwa Khola and reaches to Chyaksadanda from there to Hindrungma Village and on to Ropesa. The route crossing the meadows and several streams finally reaches to Tashigaon.
Day 06 : Tashigaon - Khongma (3560m / 5hrs)
In this trek we first climb over the ridge behind a hotel run by Norbu Lama ascend through forests to a stream, then onto a ridge. We climb through two small streams, and then get connected to Kharka and further up to Unshisha, from where the trail joins the ridge that separates two drainages, a short distance from there will lead us to Khongma. Camping at Khongma.
Day 07 : Khongma - Mumbuk (3550m / 5-7hrs)
On the way to Mumbuk we climb on steep switchbacks for a while to the top of the ridge, at 3840m, from where astounding view of Chhamlang, Peak 6 and Peak 7 of 6739m and 6105m respectively can be seen. Following the ridge through rhododendrons we ascend a staircase and reach to Ghungru La one of the first pass among the three passes we cross to reach the Barun Khola. From here descending a small lake we climb up to Shipton La then to Keke La (4150m). The route then enters to a valley filled with rhododendrons, finally making a steep descent through a forest of firs to Mumbuk.
Day 08 : Mumbuk - Yangle Kharka (3600 m / 4-5hrs)
Descending 300m down from Mumbuk to a rocky gully we continue our trail westward in fir forests at the bottom of the Barun Valley. We cross several streams, then cross the Barun on a wooden bridge to Yangle Kharka. Yangle Kharka is a large meadow at an elevation of 3600m, a fine place to make a camping site. We make the large meadow of Yangle Kharka our resting place.
Day 09 : Yangle Kharka - Merek (4570m / 5hrs)
Passing from Nghe Kharka, a large open, grassy plain, we connect our trek to Riphuk Kharka which is at an elevation of 3930m and then turning westward to reach to the potato field at Jhak Kharka, climbing from there we reach at Yak Kharka. Beyond Yak Kharka the trail climbs over a ridge and then from there, to Merek.
Day 10 : Merek - Shersong (4660m / 2hrs)
The trail from Merek climbs in sand beside a stream alongside the moraine. As we pass a ridge, the valley turns slightly north. Entering into an alluvial valley Makalu pops into view just before Shersong. Staying towards the eastern side of the valley we head up to the valley over a low ridge to Shersong (4660m). Rest of the day can be used for acclimatization.
Day 11 : Trip to Makalu Base Camp (5000m)
This day we make a trip to Makalu Base Camp. After early morning breakfast at Shersong, we stay to the right in a gully on the east side of the valley. It's a gradual climb to a minor pass about 100m above Makalu Base Camp. Descending to a stream and crossing on the boulders to the base camp on the west bank of the river. There are terrific views of the south face of Makalu. There are no shelters and vegetation at the Makalu Base Camp, which is at an elevation of 5000m. We can make this a day trip and return to Shersong to spend a night.
Day 12 : Shersong - Yangle Kharka (3600m / 5hrs)
Now getting over with our day trip to the Makalu Base Camp begins our journey to return back. So after a heavy breakfast at Shersong we begin with our trek. We retrace our steps down to the Barun Valley to the pleasant camp of Yangle Kharka.
Day 13 : Yangle Kharka – Mumbuk (3550m / 4 hrs)
As descended from Shersong to Yangle Kharka on the earlier day, we continue descending through the rock fall area and then climb up the rocky gully to the trees of Mumbuk.
Day 14 : Mumbuk – Khongma (3560m / 6hrs)
From the steep hillside of Mumbuk where we had our campsite for the night on arrival from Yangle Kharka, we continue to retrace our way back- we trek across Shipton La and descend to Khongma.
Day 15 : Khongma – Tashigaon (2070m / 4hrs)
On this day we do not need to climb up we only descend, this will really help us to comfort our trek and reach to Tashigaon. We will make a long, steep descent back to the civilization.
Day 16 : Tashigaon – Num (1500m / 7hrs)
Trek to get our next stoppage point, Num. From Tashigaon we go to Sedua and from there to Num.
Day 17 : Num – Chichila (1840m / 5-6 hrs)
Today the trek will lead us to Chichila from Num. On doing so we retrace the route we had approached. From Num we return to Mure and then Hururu also known as Kopdane and then from there, to the small Sherpa Settlement of Kuwapani and then to Chichila. We rest at Chichila for the night.Day 19 :
Day 18 : Chichila - Mani Bhanjyang (1100m / 5 – 6 hrs)
From Chichila we arrive at Mani Bhanjyang. We are near about to finish with our trek. One more day of hiking and we are over with it. We camp at Mani Bhanjyang while returning instead of Khandbari, which will make us feel a little different, as this will be a new stoppage for us.
Day 19 : Mani Bhanjyang - Tumlingtar
From Mani Bhanjyang we move to Khandbari, our first resting point and then to Dhunge Dhara. Crossing the temple and the small lake we reach at Kuhmalgaon and then to the point from where we had begun our trek, Tumlingtar. On arrival, check in at the local lodge and rest for the remaining day. Day 21 :
Day 20 : Tumlingtar – Kathmandu fly
After breakfast at the lodge we are taken to the airport at Tumlingtar, to connect flight to Kathmandu. Overnight in the hotel.
Costs included during the trip:
- Airport- Hotel- Airport pick up and transfer by private car
- Accommodation in Kathmandu with breakfast at a 3-star category hotel in Kathmandu according to the itinerary package of related treks
- Kathmandu sightseeing tour including all entry fees, tour guide and private vehicle
- Kathmandu- Tumlingtar- Kathmandu airfare
- Full board meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) with tea and coffee during the trek
- Twin sharing tented accommodation during the trek
- One skilled, professional and friendly guide and needed porters including their food, accommodation, salary, equipment and accidental insurance
- Makalu Trekking permit, TIMS and Makalu Barun Conservation Park fee if entered
- Trekking equipment
- Duffle bag, down jacket and sleeping bag during the trek
- First aid medical kit
- Government taxes and office service charge
Costs excluded during the trip:
- Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu
- Travel insurance
- International Airfare
- Nepal Entry Visa: One can easily obtain the Nepal entry visa after arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. (Remember to bring 2 copies of passport size photos.)
- Drinks (hot and cold), snacks and other personal expenses
- Hot and cold showers during the trek
- Personal shopping and laundry
- Tips for trekking staffs and driver ( tips though appreciated not mandatory)
