Makalu Base Camp & Shipton La Trek

Makalu Base Camp & Shipton La Trek 21 Days

From $3250 USD

Trip URL: www.adventurelink.com/

Photos
Maps

Overview
Itinerary
Nuts & Bolts
Experts
Operator
Email to Friend

Overview

Highlights

Duration: 21 Days
Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
Language: English
Rating: 0%
Trip ID: 125920
Start Location: Bhrikuti Mandap, Nepal
End Location: Bhrikuti Mandap, Nepal

Guaranteed:
Yes
Your Satisfaction is Guaranteed!
1. AdventureLink has carefully handpicked the tour operators in our portfolio to give you the best possible selection and experience
2. AdventureLink does not pay the operator until your trip completes in order to ensure the highest possible standard of care
Primary Activities: Trekking
Other Activities: sightseeing, glacier, Camping, Local Culture
Activity Level: Intermediate

A beautiful and striking mountain, Makalu is a four sided pyramid rising to an altitude of 8462 metres. The world’s fifth highest peak sits within the Makalu Barun National Park, bordered by the Sagamartha National Park to the west and the Arun River to the east. This region offers some of the most outstanding and diverse trekking in the Himalaya. Beginning our trek from the trade route village of Tumlingtar we ascend through Sherpa villages and cultivated fields with views of the Chamlang Range in the distance. Our first pass sits at an altitude of 1800 metres and it is here that we have our first views of Makalu and the Jaljale Himal.
Proceeding through rhododendron forests we eventually make a crossing of the Shipton La before arriving at Makalu Base Camp (5000m). From base camp we gain magnificent views of the imposing south face of Makalu, and with further forays along nearby ridges, we may gain magnificent views of Everest, Lhotse and the Barun Glacier.

Itinerary

DAY 1: Arrive Kathmandu: You will be met by a representative of World Expeditions and transferred to the Radisson hotel. Remainder of the afternoon at leisure. A pre-trek briefing will be given around 5pm where arrangements will be made for the distribution of your kit bag, sleeping bag and down/fibrefill jacket. Evening drinks are held in the hotel for all World Expeditions clients arriving today. Drinks and snacks will generally be served from 6:30 pm until 7:15pm, and this is a great opportunity to get acquainted with your fellow group members before heading out to dinner.
DAY 2: In Kathmandu (1330m): This morning a sightseeing tour takes in the key attractions in and around Kathmandu. We will visit Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath, returning to the hotel by 2pm. In the afternoon you may have time to explore Durbar Square, Patan or Bhaktapur, and the lesser-known towns that dot the valley on foot, by bicycle or trishaw. The area has an amazing range of fascinating highlights, whatever your interest. Excellent bookshops, extensive markets, and novelty and handicraft shops contrast with fantastic centres of cultural and spiritual significance - Kathmandu has more World Heritage sites than any other city in the world.
DAY 3: Fly Tumlingtar & drive to Mane Bhanjyang (1100m): An early start for breakfast before transferring to the airport for the short 35 minute flight to Tumlingtar. We fly above mountain ranges before reaching Tumlingtar which sits on a wide plateau in the Arun Valley. Here we will meet our transport and drive to the start of our trek and overnight camp at Mane Bhanjyang.
DAY 4: Trek to Chichila (1840m). Walk approx. 5 hrs: Leaving civilization behind today the countryside becomes much more rural. We turn left near the school at the northern end of Mani Bhanjyang, and climb theough bamboo forests and along a ridge to Arun Than (1280m). From here we traverse a hillside and continue climbing through fields and bamboo groves to Sheka (1350m) and the Tamang Village of Bhotebas (1740m). Beyond the village cultivated fields disappear as the trail climbs through trees to a pass at 1840m offering spectacular views of Chhamland, Makalu and Jaljale Himal. Descending to the next ridge we follow a crest and onto a deep damp forest of rhododendrons and ferns. After 1 -2 hours we reach Chichila and our camp for the night.
DAY 5: Trek to Num (1500m). Walk approx. 5 hrs: Following a ridge through forest we pass the small Sherpa settlements of Baisake and Kuwapani (1870m) before passing by mani walls at Sakuranti Majuwa (1860m). The main part of the village is just below the ridge. Our route climbs for a short time and then drops into deep oak forests alongside a stream for a short distance. We then climb along a ridge line to a large expanse of forest that has been burned to make fields to support the ever-growing population of the nearby villages. Mure, a spread-out village at 2000m is inhabited by both Sherpas and Rais. Below Mure the trail passes many tracts of burned trees where more fields are under development. The route cuts across a ridge and descends on a rocky and eroded trail to some stone steps before our final approach to Nun. Nun is on the ridge above an S-shaped bend in the Arun Kosi. On the opposite side of the Arun is Sedua and the peaks that flank the Shipton La.
DAY 6: Trek to Sedua (1540m). Walk approx. 5 hrs: The trail descends steeply from the western end of the Nun ridge through the cornfields of Lumbang. Below Lumbang the trail becomes very steep as it drops on slippery rocks through jungle to a suspension bridge over the Arun Kosi at 620m. From the bridge the trail climbs steeply to a primitive teashop at 820m, then through rice, corn and buckwheat fields. The landscape here is picturesque with tiny terraces planted with corn and barley. Finally we make a long climb to Sedua.
DAY 7: Trek to Tashi Gaon (2070m). Walk approx. 3 hrs: Climbing along the ridge from Sedua we pass the National Park Forest Nursery project and then climb gently northward through rice fields to Manigaon on the next ridge. There are several streams to cross that may or may not have bridges. From Manigaon the trail turns west and makes a gradual climb high above the Kasuwa Khola to a mani wall at 1890m. It’s an easy walk through terraced fields and forested areas to Hindrungma village and on to Ropesa, where we may find monks sitting beside the trail collecting donations for the small gompa nearby. Our route crosses meadows and several streams before reaching the Tashi Gaon schooland eventually the village proper. This is the last permanent settlement in the valley. We make the long climb on a stone staircase to thee corn fields at the top of town at 2070 metres where we make camp for the night.
DAY 8: Trek to Khongma (3560 m). Walk approx. 6 hrs: This is a tough day, with an elevation gain of 1400m on a steep trail. Initially climbing over a ridge we pass by a herders’ hut and then the trail levels out and climbs to a shepherds’ hut called Chipla atop another ridge at 2520m. The route now becomes steeper with switchbacks through forest to Unshisha, a tiny meadow at 3180m. Once we gain the ridge we will continue a short distance through sparse forests before making a final descent to Khongma (3560m). There are no buildings and many of the tent sites are on the sloping hillside in this often muddy camp site.
DAY 9: Trek to Dobato (3550m) via Shipton La (4216m). Walk approx. 6 hrs: Steep switchbacks take us to the top of the ridge at 3840m where there is a stone chorten adorned with prayer flags. This is a superb viewpoint with Makalu in the distance. Following along the ridge line through rhododendrons we ascend a stone staircase, and few false summits along the trail, before gaining a side ridge. This is Ghungru La (also known as Tutu La; 4050m), the first of the three passes we cross to reach Barun Khola. Descending to a small lake we then climb steeply up a shallow gully to our major pass crossing - Shipton La. The pass was named when Eric Shipton and Sir Edmund Hillary used this route enroute to Dharan after their 1952 Everest reconnaissance. Descending from the La we pass two lakes at 4020m, and climb through large boulders to Keke La (4150m). On the other side of the pass the route enters a valley filled with rhododendron forests. In Spring the valley floor is a carpet of brilliant wild flowers. We camp tonight in a meadow known as Dobato.
DAY 10: Trek to Yangle Kharka (3600m). Walk approx. 5 hrs: Today we travel through huge rhododendrons and forests of fir and birch on our way to Yangle Kharka. Parts of the route are rugged and ill-defined and there is an area where a past landslide occurred. We will need to take care here as there is still threat of rock fall from time to time. There will be a lot of boulder-hopping and streams to jump across. Beyond the worst of the slide area the route traverses alpine meadows with good views of Peak 7. The trees are now birch and scrub rhododendron, and the valley widens. Finally we cross several streams and a wooden bridge to Yangle Kharka at 3600m.
DAY 11: Trek to Yak Kharka (4400m). Walk approx. 4 hrs: The climb starts out gently from Yangle Kharka, passing Nghe Kharka, a large open, grassy plain at an elevation of 3750m on the opposite side of the Barun Khola. Beyond Nghe Kharka, we follow the Barun valley as the river makes a huge S-shaped curve. The landscape is dramatic and cliff walls rise almost 2000 metres above the river. Climbing alongside a waterfall we pass a swampy meadow and a stream. The trail turns westward and makes a short climb to potato fields and a single house at Jhak Kharka (4210m). Yet another climb brings us to the meadows of Yak Kharka.
DAY 12: Trek to Shersong (4660m). Walk approx. 4 hrs: Beyond Yak Kharka the trail climbs over a ridge and ascends alongside a moraine formed by the lower Barun Glacier. Enroute to Merek there are excellent views of Chhamlang, Peak 3 (6477m) and Peak 5 (6404m). Merek sits at 4570m in an inhospitable site with some threat from avalanches and rock fall. The trail from Merek climbs through sand and scree alongside the moraine. We eventually pass a ridge where the valley turns slightly north and we enter an alluvial valley bringing Makalu into view. We stay to the eastern side of the valley and travel over a low ridge to Shersong (4660m). Shersong offers some shelter however can be very cold at times. If the weather is clear a walk up to the valley towards base camp or up the ridge is worthwhile.
DAY 13: Hike to Base Camp (5000m): Today is a relatively short trekking day to reach our destination. Makalu Base Camp affords stunning views of its south face, with the south buttress of Makalu offering views of Baruntse (7220m), Everest and Lhotse. The Hillary and French base camps are far up the glacier, past Barun Pokhari, and these are now the traditional base camps used by climbing parties to Makalu. Our foray to base camp today is optional, and some may prefer to forgo base camp and climb the ridge north-east of Shersong. This is a spectacular climb up grassy slopes to the top of the ridge. At the 5250m mark there is an outstanding view of Everest, Lhotse and Lhotse Shar as well as both the south-east and north ridges of Everest, along with the Kangshung Face and the South Col. Makalu looms above the ridge to the north.
DAY 14: Trek back to Yangle Kharka. Walk approx. 6 hrs: We retrace our steps through the Barun Valley to our pleasant camp of Yangle Kharka.
DAY 15: Trek to Khongma. Walk approx. 6 hrs: We continue our descent through the rock-fall area and climb a rocky gully to Mumbuk. Re-crossing the Shipton La we make our final descent to Khongma.
DAY 16: Trek to Sedua. Walk approx. 6 hrs: Today is a long and steep descent back to civilization and as we emerge from the mountains there is time to reflect on the stunning journey we have taken.
DAY 17: Trek to Num. Walk approx. 5 hrs: Steadily descend through partly forested terrain to the Arun River and climb to Num.
DAY 18: Trek to Chichila. Walk approx. 5 hrs and drive (3 hrs) to Tumlingtar: Today will be a long but relatively easy day. We descend the ridge to Chichila where we meet our transport and make the drive back to Tumlingtar.
DAY 19: Fly Tumlingtar to Kathmandu: An early rise and after breakfast return flight to Kathmandu.
DAY 20: Day at leisure in Kathmandu: There is a wide variety of things to see and do in Kathmandu and we recommend you spend this day wandering the town and exploring the valley on bicycle or by taxi. The old Royal Palace, Durbar Square, Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple), Pashupatinath (a major Hindu shrine) and the giant Buddhist stupa at Bodhnath are absolute musts. Our W.E. staff can arrange a guide and/or transport should you wish, or you can head off armed with a map and let the day unfold.
DAY 21: Trip concludes in Kathmandu: After breakfast arrangements cease unless further ones have been made. Those people departing by aircraft will be transferred to the airport and assisted with check-in procedures.

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

24 breakfasts, 20 lunches and 20 dinners
Internal flights Kathmandu to Tumlingtar and return
airport transfers
expert bilingual guide
group medical kit
good quality accommodation in Kathmandu
trek pack including sleeping bag, down or fibre filled jacket and insulated mat
souvenir World Expeditions kit bag
private transportation
all park entrance fees and trekking permits
porters to carry all personal and group equipment
porter’s insurance
sightseeing in Kathmandu
site entry fees

Trip Excludes

Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu
Bottled water, aerated & alcoholic drinks
Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, etc
Tips
International flights
Airport and departure taxes
Visa
Travel Insurance

Trip ID#: 125920

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Operator

For the specifics on this tour operator, please contact AdventureLink directly.

Can't find the right trip? Design your own!

Our tour operators are happy to assist you in creating just the right trip; fill out the form below and we'll give you a custom quote.

First Name

Last Name

Email address

Telephone number

Where would you like to go?

When would you like to go? month / day / year

How long do you want to go for?

How many people are going?

Is anyone in your party under 18? Yes No

If "Yes", please list their ages

What activities do you want to do?

Enter your price range (From and To price. Provide a departure city if you'd like to include airfare in your quote.)

If you don't want to indicate a price range, tell us how you like to travel

Best available accommodation Highest quality – not necessarily the most expensive Moderate Budget

Please provide us with any additional information you feel will help us design your trip.