Makalu High Pass Trek

Upon reaching the International Airport of Nepal, don’t be confused about where Eco Holidays Nepal staff and guides will receive you for transfer to your hotel in Kathmandu city.

After checking the rooms with refreshing rest, then join in the hotel lobby with other members of Makalu High Pass Adventure trekking for necessary information and briefing regarding the trip.

The evening includes a nice dinner(includes traditional Nepali cuisines) in nice pleasant Nepalese restaurants with folk programs.

Free day in Kathmandu after a jet lag, either relax or join our exciting half-day tour around Kathmandu at places of great interest, is steeped with historical and religious monuments listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Rest of the day preparing for the adventure to Nepal Far North East towards Makalu and at Everest region

Morning is flight time for Tumlingtar to start the trekking transfer from the hotel with a short drive to the domestic airport of Kathmandu; after checking in, board for a super sweeping scenic flight of 45 mins to land at Nepal Far East region at Tumlingtar town airport.

During air, the glorious panorama of the mighty Himalayan peak with views of Everest, Makalu, and Kanchenjunga range.

Landing at Tumlingtar, located on a high shelf from the Arun River with sub-tropical warm temperatures, take a short drive uphill within a patch of Sal forest to reach the large town of Khadbari, headquarter of SankhuwaSabha district within Makalu region.

Here transfer into the best available local lodge with time to browse around this interesting town and bazaar and catch Nepalese cultures and customs with various mixed hill tribes of Eastern Nepal.

From Khadbari town, with pleasant overnight, morning walks lead on a high ridge past many scattered farm villages to reach Mani-Bhanjyang, and then uphill past Bhote Bas, a small farm village, to reach into the cool shade of the forest, and then at Chichila for an overnight stop.

Chichila, a small hill farm village with grand views of Makalu in the far North West direction, enjoy cooler air around mid hills after leaving Tumlingtar and Khadbari.

After this small nice farm village of Chinchilla walk leads to a climb for a short while within the forested area to reach a high ridge, and then on a long downhill to reach another interesting farm village at Num, slowly developing into a town due to construction of motorable road from Tumlingtar and Khadbari since last ten years.

At Num, transfer into a nice lodge or overnight camp in the village yard facing views of Makalu and Jaljala rocky and snow peaks.

The morning starts with an hour-long descent into a gorge of the Arun River, after crossing a bridge steep up to a small farm village of Ramara, a possible lunch break cooked by our camping chef and staff.

An afternoon with a short climb to a high ridge within a cooler hill at Seduwa for overnight camping until our adventure takes you to Chukung around Everest areas.

Seduwa, a small farm village with a series of rice terraces with a local primary school with a small medical post, enjoys views of snowcapped peaks and landscapes.

After Seduwa, a short day walk on the gentle path to Tashi-Gaon, as the route leads on the winding path within farm fields and terraces to reach Tashi Gaon, mostly populated by Sherpa people; this will be the last village for a week on the route high Makalu crossing Sherpani and West Col to reach around Everest region.

From Tashi Gaon, walk into a forest of rhododendron, pines, oak, and birch tree lines within a few temporary settlements of cattle herders; after a gently winding path then, start with a steep climb all the way to reach on top of Kauma danda (danda means high ridge or hilltop)

Overnight camp on top of Kauma rewards you with marvelous views of Kanchenjunga towards the far east and Mt. Makalu in the North.

Morning catching clear mountain views and then start trekking where the route leads into an open area past tree lines for a few hours, heading towards two glacial ponds of Thulo Pokhari and Sano Pokhari (bigger and smaller), and then cross a ridge over Tutu-la pass at 4,075 meters with downhill back in trees to reach at Mumbuk for an overnight camp amid the dense forest.

After Mumbuk, a morning walk descends into Barun Valley, one of the most beautiful and scenic valleys around the Himalayas, an unspoiled pristine region, where only a few trekkers often travel on this remote area of Barun Valley.

Barun Valley is famous for rare wildlife, herbs, and rare species of plants and vegetation; from here walk leads to a slow climb heading North West to camp at Nehe Kharka, a wide field and a grazing area.

From Tashi Gaon onwards, Makalu-Barun National Park and Conservation Area start covering 2,330 sq km until our route leads to Panch Pokhari near Amphu Lapcha Pass within Hongu Valley.

From this nice camp at Nehe Kharka, the morning walk leads to the end of Barun Valley, enclosed within high mountains and rock cliffs, as the morning leads to reach Makalu base camp in a place called Shersong.

The morning starts following the Barun River on a gradual uphill on a wide Barun valley to reach Shersong for overnight camp; from the camp, enjoy marvelous views of Mt. Makalu and Baruntse with Peak IV.

Enjoying time at Shersong, from here leaving the last green vegetation, where the walk leads to climbing over moraine, ice, and glaciers as the climb takes us higher towards a remote, isolated zone to reach and set up our overnight camp at Makalu base camp.

Located close to the snout of Barun glacier and its glacial pond, afternoon rest and preparation for a day of hard climbs from base camp views of Mt. Everest, one of the rare ‘East Face’ known as “the famous Khangsung Face.”

Enjoy a free day with rest after days of continuous walks energetic people can hike to some viewpoint hills for more views of the surrounding mountains of Makalu-Baruntse-Chamlang, including the rare East Face of Everest and Lhotse peaks.

It an important to have rest to support acclimatization before heading towards higher altitude on route to Imjatse Valley around the Everest region via Sherpani and Amphu Labtsa passes.

After base camp starts early morning, where climb takes towards the west o towering Makalu Western Pillar; from this point, take pre-caution with a slow climb as the altitude gains rapidly, following towards a valley ablation of the western side of a glacier that flows from Mt. Baruntse.

Continue climbing to a small valley to a glacier and then on a faint path to reach over a boulder of rocks and ice with strewn ice caves and then set the camp, this area known as Swiss camp or also called  Puja Camp, right beneath Mt. Makalu’s West Pillar.

From here onward, for a few days having pack lunch where one can stop and enjoy having pack lunch prepared by our camping staff and cook.

From Swiss or Puja camp morning leads to steady tough climb towards rocky ridge near Barun peaks west end, then heading to a row of cairns reaching at Sherpani base before the high Col and Pass within a glacial valley for overnight camp.

Another necessary and important leisure day around highest spot of Nepal Himalaya range where one can relax, during rest day our guide and leader will check the route for next day climb and finding safe and possible route towards high Sherpani pass.

The morning starts early at the break of dawn, where the adventure leads to the final assault on leaving the camp heading with flashlights/torch lights to reach Sherpani glacier with an icy snout on three separate Col, provides entrée to a cirque, then choosing the most suitable and reachable routes as climb follows on steep snow covered slope as well fixing ropes as back-up.

From the Col / Pass, all will be roped to cross over a glacier to a rocky ridge at  Sherpani West Col, an exceptional cirque covered by ice to the north-facing Baruntse glaciers, which offers close views of Makalu and the wall of Chamlang peak to the south with Amadablam towards west.

After a hard, arduous climb, descend on the fixed rope towards Hongu Glacier and complete the day with a pleasant walk over snow slopes beneath moraines near Baruntse base camp for overnight camp.

From this remote, isolated camp, the morning starts with a climb to reach Panch Pokhari means “five ponds,” located beneath Amphu Laptsa, pass another high pass to cross to reach Imjatse Valley around Everest and Khumbu region.

The climb continues on rocky moraines to reach a wide area of Upper Hongu Basin close to Kang Leyamura peak at 6,430 meters, following rocky glaciers towards a moraine, then close to Amphu Labtsa pass for an overnight stop at Panch Pokhari, a glacial pond, and at Amphu Labtsa Base Camp.

An early morning starts to cross the last and final pass of the adventure, where a strenuous climb leads to an hour or more on rocks, moraine, and icy slopes to reach the top of Amphu Lapcha.

From the top,, stunning views of Mt. Lhotse South Face, Lhotse Shar with  Island / Imja-tse Peak, after final inspection and checking all members, porters, and staff in case of ill health and sickness due to altitude and tiredness, which is common at this altitude.

At the top, safe descent on ropes to reach the other side of Hongu Valley to reach Imjatse Valley; descend of approx: 150 meters from the top; after a safe adventure, head down, then walk to an ablation valley of Imja glacier around Imjatse Valley within Khumbu of Everest area.

From here, on a pleasant walk to Chukung for an overnight stop in the comfort of a nice cozy lodge.

After a great wonderful adventure around remote high mountains, return journey from here on much easier as the heights lower every few hours on a downhill with a few short ups to Pangboche after walking past a nice large settlement of Dingboche.

From Pangboche, with a pleasant overnight in a nice lodge, head downhill to a bridge where an hour or more climb takes you to the top at the scenic spot of Thyangboche.

A beautiful place surrounded by high mountains with views of Everest, Thyangboche, and its monastery in the middle of an alpine forest full of rhododendron and pine trees, is the visit to the interesting monastery.

After a refreshing morning walk and stop at beautiful Thyangboche journey continues downhill to a river and then climbs for an hour up and then on a good scenic path to Namche Bazaar for an overnight stop before Lukla, at Namche with enough time to browse around the street of Namche with many good shops and stores.

One long day walks on the last day of this adventure to reach Lukla, from Namche walk downhill to a river, then a short climb to Monjo, and from here on a good trail to Phakding village. Then a few hour walks, reach Lukla for a final overnight stop within Everest and Khumbu area.

Morning depart from the lodge, as flight time for Kathmandu and then reach into Tenzing-Hillary airport terminal at Lukla, board in a small aircraft (Dornier-Twin Otter or similar), where short scenic flight brings you at back Kathmandu, and then to your hotel, after most amazing time on Makalu High Pass Adventure trekking.

Finally, all good things must end after a grand, glorious time on the highest journey around the Himalayas with fond memories of Makalu High Pass Adventure Trekking.

Depart from the hotel with the final day in Nepal, a country of Himalayan wonders; our staff and guide will transfer you to Kathmandu international airport for your flight home or to your respective countries.