| Day |
Route |
Duration |
Highest Point/m |
Grade |
| 1 |
Arrival Kathmandu transfer to Hotel |
All day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Meet with our representative at the
airport. Drive to hotel. |
| 2 |
Kathmandu |
All day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Sightseeing Day see Kathmandu Day Trips for ideas
of what to do. |
| 3 |
Kathmandu -Tumlingtar - Khandbari |
4 hours |
1070 |
Easy |
| |
After flying to Tumlingtar's
grass airstrip we walk north to the Newar bazaar village of
Khandbari. The Makalu-Barun National park office is here along
with a major market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. |
| 4 |
Khandbari – Chichira |
6 hours |
1800 |
Easy |
| |
We walk through many small picturesque
villages, occasionally on steep trails to reach the crest of
a ridge and further, Chichira. There are some great views along
this ridge and a convenient signboard names the peaks that can
be seen in panorama. |
| 5 |
Chichira – Num |
6 hours |
1500 |
Easy |
| |
There are great views this morning
of the distant Makalu and the surrounding snow-capped peaks
as our trail begins to descend through stunning broadleaf
deciduous forest, with moss everywhere. Our trail is an ancient
trading route connecting the Arun valley to the Terai. |
| 6 |
Num – Sedua (Navagaon) |
5 hours |
1525 |
Moderate |
| |
Our day begins with a steep descent
through rampant jungle to an impressive suspension bridge over
the Arun Khola (river). Downstream from here is some of Nepal's
most exhilarating rafting and kayaking. We climb the western
side of the valley to Sedua where our permits will be checked
again and we will camp for the night. |
| 7 |
Sedua (Navagaon) – Tashigoan |
5 hours |
2090 |
Easy |
| |
We now enter Sherpa country as we
climb a ridge separating the Ipsuwa and Kasuwa Kholas to Tashigaon.
This is the last permanently inhabited village in the region
and we will stock up on fuel and other essentials here. |
| 8 |
Tashigoan – Khonma Danda |
8 hours |
3480 |
Hard |
| |
The trail heads through some of the
most impressive cloud forest in Nepal as we climb towards the
ridge above us. We will take our time here as the orchids growing
amongst the moss can be splendid. We will have a packed lunch
today as there is no water available until camp. |
| 9 |
Khoma Danda - Mumbuk |
8 hours |
4429 |
Moderate |
| |
Today is the toughest day
on the trek so far and we must all be on the lookout for altitude-sickness
symptoms in the party. Our day begins by continuing along
the ridge past the prayer flag covered Gongru La with views
of Makalu, Chamlang, Baruntse, Kangchenjunga, and Jannu. A
small lake reflects Peaks 6 and 7 in its waters but we cannot
linger. We now ascend the first major pass, Barun La or Shipton's
Pass (4429m) and descend to another picturesque lake before
climbing the second pass of the day, the Keke La (4183m) and
enjoy the amazing views of mountains and Tibet. From the pass
we descend through rhododendron and fir forest, and our camp
for the night at 3565m.
|
| 10 |
Mumbuk - Negh Kharaka |
6 hours |
3710 |
Moderate |
| |
We are now well into the
Barun valley, a wild desolate place where the mythical yeti
roams. Our trail is rough today as we have to cross some active
slide and avalanche fans. Our camp is beneath a cave, high
up the mountainside above us where the legendary Guru Rinpoche
meditated - a pilgrimage site on the August full-moon for
those wanting to bear children. |
| 11 |
Negh Kharka - Shershong |
5 hours |
4710 |
Moderate |
| |
This is an alpine paradise;
enormous boulders seem tiny against the massive peaks surrounding
us. Waterfalls cascade around the valley feeding the angry
Barun Khola. We take our time ascending the valley, planning
exploratory trips for the next couple of days.
|
| 12 |
Shershong – Makalu Base Camp |
2 hours |
4825 |
Easy to Energetic |
| |
Today and tomorrow we will
explore the many ridges and Barun glacier for views of Makalu's
immense 2-mile-high south face, along with the east face of
Everest (a rarely seen sight by trekkers) and the magnificent
Chamlang. Our time in this superb mountain cauldron is largely
unplanned, allowing us to explore at will.
|
| 13 |
Makalu Base Camp |
all day |
4825 |
|
| |
Rest and exploration day
– ice falls, glaciers, massive mountains surround us
and today we’ll make the most it! |
| 14 |
MBC – Mumbuk |
7 hours |
3710 |
Moderate |
| |
A long day of retracing our
steps today, but we are now acclimatised and the increasing
oxygen level fills us with strength. And the views we have
a hazy memory of from our trek over Shipton Pass inspire us
to relive the moment.
|
| 15 |
Mumbuk – Tashigaon |
6 hours |
3480 |
Easy |
| |
What a great place this is! With
a little time on our side we can truly appreciate the stunning
beauty of the high Himalaya. So it is with some regret that
we tear ourselves away from the Barun Valley and head down towards
civilisation.
|
| 16 |
Tashigoan - Bumlingtar |
7 hours |
402 |
Easy |
| |
We now follow the verdant Arun Valley
gorge's west bank passing through villages and always aware
of the power of one of Nepal's great rivers beneath us. As we
descend further and further the heat increases so that by the
time we reach our camp everyone will be refreshing themselves
in the freezing river water near our camp!
NOTE: Two days from here to Kathmandu via Tumlingtar.
|
| 17 |
Bumlingtar - Sisuwater |
5 hours |
695 |
Easy |
| |
|
|
|
|
| 18 |
Sisuwater – Chitre |
5 hours |
2300 |
Easy |
| |
A long trudge up hill is made easier
as the air cools and the views of mountains begin to appear
again as we head for the Sherpa village of Chitre. |
| 19 |
Chitre - Chheskam |
8 hours |
3913 |
Easy |
| |
Our day begins with a long slog up
to the Kemba La where the mountains crowd the northern skyline.
All our favourites are there, Chamlang in front and the bulk
of Makalu looming behind. Then it's a steep descent to the hamlet
of Chheskam and the junction with the Hinku Khola. NOTE: can
climb Mera peak from here add 10 days. |
| 20 |
Chheskam - Gai Kharka |
5 hours |
3085 |
Easy |
| |
This is a surprisingly remote and
unvisited part of the region, something that we have become
used to, although we know that the crowds of the Everest trail
are now not far away. After crossing the Surki La our camp site
is nearby a few basic dwellings, without a trekker in sight. |
| 21 |
Gai Kharka – Kharte |
5 hours |
3175 |
Easy |
| |
We ascend our final pass, the Pangkongma
La and enter the Everest region. There already seems to be more
people about, although we won't hit the main Everest trail from
Jiri until tomorrow. So we make the most of it and party hard
tonight to celebrate the end of the trek. |
| 22 |
Kharte – Lukla |
4 hours |
2846 |
Easy |
| |
As we approach Lukla it is hard to
believe that we are in the same country. We wonder to ourselves,
why do all these trekkers just go to the same places? We want
to point over the hills and shout 'go over there it's great!'
But then if we did perhaps it wouldn't be so great. We enjoy
a last party in the lodges of Lukla where the beer is really
cold and menus are thrust at us to choose from. |
| 23 |
Lukla - Kathmandu |
all day |
1300 |
Easy |
| |
Final Day end of trek debrief and
departure. |
| 24 |
Free day in Kathmandu. |
|
|
|
