Makalu is the 5th Highest mountain in the world and this is near by the top of the world (Everest). This region is blessed with an incredible diversity of natural beauty and culture. Due to its isolation and lack of tea houses this area still receives few trekkers. Sherpa Rai and Limbus are the main habitants in this area. Walking north of the Arun river to Sedua and Nun, then crossing Barun La(4110m.) into the upper Barun Khola valley for a close look at Makalu(8463m).The second part of the trek is very difficult and almost impossible without previous experience.

Leaving the riverside beyond the sprawling village of Tumlingtar, with its small, grass airstrip, the trail winds up through terraced hillsides to the substantial town of Khandbari with its flag stoned pavements and three-storied, stone-built, shop-houses.

On a clear, crisp morning I scaled the stony, moss-covered hillside above the campsite at Shershon to attain a superb 360 degree view of the surrounding peaks; most unnamed and identified only by their survey numbers. Bounding the glaciated valley to the south arose the ice-hung of Peak 6 ( Mt. Tutse ) and Peak 4 while to the north were the pointed summits of Peaks 3 and 5. However these were all eclipsed by the majestic Makalu with its soaring ridges and sheer granite faces sweeping skywards only a stone's-throw away. Walking across to the western edge of the plateau I looked down to the Barun Pokhari and on up the great glacier to the two other 8000metre giants of Lhotse and Everest.

From Shershon it is only a short distance further up the valley to the site, on wide gravel flats, for the base camps for climbing expeditions to Mt. Makalu. Beyond base camp we followed a faint trail, marked by small cairns, over the rough convoluted moraines of the Barun Glacier to Advanced Base Camp and, next day, accompanied by Lakpa and Dorje, I scrambled up a rocky ridge to a height of some 6000metres directly beneath the imposing north-west face of Makalu.

Highlights :       

Follow the footsteps of the first Westerners to visit Everest.
     Trekking over high passes to the remote eastern valleys.
     Close-up views of the world's highest mountains.
     Continue beyond the Makalu Base Camp crossing 3 high passes
     
Normal Weather Conditions :       Be well prepared against coldness and very often the rains
Accommodation :       Give priority to Camping / Local Lodges not found everywhere
Medical / Emergency Facilities :       Better to carry own First - Aid Kit while trekking.
 
Communication Facilities :       Telephones available at Tumlingtar, trek starting point.
Rescue Operations :       Helicopter Flights from Kathmandu (Normally within 01½ hrs)
Guidebook(s) :       Trekking in Nepal Himalaya - Lonely Planet
Season(s) :       Spring: March - June / Autumn: September - November

Itinerary / Trip Details.

Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu & Transfer to Hotel. (See the Hotels we use).
Day 02: Full day guided sightseeing around of the Kathmandu valley.Join us for the welcome dinner at evening. Hotel Overnight.
Day 03: Flight: Kathmandu - Tumlingtar (860 m).Trek to Khadbari (1,040m) (4 hrs). Camp
Day 04: Trek Khadbari to Chichila (1,830 m) (5/6 hrs). Camp
Day 05: Trek Chichila to Num (1,490 m) (5 hrs). Camp
Day 06: Trek Num to Sedua (1,460 m) (5/6 hrs). Camp
Day 07: Trek Sedua to Tashi Gaon (2,070 m) (5 hrs). Camp
Day 08: Trek Tashi Gaon to Kauma (3,470 m) (6 hrs). Camp
Day 09: Rest / Exploration day at Kauma. Camp
Day 10: Trek Kauma to Mumbuk  (3,570 m) (5 hrs). Camp
Day 11: Trek Mumbuk to Nhe Kharka  (3,000 m) (6 hrs). Camp
Day 12: Trek Nhe Kharka to Sherson (4,615 m) (7 hrs). Camp
Day 13: Trek Sherson to Makalu Base Camp (5,000 m) (4/5 hrs). Camp
Day 14: Explore Makalu Base Camp.
Day 15: Trek Makalu Base Camp to Nhe Kharka (3,000 m) (7 hrs). Camp
Day 16: Trek Nhe kharka to Mumbuk (3,570 m) (6 hrs). Camp
Day 17: Trek Mumbuk to Kauma (3,470m) (5 hrs). Camp
Day 18: Trek Kauma to Tashi Gaon (2,070 m) (5 hrs). Camp
Day 19: Trek Tashi Gaun to Pukuwa (1,520 m) (6 hrs). Camp
Day 20: Trek Pukuwa to Bumling (1,160 m) (5 hrs). Camp
Day 21: Trek Bumling to Tumlingtar (860 m) (4 hrs). Camp.
Day 22: Flight: Tumlingtar - Kathmandu. Hotel Overnight.
Day 23: Free day to explore, and enjoy Kathmandu. Hotel Overnight.
Day 24: Final Departure.

NOTE: iF YOU ARE INTERESTED, WE OPERATE THIS TREKKING TRIP IN LIGHT CAMPING BASED. pLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU ARE INTERESTED ON THIS SERVICE.

Arun Valley Trekking

Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu (A)
Day 02: Sight seeing in Kathmandu valley (A, B)
Day 03: Kathmandu – Hile Drive (A, B, L, D)
Day 04: Hile – Surtibari (A, B, L, D)
Day 05: Surtibari – Tumlingtar (A, B, L, D)
Day 06: Tumlingtar – Baluwa (A, B, L, D)
Day 07: Baluwa – Duane (A, B, L, D)
Day 08:  Duane – Chyaksila (A, B, L, D)
Day 09: Chyaksila- Sonam (A, B, L, D)
Day 10: Sonam – Gudel (A, B, L, D)
Day 11: Gudel – Najidingma (A, B, L, D)
Day 12: Najidingma – Pangum (A, B, L, D)
Day 13: Pangum- Paiya (A, B, L, D)
Day 14: Paiya – Lukla (A, B, L, D)
Day 15: Lukla to Kathmandu flight (A, B, L)
Day 16: Rest in Kathmandu (A, B)
Day 17: Departure from Kathmandu (B)

(Abbreviation: A - Accommodation, B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner)