MAKALU BASE CAMP TREK IN NEPAL

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MAKALU BASE CAMP TREK IN NEPAL INTRODUCTION Makalu Base Camp Trek is a 22-day trek which is perfect for trekkers who are looking to spend their time enjoying the natural beauty far away from their busy life.

The base camp trek containing the fifth highest mountain in the world is one of the treks which is less known and frequently visited by tourists due to its relative inaccessibility.

The region which was completely known to the outside world in 1952 is not too hard to reach, as there are daily flights to Tumlingtar, which is a few hours away from the inaugurating point of the trek.

This ideal trek seems basically made for nature-loving trekkers who seek to find an opportunity to rejoice in a variety of landscapes and cultures.

Makalu base camp trek bestows us golden chance to feel ecstasy through natural beauty represented by terraced farmland, rhododendron forests, cloud forests, cliffs, glaciers, snow-capped mountains, as well as through diversities in culture, tradition, festivals of the different ethnic group found predominantly in the hills of eastern Nepal.

Makalu National Park You also stumble upon Makalu Barun National Park, eighth largest in Nepal, covering 2,330 sq. Km, on the route to Makalu base camp. Makalu national park is very famous for its rarest flora and fauna, including the red panda, snow leopard, and others.

I visited Makalu base camp which took nearly a month last year, and this trekking is one of the most exciting moments of my life as it welcomed me with warm hospitality, made me enjoy myself in natural habitat, allowed me to challenge month equivalent of hard work, enlightened me about the ethnic diversity in Nepal, filled me refreshing and precious memories, and enriched my experience.

THE ROUTE TO MAKALU BASE CAMP The trekking to Makalu base camp can be done through the following routes: 1. ARRIVAL IN KATHMANDU If you’re staying outside the valley, then you first need to arrive in Kathmandu. You can book any flight to visit Kathmandu as there are daily flights from all over the world to Kathmandu.

2. KATHMANDU SIGHTSEEING After you arrive in Kathmandu, it is recommended that you go sightseeing. There are lots of places in Kathmandu which are suitable for sightseeing. You can fight lots of cultural heritages, national heritages, religious places, markets, restaurants suitable for your palates, durbar squares, and others.

3. FLY FROM KATHMANDU TO TUMLINGTAR THEN DRIVE TO CHICHILA From Kathmandu after sightseeing, you can take a domestic flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar, which is of about 50 mins flight and then can drive to Chichila, which is of about 3 to 4 hours drive. Chichila is the starting point of our trekking.

4. CHICHIRA TO NUM The first day of trekking includes trekking to 1,490m altitude, which is estimated to take 6 to 7 hours. However, there will not be any single moment where you will feel boredom as the route takes you through picturesque villages and lush forests of the foothills.

5. NUM TO SEDUWA From Num, you then trek to Seduwa. During this trek, you have to descent to an altitude of 1,460m as Seduwa lies on the opposite side of a valley, which takes 6 to 7 hours.

6. SEDUWA TO TASHIGAON From the Seduwa village, you will need then ascent to an altitude of 2,100m. During this, you will pass through hillside and villages. I still remember the clear views of people toiling to plow the land. After you reach Tashigaon, you can get some rest at teahouses.

7. TASHI GAON TO KHONGMA DANDA

Makalu Base Camp Lake After the Tashigaon, real ascension begins as you trek to Khongma Danda at an elevation of 3,500m height. As you keep on ascending, you will come to notice small plants and rhododendrons if your trekking in the spring season at the foothill of mountains.

8. ACCLIMATIZATION/REST Since you begin to gain height, you may start to feel the symptoms of altitude sickness. Thus it is better to take the day off and rest, which is hard-earned by you.

It is recommended to go for a stroll rather than sleeping all day, which will help to be more acclimatize.

9. CLIMB OVER THE SHIPTON LA AND DESCEND TO DOBATE From the Tashi gaon, you head towards Dobate. However, you have to pass through Shipton La at an altitude of 4,257m. After reaching Shipton La, you then descend to Dobate at 3,865m height.

10. DOBATE TO YANGRI KHARKA From Dobate, you have to descend steeply to reach Arun river, and from there, we trek to Yangri Kharka.

11. YANGRI KHARKA TO LANGMALE KHARKA 12. LANGMALE KHARKA TO MAKALU BASE CAMP Langmale Kharka consists of a beautiful warm, welcoming village. You can find there yak dung, boulders, etc.

13. EXPLORE MAKALU BASE CAMP After you reach Makalu base camp, you can enjoy the beauties of snowcapped mountains and 14. MAKALU BASE CAMP TO TUMLINGTAR 15. TUMLINGTAR TO KATHMANDU 16. FINAL DEPARTURE

BEST TIME TO TREK The spring season that lies in March to May and fall that lies from September to November are considered as the best seasons for Makalu Base Camp trek.

The fact that the weather being very fine and the temperatures being fair and moderate cannot be overlooked to consider these seasons as best to trek. During my trek to Makalu, it was spring season. Recalling now, I am more than happy that I chose this season as it was the time when beautiful flowers like rhododendrons were blooming, and there was greenery everywhere along with clear sky adding a cherry on top of the cream.

Makalu Mountain Trek Trekking in the winter season is also possible; however, due to the cold temperatures, few numbers of lodges, and teahouses that are poorly equipped, it is highly recommended that you do not plan your trekking in winter.

Summer can also be taken as not so good season for trekking to Makalu base camp.

The sky is cloudy; there are chances of heavy rain and heavy wind every day, are some of the reasons due to which you should avoid trekking in summer. Likewise, while traveling through the forest, wet and damp weather causes the problem of leeches, and there is also a high chance of suffering from common cold and fever due to wet clothes and long duration for trekking.

TRIP ATTRACTION 1. VIEW OF EVEREST FROM A UNIQUE ANGLE You get to catch a glimpse of Everest from an unusual angle, which is quite fascinating and surreal. I have trekked to different base camp and had viewed Sagarmatha, which was splendid in every occasion, but the view provided

by Makalu base camp is one of its kind.

2. VIEW OF EASTERN NEPAL Makalu base camp being at a significant elevation, provides you the views of eastern Nepal, which is otherworldly. You get to see beautiful landscapes, forests, and inhabitation of people.

3. NATURAL DIVERSITIES

Makalu Red Panda Makalu base camp route possesses exciting natural features capable of making our mind go numb from ecstasy through beautiful green terraced farmland, glaciers, waterfalls, mountain ranges, and others 4. ETHNIC DIVERSITIES In this region, you can find ethnic diversities. You can learn and participate in the lifestyle and culture of Sherpa and Rai communities. When I had my visit, I experienced the best hospitality that I had experienced until then. From the hospitality that they portrayed, they seem to realize their ideals of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava,’ which is to say guests are god.

5. MAKALU NATIONAL PARK In this region, you can also visit Makalu national park, which inhabits lots of plants and animals, including the Red Panda. In my visit to Makalu national park, I was thrilled to see red pandas. Other animals that are inhabited by this national park are snow Leopard, wild boar, Himalayan black bear, etc. Likewise, the plants that can be found in this region are rhododendrons, maples, pines, oaks, etc.

THINGS CAMP

TO

PREPARE

FOR

MAKALU

BASE

As we are ready to trek to Pikey peak, there are few things required to be prepared beforehand.

1. HIKING CLOTHES

Makalu base camp trek is nearly a month long. So you should pack sufficient hiking clothes which are light and easy to move enough for whole months. They help conduct hiking in a comfortable manner.

2. NON-HIKING CLOTHING Non-hiking clothes should also be packed, which are to be worn during leisure time such as at teahouses while going for a stroll and so on. These clothes should be warm and comfortable. In case you trek during winter, it is highly recommended to pack multiple jackets and extra spare clothes.

3. MEDICINES AND AIDS Medicines and aids should be compulsory be taken. The medicines for altitude sickness, fever, headache, common cold should be taken. Likewise, you should also take a small first aid kit consisting of simple band-aids, Dettol, antiseptics, and others that come in handy during trekking.

4. MONEY It is highly.recommended that you take some extra cash during your trek. Nobody knows what might happen and what kind of problem we may face. So it wise to make some extra money in case you encounter some unexpected circumstances.

5. SLEEPING BAG You should also pack some sleeping bags. Sleeping bags save your day when you have to compromise with less equipped teahouses and lodges.

6. SNACKS Snacks are the perfect means for replenishing your energy and improve your tiresome mood during trekking. So you should pack some snacks for trekking.

7. LARGE BACKPACK Backpacks should also be taken, given that they help you to carry goods into the trek and while returning from the trek.