Day 01: Arrive at Kathmandu 1,300m and transfer to Hotel.
On arrival in Kathmandu International Airport meet our GA staff for complementary transport to respective Hotels, where our guide will give you a briefing of the Hotel, Kathmandu, Trekking / Camping, do’s and don’ts and other related information in Nepal.
Day 02: Half day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu
Early morning, after breakfast, you will be taken for a cultural tour of Kathmandu city. Some of the main highlights will be Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar.
Day 03: Fly to Tumlingtar (950m) 40 minutes’ flight and camp.
After breakfast, take a bus to the domestic terminal of Kathmandu Airport for the approx 40 minutes scenic flight to Tumlingtar overlooking range of snow capped peaks from Langtang all the way to Mt.Everest, Makalau & Mt. Kanchenjunga,
Tumlingtar airport and its village town situated on a shelf above the Arun River, hereo meet our trekking crew and porters, away in the distance view of Mt.Makalu overnight Camp in Tumlingtar near the village with time for short walk around the villages.
Day 04: Drive to Chinchilla (1,800m) via Mani-Bhanjyang (1,200m) 4 hrs.
Trip starts with a pleasant drive for 4 hours through the farm fields and villages, on leaving the suburb of Tumlingtar, the road climbs gradually towards Khadbari in the midst of the sub-tropical forest of Sal (Sorea-Robusta) and more farm fields along the way, then reaching at Khadbari a major town village and a headquarter of the Sankha Shaba and Makalu region. A busy bazaar, especially on Saturday market day, from Khadbari the trail is gradual with few ups and down till it reaches the village of Manibhanjang, ascending the ridge on this dirt road to the small ridge-top village of Chinchilla. On route, passing through fertile farmed land, and verdant rain forest, with thick undergrowth and many types of ferns. Chinchilla a small farm village with 6-8 houses with a superb view of Mt.Makalu 8,463m and the Khumbukarna mountain range.
Day 05: Trek to Num (1,500m) 5 – 6 hours.
Morning a good view of Makalu and its satellite peaks, from this magical spot of Chinchilla, perched high above the surrounding countryside.
The walk to Num leads through the cool and serene forest of rhododendron, oaks and hemlocks then climb to the ridge top, from the ridge top it is almost downhill for two hours to the overnight camp at Num. Num a small village with about fifteen houses and a primary school on the large flat ground, from where one can have good view of the route for the next couple of days. Opposite, across the Arun River, is the village of Sedua, our camping place for the next day.
Day 06: Trek to Sedua (1,493m.) Approx: 5 hours.
From Num setting off down the incredibly steep and terraced slopes towards the Arun River, nearly 800 meters below. The lower slopes of this narrow valley are densely forested and the paths are quite slippery, after reaching the bottom, then crossing the suspension bridge across the torrential Arun River, at the height of 670 meters, start the climb and out of the rain forest, reaching the lunch place at Runruma. After lunch, a steep climb takes up to Sedua, a village with a small health post and a primary school, overnight camp near the schoolyard.
Day 07: Trek to Tashi Gaon(2,200m)Approx 3 – 4 hours.
The trek to Tashi-Gaon is a short walk of three to four hours probably with lunch and camp on the same spot. The walk takes you to more rural farm villages, on the gradual trail through the farm fields and terraces, as we come near to Tashi Gaon, it’s an uphill climb for one hour through the millet and rice fields. Tashi Gaon is a Sherpa village, unlike the Sherpa of Everest, they are bit different in the way they live in, the dress and the house they live in, being settled in the low warm areas they are engaged more in agriculture and cattle raising. In the afternoon you will have time to wander around.
Day 08: Rest day at Tashi Gaon.
A rest day for acclimatization and local hike around, giving a good time for the porters to rest and to re-supply their ration before the walk to Barun and Makalu area, as Tashi Goan is the last village for more than a week.
Day 09: Trek to Kohma Danda. Approx 3,500m. 5 – 6 hours walk
Tashi Gaon is the last village on-route to Makalu basin, after this village the walk is refreshing for an hour and a half in the beautiful shade of the rhododendron and oaks forest, after leaving the dense forest coming to a summer pastures with traces of temporary made shepherd huts, from here onwards to Kohama ridge with a strenuous uphill climb, as the tree lines declines for the bushes of rhododendron and juniper, after the climb coming to an open area of Kohama danda for the overnight camp. From this spot a grand view of the distance 3rd highest mountain Kanchenjunga, Mt. Makalu towards North West. From here onwards you can feel the cold chill of the Himalayas.
Day 10: Trek to Mumbuk (3,400m) 6 hours walk
With the wonderful morning and the superb views of the surrounding landscapes and snow capped peaks, trek follows a gradual trail with few ups and down passing through the Thulo Pokhari (big pond) and Sano Pokhari(small pond).
In the heavy snow, the path from here can be quite misleading and it will be arduous to find the trail sometime, from the last pond cross the pass of Tutu-la at 4,075m. Here onwards it is all downhill and back to vegetation, reaching the camp at Mumbuk, a small clearing place for camping in the middle of the woods of pines, hemlock, birch and rhododendrons.
Day 11: Trek to Nehe Kharka (3,750m) 6 hours.
The camp being in the shade of the tree, the view of the Khumbukarna can be seen through the vegetation of the tree lines, the walk from here is downhill to the enclosed and concealed Barun Valley, one of the least explored area in the eastern Himalayan region of Nepal. This unique landscapes within the Makalu-Barun National Park are some 3,000 species of flowering plants, 440 bird species and 75 species of mammals, including the endangers clouded leopard, red panda and musk deer. The remarkable bio-diversity is considered to be a global significance and provides a living laboratory for international scientific research. Reach the lush alpine area of Barun Valley the walk is very pleasant with gradual uphill slopes, following the Barun river upstream on the valley gorge towards our camp at Nehe-Kharka one of the summer pastures for the local folks of Tashi and Navagoan, camp on the meadow.
Day 12: Trek to Sherson (4,600m) 6 hours walk.
A little beyond the camp cross Barun river by way of couple of wooden bridges, which make use of conveniently situated boulders.
Sherson is also the lower base camp of Mt.Makalu. There are number of stone enclosures at this high grazing ground with outstanding view of host of peaks, including the upper part of Makalu south face, and Mt.Baruntse 7,220m peeking above peak 4.
Day 13: At Sherson for acclimatization and day hike.
A free day for hike and free from the hassle of packing, around Sherson there are many interesting hike and view points to explore, the most scenic walk would be taking a hike on the right side of the camp above for the closer view of Mt. Makalu, Barun Pokhari and the view of the rare face of Everest the Kanshung face with Lhotse nearby, an hour of steep up brings you to the large meadow where you can walk further up to have a greater view of the peaks of this area and beyond.
Day 14: Trek to High Makalau Base Camp 4,800m. 2 – 3 hrs.
From Sherson, continue to isolated area towards the higher base camp, which is less than three hour trek above Sherson, at the snout of the Barun glacier, near its glacial pond, on arriving at the camp afternoon free for short hike above this camp, a climb on the moraine ridge, for more spectacular views of Mt.Makalu, and of the usual hidden east sides of Lhotse and Everest, which looms above the Barun glacier to the North West. We will spend rest of the afternoon at leisure and preparing for the next big adventure. Some of the porters will set off back with equipment which we do not need to take with us making the load as light as possible to overcome the traverse over Sherpani Col and beyond.
Day 15: Trek to Higher Camp 5,200m. 4 – 5 hrs.
The journey from here heads westwards to camp just below Makalu west pillar, as the altitude gains slowly, we take our time with enough breaks in this high terrain our walk follows a path which climbs an ablation valley on the west side of the Barun glacier. Following this valley onto the glacier we make our way over the boulder-strewn caves and ice to a camp known as Puja Camp below the towering Mt. Makalau’s West Pillar. Our strenuous trek on the glacier is rewarded with unique views of Lhotse and the rare Kangshung face of Everest.
Day 16: On route Camp at 5, 700m. 4 – 5 hrs.
Leaving our camp the path follows to a steep climb up the rocky slopes of the Barun’s west bank, until a line of cairns leads us into the valley where two small glaciers are fed by the slopes of the Sherpani Col. We will make our camp beneath the ice cliffs at the terminus of these two glaciers after 4-5 hours of vigorous climb.
Day 17: Rest day and prepare for the hard climb.
An important rest day for acclimatization before the hard high climb and steep descent. At this altitude offers superb views of the giant West Face and West Pillar of Makalu. Here our expert guides will check the route and make the pass accessible by fixing ropes on route pass.
Day 18: Trek & Camp on the Moraine 5,640m after crossing Sherpani col.
The big day! Leaving the camp before dawn, we climb on the icy snout of the Sherpani Glacier, three separate Col’s give access to the Cirque, we will choose the most appropriate of these routes, according to the prevailing conditions, our climb follows on steep snow-covered slopes, with the back-up of the fixed ropes which we had set up on the previous day. From the Col we will rope up to cross the glacier to the rocky crest of the West Col. This stunning cirque is framed by the sweep of Baruntse’s icy ridges to the north, the vast cliffs of Makalu, the wall of Chamlang to the south and the shapely spire of Ama Dablam ahead of us to the west. We will be having our packed lunch on the world’s highest picnic spots, in the meantime our guides will scout the safe route down the West Col. After a break a descent from the Colon fixed lines leads us to the Hongu Glacier, and end our long hard day with a gradual walk over snow slopes down to our camp on the moraine.
Day 19: Trek to Panch Pokhari 5,480m. 4 – 5 hrs.
Our journey leads to our next adventure over the Amphu Laptsa before we head towards the main busy trail of Lukla, Namche Bazaar, and Thyangboche. Walk follows across the wide reaches of the upper Hongu Basin towards Kang Leyamura a 6,430 m peak to the west. Following the rocky glacier in the beginning, then towards old and more recent moraine deposits, we reach the beautiful Panch Pokhari meaning ‘five ponds’ and make our camp near to the largest pond at the foot of our final pass Amphu Labtsa 5,780m.
Day 20: Cross Amphu Labtsa pass 5,780m trek to Chukung 4,730m 7 – 8 hrs.
Another big day, an early start from the camp for 2-3 hrs trek leads to the top of the pass, from the pass overlooking stunning views of the impressive south face of Lhotse and Lhotse shar and the summit of Island or Imajatse Peaks which looks as if it could almost be even lower than our vantage point. As soon the kitchen staffs and porters arrive at the pass, they will be lowered the 150 meters to the relatively less steep ground below the pass. Similarly, loads have to be carefully lowered, after checking every member in the group we slowly and carefully descend with the help of ropes and ice axe if required, then reaching the safe side from the pass by early afternoon everybody should be off the snow. Once in the safe ground away from the snow and ice area, an hour or more walk will take us to the ablation valley by the side of the Imja Glacier, now being within the Imja-tse valley walking will be more or less easier most of the way to the trekkers civilization at Chukung a temporary settlement with 5-6 teahouse and lodges.
Day 21: Trek to Thyangboche 3, 867m. 6 hrs.
After the hard couple of days over the two high hidden pass in between the massif peaks, our route from here leads to a pleasant walk on the downhill slope to Dingboche and Pangboche village before Thyangboche.
From Pheriche a short walk brings you to the bridge, after the bridge it is nearly downhill all the way with few ups in between Pangboche and Thyangboche, on reaching the bridge back to the tree-lines and green vegetation, an hour up to Thyangboche for the overnight stop.
Day 22: Trek to Monjo. 2,835m. Approx: 5 – 6 hrs.
Retrace the journey back to Namche Bazaar on the downhill and gradual path.
After Namche Bazaar down hill walk most of the way to Monjo for the overnight, Monjo village located near Sagarmatha National Park Entrance.
Day 23: Trek to Lukla 4 – 5 hrs walk.
Today the end of this great adventure trekking back to Lukla, a leisure and pleasant walk, with few short up-hills to encounter. On reaching at Lukla, last dinner with the fellow Sherpa guides and porters.
Day 24: Fly Lukla-Kathmandu.
As per the flight time, (sometimes the flight delays due to bad weather and other technical reason). Check-in for the scenic flight to Kathmandu with panoramic views of high mountains during 30 minutes flight. On arrival at the domestic terminal, GA staffs transfer you back to the Hotel.
Day 25: Transfer to Airport for the International departure.
Today as per your international flight time, keep your confirmed air ticket, Great Adventure Trek staff will transfer you to the International airport for your final departure from Nepal, the land of high Himalayas.
SAGARMATHA NATIONAL PARK
AREA (1,148 SQ. KMS.)
LOCATION: Sagarmatha National Park is located to the Northeast of Kathmandu in the Khumbu region of Nepal. The park includes the highest peak in the world,
Mt.Sagarmatha (Everest), and several other well-known peaks such as Lhotse, Nuptse, Cho Oyo, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Thermasarkhu, Kwangde, Khangtiaga and Gyachung Kang. The park was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.
FEATURES: The Mountains of Sagarmatha National Park are geologically young and broken up by deep gorges and glacial valleys. Vegetation includes pine and hemlock forests at lower altitudes, fir, juniper, birch and rhododendron woods, scrub and alpine plant communities, and bare rock and snow.
The famed bloom of rhododendrons occurs during spring (April and May) although other flora is mostly colourful during the monsoon season (June to August)
Wild animals most likely to be seen in the park are the Himalayan thar, ghoral, serow and musk deer. The snow leopard and Himalayan black bear are present but rarely sighted, other mammals rarely seen are the weasel, marten, Himalayan mouse hare (pika), and jackal and languor monkey.
The park is populated by approximately 3,000 of the famed Sherpa people whose lives are interwoven with the teaching of Buddhism. The main settlements are Namche Bazaar, Khumjung, Khunde, Thame, Thyangboche, Pangboche and Phortse. The economy of the Khumbu Sherpa community has traditionally been heavily based on trade and livestock herding.
But with the coming of international mountaineering expeditions since 1950 and the influx of foreign trekkers, the Sherpa economy today is becoming increasingly dependent on tourism.
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Makalu & Sherpani Pass
