Makalu Base Camp trek via Shipton La

A challenging trek to the Base Camp of Mount Makalu the world’s fifth highest mountain including crossing of Shipton La. 

Our itinerary has been planned to allow for sufficient acclimatisation to the altitude and to maximise our time around Makalu Base Camp. The trail takes you from the humid lowlands near Tumlingtar on the Arun River through one of the least frequented areas of Nepal to Makalu Base Camp. The trek passes a large diversity of ecosystems and cultures, on lower sections of the trek there are Rai villages and at higher altitudes Sherpa villages.

We cross Shipton La at 4,216m into the remote and beautiful Barun river valley before arriving at Makalu Base Camp. Along the trail there are superb views of the south face of Makalu as well as Everest, Lhotse, Chamlang and Kanchenjunga.  Makalu Barun National Park was established in 1992 as Nepal’s eighth national park covering 2,330 sq km. This area is a remote wilderness containing some of the last remaining areas of pristine forests and alpine meadows in Nepal. The area receives few foreign trekkers due to its relative inaccessibility.

We are planning on organising two trips to Makalu in Spring 2011, this trek will visit Makalu Base Camp and then return to Tumlingtar. The other group will cross the challenging high passes to Everest (Sherpani, West Col & Amphulaptsa), for more information on our Makalu Base Camp to Everest trek