The climb to the base camp of Makalu, the fifth-highest peak in the world (8,481m), is less popular due to its relative difficulty. There are daily flights to Tumlingtar, which is a few hours’ drive from the trailhead, and inexpensive lodges along the road, so getting there isn’t too difficult. The Makalu Base Camp walk is a great option for those who enjoy the outdoors and wish to see a range of landscapes, cultures, and unusual views of some of the highest mountains in the world, including Everest.
The Rai people, an ethnic group mostly located in the highlands of eastern Nepal, are the first inhabitants of the warm, terraced fields where the walk begins. You will go through some of the last remaining untouched forest and alpine meadows in Nepal as you rise, passing through rhododendron woods (particularly beautiful in the spring when the flowers blossom in amazing red, purple, pink, and white) and cloud forests. The Barun River Valley is followed by sheer granite cliffs, glaciers, and breathtaking waterfalls as you continue further into the mountains. The Sherpa people, a Tibetan ethnic group that mostly dwell close to Everest, live at higher heights.
The seldom viewed Kangshung face of Everest, as well as Lhotse, Chamlang, and Kanchenjunga in the far east, are all magnificently seen from Makalu Base Camp. With a total area of 2,330 square kilometers, Makalu Barun National Park is the eighth-largest in Nepal and is home to some of the country’s rarest plants and animals, including the Red Panda.