The Makalu to Everest Traverse Trek includes three passes, two of them over 6,000m. It traverses the mountain range between Makalu and Everest. This trek combines cross-country trekking with mountaineering (fixed ropes and possible ice axe) to scale the high passes of the “Three Cols” – namely Sherpani Col, West Col and Amphu Labsta. Today this trek forms part of the Great Himalayan Trail, a newly opened up trail which crosses the country from east to west through some of the toughest and most beautiful landscapes. This being one of the most challenging sections of the GHT, an excellent level of fitness is required to complete the long weeks of trekking, the majority of days at altitudes over 4,000 and up to 6,000m.
The latter section of the trek follows the route to Everest Base Camp, from where mountaineering expeditions set off to scale Everest. The trek also visits Gorakshep and Kala Patthar, the viewpoint for Everest, from where the views of the world’s tallest mountain are simply stunning! The Makalu Barun region is one of the largest protected areas in Nepal, home to 3,000 species of flowering plants, including a variety of Himalayan orchids, 440 species of birds and 75 species of mammals. Rare species such as the snow leopard, musk deer and Himalayan Thar live in this pristine environment. This is one of the reasons it has been included in the Sacred Himalayan Landscape initiative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
And not forgetting the once-in-a-lifetime views of the immense mountain vistas of Makalu (8,481m), Everest (8,848m) and Lhotse (8,516m) – which are towering granite cliffs capped with amazing glaciers, and high altitude lakes. This is a journey for those who have the stamina and fitness level to tackle one of the most rewarding and challenging treks in Nepal. The final days of this amazing trip are spent in Namche Bazaar and Lukla – and that’s just the icing on the cake (Or the snow on the glacier!).
| Days | Itinerary | Altitude | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kathmandu To Tumlingtar (Flight) Drive to Chichila | 1980 m | 3 - 4 hr |
| Day 2 | Chichila To Num | 1040 m | 6 - 7 hr |
| Day 3 | Num To Seduwa | 1500 m | 6 - 7 hr |
| Day 4 | Seduwa To Tashi Gaon | 2100 m | 4 - 5 hr |
| Day 5 | Tashi Gaon To Khongma Danda | 3500 m | 6-7 hr |
| Day 6 | Acclimatization Day | 3500 m | 5 hr |
| Day 7 | Khongma Danda To Dobato | 3500 m | 6 - 7 hr |
| Day 8 | Dobato To Yangla Kharka | 3557 m | 6 - 7 hr |
| Day 9 | Yangla Kharka To Langmale Kharka | 4410 m | 5 - 6 hr |
| Day 10 | Langmale Kharka To Makalu Base Camp | 4870 m | 6-7 hr |
| Day 11 | Makalu Base Camp to Swiss Base Camp | 5150 m | 5 - 6 hr |
| Day 12 | Acclimatization Day | 5150 m | 3 hr |
| Day 13 | Swiss Base Camp to Sherpani Col Base Camp | 5688 m | 5 hr |
| Day 14 | Sherpani Col Base Camp to Baruntse Camp | 6050 m | 7 - 8 hr |
| Day 15 | Baruntse Camp to Honku Basin | 5500 m | 4 - 5 hr |
| Day 16 | Honku Basin to Amu Lapcha Base Camp | 5527 m | 5 hr |
| Day 17 | Acclimatization Day | 5527 m | 5 hr |
| Day 18 | Amu Lapcha Base Camp to Chukung | 4730 m | 8 - 9 hr |
| Day 19 | Chukung to Tengboche | 3960 m | 6 hr |
| Day 20 | Tengboche to Monjo | 2700 m | 6 hr |
| Day 21 | Monjo to Lukla | 2840 m | 5 hr |
| Day 22 | Lukla to Kathmandu (Flight) | 1380 m | 40 min |
