Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world (8463m/ 27,766ft). It is spans five major ecological zones where can be found the lush, tropical Arun Valley, dense forests or rhododendron and fir and alpine meadows that lead to the mighty Barun glacier. It’s considered one of the toughest 8000m peaks to climb – even the great Edmund Hillary failed twice.
The camping trail to Makalu Base Camp from the south is considered one of the tougher routes in Nepal. The Makalu Base camp trek is a true adventure with scenery so beautiful that it will never tire you.This is even more the case if you intend to trek the Great Himalaya Trail from Kanchenjunga over to Everest: be prepared for a combination of cross-country and mountaineering to cross into the upper Barun Valley and then over the high passes of the gruelling Three Cols, which take you to almost 6200m.You may well wonder why you have the views all to yourself – something to ask the indigenous groups of Rai, Limbu, Sherpa and Lhomi people you will encounter lower down.
The Makalu region is known for its heavy rains and snow, so hiking is best done in the autumn months of October and November. But don’t wait too long – with a major hydropower project in the works, trek Makalu now before it changes forever.
