Trek to the Makalu base camp of the world's fifth highest mountain takes place in the Makalu Barun National Park, a place of outstanding natural beauty, which is recognized internationally for the diversity of its flora and faun

a. Due to its relative inaccessibility, it is little-known to tourists and few trekking groups visit. The region was completely closed to the outside world until 1952 when Eric Shipton visited, crossing what became known as the Shipton La (4,220m). A few years later, in 1955, a French team trekked this route to base camp and climbed Makalu via its North West Ridge, the same route that a Jagged Globe team climbed to the summit in spring 2011.

The trek begins in Tumlingtar at an altitude of 400m to reach a high point ten days later of 5,500m below the South East Ridge of Makalu. From a view point above base camp you can enjoy a superb panorama of some of the world's highest mountains, including Everest (8,850m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,463m), Chamlang (7,319m) and Baruntse (7,220m). The trekking route is populated by a diverse cross-section of Nepali peoples, many of whom live in isolated villages and rely on subsistence farming for their livelihoods. It is therefore a culturally rich experience and one that would suit those returning to Nepal having completed a previous trek.