PM Balen Shah Puts the Makalu Base Camp Trek on the World Map
Nepal's Prime Minister Balen Shah showcased the Makalu Base Camp Trek to millions — the 17–18 day journey to the foot of the world's fifth-highest mountain. Here's how to walk it.
When the world's youngest head of government posts a trek to hundreds of thousands of people, the trail it features stops being a secret. That is exactly what happened when Nepal's Prime Minister, Balendra "Balen" Shah, shared a film of the Makalu Base Camp Trek — the remote journey through eastern Nepal's Barun Valley to the foot of the world's fifth-highest mountain. For trekkers who have "done" Everest and want the next, wilder thing, this is the post to pay attention to.
From the trail · Everest
Makalu Base Camp trek — at a glance
- Makalu: 8,485 m — the world's fifth-highest peak
- 18 days, max altitude 5,000 m at base camp — extreme
- Crosses the Shipton La (4,216 m) into the Barun Valley
- Inside Makalu-Barun National Park — 3,000+ plant species
- Fewer than 500 trekkers a year — Nepal's true road-less-travelled
Into the Barun Valley
The Makalu Base Camp trek begins with a flight to Tumlingtar and a drive to Num, then climbs through the pristine Arun Valley — one of Nepal's most biodiverse corridors — before crossing the Shipton La ridge into the glacial amphitheatre of the Barun. There are no roads here and almost no other trekkers; nights are spent in simple lodges and tented camps. The reward is a base camp on the Barun Glacier moraine, staring straight up at the colossal 8,485 m south face of Makalu. This is one of the most committing teahouse-and-camp treks in the country, and one of the most rewarding.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 18 days |
| Highest point | Makalu Base Camp, ~5,000 m |
| Difficulty | Extreme (remote, high pass) |
| Best months | Mar–May, Sep–Nov |
| Getting there | Fly to Tumlingtar, drive to Num |
| Permits | Makalu-Barun National Park + TIMS |
Permits, season and who it suits
You will need a Makalu-Barun National Park entry permit (USD 30) and a TIMS card, both of which we arrange, along with the mandatory licensed guide. With a 5,000 m base camp and the 4,216 m Shipton La to cross, this is a trek for fit, experienced walkers with time to acclimatise properly — the rhythm of the Barun rewards patience. Spring lights up the valley with one of Nepal's finest rhododendron and wildflower displays; autumn delivers crisp, stable mountain weather and the sharpest views of Makalu.
What this means for you
A reel from the Prime Minister can put a trail in front of millions overnight — but Makalu still rewards the few who actually go. We run it as a fully supported 18-day expedition: the Tumlingtar flight, the national-park permit, the guide and the camp logistics deep in the Barun all handled, so you can focus on the wildest base camp in eastern Nepal.
Source: @balenshah on Instagram; trek details, Travel Himalaya Nepal.
Cover photo: Indra Rai via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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