Trip Highlights

• This trek is part of the Great Himalayan Trail.
• Cross three alpine passes are called Sherpani Col (6,180 m), West Col (6,190 m), and Amphu Labtsa Pass (5,850 m).
• Witness Arun valley with the Hunku Basin.
• Wildest trek in a remote area with a massive view of Everest, Makalu, Ama Dablam, Island Peak, and many other peaks.
• Various flora and fauna with colorful rhododendron forests.
• Encounter indigenous people of Rai, Sherpa, and Limbu Peoples.
• Home of endangered animals like Snow Leopard, Red Panda, Musk Deer, and diverse varieties of birds.

About The Trip

Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek or Makalu Three Col Pass Trek traverses Everest via 3 high passes in Nepal Himalayas which is absolutely an adventure walk over 6000 m. This trek takes you to the lap of the world’s fifth highest mountain, Makalu (8,485 m). From varied panoramas, glittering mountain series to an unimaginable whirling glacier, river, and waterfall to forest and tablelands. Trek into the lap of the mountain landscape dotted with terraced farmlands and Sherpa villages. You will grasp the opportunity to insight into the local customs and lifestyle of local tradition.

Overview

Many people’s dream is to be in lonely trials and walk off the beaten track. So that you will experience the real taste of Nepal wilderness and local people with unspoiled remote areas. This trek takes you to the lap of the gigantic peaks of both Makalu (8,485 m) and Everest (8,848.86). Makalu Base Camp with Sherpani Col is one of the most challenging treks of Nepal. You will also get an opportunity to pass through two big national parks called Makalu Barun National Park and Sagarmatha National Park. New experience with relatively undisturbed areas of this region makes this trek adventurous and memorable.

Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek also connect Everest Base Camp Trek route and experience the immense mountain view of Makalu and Everest region. During the trek, you will experience the views of Everest (8848.86m), Makalu (8481m), Lhotse (8516m), Baruntse (7162m), Mt. Ama Dablam (6814m), Chonku Peak (6830m), Cho Polu (6734m), Island Peak  (6189m), Kang Tega (6,782m) among others. Your trek will be more thrilled and enjoyable, as you will pass through towering granite cliffs capped with impressive glaciers and high-altitude lakes. 

During the trek, you will cross two national parks so you can enjoy peaceful valleys and beautiful rhododendron forests. You will also be into Himalayan ecosystems with foliage, vegetation, and fauna maintained by conservation. The trial will be full of the natural beauty of unutterable beauty and a striking blend of woods and tiny settlements. The Makalu Barun National Park is one of the largest protected areas in Nepal. This national park is the home to 3,000 species of flowering plants, including a variety of Himalayan orchids, 440 species of birds, and 75 species of mammals. Unique varieties such as the snow leopard, musk deer, and Himalayan Thar live in this pristine ecosystem. This is one of the purposes it has been included in the Sacred Himalayan Landscape initiative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Trek through the wondrous landscape with terraced fields and local settlements. In lower elevation, you will find Rai peoples and in the higher altitude, you will Bhotiya peoples. You will obtain insights into the local culture, lifestyle and grasp a chance to gratify in local tradition.

This trek is a mixture of teahouse and camping trek, so our team will provide possible service to make your journey happy. High Vision Adventure Trek provides highly qualified local teams and staff working in this field to overcome extreme challenges and make your trip a remarkable memory. To sum up, Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek is going to take some days but worth it because it is the only way to achieve dignity in steeping Makalu Three Col Pass.

Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek Route

Your exciting trek starts with 35 minutes scenic flight from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar. As you land in Tumlingtar, you will drive to Num via local transportation. We will then head towards Sheduwa and descend along Arun River and pass through forested trials and settlements. As we walk ahead, we will reach Tashi Village and then Khonmga Ridge. As we walk ahead, we will pass through rhododendron and oak forests. We will then hit the trail to Donato and reach Yangro Kharka. We will then pass to the alpine tundra, forested path and then we will reach Sherson. And finally, we will reach Makalu Base Camp, where we will see some ridges and icy glaciers.

As we reach Base Camp, the South face of Makalu and Baruntse will stand with pride. After spending quality time in base camp, we will then trek the west side of Barun Glacier. You will then walk along moraines and reach Hillary Base Camp. Ahead, we will then go to High Camp, and you will be rewarded with the chain of Makalu ranges, Baruntse, and other surrounding peaks. 

Ahead, the trail is more challenging as you have to cross the rocky slopes of Sherpani Col and West Col to reach Baruntse Base Camp. the trial then goes ahead to Amphu Labtse Base Camp and Imja Lake Camp. Further, we will then trek to Chhukung and continue through Pangboche. Ahead, we will then descend to Namche Bazaar, Lukla, and fly back to Kathmandu.

Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek Difficulty

Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek includes diverse landscapes from the lowest 518 m to the highest 6190 m which is an interesting shift in altitude. You will also have to cross three high-altitude passes and passing through the lap of gigantic Himalayas. So without a doubt, the difficulty level of Makalu Sherpani Col Pass is difficult.

If you are a beginner and have not trekked yet, we recommend you do some basic cardio. This is a challenging trek, so you should have good stamina to be safe from altitude sickness. Just try some basic exercises like jogging, hiking, swimming, and other physical activities. During the trek, always hydrate your body with safe and clean-treated water. Dehydration is the biggest enemy during the trek, and you can boost your energy by drinking adequate water.

Best Season for Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek

Makalu Sherpani Col Pass passes through diverse climate zones, so it is a bit tricky to predict weather situations throughout the trek. This trek holds a diverse aspect from 518 m at Tumlingtar to 6,190 m at West Col, which causes an overwhelming variation in the landscape.

Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek in spring

Spring month starts from March and continues up until May. Spring is the best season for Trek Makalu Sherpani Col Pass. You will experience close to perfect, and temperatures at high altitudes are still cold during the initial month. You can simply intersect the passes without any challenges in this season. Forest inside Makalu Conservation Area and Sagarmatha National Park starts to bloom, giving the forest extra greener appearances, which feel marvelous. You will get an opportunity to see many fascinating and indeed endangered wildlife on the way to trek.

Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek in summer

June to August months fall in the summer season in Nepal and are also recognized as the monsoon season in Nepal. During this season, you will encounter the super-hot in the lower region, especially in the Terai and Hilly regions.

The month of June is the pre-monsoon period, and temperature declines during the downpours and rises on sunny days. Clouds are most likely covers majestic views of the Himalayas, but you may see them occasionally. From July to August, you will experience frequent rainfall. Flight cancellation of Tumlingtar and Lukla may occur during these months.

Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek in autumn

The autumn season starts from September to November when the monsoon is just leaving its effect. But still, the probability of rainfall is high in the first two weeks. Downpour gradually declines, and gradually skies will be clear where the lush green forest and stunning snow-capped mountain views will come to life. During the season, the trek route will be perfect with not much wind or clouds resulting in the best view of nature and mountains. The autumn season is also the perfect time of the year, and lots of Nepalese festivals happen in this season. The number of tourists will slowly decline in late autumn as the weather begins to get cooler.

Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek in winter

The winter season falls from December to February month in Nepal. The beginning of winter is one of the enjoyable times to trek. It is pretty cold at high altitudes, but the appearances of the scenery are crystal clear. In mid-winter, massive snowfall will make your trek difficult or impossible sometimes. High Himalayan passes are yet possible to cross before thick snow seals it down.
 

Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek Permit

Like other trekking routes, the Makalu Sherpani Col Pass Trek requires 2 national park entry fees and TIMS Card. You will cross through two separate national parks called Makalu Barun National Park and Sagarmatha National Park. If you wish to trek individually, you can take a TIMS card from the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) or the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) in Kathmandu.

For a national park entry pass, you can take it from Nepal Tourism Board in Kathmandu. To issue a TIMS card and entry pass, you will need to have a passport, insurance details, passport size photos, and contact details of a person in Nepal.

To receive the TIMS Card:

Fill the form at the Tourist Information Center in Kathmandu. Submit the filled-out form along with USD 20 per person. They only accept Nepalese Rupees, so change your dollars to NPR.

To receive the National Park Entry Pass:

Fill the form at the Tourist Information Center in Kathmandu. Submit the filled-out form along with USD 60 per person for two national parks. They only take Nepalese Rupees, so convert your dollars to NPR.