Makalu
8,485m
The world's fifth highest peak — a striking four-sided pyramid rising in isolation east of Everest, one of the hardest eight-thousanders to climb.
Elevation
8,485m
First Ascent
May 15, 1955
First Ascent By
Jean Couzy & Lionel Terray (French expedition)
Base Camp Trek
18 days
Permit Fee
USD 7,500
Difficulty
D+ (difficult)
Makalu (8,485m) is the world's fifth highest mountain, located in the Mahalangur Himalayas 19 km southeast of Mount Everest on the border between Nepal and Tibet. Its remarkable four-sided pyramid shape makes it one of the most visually striking peaks in the Himalayas.
First climbed on May 15, 1955 by Jean Couzy and Lionel Terray of a French expedition led by Jean Franco, Makalu is notable for the expedition's remarkable achievement — all members and Sherpas reached the summit. The mountain is considered one of the more difficult eight-thousanders due to its steep pitches and exposed ridges.
The Makalu Base Camp trek is a challenging but rewarding journey through the remote Makalu-Barun National Park, one of Nepal's most pristine wilderness areas. The trek passes through lush rhododendron forests, crosses high passes, and offers close-up views of Makalu's dramatic east face. The area is rich in biodiversity, home to snow leopards, red pandas, and hundreds of bird species.
The Makalu-Barun Valley is one of the few places in the Himalayas where the landscape transitions from subtropical forest at 1,500m to arctic conditions at 8,000m+ within a short horizontal distance.