Among the top peaceful and beautiful treks that can be done in Nepal is the Makalu Base Camp Trek. The trek is the closest approach to Mount Makalu, the only four-mighty one that is higher than it, being the fifth-highest mountain in the world. The way to the base camp is a mixture of nature with forests, villages, rivers, and snow-capped mountains. The people who get to the base camp feel both pride and happiness as the view is so vast and beautiful. In fact, after the base camp, the question of return is always there - Is it the same way back or is there a different loop? The answer to this question regarding the Makalu Base Camp trek is not quite complicated and everyone can get it.
Understanding the Route
The Makalu Base Camp trek is a journey that departs from the small town of Tumlingtar. After Tumlingtar, it is a short drive or walk to a village called Num. Num is actually the point where the trek starts. After that, the trail continues to climb and descend through the villages of Seduwa, Tashigaon, Khongma Danda, and Mumbuk until it reaches the Makalu Base Camp. The road to the base camp goes up to greenwood, comes over very high passes of the mountain, and at last, it reaches the open rocky area of the base camp. The route is really covered with the purest of nature and is full of tranquility.
At Makalu Base Camp, the trekkers make a few hours of their time there to relax, take photos, and enjoy the view of the mountains. Later, they face the dilemma of how to return. Mainly, the two routes lead back — one to retrace the way already taken and the other to take a different loop route. However, most people go back by the same route as it is considered to be safer, easier, and more familiar.
The Back-Track Route
The back-track route is where you make your way back to the place where you had originally left but on the same trail of which you used to reach the base camp. This is the way of the highest number of people and it is most well-known and popular. When you take the same route you have already been on, hence you are familiar with it and it becomes somewhat easier. The villages, the forests, and the ascents you had already seen. You know exactly where the parts are that are steep and where the places for resting are.
In addition, a trekker who is on the same route as before will be more familiar with it and therefore, he/she will be able to walk faster when coming back than during the first journey, thus the time needed for the completion will be less. If anyone visits certain villages and happens to know the same persons, he/she will certainly greet them with a friendly hello and may even share some new stories and experiences. Meeting with old friends is what those encounters feel like. The distance covered on the way home is usually shorter because the majority of the time, it is a descent rather than an ascent. Coming down requires less energy than going up.
There is an almost endless number of places that one can stop along such a route. After the base camp, the home-bound travelers will be passing through Mumbuk, Khongma Danda, Tashigaon, and Seduwa. Every new morning will bring you some light as you get around the corner of an uphill road and find fresh air and warmth in the valleys close to the earth. At last, they are again in Num from where they take a vehicular ride to Tumlingtar. After Tumlingtra, they board a flight to Kathmandu.
Why Most People Choose the Same Route
The reasons behind which most trekkers would rather come back by the same route are numerous. The main cause is safety. Contrary to such popular and extreme treks as Everest or Annapurna, the Makalu area is a place of silence and a little bit of solitude in the mountains. Also, the trails there are rugged and sometimes not even very wide. If you are on an unknown path, you may get lost, and it can be dangerous too, especially if the weather starts to change. It is already safe and secure to be on the main route.
Their decision is also supported by convenience. If trekkers decide to go back the way they came, then they will have no problem locating the tea houses and resting places. They know for sure which places have quality rooms and hot meals. Certainly, this makes a trip more comfortable and less stressful.
The same path choice has also been influenced by the third reason, i.e., the absence of other clearly defined trails. Makalu Zone is in the Makalu Barun National Park, which is an area that is very wild and has not been developed much. There are barely any side routes and loop trails for treks. The back-track route is well-maintained while most of the alternative routes are used by local shepherds and it is very difficult to follow them.
Time is the fourth reason that they come back via the same path. The same-route return takes less time, thus, one is not required to open new paths or inquire for directions. Trekkers are mostly given a fixed number of days for their trekking and sticking to the same route helps them to be on time.
The Idea of a Loop Route
Advanced trekkers might want to know more and contemplate a loop for their return. On returning with a loop you would take a different road than the one you originally followed. It gives a different experience, a different view. But as far as the Makalu Base Camp trek is concerned, there is no straightforward and safe loop path going back to Tumlingtar.
Some side paths lead to mountain areas like Barun Valley or Sherpani Col, but these routes are extremely difficult and require special equipment, a guide, and camping. Most of the time, they go beyond 6,000 meters and, therefore, only mountaineers or professional climbers are allowed to follow them. So, for the majority of ordinary trekkers, the loop route is not an option.
In case someone is ready to take a longer loop, he/she could combine Makalu Base Camp with the Everest region via the Sherpani Col and Amphu Laptsa pass, however, that is a challenging expedition of more than three weeks. Besides, it requires experience in climbing, ropes, and special permits. So, everyday trekkers will find it much safer and more convenient to go back the way they came.
The Experience of Returning
Even if the return is done via the same route, the trip does not appear dull. The change of direction allows one to see nature from a different angle. Mountains, valleys, and forests are different when you go down. You have more freedom to relax and take photos and talk with the locals for you are not in a hurry to reach higher ground.
Return is said to be much more pleasant by a number of people who are on the trek. They share that they are not as tired as during the ascent and, even, their hearts feel lighter as they have already reached their goal — the base camp. On the return journey, they find delight in small things such as birds, flowers, and rivers which they probably did not see while going up.
Also, you can return to the teahouses which you preferred and have your meals there. Some trekkers even form relationships with the local people, and therefore, seeing them again on the way back is like going home.
Weather and Trail Conditions
Undoubtedly, weather is a factor that changes the mood of the return route. In the spring and autumn, the weather is usually clear and pleasant. The sun and the clear views are what can be enjoyed when one is on the way down. But in the winter, the upper area near the passes can be extremely cold and there can be times when snow can cover the path. During the monsoon period, the trail may be slippery and muddy due to the rain.
Therefore, the trekking companies and the guides always suggest that for safety reasons the same route should be followed. They know fully well the situation and, in case of an incident, it is easy for them to give support.
Importance of a Guide
A guide will be needed if you are going back as well. Even if it's the same way, there could be changes in weather and paths. A guide knows the ways of handling such situations. They can be very helpful in managing time, finding the best rest places, and security during the return.
Moreover, a guide is very important when it comes to interaction with the locals, arranging meals, and accommodations. Since Makalu is an area with fewer people, it may sometimes be that there are only a few lodges and they are far apart. Therefore guides are very helpful in providing security to the trekkers.
End of the Journey
Retracing one's steps from Makalu Base Camp is more than just a leaving—it is also the time to reflect on the whole trip, the hard work, and the stunning things you have encountered. When your back is in Num, it is the time to feel proud of the things that you have done. From there, you get back to Tumlingtar and then fly off to Kathmandu with a heart full of beautiful memories.
Even though the back-track route might be the same as the one you took, it still brings about a new feeling of peace and achievement. There is no better way to cap off one of the most amazing experiences in Nepal.
Conclusion
Hence, the choice is as clear as daylight. Usually, the return route for the makalu base camp trek is the same way from where you came. There is no loop route as the area is isolated, untouched, and without easy access trails. A return via the same route is not only a decision made with safety in mind but also the obvious one and, additionally, it allows a person another round of nature and the people he/she met before. The same path you walk on will be considered as a new trek because you look at everything from a different angle. It is a mild, serene completion to a giant adventure around one of the highest peaks in the world, Mount Makalu.
Top comments (0)