Your holiday starts at the hotel in Kathmandu. Transfers from Kathmandu Airport are provided. Depending on your arrival time, you may have the opportunity to explore the immediate vicinity of the hotel and get acclimatised to this bustling city. Alternatively, you may prefer to recover from your journey by relaxing beside the hotel pool. Your guide will take dinner with you and will provide an informal briefing about the days ahead.

In the morning we take the spectacular flight eastwards along the chain of the Himalaya to Tumlingtar. Situated on a broad flat plateau on the east bank of the Arun Khola, Tumlingtar lies at an altitude of only 457 metres so it will feel quite tropical. Given clear weather there are spectacular views of Makalu and Chamlang to the north. We set off in 4WD vehicles on a rough road through fields of rice, wheat, barley and potatoes. At the northern end of the Tumlingtar Plateau, we climb a ridge dividing the valleys of the Arun and Sabaya Kholas, to the bazaar town of Khandbari where we stop for lunch. There is a police checkpost here and the town is the administrative headquarters of the Barun National Park. There are also shops and simple lodges here and this is where the tarmac road ends. From Khandbari, the unsurfaced road continues northwards, ascending the ridge in a series of switch-backs to the small ridge-top village of Chichila (1850m). Continuing our drive, with improving views of Makalu and its satellite peaks, we finally descend to the spectacularly positioned village of Num (1505m) where our camp will already be set up. This is quite a long day of travel to access a pretty remote area. Opposite, across the Arun River, and tantalisingly close, is the village of Sedua, our halt for tomorrow.

It is good today to leave all mechanical contrivances behind and set off on foot. From Num, we set off down the incredibly steep and terraced slopes towards the Arun River at just 670 metres elevation. The lower slopes of this narrow valley are densely forested and the paths are quite slippery, as this is a north-facing valley-side that never really dries out. It takes about 2 hours to descend to the suspension bridge across the torrential Arun. Carrying glacial melt-water, the Arun is an impressive river. We then start our climb away from the river, stopping off for lunch at Runruma. After lunch, a steep climb takes us up to Sedua (1530m) where we set up camp and have excellent views eastwards across forested hills to distant Kangchenjunga. Not a really long day, but steeply down and then up.

One of the easiest days of the entire trek, we leave Sedua across open, terraced farmland and make an initial steep ascent before the angle of the trail eases off. Having gained a bit of height, we can now see a number of 6500 metre peaks towards the north-west which are currently obscuring our view of Makalu. The trail follows the ridge of the Chyaksa Danda, contouring around to the village of Tashigaon (2065m) one of the last settlements we will see on our walk across to Mera.

Still on the main trail towards Makalu Basecamp, today is a longer one with a lot of height gain. The first 3 hours of the day are spent walking through rich forest. Then, by lunchtime, we have reached more open country above the tree line and continue, largely on stone steps and through rocky outcrops, up to the ridge and the first level area since Tashigaon. We set up camp here on the pasture area known as Khongma (Kauma) Kharka (3500m) where there are now a couple of basic lodges where you may be able to buy a Coca Cola. The steady ascent to this camping place will take us 5 hours or so. Ten minutes above the lodge, there is a viewpoint for Makalu.

Now up above 3500 metres (just) it is appropriate that we spend a day here to let our bodies begin the process of acclimatising to the lower levels of oxygen in the atmosphere. We are on a prominent ridge between the deep valleys of the Isuwa and Kasuwa kholas and although there are no settlements nearby to visit, this is a great place to spend a day with great views. The tip of Makalu is visible to the north along with many other smaller peaks, whilst Kanchenjunga can also be seen in the far distance to the east.

A short day. From Kauma Kharka, we continue to follow the Makalu approach on a trail that climbs through rhododendron forest with views east to Jannu and Kanchenjunga. Arriving at a high point and clearing on the ridge at 3700 metres, there are great views of Chamlang, Makalu and Peaks 6 and 7. The rocky path then continues via a succession of false summits including the Ghungru La (4200m), before dropping down to spend the night at the splendidly-situated lake known variously as Thulo or Kalo Pokhari (4100m).

Twenty minutes after leaving our camp at the lake our route turns away from the Makalu trail (which crosses the Shipton La and descends to the Barun River). We continue to follow the Kikila Danda northwards and have several hours of undulating trekking before we can set up our camp beside a small tarn, Gaira Pokhari (4250m).

Continuing, we ascend to a pass at Asa Masa and cross to the south side of the ridge (Kikila Danda), whilst dropping down steeply to the Isuwa Khola. We will take it slowly on this long descent on a poor trail across open moorland and then through forest. Reaching the riverside we trek more easily upstream on a shepherds' path amongst dense, mixed forest to reach a second clearing known as Dhupi (juniper) Kharka (3395m) where we camp.

Leaving camp after breakfast, we head in a north-westerly direction for an hour or so to the clearing at Tashi Jung (3640m) where there are a couple of shepherds' huts. With the valley sides rising steeply above our camp for nearly a thousand metres, this is a spectacular place and one which very few travellers have seen. Crossing to the west side of the river on a wooden bridge used by shepherds during the summer, we begin a steep ascent for an hour and a half to Rebang, a relatively level area in the middle of the steep valley side, overshadowed by the north face of a near 5000-metre peak. The path cuts across this broad platform and ascends more gently for another hour or so amongst rocky moraine to reach the ridge (northern end of the Todabu Danda). From here, we begin descending and then traverse around to our camping place beside another small pool at Parche.

Beyond the lake, the path undulates and ascends for several hours to reach the Tongnaphu La (4545m). Junction Camp is beyond this pass on a level area facing south. We can no longer see the big peaks to the north, but there are 2 beautiful lakes below us; Blue Lake to the south and Kal Pokhari to the south-east.

We can look across from our camp to the day's objective on the other side of the valley and at approximately the same level. To get there, we will follow a poor shepherd's trail which drops down into the valley before climbing up again with a fair bit of 'Nepali undulation' as we pick our way across the steep slopes. The track is not well marked and we will take our time with the Sherpas leading the way. Towards the end of the day's walk we reach the next broad ridge-top and trek across to the open pasture site at Mendaling (4630m) where we set up camp. We should be able to see the top of the prominent peak of Chamlang (7321m) rising up to the north-west.

Today, heading west, we have to negotiate more rugged terrain at the upper end of the valley of the Siure Khola. This small river issues from a hanging glacier on the south side of the spectacular 6200 metre-high serrated ridge of the Ekrate Danda which lies just to the south of Chamlang. To avoid having to trek on the glacier itself, we will descend steeply into the valley for about an hour, then cut across the rocky valley floor towards the next ridge, the Saune Danda. The route up to this ridge is not well-marked and for a period approaching 2 hours we are forced to make our way across a steep hillside covered with juniper bushes and with some easy scrambling. Finally, heading towards the south-east, we are able to cross this ridge-line at an unnamed pass (4680m). From here, we drop steeply down for an hour to a camping place at Digling beside the Sankhuwa Khola (4120m). In terms of its scenery and for the sheer adventure, this will be a truly memorable day.

More challenging terrain and another long day as we climb up to cross the Dhunga Pass (5063m). We have an early start and take a picnic lunch with us, as we climb up almost 1000 metres to the low point on the ridge to the west. Nearing the pass the terrain becomes rockier and we have to pick a route amongst large boulders, with a bit of hands-on scrambling, to reach the permanent snow patch at the col. The pass is, in fact, rather like the Cho La on the Ultimate Everest Trek. From the pass, there are views back the way we have come to distant Kangchenjunga, whilst ahead of us we can now see Mera Peak (6476m). Beyond the pass, we descend across moraine material and scree into the scrubby forest of the upper Hongu Khola. We pass the grazing area of Keju Kharka and set up our camp beside the Hurpa Khola, a tributary of the Hongu.

Unusually this morning (for this wilderness trek) we can actually see a fairly well defined shepherds' path heading off up the valley towards the north. Before we can set foot on this trail, however, we have to take our boots off to cross the Hurpa Khola which is fed by glaciers less than 3 kilometres away. We then trek up easily beside the Hongu Khola for an hour and a half to reach a wooden bridge built and used by shepherds during the summer. Crossing to the western side of the river, we are surrounded by tall peaks on each side; the most prominent summit is Chamlang and we can also see the tip of Makalu rising above the valley side. Three hours of 'Nepali undulation' on a reasonable trail takes us to Kongma Dingma (4770m) on the west side of the Mera La where we set up our camp. There are now a couple of basic lodges here although very few trekkers now enter the upper Hongu. We are high up tonight and it will be cold after an early sunset, but we will be able enjoy the novelty of sitting indoors by the stove before retiring to our tents.

This morning we trek for around 3 hours on a good trail before we reach the snow and ice of the Mera La. Here, we will need to put on our harnesses and crampons and rope-up for the hour and a half that it will take us to cross the pass. There is usually a good trail which weaves across the snowfield, avoiding the crevassed areas. There are great views from the pass of Chamlang and Makalu. Once off the snow and ice, it's just a short trek down to Khare (5000m) where a small village has sprung up to serve the many climbers who come here each season to attempt Mera Peak. We will stay in a lodge tonight, where WiFi is usually available.

It's a downhill trek all the way today, initially with the steep west face of Mera Peak rising up on our left hand side. The valley heads in a south-westerly direction and then due south, passing a couple of glacial lakes and several sets of prayer-walls to the lodges at Tagnag. We will have a stop for lunch at Mosum Kharka and also pay our respects at the shrine under a boulder in Gondishung. Arriving at Gotay, we will check in at one of the lodges, with the promise of beer, a hot shower, a warm dining room and WiFi.

Less than 30 mins from Gotay, the path heads uphill on the west side of Hinku. We pass through forest and encounter a couple of small clusters of lodges. Then, zig-zagging uphill through the trees, with occasional glimpses back to Mera Peak, we pass a ridge and turn towards the west. Now out of the trees, we can look toward the south across a landscape of ever-diminishing ridges, as we lose just a bit of height, then follow a stream uphill to Thule Kharka where we once again stay in a lodge.

The last 300 to 400 metres of the ascent to the Zatrwa La will be our last climb of the trip, with superb views southwards across the ridge and valley landscape of Nepal's Middle Hills. From the crest of the pass we trek downhill, steeply in places, for almost 2000 metres to the welcoming lodges of Lukla.

We take the early morning flight to Kathmandu, check in to our hotel, and have the afternoon free for sightseeing. On this first night after our trek we will certainly have a party at one of Kathmandu's excellent restaurants.

This is an important contingency day in case of delays to the flights from Lukla. If we have experienced no delays this is another opportunity for independent exploration amongst the colourful streets and temples of Kathmandu. This evening we will have a celebratory dinner to mark the end of a most excellent trip.

Your holiday ends after breakfast. Transfers to Kathmandu Airport are provided. To extend your holiday in Nepal, why not pre-book a day's sightseeing tour in the Kathmandu Valley, or a multi-day excursion to the wildlife reserve at Chitwan. Contact our office for details.

Your holiday ends after breakfast. Transfers to Kathmandu Airport are provided. To extend your holiday in Nepal, why not pre-book a day's sightseeing tour in the Kathmandu Valley, or a multi-day excursion to the wildlife reserve at Chitwan. Contact our office for details.