To the east of Khumbu lies Makalu Barun National Park, a pristine sanctuary that is home to Makalu, the fifth highest peak on Earth, standing at an impressive 8,485 meters. This remarkable park boasts the highest vertical elevation range of any protected area worldwide, with its landscape ranging from lush, tropical forests below 1,000 meters to the towering heights of Makalu itself.

 

Tourism in Makalu Barun is a fraction of that seen in the more frequented Khumbu region. Most visitors tend to gravitate toward the area around Mera Peak, leaving the vast wilderness surrounding the Barun Valley and the Sherpani East/West Col largely untouched. This makes the park a rare gem of untouched natural beauty, offering a true sense of isolation and adventure that is increasingly hard to find elsewhere in Nepal.