High in the heart of the eastern Himalayas seven valleys radiate from mount Makalu, the world's fifth highest peak. These valleys, particularly the Barun valley, treasure some of the last remaining pristine forests and alpine meadows of Nepal.
From the bottom of the Arun valley, at just 435m above sea level, the Himalaya rise to the snow-capped tip of Makalu 8.463 m within a 40 km distance. Within this wide range of altitudes and climates, the Makalu-Barun area contains some of the richest and most diverse pockets of plants and animals in Nepal, elsewhere lost to spreading human habitation. Nestled in the lower reaches of these valleys are communities of Rai, Sherpa, and Shingsawa (Bhotia) farmers. Though economically poor and isolated, they retain a rich cultural heritage. They hold the key to the preservation of the unique biological and cultural treasures of the Makalu Barun area. Covering 2.330 sq km, Makalu-Barun is a vital component of the greater Mount Everest ecosystem which includes Nepal's 1.148 sq km Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park to the west and the 35.000 sq km The Makalu-Barun area do most tourists due to its relative inaccessibility know little. But those few hundred trekkers and mountaineers who visit each year come away with an unforgettable experience.