Trip code | MLPT-39 |
Package name | Manaslu Larke-La pass Trek |
Duration | 17 Days |
Max. elevation | 5130 Meter |
Level | MODERATE |
Transportation | private Tourist vehicle / 4w Jeep as per the itinerary |
Accomodation | Three-star Hotel in Kathmandu; best Available teahouse Lodges on route trek. |
Starts at | Kathmandu |
Ends at | kathmandu |
Trip route | Kathmandu-Arughat Bazaar-Soti Khola-Machha-Khola-Jagat-Deng-Namrung-Lho-Gaon-Sama-Gaon-Samdo-Dharmasala-Cross Larke-La pass-Bhimthang-Tilje-Dharapani-Besisar-Kathmandu |
Cost | USD 1,458 per person |
On arrival in Kathmandu and Nepal International Airport via various international airlines, received by our guide and staff for short transfer in the heart of Kathmandu city. Where your hotel is located, after checking into your rooms, and then meet other members of the trip at the hotel lobby for briefing. The briefing includes important information regarding Manaslu Circuit Trek, to make your holiday in Nepal more enjoyable. The evening group welcomes dinner in a lovely Nepalese Restaurant with an introduction to the culture of Nepal with folk dance and music.
A free day in Kathmandu preparation for the trek includes a sightseeing tour around Kathmandu valley at places of great historical and religious interest. The city is steeped with ancient world heritage sites, where the tour takes you around renowned landmarks, like the old Durbar / Palace Square with old Swayambhunath of more than 2,500 years old Stupa, a Buddhist religious monument. Includes holy Hindu temple of Pashupatinath and large dome stupa of Bouddhanath of great cultural and religious interest.
Starting early morning after a hearty breakfast, board in a vehicle as to the size of a group, either in four-wheel drive or in a comfortable coach As drive lead on the main highway past many interesting towns and villages with farms areas to reach low warm areas of Gorkha district in Arughat. From here drive continues following Buri-Gandaki River upstream past paddy fields and terraces to reach Soti-Khola for the first overnight stop on the way to Tsum valley.
First-day walks begin after a long drive to Soti-Khola, a morning trek following the river into a steep valley, covered in thick forest with several small villages that dot the hillside. Walk follows to a wide valley opposite a tributary stream that joins with the Buri-Gandaki River. On walks facing lovely views of cultivated terraced of Lap-Besi upper village as route descends to a wide, sandy riverbed following a trail that meanders below a steep, craggy valley side. As adventure progress a slow steady climb to Machha Khola for an overnight stop. A small village with several teashops and a small lodge, Maccha Khola means a Fish Stream. The village is growing bigger as the motor roads reach Machha-Khola in a short time.
After a first-day walk and overnight in Maccha-Khola village, the second day leads through interesting farm villages within nice As morning walk heads past Machha Khola (Fish Stream), where the name of the village derived and then towards upstream to reach Khola-Bensi village a place with Tatopani a natural 'hot spring'. The journey continues on a broad gravel field towards Lauri stream crossing over a bridge and then climbing on a high trail that leads to descending into an open valley of Yara Khola, as the trek continues for another hour to reach Jagat a nice hill village for an overnight stop.
From Jagat nice village with pleasant overnight, the morning starts downhill to long stone steps to reach the river, where our route climbs towards the terraced hillside of Saguleri. Enjoy views of Shringi Himal as the walk continues with ups and down to reach a bridge above the Buri-Gandaki River. Crossing over, where trail winds lead up to another large lovely village at Philm enriched with well-cultivated crop fields and terraces. From here past spread-out villages then climb to golden fields of wheat’s and barley to reach a rocky ridge top.
The area is covered with dense bamboo forest as a walk leads to a lonely place at Eklai Bhatti, which means a lonely Inn, at present, this small settlement has been overgrown with more shops and tea-houses. After a short rest head towards Deng, as slowly country and landscapes change entering into a gorge above Buri-Gandaki to reach at Deng, from here onward into more Buddhism strong culture of Tibetan influence.
Start the morning walk that leads to a cliff wall, after going through a dramatic area, the route follows past several farm villages, as more houses and landscapes become different with the touch of Tibetan Buddhism. After a few hours' walks coming across a moderate size farm village at Bih, from here onward the locals harvest buckwheat, wheat, barley, and potatoes as staple crops, since trekking gain popularity around the area, spinach, carrots, and cabbages are also grown. From here onwards air gets much cooler, the walk continues for another two hours to a steep-sided scenic valley, encountering prayer stone walls called Mani, and then walking to Ghap village for a possible lunch stop.
After Ghap altitude gains slowly, heading into coniferous tree lines as the trail meanders to climb over a steep hill to reach an open valley of extensive pasture land, and then cross an icy stream that flows straight from the glacier of Lidana peak. As the walk continues enjoy views of Manaslu, where the local name is Kutang Himal includes Pang Phuchin 6,335 m, Saula Himal 6, 235 m with several unnamed peaks above 6, 000 m high. Then uphill altitude gains slowly walk takes you past farm villages to reach Namrung for an overnight stop, the village also known as ShoNamru. Check into a nice simple lodge with the warm hospitality of the villagers.
From Namrung, after a good simple breakfast walk leads to spread-out farm fields, heading through Yak herder huts and shelters. From here walk enters into a high scenic valley to reach at Lho-Gaon one of the nice villages around Manaslu valley, staying here in this lovely place for an overnight stop. Where lodges are much better than Namrung and Deng, around Lho-Gaon enjoy close views of Mt. Manaslu North Face, with time to visit the village monastery with many Chorten and Mani walls with a grand view of Ganesh Himal in the east direction.
With a nice and pleasant stay in Lo-Gaon, from here morning walk heads on the gradual trail on entering the high scenic Manaslu valley, as trek leads to slow gentle climb facing grand views of Peak 29 that lies ahead, after few hours uphill then reach into a small woodland around Shala village. Offers view of Phungi, Manaslu and Himal Chuli. From here walk for a few hours further west to end the day on reaching Sama-Gaon village, with closest views of Mt. Manaslu.
Sama-Gaon village, one of the prime and largest settlements around Manaslu Valley, where local is mostly farmers cultivating buckwheat, barley the main crops that can grow on this high and harsh lands. As well raising livestock follows a similar way of traditional farm life like their Tibetan predecessor. Manaslu villagers are descended from South West Tibet with a history of more than 400 years old, where culture and custom link with ancient Buddhist heritage to its origin Tibetan ancestors. Manaslu villagers still trade and barter across the border in Tibet, which is a few days' walks to the frontier of Nepal and Tibet, as the old Trans Himalayan Salt Trade route passes through Sama-Gaon.
A necessary rest day at Sama-Gaon and around this high altitude of above 3, 500 m to have a spare and easy time for acclimatization purposes. Where one can take a short hike around and climb a small hill to catch the best views of surrounding snow-mountains, as well explore the village and its old monastery of great religious and cultural interest.
After a wonderful rest day in Sama-Gaon, the adventure continues towards the last village of Gorkha district and Manaslu valley to reach Samdo. The morning starts with the slow climb as altitude slowly rises heading into dry and arid landscapes, walking at a slow pace taking a short break, and enjoying the beautiful views that surround the valley floor. Trek heads further North-West with a climb to reach Samdo, the last permanent settlement around high Manaslu valley. Quite a large village of more than fifty houses for about two hundred inhabitants. At Samdo check into a nice lodge, with free late afternoon for a short walk and rest before dinner, overlooking great scenery of surrounding peaks and hills.
From this village adventure from here heads closer to our another prime destination to cross high Larke-La Pass, as morning walk takes you to the end of Manaslu valley. After Samdo, trekking towards complete mountain wilderness enclosed within high snow peaks, where vegetation and tree lines stop crossing several icy streams on a rocky path to reach Dharmasala or Larke Phedi means the base of the pass. A place with few huts and shelters serves as a lodge and guest-house that can accommodate trekkers in tented camps with foods from the nearby lodge. Reaching Dharmasala by lunchtime as well for the last overnight around Manaslu valley within Gorkha district. Afternoon enjoys rest and marveling at the surrounding views.
Early morning starts to cover one of the longest days of this adventure, after breakfast and carrying pack-lunch for the day, head for a steep climb past a few huts of Dharmasala, as route, leads over the moraine of rocks and boulders past the ablation of Larke northern glacier, facing views of Cho-Danda and Larke peak, the climb continues with a long uphill slope to reach on top Larke-La marked with a board with the name and height of the pass. The top is festooned with Buddhist colorful prayer flags and offering with stone cairns enjoy rest and a stunning panorama of peaks that encircles the top.
The incredible scenery of Ganesh Himal towards the far-east, with peaks of Annapurna Himalayas views of the whole Manaslu mountain range, include Himlung Himal of Nar-Phu area, which is in Manang. From the top, a long descend to Larcia valley, walk heads further for another few hours on moraine ridge to Tambuche at 3, 900 m, to reach the bottom of the pass, from here on into Manang district, and back into tall tree lines as walk slowly reach you at Bhimthang for an overnight stop after a long, hard day of the adventure. Bhimthang with a number of lodges, located in beautiful surroundings with a wide green valley, the places marked with prayer Mani walls, surrounded by green tall trees of rhododendron-pines and oaks.
From Bhimthang onward rest of the journey is much easier on a downhill with a few short uphills, as well as another long day to cover to reach the nice village of Tilje near Dharapani village. The morning starts facing views of peaks as the walk continues on a gradual path into dense tree lines. Walk into the beautiful forest to reach a small settlement at Gho for a lunch stop. Afternoon heading downhill to reach finally a lovely Tilje village in the district of Manang for the last overnight stop in the comfort of a nice lodge accommodation and good foods from the long list of menu.
Today, the last day trek of the adventure, the morning of Tilije nice lodge a short walk with steep climb above to reach a large Dharapani village, the junction of Annapurna and Manaslu Circuit trail route. Located above Masrsyangdi River within the district of Manang. From here board in a vehicle made for the rough mountain road. Drive leads past Tal Besi, Chamje, and Jagat villages to enter Lamjung district after Manang and Manaslu area. Reaching into low warm farm areas to Besisar, a large town and headquarter of Lamjung district for an overnight stop in a nice tourist standard hotels, lodge, or guest-house. Herewith time to get refreshed and walk around the market of Besisar of great cultural interest, populated by Gurung, Magar, Tamang, and Hindu tribes of hill people
An interesting drive to Kathmandu on local or reserved transportation, as journey heads through farm villages and towns to reach Dumre on the main highway of Pokhara and Kathmandu. From here on the busy road following Trisuli River, a popular rafting river, as the drive heads up to the outskirt of Kathmandu valley. Drive continues reaching the city area of Kathmandu, and then back to your hotel after a marvelous experience and adventure on Manaslu circuit trekking with grand services of Hiker Himalaya guide and porters. Afternoon free for individual activities and shopping on the last day in Kathmandu and Nepal.
On your last day in Nepal, as a time for your international flight our staff transfer you to the airport for homeward bound, after an enjoyable adventure and great wonderful experience on Manaslu Circuit Trek.