Manaslu Larke la pass Trek | Hiker Himalaya Treks

Manaslu Larke-La pass Trek

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~~$1,868~~ USD 1,345

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Duration

17 days

Max. Elevation

5130m

Group size

Min 2pax

Level

MODERATE

Transportation

private Tourist vehicle / 4w Jeep as per the itinerary

Best Season

March-may, September-November

Accomodation

Three-star Hotel in Kathmandu, best Available teahouse Lodges on route treks.

Meals

Three meals During the treks (Breakfast+Lunch+Dinner and cup of tea/coffee)

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

Highlights

an adventure circling around the massive range of the world's 8th highest Mt. Manaslu.
An adventure that leads to the full circuit of the world's 8th highest peaks Mt. Manaslu.
Explore the scenic high valley of Manaslu enclosed behind an array of high peaks.
Walk into nice traditional villages adorned with age-old heritage farm life.
Adventurous walks within an impressive cultural country of colorful custom.
From green rolling hills covered in serene woods to fields of ice and glaciers.
Traverse over high Larke-La pass with an exceptional vista of the high mountain range.

Manaslu Circuit Trek or Around Manaslu, an adventure that takes you to remote pockets of Nepal Mid-West Himalaya. Located within the district of Gorkha, but the mountains extend to Lamjung and some parts of Manang districts. An enjoyable and scenic high altitude walks following the old Trans Himalaya Salt Trade and caravan trail of Nepal to Tibet border. One of the main reasons the high country of Manaslu remained closed till it was opened in 1991. But remains a restricted area where foreign visitors, must obtain a special permit to enter high Manaslu Valley.

Manaslu Circuit Trek, since it flung its door open at present gaining much popularity among trekkers and adventurers. Those who are in search of new Himalayan destinations and Manaslu valley were the right choice due to its scenic landscapes. Including the immense culture of the local native interwoven to the age-old heritage of Buddhism religion heritage. Where travelers find the place fascinating exploring through lovely villages around Manaslu valley festooned with long prayer walls and monuments. The charm and beauty of Manaslu Circuit Trek, is traversing from one place to another crossing high Larke-La Pass. Which is at the height of 5, 106 m / 16, 752 feet, offers a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding mountain range. The adventure begins with an exciting overland journey from Kathmandu to reach Nepal Mid-West around low warm heavily cultivated farm areas. Where walk takes you following the raging Buri-Gandaki River right up to its near-source at high Manaslu valley. That leads you from sub-tropical to cooler hills covered in beautiful woods of tall rhododendron, oaks, and pine trees. As route leads through lovely villages of Jagat, Philm to reach Lho-Gaon within high Manaslu valley. Where you can marvel at facing grand views of the Manaslu range of peaks with Ganesh Himal in the east direction.

The name ‘Manaslu’ comes from ancient Sanskrit meaning the mind or soul of holy spirits. For Hindu and Buddhist, the Himalayas are an abode of god and goddesses, in a local language, Manaslu is known as Kutang. A word of Tibetan origin language that is spoken by Manaslu villagers which means a great beautiful land or a haven. Mt. Manaslu rises high as the world's 8th highest peaks at an altitude of above 8,163 m or 26, 781 feet high, first ascent by the Japanese Expedition on May 6th, 1956. The view of Mt. Manaslu North Face is most impressive than the southern sides, as the walk leads to lovely farm villages of high Manaslu valley. Where you can notice over the fields growing high altitude crops barley, buckwheat as well potatoes and some seasonal vegetables. Walk then reach from the lovely village of Lho to Sama Gaon, the main and large settlement of Upper Manaslu valley. Which is on route to Manaslu base camp, and to Tibet border, as well to Manang via Larke-La pass. We have allowed extra days to enjoy a short hike and excursion around this scenic valley and to explore the village. Where you can get a glimpse of local culture and way of farm life in this harsh and dry country. But facing beautiful scenery as Sama-Gaon situated on the laps of high Manaslu with its adjoining peaks. Spending two nights at Sama-Gaon supports and helps trekkers to get acclimatized before heading towards high Larke-La Pass.

After Sama-Gaon on the high trail to reach the base of Larke-La Pass at Dharmasala, a place with moraine, rocks, and glaciers. Includes few lodges and guest-house to cater trekkers, next early morning a steep climb leads you on top Larke-La Pass. The highest spot of the adventure at 5, 106 m rewards with a stunning panorama of high snow mountains. Includes view some peaks of Annapurna, Himlung, Larke peak with a whole range of Manaslu as far towards Ganesh Himal in the east. Enjoying grand dramatic mountain scenery, where the pass festooned with hundreds of prayer flags as offering to mountain spirits and the pass. From the top, a long descend takes you right at the very bottom back into green vegetation and woodland at Bhimthang. After achieving great success traversing high Larke-La Pass, an easy but long downhill to reach Manang areas in Dharapani village. Where route of popular Annapurna and Manaslu circuit joins, which is also the end of our trek. On reaching Dharapani, enjoy a few hours of the exciting drive down to low and warm farm areas around Lamjung district at Besisara. A big town and headquarter of the district, and then on the road to Kathmandu. Where our wonderful journey completes, after an overwhelming adventure and experience on the Manaslu circuit trek.

Important Note

If you wish to discuss any aspect of this trip or your suitability for other trips, please contact us.
The above itinerary is basically a guideline. If you're not satisfied or have an alternative plan please feel free to discuss it with us.

Trip Itinerary

Day

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.

Day

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 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.

Day

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.

Day

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.

Day

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 climb 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.

Day

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 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 overgrown with more shops and tea-houses. After a short rest head towards Deng, as slowly country and landscapes changes entering into a gorge above Buri-Gandaki to reach at Deng, from here onward into more Buddhism strong culture of Tibetan influence.

Day

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 few hours walk 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 walk 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.

Day

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.

Day

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 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 links 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 walk to the frontier of Nepal and Tibet, as the old Trans Himalayan Salt Trade route passes through Sama-Gaon.

Day

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.

Day

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, walk at a slow pace taking a short break and enjoy 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.

Day

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 last overnight around Manaslu valley within Gorkha district. Afternoon enjoys rest and marvel at the surrounding views.

Day

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 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 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 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.

Day

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.

Day

Today, the last day trek of the adventure, morning from 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

Day

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.

Day

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.

Inclusions

All airport pick up and drops services by private van.
farewell dinner in a famous Nepali restaurant with a Nepali culture dance program.
Kathmandu sightseeing with tour guide by private van.
Three-night hotel in Kathmandu, Three-star hotel with breakfast included (twin share basis).
All necessary trekking permits for Manaslu, Manaslu conservation area, Annapurna conservation area, TIMS card, etc.
All accommodation tea house lodges during the trek.
Three meals during the trek (Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cup of tea/coffee).
Government registered and first-aid trained professional local guide who speaks English First-aid kit.
Kathmandu to Sotikhola by private van.
Dharapani to Besisara sharing public jeep, and either Besisara to Pokhara or Kathmandu by private vehicle.
Staff insurance, meals, accommodation, equipment, transportation, etc.
Agency service charge and government tax/VAT.

International airfare and Nepal visa fee (See the Visa & Entry Procedure of Nepal page).
Lunch and Dinner in Kathmandu.
Personal Insurance (See the travel insurance page).
Sightseeing costs (temples, monasteries, etc).
All beverages, snacks, and additional expenses such as laundry, hot showers, battery charging, Wifi, etc.
personal expenses (phone calls, internet, laundry, bar bills, battery recharge, extra porters, bottle or boiled water, hot shower, trek ''See the travel personal equipment page'').
Tip to staff (it is expected).

Complimentary

Sleeping bag during the trek, (to be returned after the trip completion).
Manaslu Trekking map.
Seasonal Fresh fruit each day.
Complementary duffel bag/agency T-shirt.
Certificate of achievement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, upper Manaslu falls on the list of restricted area for outside travelers, in the past decades remained a forbidden and hidden country, then opened in 1991 but remains a restricted region for foreign visitors, to enter Upper Manaslu from Jagat village requires a special permit till it joins at Dharapani in Manang district. The restriction mainly due to the close border with Tibet / China where the route leads from Sama-Gaon and Samdu to the frontier of both countries.

Every village based on the itinerary for overnight stops, do have electricity with hydropower, and some places with personal solar power where guest can charge their electronic gadgets like cell phone, laptop, etc……..on paying some fees per hour of each item.

Very limited places, in Gorkha or Besisar town at the end of the trek, best is to change your money in Kathmandu for your conveyance. As you are trekking on remote areas of Nepal Himalaya, but to change cash of foreign currencies, where very few lodges on the route may accept to exchange into local Nepalese rupees. Facilities for ATM or other credit cards besides Kathmandu, in Besisar is available or in major towns on both way drives.

The chances are small and rare, as the altitude gains gradually by the time you reach over Larke-La pass or around high Manaslu valley you will be well acclimatized by then. As we have set the itinerary flexible with rest days to make it easier for trekkers to get acclimatize during walks and overnight stops at certain altitudes.

However, if some people get a slight headache from high altitude, they will soon recover having rest, drinking enough water that helps to acclimatize from the symptoms of AMS or altitude sickness. For very serious conditions, the sick person needs to be brought down to lower areas like Jagat or at Arughat village as well back to Kathmandu, by fastest means of transport either hiring a local jeep, the best calling for helicopter service to reach the nearest and best place with medical facilities and hospitals.

As you are trekking to the most remote part of the Himalaya, where facilities of good accommodation and food are much limited. From the village of Jagat, some lodges are very simple and basic, but at Lho and Sama-Gaon and Samdu the lodge are much better but with small rooms to accommodate trekkers, it will be clean and hygienic with good foods to enjoy from continental, Chinese, Tibetan, Indian and Nepalese famous Dal Bhat. It is best to carry warm sleeping bags and some snacks, like chocolate, biscuits, cookies, or dry fruits. Most lodge before Tilje and Besisar with common toilets and bath.

Due to the nature of rough road conditions, after leaving the main highway towards Arughat town and Soti Khola. Using comfortable coach or four-wheel drives like jeep or land rover for mountain and hilly roads. But from Besisar to Kathmandu on comfortable couch and buses or cars as per the size of a group.

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