19-Day Manaslu Circuit Trek with Larkya La Pass and Tibetan Villages

19 Days Duration

Experiences

About This Tour

Hike around Manaslu, the world's eighth highest mountain, on a challenging trek through breathtaking Himalayan scenery. Traverse the Larkya La Pass at 5,100 met...

Duration: 19 Days · Tour type: Shared · Activity level: Moderate · Accommodation: Included · Standard · Transport: Included · Wheelchair access: No · Cities: Kathmandu, Lhotse, Manaslu · Languages: English

Know before you go: Not wheelchair accessible.; Not stroller accessible.; Not suitable for pets.; Infants must not sit on laps.; Not recommended for people with heart conditions.; Meet at Alpine Club of Himalaya, Thamel, or at the Alpine Hotel and Apartment, Thamel, Kathmandu.

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What's Included

Breakfast
All airport/hotel pick-up and drop-off in a private car/van
3 nights in Kathmandu, including breakfast (3* accommodation)
15 nights' stay in a tea house/basic guest house
Kathmandu city tour in a private car/van
An experienced English-speaking trekking guide and a porter during the trek (2 trekkers = 1 porter)
Salary, food, insurance, and lodging costs for the guide and porter
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and tea/coffee during the trek
Welcome and farewell meals, and breakfasts while in Kathmandu
National Park Permit and TIMS
Drive from Kathmandu to Arughat Bazar and from Bhulbhule to Kathmandu in a private car/van
Down jacket and sleeping bag, to be returned to the office after trek completion
ACH kitbag and T-shirt for you
Manaslu Special Permit
Kathmandu to Arughat Bazaar by private jeep and return from Besishar to Kathmandu
Driver, including salary, meals, accommodation, fuel, road taxes, and parking fees

Not Included

Nepal entry visa fees
International airfare and departure tax
Bar bills, laundry, and other expenses of a personal nature
Travel insurance, including evacuation
Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu, except for welcome and farewell meals
Tips for local staff, guides, and porters
Desserts, hot water, hot shower, mineral water, and Wi-Fi
Entrance fees in Kathmandu

Itinerary

1

Day 01

Arrival in Kathmandu

Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport, where you will be warmly welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free to explore this historic and vibrant city. Overnight at the hotel. Meals: No 3* accommodation
2

Day 02

Kathmandu Acclimatization and City Tour

After breakfast, a trip orientation meeting will be organized in the morning, followed by a full-day guided tour around the Kathmandu Valley. Kathmandu, the historical and cultural heart of Nepal, is a popular destination among tourists, trekkers, and adventure seekers. The city presents a wonderful mixture of Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, and Western influence in the valley. See the glorious Newari architecture of the old palace at Kathmandu Durbar Square, and join the pilgrims around the enormous Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath Stupa. Head to Nepal's most important Hindu temple, Pashupatinath Temple, which stands on the bank of the holy Bagmati River. Last-minute shopping can also be done this day. Overnight at the hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Welcome Dinner 3* accommodation
3

Day 03

Drive to Arughat Bazar

We will drive to Arughat Bazar, a bustling market town cut in half by the Buri Gandaki River. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4

Day 04

Trek to Soti Khola

To begin the trek from Arughat, we will turn west across the bridge over the Buri Gandaki and pass the stone buildings of the hydroelectric power plant before walking through fields of rice and millet to Maltar. Continue our trek through forests full of monkeys to Sante Bazar, with a view of Sringi Himal (7,187m) up the valley. Now, the trail becomes more difficult as it crosses the Arkhet Khola on a suspension bridge. Pass through Arkhet (760m) to a stone-paved trail that climbs through fields, then descends to a high, cascading waterfall before making a long, steep slog up a ridge to Kyopani, a small Magar and Gurung village at 820m. From here, the trail descends to Soti Khola, where there is a good swimming hole and waterfalls. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
5

Day 05

Trek to Machha Khola

Crossing the bridge and making our way through beautiful sal forests, we climb onto a ridge above the high rapids of the Buri Gandaki. The route gets a bit more precarious as it passes over a big rock and crosses a stream, and after a few ups and downs past two tropical waterfalls on a steep, rocky trail, it makes its way down past a few rice terraces to reach the Gurung village of Labubesi (880m). Drop to a sandy riverbed at 860m and walk along rounded stones before climbing about 110m over a side ridge, then head down again to the river and traverse to the village of Maccha Khola. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
6

Day 06

Trek to Jagat

The trail eventually crosses the Tharo Khola, flowing in a rocky ravine, and then reaches Khorlabesi, with fields of tobacco, wheat, and buckwheat. The valley is extremely steep, and after climbing over a small ridge and ascending steeply again, we descend and, after more ups and downs, reach a small trailside hot spring from where the route takes us to Tatopani (930m). From this hot spring, the trail climbs over another ridge and then crosses the Buri Gandaki on a suspension bridge. From there, we climb the staircase to come across a landslide and, over a ridge, reach the village of Doban (1,000m). Crossing a long suspension bridge and then a big landslide, we find ourselves atop a ridge from where the trail descends to Yaru Khola (1,330m), where we cross a 93m-long suspension bridge over the Yaru Khola. After ups and downs on stone stairs, we reach Tharo Bhanjyang. Cross the west bank of the Buri Gandaki, climb over a ridge, and trek along the river for a while before climbing to the compact village of Jagat. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
7

Day 07

Trek to Ekla Bhatti

From Jagat, we will go quite a distance upstream, cross the suspension bridge, and climb over a ridge to the settlement of Salleri (1,440m). As we continue up along the side of a cliff, we will have good views of Sringi Himal. The trail descends to Setibas (1,430m). A decrepit stone Kani and several mani walls indicate that the trail is now entering a region of Tibetan influence, although the people are still Gurungs. Now the trail continues up to the stone houses of Ghatta Khola, from where it crosses the bridge and climbs up to the large Gurung village of Philim (1,590m), with its corn and millet fields. The trail turns north and stays fairly level as it traverses millet fields to Ekle Bhatti. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
8

Day 08

Trek to Deng

Beyond Ekle Bhatti, the route enters a steep, uninhabited gorge. Cross through grassy slopes dotted with pine trees and then the blue metal bridge over the Buri Gandaki River, trekking along riverbanks and climbing over ridges. Descending to the river, the trail takes us on a pleasant walk through bamboo forests to the Deng Khola, and then we finally reach the Gurung village of Deng. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
9

Day 09

Trek to Ghap

Recrossing the Buri Gandaki, we reach the north bank and climb to Rana (1,980m) on steps past a waterfall and across two streams; the trail darts in and out of two ravines. Then, it climbs high above the river before dropping into the Sringi Valley. Cross the Sringi Khola at 1,990m on a funky suspension bridge and then climb steeply and traverse above the Buri Gandaki, where it flows between vertical rock walls. The trail now makes more ups and downs in forests, passing a mani wall, and then turns a corner and contours to Ghap. The mani wall in Ghap has exquisite carvings that depict the Buddha in various meditative poses, as well as the Tibetan saint Milarepa. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
10

Day 10

Trek to Lhogaon

Our route cuts across fields and heads into the woods, passing three streams in a forest of big firs alive with birds, including Nepal's national bird, the Danphe. On the north side of the river is the Tom Khola, which flows in a deep gorge from Tibet. Climb alongside the river past two long mani walls to a waterfall and over a large rock to avoid one big mud hole. Then continue up through deep forests of fir and rhododendron. In the middle of the forest is a wooden bridge that spans the Buri Gandaki at 2,240m, made more exciting by the mist rising from the valley and the lack of handrails on the bridge. The trail takes us to a big rock cave and crosses the river again on another wooden bridge at 2,510m under the watchful eyes of a tribe of grey langur monkeys. Now, the trail takes us on a long, serious climb through bamboo and rhododendron forests, finally entering Namrung (2,660m) through a stone archway. Beyond Namrung, the trek enters upper Nupri, where the dialect changes to Tibetan and people dress in Tibetan-style wraparound cloaks. Climb past the mani wall and fields to reach Basram, and then continue up through forests of fir, rhododendron, and oak to a promontory. Now the trail passes through a stone arch and wheat fields to reach Lihi (2,900m). From here, make a long sweep into a wooded canyon and cross the Hinan Khola on a double-span cantilever bridge to reach Sho (2,960m). The views now start to get spectacular. Manaslu, Manaslu North (7,157m), and Naike Peak (5,515m) appear at the head of the valley. The trail crosses a small ravine and wheat fields to reach the small settlement of Shrip, then climbs past a small stream. Reach the big village of Lhogaon, with a gompa and spectacular views of Manaslu. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
11

Day 11

Trek to Samagaon

Now, we will drop down and cross the bridge over the Damonan Khola and then ascend again. From here, we will take the right-hand trail that follows the north fork of the stream for a long distance through damp forests on either muddy or icy ground and finally reach a plateau at Shyaula (3,520m), with a wide vista of Himalchuli (7,893m), Ngadi Chuli (7,879m), and Manaslu. Now crossing the total desolation of acres of blackened tree stumps, we will cross a ridge and trek in and out of the canyon of the Thosang Khola. Descend onto a rock-strewn moraine and cross through boulders and fields to reach Samagaon, with its large village gompa, where only potatoes and barley are grown. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
12

Day 12

Trek to Samdo

Walking west beside the stream, we will head for the Kargyu Chholing Gompa, climbing up past many buildings and residences. This is a Nyingma gompa with eight separate temple buildings, of which the biggest is Pemba Chholing Gompa, housing a large statue of Guru Rinpoche. The Larkya La trail passes through several mani walls, juniper and birch forests, and the stone huts at Kermo Kharka. Then it gets rougher as it reaches a ridge where yak trains have ground the trail into mush. Drop off the shelf, cross the Buri Gandaki on a wooden bridge, and climb steeply between two forks of the river. Passing through Kani, reach Samdo, nestled behind a ridge. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
13

Day 13

Trek to Larkya Phedi

From Samdo, we will descend on a wide, gentle trail past many fields to a large mani wall and stone archway to cross a wooden bridge at 3,850m. A fine, old mani wall marks the start of the climb to Larkya La. We will climb gently through the tundra and juniper opposite the vast Larkya Glacier that drops from Manaslu North. Staying high on the ridge to the right, we will find a trail that crosses the top of two large ravines, from where the trail gets steeper and climbs the side of a ridge to about 4,000m. There is a viewpoint at the edge of a huge gorge. We will climb in and out of the gorge and contour to the only shelter on the route before the pass, Larkya Rest House at Larkya Phedi. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
14

Day 14

Cross Larkya Pass and Descend to Bimtang

Starting early in the morning, we will head for a long, gentle climb beside a moraine and cross a small ridge, descend a bit to a lake, and keep climbing the ridge until we reach the top of the moraine at 4,690m. Cross rough and indistinct steep grassy slopes and descend to four frozen lakes. Make the final steep climb to the Larkya La, from where the views are tremendous. The peaks to the west of the pass are Himlung Himal (7,126m), Cheo Himal (6,820m), Gyaji Kung (7,030m), Kang Guru (6,981m), and Annapurna II (7,937m). Now, the descent begins along the top of a moraine to the west and drops steeply, traversing scree slopes to a long set of steep, rough switchbacks. If there is snow, we will have to fix a rope on the steepest stretch. Once off the top, the trail crosses the moraine and descends more gently to a final long, steep, slippery descent on loose gravel to Taubuche (4,450m), from where the easy trail descends through a grassy moraine to a small meadow and spring at 4,080m. Now, the trail turns a corner, the valley becomes larger, and the trail heads down to a large meadow and a mani wall at Bimtang, a huge valley rounded by high peaks, where we might hear many avalanches during the night. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
15

Day 15

Descend to Tilje

The trail drops from Bimtang and crosses a glacial stream, the headwaters of the Dudh Khola, on a wooden bridge. Climb over the side of the moraine and descend into beautiful pine and rhododendron forest to Hompuk (3,430m). Now, the trail descends, switchbacking down to a fork of the Dudh Khola, and follows the river through forests to a herders' hut at 3,030m before finally reaching Karache (2,700m). Cross through fields to make a steep climb over a decorated ridge, while the river loops around in an "S" shape below, and then reach the village of Gho (2,560m), from where the trail continues through fields, a clear stream, and rhododendron and oak forests. Staying on the north bank of the Dudh Khola, we will climb over a small ridge to reach the large Gurung village of Tilje. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
16

Day 16

Descend to Syange

Leave the village through a stone arch, cross the Dudh Khola, and trek along the river embankment. As the trail descends through scrub forests, the wall of the Marsyangdi Valley looms larger. Cross a wooden bridge back to the northern side of the Dudh Khola at 1,930m and climb up through an arch and mani wall to reach the village of Thonje, from where we will turn left and cross a long suspension bridge over the Marsyangdi River to get to Dharapani (1,920m). Descend to another village, Karte (1,850m). Descending further past fields and stands of bamboo and rhododendrons, we will reach Chamje (1,410m), move downhill again to find ourselves at the village of Jagat, and finally reach Syange. Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
17

Day 17

Descend to Bhulbule

Descending downhill along the Marsyangdi Khola south through villages with rice terraces, we will reach Bhulbule, crossing the Brahmin settlement of Bahundanda (1,270m), an attractive village on the saddle of a long ridge, and Ngadi (900m). Overnight at tented camp. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
18

Day 18

Drive Back to Kathmandu

From Bhulbule, we will drive back to Kathmandu. This is a leisure day that can be used for buying gifts and souvenirs for your friends and family. In the evening, you will be invited to join the farewell dinner, review great photos, and share experiences from the trip. Overnight at a 3* hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner
19

Day 19

Departure or Holiday Extension

If you prefer to stay longer, you can consult us for short tours such as a game drive at national parks, rafting, mountain biking, or tours to Tibet, India, or Bhutan. Meals: Breakfast