Manaslu Trek

Your tour guide will collect you from your hotel around 5:30 am to begin our 8-hour journey to Soti Khola. The initial four hours will be on paved roads, but once we pass Dhading Bensi (1050m), the road becomes unpaved and somewhat rugged as we make our way to Arughat and Soti Khola, the administrative center of Dhading district. We'll be spending the night at a guesthouse.

Today, our trek takes us through the forest as we follow the Budhi Gandaki River upstream, before descending to the riverbed and traversing a path across the mountains, providing us with regular glimpses of the river below. Our accommodation for the night will be at a guesthouse in Machha Khola.

Following the crossing of the Machha River and the village of Khorlabesi (920m), we reach Tatopani, renowned for its natural hot springs. Continuing our journey, we pass through a wooded terrain en route to Dovan Khola (river) and the Budhi Gandaki Valley. As we ascend, you'll notice a distinct shift in vegetation until we reach Jagat Village, our overnight stop at a guesthouse.

We track along the path through the valley, reaching Sirdibas, offering splendid vistas of Shringi Himal. Following a crossing of a suspension bridge, we face a steep ascent to Philim, with waterfalls tumbling from the mountainsides on either side of the valley. Moving forward, we encounter Ekle Bhatti and Pewa Village as we persist in our ascent through the valley, finally reaching Deng Village, where we'll spend the night at a guesthouse.

This morning entails a challenging ascent followed by a descent back to the Budi Gandaki River. We continue along the trail, passing through the valley and various small settlements. As we approach Namrung, you'll notice Mani stones, indicating our progression into areas inhabited by Tibetan Buddhists. In the afternoon, we'll briefly divert to Prok village (a 2-hour round trip), then return to Namrung for our overnight accommodation at a guesthouse.

Today, you'll experience a sense of traveling back in time as we stroll amidst the Mani stone walls of Lho Village. From Lho, we'll catch sight of the snow-capped summit of Ngadi Chuli (7871m, also known as Peak 29). Additionally, a brief excursion will lead us up to the Pungen Glacier, offering a close-up view of Mt. Manaslu. Our accommodation for the night will be at a guesthouse in Samagaun.

Today's primary goal is acclimatization before ascending to higher altitudes. It's strongly advised by health experts to stay active during the day to facilitate the process. You have the option of either a full-day or half-day trek. The full-day trek involves a 6 to 7-hour round trip to Manaslu Base Camp (4750m), while the half-day trek leads to a glacier across the valley or to Birendra Ta. We'll spend the night at a guesthouse in Samagaun.

Today's trek entails crossing pastures before descending into the valley below, offering magnificent views of the surrounding peaks along the way, particularly Mt. Manaslu. Our next stop is the secluded Tibetan refugee village of Samdo, situated near the Tibetan border. You'll have the afternoon free to explore the village and its nearby countryside. Our accommodation for the night will be at a guesthouse in Samdo.

Today offers another opportunity for acclimatization in the charming village of Samdo, which provides an enjoyable experience. The picturesque surrounding countryside is perfect for a brief trek to Samdo Peak, aiding in the acclimatization process. Additionally, the proximity to the Tibetan border (5,100m) makes it an ideal trekking option. Along the trail to the border, which spans about 10 hours round trip, you'll be treated to breathtaking views of Mt. Manaslu, as well as Simrang, Hiunchuli, Ngadi, Larkya Peak, Cheo, and Kang Guru. It's highly probable that you'll encounter Nepal's national bird, the pheasant, along the way.

Today, we'll traverse numerous rivers before reaching Larkya Bazaar, a village serving as a trading hub for merchants traveling from Tibet. Following this, we'll ascend a steep trail until we reach Dharamsala, where we'll spend the night in a guesthouse.

Tomorrow's journey will be arduous as we traverse the trail via Larkya La Pass (5106m/17,121 ft) to reach Bhimthang. Our path begins with an ascent to Cho Chanda, followed by a challenging climb to the steep, snow-covered pass. The panoramic views of numerous surrounding peaks, including Himlung Himal (7126m), Cheo Himal (6820m), Gyaji Kung (7030m), Kang Koru (698m), and Annapurna II (7937m), are truly breathtaking from the pass. Descending along a steep trail and crossing moraines, we'll eventually arrive at Bhimthang Village, where we'll spend the night in a guesthouse.

Today, we begin our descent along the trail through a low alpine forest, which can be challenging on the knees. We are now within the Annapurna Conservation Area and nearing the end of our trek, close to intersecting with the Annapurna Circuit route.

Today marks the final day of our trek through the Manaslu region. We'll cross the Dudh Khola river and then catch a local jeep to Besisahar before returning to Kathmandu.