Manaslu Base Camp Trek with Larkya Pass

Your guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning to begin your city tour of Kathmandu. You will visit the Boudhanath temple, the largest Buddhist Stupa in Nepal, Pashupatinath, a Hindu pilgrimage site, and possibly view cremation ceremonies along the banks of the Bagmati River. Continue drive to Patan
Durbar Square to see ancient Nepalese architecture and end your tour after lunch. Then, you will visit the Patan museum. Overnight in Kathmandu

We drive along the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway for the first part of the day; we then head towards the hill bazaar of Gorkha. The road gets a bit rough after Gorkha. We will reach our destination, Arughat Bazaar, after seven hours drive from Kathmandu.

Our route heads northwards following the BuriGandakiriver passing throughterraced fields and scattered farmhouses. After climbing briefly to Keurenipani, we descend once again to the river and pass SotiKhola. Our camp will be just few villages further along at Liding after passing through a fores

Today, the valley narrows and in places the path cuts into the densely forested valley side. We pass a number of small villages until the valley widens and the trail descends to the sandy riverbed. The trail climbs to MachhaKhola and then on to our camp at Khorlabesi.

At Tatopani there are hot springs where the porters will no doubt take the opportunity to have a quick wash. After Tatopani the trail crosses to the left bank of the BuriGandaki over a suspension bridge. After a section through forest we reach the village of Doban. At this point the BuriGandaki descends an impressive series of rapids and further up the valley the river opens up and meanders across a broad gravel bed. The camp for tonight will be at Salleri village an hour or so beyondJagat

The country changes, the broad valley narrows and at times the trail cuts into the steep valley side, which is densely forested. We pass a number of small villages, tucked into the hillside, until we reach a widening of the valley, opposite the point where a large tributary stream enters the BuriGandaki. The terraced farmland here belongs to the village of Lapbesi. We descend once again to the wide, sandy riverbed and follow a path, which runs below the steep, craggy valley side. At length, we have to climb up once again on a trail to MachhaKhola, which has a number of teashops.

The valley sides remain steep until they are impassable and the route then switches to the left bank by way of a suspension bridge. The trail is quite exposed and challenging in places. After a short section of forest path we reach at Doban. We will see how the river BuriGandaki makes an impressive series of rapids. Beyond this steep section, the river is much more placid, meandering across a broad gravel bed. Overnight at Doban

Continuing northward you pass the hot springs at Tatopani and into a forested area before entering Doban. As you walk beyond Doban there are huge rapids down below on the BuriGandaki. You cross the river again by the suspension bridge at Lauri and continue up the valley to Jagat, where your guide may
need to show permits at the police check point. Leaving Jagat you descend to the river and follow its course, on an undulating trail amongst fields typically sown with grain such as maize or millet. Passing through the settlement of Sulleri you’ll catch your first, distant glimpse of Philim which you’ll reach in a
further 1½-2 hours trekking. There’s a custom post in the village here, checking and levying taxes on goods imported from Tibet. Even though your permits may have been checked earlier in the day they are likely to be checked again here. Overnight at camp

Leaving Philim you continue on the main track passing some superb waterfalls on both banks, as you trek up the narrow western gorge of the BuriGandaki heading towards Manaslu. There is some impressive scenery as you walk up the gorge, sometimes high above the river, while at other times you descend to
cross and re-cross it on an incredible variety of bridges. After around 4 hours of trekking you reach a stone “arch” or Kani, through which you pass to arrive in Deng shortly thereafter. Camp overnight at Deng

The valley is still steep but very impressive. We cross the village of Lama from where we start to see Mani stones (prayers etched onto wayside rocks), then we are entering onto Buddhist region. After only about four hours trekking we reach the village of Ghap, which lies by the River then change in the climate and culture as well.

As we gain altitude day after day, we move into alpine territory but magnificent mountain views. There are more Mani stone walls and 3 more sections to cross over the BuriGandaki on our route to Namrung, where our special permit is checked. Above this village the valley opens out and there are massive pasture
lands. Climbing gently and cross a large stream flowing down from the Lidanda Glaciers, we reach the village of Sho, 3000m. We get to see our first incredible views of the Manaslu North &Manaslu towards from Sho. As we continue we get to Lho, a large village at 3150 metres where there is a lovely little monastery and numerous chortens and Mani Walls.

Today the trail follows the right section of the River bank, with clear views of Manaslu and some of other Himalayan giants ahead. There are also some interesting villages along the way. After an hour we will reach Ligaon, perched on a delightful spot at the foot of a side valley. The village has numerous chortens
and decorated mani walls. As we continue on the main trekking trail, we soon reach first section of SamaGaon, We reach SamaGompa, 20 minutes beyond the village call Samdo, near the Tibetan border.

There are a number of possible day walks available today to help your acclimatization including excursion to Manaslu Base Camp– the base for expeditions climbing Manaslu in spring and autumn. Overnight at camp at SamaGompa

Follow the BuriGandaki northwards to a bridge over a side stream where the trail forks: the left leading towards the Manaslu Base Camp, the other passing several mani walls heads for the Larkya La. The valley widens along an easy trail past juniper and birch forest to the stone huts at KermoKharka, then drops off a shelf to cross a wooden bridge and climbing between a fork in the river to a promontory. From this vantage point, one can see the white stone kani marking the entrance to Samdo.

The thundering BuriGandaki trickles to a stream as we continue to follow its course ever upwards. We are surrounded by spectacular mountains from all sides. Manaslu is particularly most impressive. After crossing the east bank of the river, we come to the ruins of an abandoned village, known as Larkya
Bazaar. Presumably this village thrived as a trading point, with Tibet lying over the Gya La. The commerce seems to have dried up leading to the migration of the settlers. The trail grows steeper, climbing up the side of a gorge to a viewpoint at the edge of a huge gorge at 4000m. Nearing the Larkya Glacier, we reach LarkyaPhedi, where there is a small lodge, built to serve travellers crossing the Larkya La which lies now just ahead.

Today we start our trek early morning as this is a more strenuous day to cross over the Larkya La Pass (5135m) The terrain consists of glacial moraine with a lot of scree to scramble up and over. We soon reach the ablation valley on the left side of the Larkya Glacier with impressive views of Cho Danda and Larkya Peak. We continue trekking along glacial moraine and start making the gradual ascent to the summit of the Larkya La pass. From the top, there is a panorama view of HimlungHimal, CheoHimal, Kang Guru and Annapurna II. On the descent the trail follows the top of the moraine to the west and makes a set of steep, rough switchbacks as it crosses the moraine then descends more gently. Overnight at
cam

A shorter day today! Leaving the meadows of Bimtang we continue our trek descending initially with glorious mountain views then into pine and rhododendron forest. We then climb lateral moraine for a while until we reach at Gho. Overnight at camp

This morning we climb gently through the terraced fields towards a small pass – the Karcha La. From the pass the track descends through numerous fields and pine forest to Tillije. We cross the DudhKhola and trek alongside the river to reach the ThonjeCheckpost. From here we will join the popular Annapurna
Circuit. Overnight at camp

We now follow the trail downstream, through the village of Chamche and reach Jagat. We will encounter plenty of trekkers starting their Annapurna Circuit, and numerous tea houses offering tempting apple pie and beer. Camp at Jagat

The final few hours of trek we reach the road-head, and then we drive back to Kathmandu and transfer to the Shangri La Hotel. Time to relax and reflect on the memories of the trek! Overnight at Hotel