19-Day Manaslu Trek from Kathmandu with Larkey La Pass

• Arrive in Kathmandu [1,300 m] and transfer to your respective hotel.

• Indulge in a heritage tour of Kathmandu, visiting places such as Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, and Patan Durbar Square.

• Take a morning drive to Gorkha through the foothills of the high Himalaya. Pass rural villages and towns, with occasional views of Mt. Ganesh, Manaslu, and as far as Annapurna, and continue to Soti Khola.

• Note that the route diverts from the Pokhara highway at the village of Abu Khaireni, climbing all the way to Gorkha, a hill bazaar and the ancestral home of the Shah dynasty, which ruled Nepal to this day.

• Visit Gorkha, with its ancient architecture leaving you spellbound.

• From Gorkha, continue driving to the warmer region of Arughat.

• Follow the Buri Gandaki River upstream on the dirt road to Soti Khola, a small farming village for the overnight stop.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• Walk into the steep valley, which is densely forested, through several farming villages tucked into the hillside, reaching the valley below.

• Watch as a large tributary stream enters the Burhi Gandaki River.

• Descend to the wide, sandy riverbed and follow a trail meandering below the steep, craggy valley side.

• Climb up once again on a track to Machha Khola for the overnight stop outside the village, where you can find a number of teashops.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• Cross the Machha Khola (Fish Stream) and head upstream to the tiny village of Kholabensi, with hot springs at Tatopani.

• Note how the valley sides become steeper. The path then switches to the left bank of the river by way of a suspension bridge after a short section of forest trail, coming to some teahouses at Doban.

• Continue the journey for another hour to Jagat, a large village after Arughat. The people around here are from mixed communities of Magar, Chettris, Brahman, Bhotias (Tibetan-looking tribes), and a few Newar merchants and shopkeepers.

• Camp in the village of Jagat after a good walk of 6-7 hours.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• Take a morning walk from Jagat that descends a section of stone steps to the river. From here, the path leads up a terraced hillside to Saguleri, with distant views of Shringi Himal at 7,187 m.

• From this spot, follow the up-and-down trail to the bridge over the Buri Gandaki.

• Cross the bridge from Ghata Khola as the path winds up to Philim village.

• From here, climb slowly along the hillside through the small settlements of Aga and Lokwa to reach Deng for the overnight stay.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• Make an hour's walk from Nyak, crossing to the east side of the river.

• Follow the path up and down into the sheer cliff walls. After this dramatic section, the trail finally improves.

• After about 4 hours of walking, arrive at Bih, then continue for another two hours through the steep-sided impressive valley, coming across mani prayer stones and finally reaching Ghap village for the overnight stop.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• From Ghap onwards, enjoy a pleasant walk while gaining height and entering alpine forest.

• Continue as the trek grows steeper and the valley opens out with quite extensive pastures.

• Cross a large stream flowing down from the Lidana Glacier, with fantastic views of snow peaks on the northern Kutang Himal range, including Pang Phuchin 6,335 m and Saula Himal 6,235 m, along with other unnamed peaks over 6,000 m. To the south lie Manaslu Himal and the Simang Himal range with their array of peaks over 7,000 m.

• Note that the walk follows a gradual uphill path, and the altitude gains slowly through Sho, Namru, and Bengsam until the village of Sho is reached.

• Just above the village of Sho, catch the first views of Manaslu North and then the main peak of Manaslu at 8,163 m.

• An hour's walk then brings you to Lho, a large village with a wonderful little monastery and numerous chortens and mani walls, for the overnight stay.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• On leaving Lho village, continue following the river with views of Peak 29 ahead.

• Begin a 2-hour climb through the forest leading to Shala village, which offers excellent views of Phungi, Manaslu, and Himal Chuli.

• Go a couple of hours further to Samagaon village, with magnificent views of Mt. Manaslu.

• From here, take a half-hour walk to Sama Gompa just above the village of Samagaon.

• On reaching the overnight stop near Sama Gompa, visit one of the major Nyingmapa (red hat sect) monasteries of this region.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• Take a rest day, free from packing. A day hike can be done towards the Manaslu Glacier or near its base camp.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• After an easy day at Sama Gompa, the morning trek climbs slowly towards Samdu and beyond.

• Walk to Samdu, which can be done within 3 hours, but the altitude and dry air make the walk a little slower.

• Note that your trek crosses a high plateau and skirts the ridge of a lateral moraine heading towards Karmo Kharka and Kermo Mamam.

• Reach Samdu village, one of the most remote permanent settlements in Nepal, on the terraced hillside on the opposite bank of the Budhi Gandaki.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• From Samdu, walk on the wildest mountain path, crossing Gyala Khola, then ascend to the ridge where there are some ruins of the village known as Larkya Bazaar.

• Then, nearing the Larkya Glacier, reach Duwang, where there is a lodge built to serve travelers crossing the Larkya La.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• Make an early start to cross the highest point of this trip. A short climb above the lodge leads to the ablation valley on the north side of the Larkya Glacier, with magnificent views of Cho Danda and then Larkya Peak.

• Finally, walk across the glacier moraines, making a gradual ascent that becomes steeper in the last section to the pass. From the pass, outstanding views of Himlung, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II can be seen.

• After a wonderful moment at this highest point, make a long descent over snow and scree to reach the valley trail to Larcia.

• Walk further for an hour on a moraine ridge path, which leads to Tambuche at 3,900 m.

• Make a short walk from here to camp at Bhimthang, a wonderful valley with a number of mani walls and deserted houses.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• From Bhimthang, crossing high pasture, descend the valley of the Burdin Khola to the area of the base camp on the west side of Manaslu.

• Beyond a bridge over the headwaters of Dudh Khola, descend and follow a trail through a narrow valley and into the serene forest surroundings in perfect tranquility.

• Make an overnight stay at Karche, 2,785 m.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• Go downhill through forest, passing the small summer settlement at Goh.

• After an hour or more of gradual walking, climb through terraced fields to Karche La, dropping down to the distant Marsyangdi River.

• Come to the village of Tilje, following the Dudh (milky) River downstream.

• Passing a number of villages, including Thonje, make an hour's climb to cross the bridge and then come to where the main Annapurna Circuit trail joins at Dharapani village.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee]

• Head south, following the main trail downhill to the Marsyangdi River.

• After crossing the wooden bridge over the torrent river, continue on a gradual climb for a short while, which leads to crossing the same river again on another suspension bridge after half an hour's walk.

• After crossing the Marsyangdi River by a wooden bridge, a pleasant walk of an hour brings you to the village of Tal for lunch.

• From Tal, descend and follow the winding gradual trail above the river with great views of the waterfalls and the surrounding landscapes.

• After one or two hours of good walking, a short downhill walk brings you near the torrent, wild Marsyangdi River.

• Head for Syange village, which is just a few minutes across the bridge, and visit the village.

Accommodation: Tea House Meals: All meals [Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Tea/Coffee].

• Reach Chamje to board the vehicle for a scenic drive to Kathmandu, passing farming villages and the towns of Beshishar in the Lamjung area, following the Marsyangdi River and then joining the Pokhara-Kathmandu highway at Dumre town.

• Reach Kathmandu and check in.

Accommodation: Hotel/Resort [as per your requirement and agreed price] Meals: BB Plan [Generally we offer Bed and Breakfast plan in cities].

• Take this free day at leisure for independent activities.

• Depart to conclude the tour.