15-Day Manaslu Trek from Kathmandu with Larkya La Pass Crossing

• Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, our airport representative will receive you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel where you will be spending the night. Meanwhile, you can inquire further about any information regarding the program.

• Overnight at the hotel.

• Set off early today for Soti Khola. During the drive, enjoy views of the Nepalese countryside along with mountain scenery. We will be driving on a paved road from Kathmandu to Dhading Bensi, the district headquarters of Dhading (1,050 m), but the drive from Dhading Bensi to Arughat will be on a rough road.

• Upon reaching Arughat, a major town in the region, we drive further towards Soti Khola for an overnight stay.

• At the crossing of the bridge, we trek through the beautiful Sal forests, then climb onto a ridge above huge rapids on the Budhi Gandaki. We then reach Khursane, after which the rocky trail weaves its way up and down past two tropical waterfalls on a steep, rocky trail clinging to the side of a cliff. It eventually makes its way down past a few rice terraces, then up and around to the Gurung village of Labubesi. We further climb behind a rocky outcrop, where the valley opens up and the Budhi Gandaki meanders among wide gravel bars. Dropping to the sandy riverbed, we walk along rounded stones before climbing over a side ridge.

• Head down again to the river and cross another suspension bridge to reach Machha Khola village for an overnight stay.

• The narrow trail makes some minor ups and downs and eventually crosses the Tharo Khola, reaching Khorlabesi. After a few more ascents and descents, we come across a small hot spring in Tatopani. From the hot spring, we climb over another ridge, then cross the Budhi Gandaki on a suspension bridge. At this juncture, we climb a wide, well-crafted staircase, then cross a landslide and go over a ridge to Dobhan.

• Upon crossing a suspension bridge over the Yaru Khola, we climb the stone stairs and then drop to the river, before climbing more stone stairs to Tharo Bharyang.

• Crossing the west bank of the Budhi Gandaki, we climb over a ridge, trek along the river, and then climb towards the village of Jagat for an overnight stay.

• Begin today's trek by climbing over a rocky ridge to Salleri, and then descend to Sirdibas. The valley widens a bit as the trail continues up to Ghatta Khola. We further continue walking upstream to a long suspension bridge in Philim, a large Gurung village. The trail turns north just above the lowest house in the village and stays on a fairly level trail as it crosses millet fields to Ekle Bhatti. The route now enters a steep, uninhabited gorge. At this point, we descend to grassy slopes, cross the Budhi Gandaki, then trek along the west bank for a while, then cross to the east bank and back again. As we continue along the trail, the valley widens and we pass through bamboo forests to the Deng Khola.

• Upon crossing the Khola, we reach the tiny village of Deng for an overnight stay.

• After a brief walk beyond Deng, we cross the Budhi Gandaki and climb to Rana at 1910 m. From the bridge, we climb a bit to join a trail from Bhi, then head west up the Budhi Gandaki valley. The trail also passes through forests and mani walls before turning around a corner that contours to Ghap. Even though there is another route, we take the route through Prok village. Prok village has a viewpoint for a beautiful sight of Siringi Himal. We further cross the Budhi Gandaki several times today and come across several gompas en route. The trail follows the river upstream through a dense forest. After crossing the river at an impressive spot where it thunders down a narrow gorge, the forest becomes less dense and the trail is pleasant again. The walk continues, and after a last steep climb, we reach Namrung for an overnight stay.

• Namrung village is a good viewpoint for Siring and Ganesh Himal, and from the village one can also see Mt. Himal Chuli in the south. We climb steadily, pass through forests, and reach Lihi, a fine village with many chortens and barley terraces. The trail drops and crosses the side valley of Simnang Himal, with Ganesh Himal always close by. We further pass through Sho, Lho, and Shyala villages before reaching Sama Village.

• Enjoy extraordinary views of Mt. Manaslu from Lho village and also explore the famous Ribung Gompa. In Shyala village, we will be surrounded by high mountains like Himal Chuli and Peak 29 (Ngadi Chuli) to the left, Manaslu and large glaciers straight ahead, and other snow summits to the right, while Ganesh Himal stands at the far end.

• End today's journey in Samagaon, where we spend the night.

• Spend the day at Samagaon for both rest and acclimatization. Today, we get acquainted with the rich Sherpa culture. We enjoy the sight of thousands of mani stones with Buddhist texts and pictures, and Sherpa women clad in traditional clothes and ornaments. On a little hill near Sama village is an old Gompa (Pungyen Gompa), a monastery with great views of the glacier. It is named after Manaslu; Pungyen means bracelet, a good description of the two peaks. It was destroyed a year after the first unsuccessful Japanese attempt to climb Manaslu. The locals believed that the climb angered the gods, and when the Japanese came back a year later, they met with so much resistance that they had to give up their attempt. They were finally successful in 1959.

Overnight in Samagaon.

• Descend to the Budhi Gandaki River, which has turned north, and follow it to a bridge over a side stream. The trail to the left leads to Manaslu Base Camp. The Larkya La trail passes several mani walls as the valley begins to widen. It is an easy trail on a shelf above the river, passing the juniper and birch forests of Kermo Kharka. We drop off the shelf, cross the Budhi Gandaki on a wooden bridge, and climb steeply onto a promontory between two forks of the river. From a stone arch, we can view a large white kani.

• Finally, passing through the kani, we reach Samdo for an overnight stay.

• Even today, we continue our walk down the edge, cross the wooden bridge over the Budhi Gandaki, and begin walking upward.

• Upon crossing two streams and witnessing the Larkya Glacier, we go around the valley of the Salka Khola and climb again to the stone guest house (4450 m), which is not a lodge but a kind of shelter called Dharmshala, also known as Larke Phedi. The short walk today also leaves plenty of time for acclimatization and relaxing in the afternoon.

Overnight in Dharmashala.

• After a short climb, we reach a valley on the north side of the Larkya Glaciers, from where we can enjoy great views of Cho Danda and Larkya Peak. Finally, we walk across moraines of the glacier, making a gradual ascent that becomes steeper only in the last section of the pass. From the pass, there are outstanding views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru, and the huge Annapurna II. It is a longer day than usual to Bimthang, but walking into these low pastures with the evening mist coming in and Mt. Manaslu looming close by is an overwhelming experience.

Overnight in Bimthang.

• Enjoy great views of Mt. Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, Himlung Himal, and Cheo Himal.

• Descend further and cross a high pasture (Sangure Kharka), followed by a bridge over Dudh Khola. We walk through rhododendron forest and follow a trail through a narrow valley until we reach the highest cultivated land of the valley at Karche, 2785 meters. We pass across fields before making a steep climb over a ridge. The trail comes off the ridge in a big, sweeping arc to the riverbank at 2580 m. A short distance beyond is the village of Gho. Due to yesterday's tiredness, we might take an overnight rest at Gho, but better lodges are available at Tilije.

• Climb over a small ridge and enjoy the stone-paved trail as it passes through a beautiful village. We then cross the bridge over Dudh Khola and climb up through a chorten-shaped arch, pass a mani wall, and reach Thonje village. At the village, we go through a police checkpoint and continue to Dharapani. We have entered the Annapurna Circuit section from Dharapani. Further down, we come across Karte village and, after quite a bit of walking, we cross a bridge over Marshyangdi Khola. We also come across some mani walls before reaching the village of Tal, situated at the foot of a large waterfall.

Overnight in Tal.

• Follow the trail to Chyamje village, crossing the Marshyangdi Khola once again. The Marshyangdi valley opens with its terrace fields and villages clinging high to the hillsides. The trail then descends through rhododendron and pine forests and takes us to Syange for an overnight stay.

• Drive from Syange to Pokhara via Besi Sahar, offering an opportunity to enjoy both hill and mountain landscapes. The drive is often along the banks of the Marsyangdi and Trishuli rivers. We also pass some beautiful villages with farming terraces on both sides of the road.

• Spend the day in Pokhara at leisure, or perhaps catch up with some last-minute shopping. To celebrate the successful completion of our journey, we will have a farewell dinner in the evening.

Overnight in Pokhara.