18-Day Manaslu Circuit Trek through Villages and Larke-La Pass

• Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be escorted to your hotel by All Nepal Excursion's staff and guides.
• After checking into your room and getting refreshed, join the briefing session provided by our guide or leader.
• In the evening, enjoy a group dinner at a nice authentic Nepalese restaurant with a live cultural program to entertain you during dinner.

• Early in the morning, depart from the hotel by 6 a.m. and catch a bus or jeep from Gongabu to Macha Khola. Enjoy an exciting drive toward Nepal's Mid-West, reaching the Gorkha district and heading past warm lowland farm villages and towns to Arughat Bazaar.
• From here, another short drive takes you to your overnight stop in Macha-Khola village.

• From here onward, the trail leads into interesting farm villages and cultivated fields as the vegetation slowly changes with the gain in altitude. The morning walk takes you over a stream from which Machha Khola, or Fish Stream, gets its name, and the route continues upstream to Khola-Bensi village and Tatopani, a place with natural hot springs.
• The walk continues as the valley turns narrow and steep, and the trail reaches a suspension bridge. After a short walk through a patch of forest, you arrive at Dovan, located on the high shelf of the Burigandaki River.

• In the morning, walk toward a broad gravel field and cross the Lauri stream over a suspension bridge. The trail climbs to a high ridge and then descends into the valley of Yara Khola, continuing for another hour to reach Jagat.
• Jagat is a nice-looking farm village of moderate size after Arughat. The people here are of mixed communities, including Magar, Chettries, Brahman, Manaslu Bhotia (Tibetan-looking tribes), and some Newar lodge owners and shopkeepers.

• After Jagat, the walk descends toward the riverside and then climbs toward the terraced hillsides of Saguleri, facing views of Sringi Himal. The trail continues with ups and downs to a bridge over the Buri-Gandaki.
• After crossing, the path winds up to Philim village, where you stop for a short break in this nice farm village with lovely cultivated fields and terraces.
• After a refreshing stop, head higher through terraces of golden wheat and barley fields to a rocky ridge top covered with bamboo forest toward a place called Eklai Bhatti.
• After a rest, continue toward the higher Manaslu area as the route diverts northwest to reach your overnight stop at Dyang, a small nice village with stronger Tibetan culture.

• In the morning, walk around farm villages where the houses and terrain begin to reflect strong Tibetan culture and the Buddhist religion. After a few hours, the trail leads to Bihe, a small village for an overnight stop, where the people are more of Tibetan origin and follow ancient Buddhist culture.
• Villagers raise buckwheat, wheat, barley, and potatoes as staple crops. Since trekking has become popular around the area, spinach, carrots, and cabbages are also grown.

• From here, the air gets cooler as the walk continues for a few hours through a steep-sided scenic valley. Along the way, you come across Mani prayer stone walls, and the trail leads to Ghap for a possible lunch stop.
• After Ghap, the altitude increases as the route heads into alpine woodland, where the path meanders into a steep climb. The valley opens up with extensive pastures, and you cross a large stream flowing from the glacier of Lidana.
• Walk facing views of Manaslu, locally known as Kutang Himal, along with Pang Phuchin 6,335 m, Saula Himal 6,235 m, and many unnamed peaks above 6,000 m.
• From here, the walk continues uphill past farm villages to reach Namrung for an overnight stop. The village is also called Sho Namrung.

• After spending the night at Namrung, continue walking through farm fields and yak herders' huts as the route leads into a high and scenic valley all the way to Lho Gaon, a nice village for an overnight stop.
• An attractive village of the Manaslu region, Lho offers close views of Manaslu's towering north face. Around Lho, visit its monastery with numerous chhorten and Mani walls, along with views of Ganesh Himal toward the east.

Enjoying time at Lho-Gaon, the morning walk from here is much easier, with a slow and gradual climb and constant mountain views with Peak 29 ahead. After a few hours of uphill walking, reach a small forest at Shala village facing views of Phungi, Manaslu, and Himal Chuli, and then continue for a few more hours to end the day at Sama-Gaon village, with views of Mt. Manaslu.

Sama-Gaon is the largest village in the Manaslu Valley, where locals are mostly farmers cultivating buckwheat and barley, the main crops in this high and harsh terrain. Potatoes and some high-altitude vegetables are also grown. Villagers around the high Manaslu Valley descended from southwest Tibet more than 400 years ago, and their customs and culture preserve an ancient Buddhist heritage similar to their Tibetan origins.

The local villagers are still active in trade and bartering across the border with Tibet, taking a few days to reach the frontier of Nepal and Tibet. In fact, the village lies on the old Trans-Himalayan Salt Trade route between the two countries.

• Today is a free day for acclimatization before the climb to high Manaslu Base Camp. With time for a short hike around Sama-Gaon, see houses adorned with Tibetan heritage, enjoy views of the peaks, and visit the old monastery.

• After Sama-Gaon, enjoy a pleasant morning walk of a few hours to reach the last village of the Manaslu Valley. The trail starts with a slow climb, allowing time for a short break to enjoy the surrounding wonderful views of peaks and dramatic terrain.
• As the walk continues, it finally ends at Samdo village with a short climb to a small flat plateau where the village is located. This moderate-sized village has more than forty houses and about two hundred villagers living in this high, harsh country.

• Leaving the last village of the Manaslu Valley and the higher areas of Gorkha district, the walk leads toward the end of the valley, facing views of snow-capped peaks, including Mt. Manaslu.
• The walk continues across icy streams to reach Larke Phedi at the bottom of the pass, also known as Dharmasala, meaning 'travelers rest house/shade'.
• At Larke Phedi, the afternoon is free for short walks and preparations for the next early morning's long climb and descent across the high Larke-La Pass into the Manang area.

• After an overnight stay at Larke Phedi, start early in the morning as the climb leads up steep slopes past a few huts of Dharmasala. Walk over moraine made up of rocks and boulders, which can be especially arduous in snowy conditions when finding the right path is more difficult.
• The climb continues across the ablation area of the Larke North Glacier, facing views of Cho Danda and Larke Peak, before reaching the top of Larke-La, festooned with thousands of colorful Buddhist prayer flags.
• From the top, enjoy a panorama of Himlung, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, Annapurna II, and a series of Manaslu peaks.
• After enjoying the breathtaking views, make a long descent back into green vegetation and tree lines after passing the small place of Larcia. Continue on a moraine ridge to Tambuche at 3,900 m, at the bottom of the pass, and then take a short walk to Bhimthang for the overnight stay.
• Bhimthang is a magnificent place located on a wide green valley with a number of lodges adorned with Mani prayer walls, surrounded by tall green trees of rhododendron, pine, and oak.

• From Bhimthang, the rest of the journey becomes easier, with downhill walks and short climbs on the route to Goha and Dharapani villages. In the morning, enjoy views of the peaks as you head toward alpine woodland.
• Walk through beautiful forested areas to reach a small clearing in the midst of woodland at Goha for an overnight stop within a small cattle and yak herders' summer pasture and temporary settlement.
• The walk follows a downhill trail through the forest to reach the nice village of Tilje, a pleasant place by the raging Marysangdi River.

• In the morning, continue toward the end of your marvelous walk. After crossing a suspension bridge, make a short steep climb to reach the large and lovely village of Dharapani, located at the junction of the famous Annapurna Circuit trail and the Around Manaslu trekking route.
• Dharapani lies on a river gorge with lovely tree lines, and a motorable road has been constructed here over the past few years. The village provides excellent lodges for an overnight stop.

• After breakfast at Dharapani, depart for Kathmandu on a jeep ride of 5-6 hours on an interesting and exciting journey, following the route past the large town of Besisahar. From Besisahar, continue by shared jeep or bus transportation to Kathmandu.
• As the drive continues, the road winds up to the top spot on the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley and the city. A short drive from there brings you to your hotel, with the afternoon free for individual activities and shopping.

• Enjoy a free day at leisure in Kathmandu, where you may join an exciting tour around interesting places and visit the World Heritage Sites of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur.

• On your last day in the land of the world's highest mountains and exciting cultures, depart from the hotel according to your international flight time. All Nepal Treks staff and guide will transfer you to the airport, concluding your grand experience and adventure on the Around Manaslu Trek.