Manaslu Base Camp Trekking With Larkya la Pass 14 Days

On the first day of the Manaslu Base Camp Trek With Larkya la Pass, you will be received by our representative at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu and transferred to your hotel. At an altitude of approximately 1,400 meters (4,600 feet), Kathmandu is Nepal's lively capital city, serving as a gateway to the Himalayas. Check-in will give you some time to settle in and rest from the journey. 

A brief evening orientation will be held to orient you to the upcoming trek, introduce your leader, and discuss what essential gear you will need for trekking. This preparation is going to work wonders for ensuring safe and enjoyable trekking in the challenging terrains that are ahead. 

You can then see the Thamel streets that are very busy with tourists and their shopping and eating. If you step inside the town, you’re enveloped in colour by the prayer flags, local handicraft, and the unforgettable smell of Nepali food — all of it a taste of the wonderful culture and traditions of Nepal.

Today we are driving from Kathmandu to Maccha Khola, a distance of nearly 160 km, and approximately 7 to 8 hours depending upon the condition of the road. We will take Prithvi Highway travelling by the river Trishuli which offers the most beautiful panorama of different terraced fields, dense forest and villages.

As we continue, the road becomes narrower and twisty, just symbolizing itself in the remoteness of the area. We go through the Arughat Bazaar, a very busy market town and end up at Soti Khola, which finally leaves us at Maccha Khola. Maccha Khola is the trek point that starts our trekking into the Manaslu region.

Here, we check into a local teahouse, a typical mountain lodge with the minimum facilities and a window to local hospitality. The evening is free to explore the village, get acquainted with the locals, and prepare for the trek ahead.

Today, we will hike from Maccha Khola to Jagat, which takes around 6 to 7 hours. This is a walk along the Budhi Gandaki River, with many suspension bridges and foliage-covered areas. The subdivisions called Khorla Besi, and Tatopani are sites of natural hot springs to revive exhausted trekkers.

From jagged trails to well-defined walks on steep inclines, there is quite some uphill and downhill journey. Jagat, a picturesque village with traditional stone-paved streets, is within the Manaslu Conservation Area, to which entry needs a permit. Jagat gives the mark of typical stone houses and rich cultural heritage.

The landscape along which the day passes provides views of sparkling waterfalls, terraced fields, and occasional snow-rimmed peaks. The diversity in flora and fauna, together with changing landscapes, presents a wonderful introduction to the Manaslu region.

On the fourth day of the Manaslu Base Camp Trek With Larkya la Pass, the trail goes from Jagat to Pewa, where after 5 to 6 hours, we would be at an elevation consisting of 1,600 meters or 5,249 feet. The path continues through the Budhi Gandaki River and along the trailside villages, including Salleri and Sirdibas, where we encounter unique elements of Mani stones and Buddhist prayer flags that reflect the ongoing cultural shift from Hinduism to Buddhism.

At Philim, a bigger Gurung settlement, we will cross the suspension bridge and seasonal millet and maize fields until we finally find the pleasant settlement of Pewa. This day is featured by the flaws of nature and culture, and even the finest mingles and interactions with some friendly locals can be observed along the way. Pewa thus proves to be the most noble site for giving a salvaging space after a day's trouble by the trail.

Traveling from Pewa to Namrung takes about six or seven hours to climb to 2630 meters (8629 feet) from Pewa. This trail passes through very dense bamboo and rhododendron forests and several suspension bridges over the Budhi Gandaki River. Sitting along the way is the village of Deng, with a Tibetan-influenced culture, and it continues with Rana and Bihi Phedi.

Steep climbs mark our way to Namrung. The bright snow-capped peaks that will be visible about halfway through these climbs are very pleasing to the eyes. View of Ganesh Himal. Namrung is, put, a place with a police check post and grandeur sceneries defining the surrounding mountains.

The increase in altitude starts becoming apparent as the landscape swiftly changes from snowy palm trees to pure alpine terrain. Namrung, from stone houses to chortens and prayer flags, is filled with the Buddhist heritage of the area.

Today, we will hike to Lho from Namrung, traveling upwards to 2,957 meters (9,701 feet) for 4 to 5 hours. The trekking path leading to Lho passes through the villages of Lihi and Sho which are famous with barley terraces and stone houses. The higher we go, the more we are treated to our view of Manaslu North and Naike Peak. 

The trek is very pleasant, including gradual ascending parts with some steep sections. Once you reach Lho, there is already the magnificent Ribung Monastery sitting upon the hills and overseeing the village. This is a fascinating destination not just for its breathtaking, charming views of Manaslu but also for its architecture, culture, and, of course, the old Tibetan community.

This short trek leaves us to explore the village, visit the monastery, and acclimatize to the increasing height. This trek allows visitors to enjoy the placid atmosphere and rich culture of Lho while being certainly imprinted in their memory.

The Lho-Sama Gaon trek is quite easy, taking close to 4 to 5 hours of walking. The trail climbs gradually while trekking through the alpine forests and meadows. You will come across the beautiful village named Shyala on your way, which has beautiful panoramic views of several peaks, for instance, Manaslu (8,163 m), Himal Chuli, and Peak 29. Shyala is a very nice place to take photos, having wide views of snow-capped mountains that cover the valley.

As we go further, the scenery- changes into high-altitude landscapes, with fewer trees and more wide open fields. This trek mostly passes through yak pastures and old mani walls that reflect the very deep-rooted Tibetan Buddhist tradition in this part of the country. We might also meet a couple of small herder settlements and some local people going on with their daily routines and get a glimpse of true mountain life.

The view of arriving in Sama Gaon is a Tibetan-style, traditional village of the Nyes around huge awe-inspiring mountains. This cute little settlement is ideal for organizing expeditions to the base of Manaslu. Sama Gaon is also home to the centuries-old Sama Monastery and Pungyen Gompa, which would be nice to visit. This day ends with some rest and preparations for the next day's acclimatization.

The eighth day of the Manaslu Base Camp Trek With Larkya la Pass is for acclimatization to higher altitude levels. A good acclimatization option is the hike to either Manaslu Base Camp (4800m) or Pungyen Gompa (4000m). Both hike options are exceptional in what they have to offer. 

Trek to Manaslu Base Camp is challenging. Trail rises steeply with glacial moraine and rough terrain. And what is visible is too amazing: Manaslu and surrounding peaks. This trek is for all those who wish to come closer to Himalayan nature. 

The other option is a walk to Pungyen Gompa that is relatively easier, taking about four to five hours. This exceedingly peaceful monastery is on a hill above the melting débris of the Pungyen Glacier and would have provided amazing views but is now absolutely perfect. The gompa has its meanings in history and faith, which makes it very interesting culturally speaking.

The trek from Sama Gaon to Samdo takes about three to four hours. Up until that point, most of the trail winds its way across a flat valley before gradually ascending beside the Budhi Gandaki River. While trekking, you will note the stark changes in the landscape as it becomes more barren and thinner air around you.

Along the route, we will pass by majestic views of the Himalayan peaks, including Manaslu and the general high ridges of the Nepal-Tibet border. The trail includes many mani walls, prayer wheels, and small chortens, which really speak volumes about the rich Buddhist culture of this place. We may see blue sheep grazing on the steep slopes spreading around, as this is part of the Manaslu Conservation Area.

This tiny settlement called Samdo is very close to the Tibetan border and is mostly populated with Tibetan descendants. The local-marketed view at this place is unique in lifestyle habits.

Today is the second phase of acclimatization where the best activity is spending the day hiking all the way up to the Tibetan border or even to some close nearby ridges for panoramic views of the area. We can walk through the Tibetan border, retracing ancient trade routes that villagers once frequented. The trekking route includes the astounding peaks of Manaslu, Simrang, and Hiunchuli and enables observation of the unique landscape of the Nepal-Tibet border region.

The trail leads through rocky ground and high-altitude meadows, grazing yaks on their pastures. The walk also offers beautiful views and much more interesting exploration of the historical trading relationship between Nepal and Tibet. Here, one may see the people and learn about their traditional ways of life, which are still heavily influenced by Tibetan culture. 

We also can take the short trip back to Samdo in the afternoon for some well-deserved rest while soaking up the tranquillity of this high-altitude settlement. This acclimatization hike takes the actual preparation for altitudes higher than this and crossing Larkya La Pass in the days to come.

Today's trail from Samdo up to Dharamsala, also called Larkya Phedi, has a relatively short leg of about 3 to 4 climbing hours. The path is steady; it climbs up gradually through an otherwise barren country and provides a magnificent view of the Larkya Glacier with its surroundings' peaks. Leaving Samdo will see the landscape gradually becoming more rugged and isolated. We will pass through many mani walls and prayer flags, a reminder of the spiritual touching of this place.

There are also a few yak caravans for transporting goods between villages run by the locals. Cheo Himal and Larkya Peak dominate the skyline above the ground and are enjoyable to see here. Dharamsala is a temporary settlement that is very basic in terms of accommodation but serves as a base camp for the Larkya La Pass crossing. We can either use the afternoon for more area exploration or a ride while waiting for the evening prior to the challenging solo pass.

This is the hardest and most rewarding day of the Manaslu Base Camp Trek With Larkya la Pass as we hike to the Larkya La Pass at an elevation of 5,106 meters (16,752 feet). The trip starts very early in the morning to catch the clear weather of the day, for it is the best of all days to have the trek of Larkya Pass, which could take about 4 to 5 hours. The remainder of the journey to Bhimthang would take a further 3 to 4 hours. Hence, the total trekking time is 8 to 9 hours.

The trail to Larkya La is steep, and it takes you through glacial moraines and rocky trails. The higher you get the views, the more dramatic they are, and the view of the Larkya Glacier, Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kang Guru, and Annapurna II is visible. Reaching the top of the pass means putting another victory flag as it brings panoramic vistas of the surrounding peaks.

This descent from the top of the steep grade at Bhimthang opens out and leads into a gentler world of meadows and rhododendron forests. Bhimthang, simply beautiful with the sight of alpine meadows, offers a rest after such a long trek.

This hike from Bhimthang to Tiji is a soft journey that follows an easy descent from yesterday's very hard trek. The path starts on a gentle walking road with alpine meadows, and at this point, you have super morning views of Lamjung Himal, Manaslu, and Annapurna II. Then the yak pastures come, and it's your hike over some wooden bridges that transit into the deeper areas of rhododendrons and pine.

The track continues through the peace of yak pastures and further down to Gho, a small village where you can enjoy a brief rest. The path narrows and becomes well-defined as it goes downhill from Gho, bringing the landscape alive with greener lushness and terrace fields, signifying the descent to lower altitudes. Nature feels more warm and more abundant as you travel.

Following all, the trek to Tilije, a delightful Gurung village with stone-paved streets and traditional houses built close together, will give you the experience of coziness. The village has a wonderful assortment of cultural values where you may see some local women weaving traditional fabrics.

Today marks your last day of the Manaslu Base Camp Trek With Larkya la Pass. We will start hiking from Tilije to Dharapani, which will not take more than 1.5 to 2 hours. We will find the trail an easy one, being able to pass through small villages as well as terraced farmland. The descent brings more life to the trail, with cascades of water and greenery embracing the way. 

We are officially done trekking when you arrive in Dharapani. Situated amidst a bustling village, Dharapani brings together the Manaslu Circuit and the Annapurna Circuit, thus making it an important passageway for trekkers. Later, we will take a scenic drive of about 6 to 7 hours to Besisahar, the district headquarters of Lamjung.

The journey takes you through extremely winding mountain roads with sweeping views of rolling hills, rivers, and traditional villages before reaching Kathmandu. This will be the point where you finally put an end to your Manaslu Base Camp and Larkya La Pass adventure. You will spend the night in a hotel and breathe freely at the time you want while reflecting on your dazzling journey and celebrating your achievement with fellow trekkers.