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Manaslu Circuit with Larkya Pass
15
days
The Manaslu Circuit is one of the world's best high-altitude treks. In fact, many seasoned trekkers think it's the most beautiful trek in all the Himalayas! Why? Well, it offers a real challenge, as you navigate tricky terrain and climb to 5,106 m. You also trek through dramatic landscapes, meet diverse cultures, and enjoy incredible views of Mt Manaslu and other soaring peaks.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 9: Hike to Manaslu Base Camp (6-7 hr)
Your body needs more time to grow used to this mid 3,000s altitude, so today is an acclimatisation day. If you’re taking strain, then let it be a rest day; enjoy the village, read a book perhaps, and take some naps. If, however, you’re feeling relatively strong, then there’s a roundtrip hike on the cards to Manaslu Base Camp (4,800 m). This is a challenging hike as you face a stiff climb of at least four hours that sees you ascending over 1,200 m. While you start the hike in yak pasture, you soon have to contend with the uneven footing involved in crossing a moraine. Unsurprisingly, the scenery on this hike is wonderfully rewarding. Moreover, when you reach base camp, you have breathtaking views of Mt Manaslu, Manaslu Glacier and the pristine glacial Birendra Lake below. Note that hiking to a higher elevation during the day and then dropping back down for the night is a really effective acclimatisation strategy, so this hike is a great idea for yet another reason if you can manage it.
Day 10: Trek to Samdo (5-6 hr)
The trek today is a gradual climb, and takes place largely in a wide alpine meadow where yaks graze in season. The trail can be rough underfoot in places, as you must navigate rocks, roots and some small streams, but overall it’s a straightforward and relatively easy hike. It’s the high altitude that makes the journey taxing. You spend the night in Samdo (3,860 m), where incredibly you should be able to have a hot shower, a real luxury this high in the Himalayas. But before heading indoors, be sure to put in the effort to climb Samdo Ri (5,150 m), the peak just above the village. This spot offers expansive views of Manaslu, Larkya Glacier and the Tibetan plateau. Samdo is home to members of the Khampa community, a Tibetic subgroup known for their strength, horsemanship, unique dialect, colourful clothing and strongly held Buddhist traditions.
Day 11: Trek to Dharamsala (4-5 hr)
You start the day with a downward trail through fields before commencing the long climb towards Larkya Pass. Your destination for the night is Dharamsala (4,480 m), also known as Larkya Phedi. This teeny-tiny, wind-battered location is only inhabited during trekking season. It has a simple teahouse and campsite. En route to Dharamsala you're rewarded with showstopper views of Manaslu as well as Larkya Glacier. You're also in a great place for some excellent birding, as there's so much solitude and silence this high in the mountains. Be on the lookout for the likes of alpine accentors, Tibetan and Himalayan snowcocks, Himalayan monals, and Himalayan griffon and bearded vultures. Finally, note that it’s quite normal if you struggle to sleep tonight, as very high altitude often causes insomnia, interrupted sleep or vivid dreams. The important thing is to just rest as best you can.
Day 12: Cross Larkya Pass and trek to Bhimthang (8 hr)
Today is the big day! You have a 24 km hike ahead of you, which involves crossing Larkya La (or Larkya Pass in English), which clocks in at a heady 5,106 m above sea level. You therefore have a very early start, as you must complete a tough 650 m ascent followed by a knee-testing descent of roughly 1,400 m. En route to Larkya La (also spelled Larke or Larkye La), you pass a moraine and four frozen lakes. At the top of Larkya La, you have a sensational view on clear days of some exciting peaks, including Annapurna II (7,937 m), Himlung Himal (7,126 m), Gyaji Kung (7,030 m), Kang Guru (6,981 m) and Cheo Himal (6,820 m). Your subsequent descent takes you alongside beautiful Bimthang Glacier, which offers epic photo ops. You overnight in the village of Bhimthang (3,790 m), which is set in a pasture in the wide Dudh Khola Valley.
Day 13: Trek to Tilje (4 hr) then drive to Besisahar (3 hr)
It's your final day of trekking, and it's a short one. So any wobbly legs need only hang in there for a little longer. The trail runs alongside the glacier-fed Dudh Khola as it flows southwest towards the village of Tilje (2,300 m), your overnight stop. You drop nearly 1,500 m in altitude during the course of the trek, so the scenery changes greatly, starting with alpine meadow and transitioning into pine, juniper and rhododendron forests as well as terraced farms. You actually walk along the eastern edge of the Annapurna Conservation Area for the last part of the day. When you reach Tilje, you catch a ride to the town of Besisahar in a local sharing jeep. At just 830 m above sea level, Besisahar is sure to provide you with an oxygen-rich night of blissfully good sleep!
Day 14: Drive back to Kathmandu (7-8 hr)
This morning you catch a ride back to Kathmandu on a public bus. While the ride is long, there's time in the evening after settling into your hotel to stretch your legs again and explore the city a bit en route to a great dinner. There are many grand and humble eateries alike keen to offer tourists a taste of the magic that is Newari food, the core of Kathmandu cuisine. Alu tama, for instance, is a tangy and spicy Newari curry made with potatoes and fermented bamboo shoots. There are also various imported dishes, like momos (dumplings), which originated in Tibet but are now a street food staple in Kathmandu. For dessert, you might like to try the highly popular juju dhau, which is a sweet and creamy custard-like treat made from buffalo milk.
Day 15: Departure day
Today we take you to the airport in good time to catch your flight home. We bid you a fond farewell and hope that you'll return to Nepal soon to tackle another of the country's incredibly beautiful and rewarding Himalayan treks with us!
