Manaslu Trek via Larke Pass Trek – 14 Days

Start your journey to the Manaslu Circuit in Kathmandu. To begin with, you can travel directly to Arughat from Gongabu Bus Park in Kathmandu at 6 and 8 a.m. Similarly, you can also travel by bus along the Prithvi Highway to Dhading or Malekhu, from where you can take a local bus or jeep. From your window seat, you will have the best views of the landscape, even though the road is uneven and dusty. There are numerous rest stops along the way where you can stop for food and quick breaks. And spend the night at one of Solti Khola’s teahouses. The best seasons for the Manaslu Trek via Larke Pass are autumn, starting from September  to December , and spring, starting from Marchto May. During these seasons, clear skies, mild temperatures, and beautiful views will make the trek memorable.

You will take in the beautiful scenery and a warm breakfast at the Soti Khola teahouse the following morning. You will then begin your daily trek. The road leading from Soti Khola is narrow and rocky, in contrast to other trekking trails. On the first day of this trek, you will have the most amazing walk despite the uneven road. You will be captivated by the breathtaking views of the countryside the entire trail. While strolling, you will come across Sal forests, where you can stop for brief breaks from the strenuous walking. As you follow the trails through the forest, which are lined with numerous rivers, waterfalls, and sheer cliff faces; you will come across some Gurung and Ghale locals. You can eat seasonal vegetables, pickles, yogurt, Dal Bhat, and local milk in the scattered settlements. You will notice a rocky hillside once you arrive at Nyali Khola. Both locals and hikers stand there and pray to the mountains, rivers, and local deities to keep them safe as they travel along the trail. You will cross the winding road and ascend and descend multiple times while following the river trail. You will come across hundreds of mules on this particular day along the route. As a result, you need to exercise caution when you see them coming. To stop it from sliding down the hillside, you must stand on the wall side. With these encounters, you will arrive in Maccha Khola and discover an abundance of teahouses for a cozy night’s accommodation.

You will begin walking across the winding road on the Budi Gandaki River’s bank the next day. You will come across a lot of langurus and monkeys as you enter the forest trail. Following the forests, you will stroll to the gurung villages. As you get to the villages, such as lower Khorlabeshi, you will see the shepherds dressed in the traditional Bokkhu, a cape browned by smoke. Walking a little further will bring you to Tatopani “hot water,” where you can unwind with warm showers and a soaring body. You cross the Budi Gandaki River on a brand-new suspension bridge to arrive at Doban after relaxing in the hot springs. The river flattens at Yaru, where you can cross the Cantilever Bridge to arrive at Jagat, a tidy flagstonepaved Gurung village. Follow the waves to find this location. You will need to show your trekking permits at the checkpost when you enter the village. You will be walking in the restricted area as of this day.

You will walk through Salleri and descend to Sirdibas the following day. There are numerous gompas and Buddhist prayer flags in the village to greet you. Before you get to Phillim, you can sample the local alcoholic beverages at a number of rest stops along the way. Your permits will then be reviewed, and you will proceed along the river’s western bank. The trail is lovely, with interesting sculptures carved by river water over the boulders on the riverbank. You pass through Himalayan pine, rhododendron forests, and the overhanging rocks on the towering peaks as you leave the river bank. The trail is enhanced by these highlights. As you continue, you will cross the Siyar Khola bridge and come to an intersection where the trail splits off to the right, leading to Tsum Valley. At last, you will arrive at Pewa, which is the last stop for the day. In the area, there are only two teahouses that provide simple meals and a comfortable night’s sleep. With the Shilong Acha, Pewa serves the best Dal Bhat in all of Nepal. Before going to bed, you can get together around the fireplace in the evening to talk about your experiences with the locals and otherhikers.

You will have breakfast and begin your trek for the day once the sun rises. To get to Deng, you’ll cross the bamboo forests before climbing the twisting trails. Proceeding ahead, you will traverse a suspended bridge in order to ascend to Rana and Bihi Phedi. White-faced monkeys visit villages along the trail in search of free food. The trail then passes through multiple landslide zones on its way to Ghap. You have to walk with extra caution at this point. For your physical safety, you also need to pay close attention to what your guidesays. The trail will lead you up to Namrung after the area where there was a landslide. You will ascend a zigzag from the river to the tidy village of Namrung (2660m) after traversing the uneven trail for approximately one hour. Along the trek are rest houses, a restaurant, and some of the best teashops around. A Namrung native constructed a contemporary hotel and restaurant complete with WiFi and cappuccinos.

You will begin the day by observing the Nubri people’s way of life. You will stroll past numerous mani walls, verdant terraces, and homes through Banjam as you explore their typical lifestyle, which is influenced by Tibet. From there, you will enter the forest of fir, rhododendron, and oak, climb to Lihi, and then ascend to Sho. Most people in the area will be dressed in traditional Tibetan garb as soon as you set out on foot. As you proceed, you will come across some exquisite paintings in the Kani (gate arches) that precede Sho. When you finally arrive at Lho, you will have walked across the rocky hillside routes. From the location, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Manaslu (8163m) and Manaslu North (7157). This day will see you gain a lot of altitude, so you need to walk carefully and pay attention to your body signs.

Walking the following morning, you are accompanied by the stunning view of Mt. Manaslu. You will traverse the gentle path leading to Shyala, traversing through mossy pine and rhododendron gullies alongside a crystal-clear stream. It will take you nearly an hour to walk from Shyala to Sama Gaun. The views of the mountains disappear as soon as you enter the village, but the yak pasture and ordinary settlements will draw your attention. The main Nurbi village, Sama Gaun, has a sizable gompa, numerous stores, a health center, a heliport, phone and wifi access, etc.

Sama Gaon is acclimating visitors on this day to avoid altitude-related illnesses. Additionally, you will hike to Pungyen Gompa, which is east of the Nubri Valley, as a means of acclimatization. This is an acclimatization hike, so bring a packed lunch. Gorgeous views of Manaslu Base Camp, located north of Sama Gong, await you at the top of the hill. After passing Birendra Tal, continue on the trail and bear left onto the base camp track. You’ll ascend the level paths. However, breathing problems could result from the altitude. Therefore, you must continue to hydrate your body and walk slowly. You will hike slowly north of the Manaslu glacier to base camp, which is located at 4400 meters / 14435 feet, and then back. Or, you can hike to Birendra Tal, a short walk from Sama Gong. This is a option if you feel the need for a short rest of if you are finding the altitude difficult.

You will arrive at Samdo, the more recent destination, on this new day. This is a quick day hike, though, because you have to walk carefully due to the high altitude. Up a wide valley with long mani hills, you will see extended yak pastures with a variety of birds. After that, you’ll leave the tree line and ascend to a ridge where you’ll cross the Buri-Gndaki wooden bridge before arriving at White Kani. It is next to Samdo, a quaint village where yak herding is the main industry. You can hike to Samdo Peak or explore the neighboring villages after arriving at Samdo. Above the valley on the left is the Larky La trail. You can also see the main track for Tibet over the Larjyang La forming slopes on the Larkya La trail.

You will pause at Samdo for a day of rest and then travel to the Tibetan border. Parts of Tibet and Nepal are also visible from the border. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to see the yak caravan cross the border. Once you cross the border, you can get some great pictures of Samdo Glacier’s southern flank, which features a massive serac close to the glacier’s summit. In season, you can also frame marmots, picas, and blue sheep.

You are going to hike to the highest point on the trail on this special day. You will walk to Larkya La Pass (5160m / 16929ft) on this particular day. Even though it could be difficult in inclement weather and with the snow, the walk is still manageable. You have to get up early (3 am), eat breakfast, and leave the teahouse early because you will be crossing the pass before the afternoon. This is the hardest portion of the trek, but you can make it to the pass if you walk steadily. The journey is enhanced by the breathtaking views you will see once you reach the pass. Views of Kang Guru (6981m / 22903ft), Himlung (7126m / 23379 ft) close to Tibet, and Annapurna 2nd (7937m / 26040 ft) in the Annapurna range are all visible. After spending your specific time at the pass, you will descend and spend the night in Bimthang, walking for about three hours. As you descend, expansive icefalls and mountains will be visible. You will be able to see massive icefalls, mountains, and Pongkar Tal, which is located between the Pongkar and Salpu Danda Glaciers, in every direction.

You are going to hike to the highest point on the trail on this special day. You will walk to Larkya La Pass (5160m / 16929ft) on this particular day. Even though it could be difficult in inclement weather and with the snow, the walk is still manageable. You have to get up early (3 am), eat breakfast, and leave the teahouse early because you will be crossing the pass before the afternoon. This is the hardest portion of the trek, but you can make it to the pass if you walk steadily. The journey is enhanced by the breathtaking views you will see once you reach the pass. Views of Kang Guru (6981m / 22903ft), Himlung (7126m / 23379 ft) close to Tibet, and Annapurna 2nd (7937m / 26040 ft) in the Annapurna range are all visible. After spending your specific time at the pass, you will descend and spend the night in Bimthang, walking for about three hours. As you descend, expansive icefalls and mountains will be visible. You will be able to see massive icefalls, mountains, and Pongkar Tal, which is located between the Pongkar and Salpu Danda Glaciers, in every direction.

This is the last day you will be hiking the Manslu region’s trails. As you descend, you will pass through verdant forests teeming with wildlife, including rhododendron bushes. After crossing the Dudh Khola once more, you will stroll to Karche for lunch. Over the course of the next hour, numerous evidence of the glacier flood will become visible, including broken tree trunks, unstable banks, and uneven terrain. The first village since Samdo is Gurung Goa, where the trail ends. After passing through fields and copses of oak and rhododendron, the valley gets lusher and more agricultural; you will continue on the north (true right) bank until tilije. You will then carry on walking in the direction of Dharapani.

From Tilije to Beshi Sahar, a jeep will transport you. You’ll catch a ride back to Kathmandu from there. After traveling from Beshi Sahar for six to seven hours, you will rest in one of Kathmandu’s upscale hotels