Manaslu trek - 18 days

Manaslu Trek

This is a high voltage strenuous trek that would be fit for the adventurous seeking physical challenges of a high order......and in the attempt to do so......the rewards equal the challenges as you cross one of the most spectacular passes as you hike some of the toughest Himalayan trails ever trodden.

This trek was officially opened to tourists in 1991, but mountaineering expeditions have long had access to the area. In 1950, a party led by HW Tilman trekked from Thonje to Bimtang and Colonel Jimmy Roberts crossed the Larkya La looking for an interesting mountain to climb. Manaslu (8156m.) was attempted by Japanese expeditions every year from 1952 until 1956, when the first ascent was made. It thus became known as a 'Japanese mountain', and much of the information about the area was available only in Japanese. The Japanese continued to dominate the climbing scene on Manaslu until 1971.

A few trekkers, including the peripatetic Hugh Swift, managed to obtain trekking permits for the region, but otherwise this trek has always been the domain of mountaineering expeditions till this day. The book Honey Hunters of Nepal, by Eric Valli and Dianne Summers, makes good background reading for this area.

Though the Larkya La is not a difficult pass, the trek around Manaslu is harder than most in Nepal. In many places the walls of the Buri Gandaki valley are perpendicular, so you cannot walk along the bottom of the valley. There is a huge amount of wasted climbing involved during the first part of the trek as you climb up and down over ridges or onto shelves to bypass cliffs. The trail is rough and steep and it often literally hangs on a bluff high above the river. The trek is remote and has no rescue facilities or opportunities to bail out if you are tired. There is only one facility that might conceivably be called a trekkers' hotel, and there are few English signboards between Arughat and Tilje to appease your thirst for adventure.

The trek is geographically spectacular and culturally fascinating. The inhabitants of the upper Buri Gandaki, a region known as Nupri ('the western mountains'), are direct descendants of Tibetan immigrants. Their speech, dress and customs are almost exclusively Tibetan. There is still continuous trade between Nupri and Tibet; Chinese cigarettes, for example, are found more frequently than Nepali cigarettes. The mountain views in Nupri are sensational and the crossing of the Larkya La is one of the most dramatic of any pass in the Himalaya.
 

Itinerary of Manaslu trek in Details

Day 01

Drive from Kathmandu to Arughat Bazaar (570m.) which takes about seven hours. You drive along the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway for the first part of the day; you turn towards the hill bazaar of Gorkha. After Gorkha the road gets a bit rough but you will reach your destination Arughat Bazaar in approximately seven hours from Kathmandu. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 02

Trek from Arughat Bazaar to Soti Khola (530m.) which takes about six hours. You trek over a flat leveled path along the bank of Budhi Gandaki River through mostly terraces, numerous villages, green hills, some pretty waterfalls and you are almost surrounded by green forest. Today you take lunch at Arket Bazaar which lies mid way to Seti Khola. This is the best place to relax and you can enjoy swimming to ease your tiredness of the walking. To reach Soti Khola, the trail fluctuates uphill and downhill through forest of Sal, Chilaune and other local vegetation. Soti Khola is a village at the bank of Budhi Gandaki. The swimming spot is nearby here. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 03

Trek from Soti Khola to Machha Khola (890m.) which takes about six hours. The zigzag path passes through forest, villages, streams, pretty waterfalls and green valley until you reach Lapu Besi. This is a village mainly covered by Mongolian inhabitants. Now you again traverse the zigzag path to reach Machha Khola. There is a small market with a few shops, lodges and donkeys that are kept there. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 04

Trek from Machha Khola to Jagat (1350m.) which takes about six hours. You cross the Machha Khola [Fish Stream] and head upstream to the tiny village of Khola Bensi and the hot springs at Tatopani. The valley sides are steep until they are impassable and the route then switches to the left bank by way of a suspension bridge. The trail is quite exposed and challenging in places. After a short section of forest path you reach the single teahouse at Doban. Above Doban, the Buri Gandaki descends on an impressive series of rapids. Beyond this steep section, the river is much more placid, meandering across a broad gravel bed. At Lauri, you cross the river on a suspension bridge, and then climb on a high path to the fields of Jagat, where you camp. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 05

Trek from Jagat to Philim (1700m.) which takes about three hours.
The early part of trek moves gently uphill and then somewhere through a flat leveled path. You cross a suspension bridge over Budhi Gandaki before you enter Philim. Philim is a big village mainly inhabited by the Gurungs. Small monasteries, chortens and prayer flags fluttering in the sky, graves and typical houses will be seen around here. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 06

Trek Philim to Deng (2095m.) which takes about six hours.
You trek over a flat leveled path mostly through forest of pine, rhododendron and others. While walking, you cross a few bridges and can see villages at a far distance. A few houses are seen at Deng. From here, you can enjoy a pretty waterfall lying at some distance. Deng is famous for its potatoes, buck wheat, barley, wheat, cabbage, spinach as people are mostly involved in agriculture in this area. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 07

Trek Deng to Namrung (2900m.) which takes about five hours.
In the beginning, you trek almost a flat leveled path and then the trail moves uphill all the way to Namrung through forest. From here, you can enjoy the spectacular views of Mt. Manaslu, rock hills, a green valley and ridges. Namrung is a Buddhist village where there are monasteries, a water turbine, hydro electricity power house, mani walls, chortens and prayer flags can be seen fluttering in the sky. The typical houses remind you of Tibetan architecture. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 08

Trek Namrung to Lhogaon (3100m.) and this takes about four hours.
You trek over a winding path which moves through the inner Himalayan range. On the way, you can enjoy mountain views of Rupinala pass, Mt. Manaslu, Gorkha Himal, Dwijen Himal, Saula Himal, Lajing peak, and many other snow capped mountains and peaks. As you go up the vegetation decreases. In the afternoon, this part becomes quite windy. While walking, you come across mani walls, chortens, prayer flags and monasteries. Before you reach Lho Gaon, you pass a Tibetan village and Lihi Gaon. There is a monastery named Chon on a ridge and also a Buddhist school at Lho Gaon run by Buddhist monks. People mainly grow oat, barley, buck wheat, potatoes and vegetables in this area. You can catch panoramic views of Mt. Manaslu, Gorkha Himal, Dwijen Himal, Saula Himal, Lajing peak and others from Lho Gaon. Stay over night at camp.

Day 09

Trek Lhogaon to Samagaon (3390m.) which takes about four hours.
Leaving the village, you follow the right bank of the river, with views of Peak 29 ahead. As you continue on the main trail, you soon reach the fields of Sama Gaon, 3500m. You camp at Sama Gompa, 20 minutes beyond the village, or Samdo, near the Tibetan border. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 10

This is a day for rest at Samagaon to give you some acclimatization. Surrounded by mountains in a peaceful forest, you take a breather to acclimatize and relax. You can hike to Manaslu Base Camp for excellent views of Samdo (Pang phuchuli); Nagdi chuli, Simnang Himal, Manaslu glacier, Manaslu ice fall and you can see Birendra Kunda which is an ice lake nearby the Manaslu Base Camp. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 11

Trek from Samagaon to Samdo (3690m.) which takes about four hours.
You trek gently uphill all the way to Samdo through a desert path and windy valley. The Tibetan border is just four kilometers away from Samdo. But visitors are not allowed to pass the border. There is a Tibetan refugee village at Samdo. This is an excellent view point for Mt. Manaslu, Samdo (Pang phuchuli), Nagdi chuli, Simnang Himal, Manaslu glacier, Manaslu ice fall and several other majestic peals. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 12

Trek from Samdo to Larkya La Phedi (4460m.) which takes about three hours. The trail is rocky and zigzags all the way to your destination. Before you reach Larka La Phedi, there is a market called Larkya Bazaar (market) where seasonal fairs are held for the local folks. People bring goods from Tibet to sell it here. You will also find a Dharmasala at Larkya La Phedi. Overnight at camp.

Day 13

Trek from Larkya La Phedi to Larkya La (Pass) (5135m.) to Bimthang (3590 m.) which takes about seven hours.
Early in the morning you begin to trek a steep ascented path until Larkya La through a rocky and windy path. Today you carry packed lunch. From the top, you can enjoy the views of Larkya peak, sunrise, Mt. Manaslu, Ratna chuli, Cheo Himal and many other snow capped mountains and peaks. Crossing this pass, you hike to a steep downhill path through rock and ice. On the way, you will encounter many icy lakes. Bimthang is a broad and level ablation valley with a number of Mani walls and deserted houses. Stay overnight at camp.

Day 14

Trek from Bimthang to Dharapani (1860m.) which takes about four hours. Crossing this high pasture, you descend the valley of the Burdin Khola to the area of the Base Camp for the West side of Manaslu. From a ridge at 4150 meters, you have excellent views of Manaslu to the South East and Annapurna II to the South West. Beyond a bridge over the headwaters of the Dudh Khola, you descend into a rhododendron forest and follow a trail through a narrow valley until you reach the highest cultivated land in this valley at Karche, 2785 meters. Walking down you cross a stream to reach Tilje. There is an apple orchard and it is quite famous for local wine. Leaving Tilje, you trek uphill for nearly 45 minutes and reach Dharapani crossing a bridge over the Marshyangdi River.
Stay overnight at camp.

Day 15

Trek from Dharapani to Jagat (1800m) which takes about six hours.
You trek all the way over a descended path along the bank of Dudh Khola (river) and Marshyangdi River. On the way, you walk through pleasant villages such as Taal which is an attractive village with a pretty waterfall and you can enjoy the sight of lush green hills. Eventually, you come across Jagat which is a stone village situated on a shelf, that juts into the precipitous Marsyangdi valley. Stay overnight at acmp.

Day 16

Trek from Jagat to Nagdi (850m.) which takes about four hours.
A steep trail descends from Jagat through Marshyangdi valley. You cross Marshyangdi River at Syange and walk through Ghermu Path (Ghermu field). This part of the trek is pleasant through a flat leveled path with views of green valleys and villages at some distance. Past this Ghermu field and a village, your trail goes uphill for nearly half an hour to reach Bahundanda. This village is mainly populated by Brahmins, Chhetris and few other ethnic communities. At this point, you descend all the way to Nagdi. Nagdi is a Gurung village and the local lodges are run by people who had migrated from Manang and other places. - Stay overnight at camp.

Day 17

Trek from Nagdi to Besishahar (823m.) which takes about four hours.
You trek over a flat leveled path all the way to Besishahar through villages such as Bulbule, Khudi and others. Your route cuts across terraces, ridges and sometimes you cross small streams.
Beshishahar is the district headquarters of Lamjung district. All the local government offices are situated here. From here, you can see some mountain peaks, natural sceneries surrounding the valley and the daily activities of the local people. This headquarter is the junction from where daily essential commodities are supplied to the different villages and numerous towns around. - Stay overnight at camp.

Day 18

Drive from Besisahar to Kathmandu which takes about seven hours.
It is a picturesque drive on the way back to Kathmandu along the banks of the Marshyangdi and Trishuli rivers with splendid views of green hills, mountains, farming terraces and colorful villages on both sides of road.