Manaslu Circuit Trek with Larkya Peak Climbing - 19 days

After you arrive at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, you can complete the immigration process and head out toward the airport’s terminal. You will meet our representative holding a placard with your name on it. He will greet you and take you to your hotel. Enjoy a welcome drink while completing the check-in process. Later, rest in your room and sleep off the jet lag. Please note no activity has been planned for today, so as to give you ample time to recover from jet lag.

Overnight in Kathmandu.

Today you can enjoy a sightseeing tour and visit some of the famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the city. You will be met by your tour guide and driver right after breakfast at your hotel. Board the vehicle and head towards Pashupatinath, one of the oldest Hindu temples in the world.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus. While non-Hindus are not allowed inside the temple, one can walk around the complex. Foreigners usually find the Arya Ghat, or cremation site, which lies right below the temple, interesting. Located beside the sacred Bagmati River, the dead bodies of Hindus make their final journey to this spot where they are cremated openly at the ghat.

Later you will be driven to a holy Buddhist site, Bouddhanath. Built somewhere around the fifth century, the sparkling white dome of Bouddhanath is topped by a gilded cube and a tower. The cube has the eyes of the Buddha looking in all four directions. This magnificent stupa is the biggest stupa in Nepal and an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists, especially Tibetan Buddhists. Monks, locals, and tourists all can be seen paying their respects and walking around the gigantic stupa, turning the prayer wheels. There’s a Buddhist monastery near the stupa, from where one can get a good view of the monastery. Souvenir shops and cafes lining the sides of the stupa add a lively charm to this sacred spot.

Basantapur Durbar Square is your next destination. Located in central Kathmandu, this square used to be the royal seat of the Malla kings during the medieval period. The main attractions of this ancient square include the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Museum, Kumari Bahal (house of the Living Goddess Kumari), Taleju Temple, Kashtamandap, Gaddi Baithak, Jagannath Temple, etc. 

Later, you will head back to your hotel and attend a trip briefing, where your guide will inform you about the route conditions and some dos and don’ts that you should follow during the trek. If you need to buy anything for your trek, you can do so from Thamel.  

Overnight in Kathmandu. 

After boarding a jeep, you will leave Kathmandu Valley and take a downhill ride via a serpentine road to Gorkha District. While the initial part of the ride is on asphalt, the road becomes bumpy as you leave the main highway and enter the rural areas. You will be riding on a rough dirt road for the most part. Take in the scenic views of terraced fields, banana plantations, and rural farmsteads as the Jeep travels on the bumpy off-road to Machha Khola. 

As you approach your destination, the rough jeep track winds above the Budhi Gandaki River. You will finally arrive at Machha Khola after enduring a bumpy and tiring ride. 

Machha Khola is a small riverside settlement filled with lodges and teahouses. Trekkers who walk on the Manaslu Circuit route consider this stop a crucial one, as most groups begin their circuit hijke from here. An overnight stay has been booked for you at a clean and comfortable lodge.  

Overnight in Machha Khola. 

Start your day early with breakfast at the teahouse. Later you will begin your trek and walk along a dirt road built on a cliff above the river. If it’s a clear day, you will get to see the snow-covered peaks. Along the way, you will encounter waterfalls and river crossings. Enjoy the mountain scenery as you make your way past the picturesque Gurung village of Khoralbesi. 

Overall, it’s a pleasant hike with not many steep ascents and descents. It’s a lonely trail with very less traffic, so you can enjoy your walk in peace and quiet. If you want, you can stop for a break and enjoy a bath at the hot spring called Tatopani. This place is popular among the locals, who come to this place to enjoy a dip at the hot spring pool, which is built on the side of the trail. You will stop for lunch at a small settlement called Dovan, which lies about an hour’s hike from Tatopani.

After Dovan, you will come across a bridge that will lead you to the old trekking route. You can choose to either continue on the jeep track or cross the suspension bridge and walk on the old trekking trail. One needs to be cautious while taking the hiking trail, as there are landslide zones en route. Continuing your trek, you will walk on the side of the Budhi Gandaki River till you reach your destination, Jagat. En route, you will come across the village of Yaruphant and the cantilever bridge at Yarubagar, which is the country’s first cantilever bridge built on the side of a cliff. Crossing it leads to a stone staircase. Be careful with your footing, as the path is narrow and built over a steep, rocky cliffside. Once you have walked for roughly 3 to 4 hours from the lunch point, you will reach your destination, Jagat. 

Jagat sits above the Budhi Gandaki River, at the entrance of the Manaslu Conservation Area. It is a small but lively village with mostly Gurung inhabitants. Your stay is booked at a comfortable lodge from where you can enjoy views of the river and the hills surrounding the settlement.  

Overnight in Jagat. 

Leaving Jagat, you will make your way to your next destination, Dyang or Deng. Right after leaving Jagat, you will come across a beautiful basin with three waterfalls cascading down. As you cross it, take in the beautiful view of the waterfalls. Once you've walked for a short while, you will reach Salleri village. Follow the jeep track until you come to a small walking path that descends to a suspension bridge.

The old trekking route goes through this path, bypassing the dirt road, and once you cross the bridge, you will reach the lively village of Philim. The narrow stone pathway of the village is lined with shops that sell clothes, shoes, and groceries, as well as traditional wooden and stone houses. The village also has a tourist information center, the office of the Manaslu Conservation Area Project, and a police check post where your trekking permits will be checked. You can have your lunch here or at the next village, Chisopani, which you reach after walking for about an hour from Philim. 

Chisopani is another Gurung village where you can spot traditional houses and stone taps that are directly fed by mountain springs. After leaving Chisopani, the trail follows the side of a deep gorge, and you can spot some big waterfalls cascading down the rocky hillsides. The narrow trail is carved on the face of a steep mountainside, which makes your journey thrilling. The pristine Budhi Gandaki roars down below. 

From Chisopani you will make your way towards Ekkle Bhatti, another ancient Gurung settlement. A little further from Ekkle Bhatti, you will come across an intersection on the trail. The trail that goes right is for Tsum Valley and the trail that goes left is for Larke La Pass. You will go left and cross a suspension bridge. Take a gentle ascent to Nyak Phedi. From here there are some slippery and narrow sections that you will have to navigate. Next, you will reach Pewa, another quaint traditional settlement. From Pewa it takes a little over an hour to reach Dyang, your destination for the day. Enjoy the first view of Shringi Himal peeking over the horizon. On reaching Dyang, take a well-deserved rest at a local teahouse.  

Overnight in Dyang.

After a hearty breakfast, you will start your trek and leave Dyang. The trail goes gradually upwards to Rana Gaun, a small settlement filled with shelters for cattle rearers. At the outskirts of the settlement is a junction where the upper trail leads to Bihi Gaun, while the lower trail takes you to Bihi Phedi. You will continue towards Bihi Phedi by crossing a high-suspension bridge. En route, you will cross gigantic waterfalls and pristine streams. After walking for just over an hour, you will reach another popular overnight stop, Bihi Phedi. But you won’t stop here and continue your trek.

While at the lower elevations, you saw banana plantations and tropical forests; you will now see a change in the landscape. From Bihi you enter the culturally rich Nubri Valley. The hillsides are covered with pine and conifer forests, and you will walk past grassy alpine meadows. There’s a shift in the cultural landscape too. As this section of the trail lies close to Tibet, the Tibetan influence can be seen widely. Buddhist prayer flags, prayer wheels, mani walls, and chortens decorate the trail. Buddhist stone gateways known as ‘kani’ mark the entrance of the villages. The villagers living in the Nubri Valley migrated from Tibet centuries ago but have preserved their Tibetan culture, traditions, and customs.

Soon you will walk past the villages of Bhijam and Bur, ascending stone staircases and crossing swaying metal bridges. All around you, you can see bare, rocky mountains with waterfalls cascading down their steep faces. You can stop for a brief rest at Bur before continuing your hike. After Bur, you will come across a landslide-prone zone, where the trail is covered with loose dirt and stones. Be cautious while crossing this section. After a short while you will enter the village of Gap, which lies in a wide valley surrounded by tall mountains. If you haven’t had lunch, you can have it here. Later continue your journey, walking past brightly painted traditional houses and gates and pretty barley fields. 

From Ghyapsha and Lunga Chhyuda, the trail enters a dense jungle. You walk close to the river, and you can hear the thundering sound of the fast-flowing river from the trail. After a while, you will reach Por, a small settlement with teahouses on the side of the trail. You can stop for tea and refreshments before continuing your journey to Namrung. From Por it takes about forty-five minutes to hike to Namrung.

A small village where Tibetan customs and traditions are very much alive, Namrung used to have a busy customs checkpoint for traders who used to travel on the Tibet trade route. However, the customs check post has since closed down after the Tibetan border was closed by China. It is now a sleepy little village where trekkers love to stop for rest and refreshment.  On reaching the village, head to one of the teahouses and take a rest. 

Overnight in Namrung. 

Wake up early and hit the trail to Shyala, your destination for the day. The route offers stunning views of Himalchuli, Ganesh Himal, and Shringi Himal as you pass through a small stream via a wooden bridge. Later you will make your way to Bhanjam and then make a steep ascent to the village of Lihi, an ancient village with a Buddhist monastery. From Lihi you will walk through a densely forested path that is home to some of the rare wildlife like blue sheep, Himalayan tahr, red panda, musk deer, etc.

The trail goes down to the river and again climbs up, weaving past the village of Shyo, with a beautiful traditional stone gate. You have the choice to eat lunch here or in the nearby village of Lho. The trail will offer you a glimpse of Tibetan Buddhist culture prevalent in this region through the many Buddhist icons and structures like mani stones, mani walls, and prayer flags. Some of the traditional gates (kanis) are adorned with colorful murals depicting episodes from Buddha’s life and Buddhist deities. 

New wooden and stone teahouses dot the landscape of Lho village. There are souvenir shops where women sit outside and weave colorful scarves and bags on their traditional looms, which are kept on sale. If you feel like lending a helping hand to boost the local economy, then you can make a small purchase from such shops. There’s an ancient monastery at the top of the village, Ribang Monastery, which is the main attraction of Lho village.

Upon leaving Lho, you can admire breathtaking views of Mount Manaslu, Himalchuli, and Shringi Himal. There are river crossings via suspension bridges en route. Once you've walked through a pristine pine forest, you will eventually reach Shyala, your overnight stop.  Shayla is one of the major villages on the Manaslu Circuit Route. The village is dotted with new and old houses, teahouses, lodges, cafes, and an ancient monastery. Staying at a local teahouse is a great way to experience the warm hospitality of the Nubri locals.  

Overnight in Shyala. 

Wake up early to enjoy the majestic view of the mountains. The village of Shyala offers a 360-degree view of snow-capped mountains and glaciers—Manaslu, Ngadi Chuli or Peak 29, Ganesh Himal, Shringi Himal, etc. Savoring the incredible view of the mountains, you will make your way towards Sama Gaun. On the way, you will take a detour and visit Pungyen Gompa, which lies at an altitude of 4060 meters. The route follows a steep uphill path and can be tiring. 

As you get closer to the monastery, you can observe herds of yaks grazing on the hillsides. You will pass through a kani gate. From here the trail ascends gently, and it becomes easier to walk. Both Manaslu and Ngadi Chuli's imposing spires appear close to the trail. The last thirty minutes of the hike take you across a flat meadow surrounded by a stunning 360-degree view of the south face of Manaslu, Ngadi Chuli, Himalchuli, and the icy Pungyen Glacier flowing down right above the ancient Gompa.

Pungyen Gompa is an ancient Buddhist gompa that has been in existence for centuries in the Manaslu region. The Nubri people built this monastery more than four centuries ago when they migrated from Tibet. The monastery was built to commemorate Pungyen, a deity who resides on Mount Manaslu and is responsible for protecting the region. The Nubri people call Mount Manaslu Pungyen. The monastery is housed in an old building. Small stone huts which serve as the residence of monks surround the monastery. 

The south face of Manaslu looks close and rears just about 4000 meters away from the gompa. After spending a blissful hour or so enjoying the views and capturing images, you will trek down to Sama Gaun. Once in the village, you will proceed to a teahouse for lunch. You can explore the village after a short rest. Sama Gaun is one of the oldest settlements in the Nubri region. The village lies in a wide valley and is dotted with traditional stone houses and modern lodges.

Overnight in Sama Gaun. 

Today you will visit another beautiful attraction on the Manaslu Circuit Route, Birendra Taal (lake). The lake lies on the way to Samdo, so you will take a detour while heading to the village and visit this amazing glacial lake. 

After breakfast, you will pack your belongings and head out of Sama Gaun via an ornate gate. Up ahead you can see the summit of Manaslu, the eighth-highest mountain in the world. On the way, you will come across an ancient monastery, Nubri Pema Decholing Monastery. Close to the old monastery, a new monastery has been built, showing beautiful scroll paintings and murals. After climbing up a gradual incline for about 45 minutes, you will soon come to the exquisite glacial lake, Birendra Taal. 

The Birendra Taal, which is situated amidst spectacular views of Manaslu and other giants, is a sacred pilgrimage site for Nubri people and is named after the late king of Nepal, Birendra Shah. The lake is located en route to the Manaslu Base Camp and is surrounded by Mount Manaslu, Ngadi Chuli, Himalchuli, and the icy glacier tumbling down from Manaslu. The enticing turquoise water of the lake, which is fed by the melting water of the Manaslu glacier, is a delight to behold. Once you have taken pictures and enjoyed the view you will descend to the trail leading to Samdo via a rocky path. 

The trail to Samdo is relatively flat and passes through a wide valley dotted with long mani walls, stone chortens, and prayer flags. Yaks and horses can be seen grazing peacefully in the pastures. The Budhi Gandaki River flows lazily on the side of the trail. Following the passage of the green valley, you will descend to the river and cross it via a wooden bridge. Then, you will make a steep ascent to the village of Samdo. Smaller than Sama Gaun. Samdo is inhabited by Tibetan settlers who migrated from Tibet years ago. You can witness authentic Tibetan lifestyle and culture at these high mountain villages along the route.

Overnight in Samdo. 

Today you will spend a day acclimatizing in Samdo. After an early breakfast, you will pack your lunch and head towards the base of Samdo Peak, a newly opened trekking peak. It was scaled by a Japanese group as recently as 2009. As the peak stands at an elevation of 6335 meters, it is not possible to climb to the top in a day. So you will only climb to the base of the peak, which is known as Samdo Ri.

The hike takes you up a steep incline from where you enjoy incredible views of the surrounding mountains and the valley below. You can view Budhi Gandaki weaving past the vast valley and the village of Samdo. Here you stand very close to Tibet. Tibet lies only a few miles from this spot. Spend some time drinking in the wondrous views and have your packed lunch. Later, head down to the village via the same route. 

After arriving at Samdo, you can spend the day exploring the village and engaging with the locals, or relaxing at the teahouse. Samdo is the final village situated on the side of the Gorkha district. After crossing Larkya La Pass, you will enter Bimthang, which lies in Manang District.

Overnight in Samdo. 

After getting acclimatized, it’s time to head to your next destination, Dharamsala. Right after leaving Samdo, you will come across a large buckwheat field. The beauteous north face of Mount Manaslu rises close to the trail. While it’s a straightforward route, the thin air makes walking difficult.

After a brisk hike of about forty-five minutes, you will reach Larkye Bazaar. Once a bustling trading hub, where locals as well as traders from Tibet congregated to buy and sell stuff, Larkye Bazaar now wears a desolate look. Trading stopped after the Chinese government closed the Tibet border. However, some enterprising locals can be found by the side of the trail selling Tibetan jewelry and handicraft items to tourists passing that way. 

Continuing your trek, you walk on a narrow trail carved on the side of barren hills. You are now high above the treeline, and the lush greenery has long since disappeared. Close to the trail, you can see the snow-covered summits of Naike Peak, the north face of Manaslu, and the dramatic Syacha Glacier. A gradual climb up a rocky path brings you to the overnight stop of Dharamsala. This is not a settlement but a camping spot built for trekkers and mountaineers walking on the Manaslu route. 

There are a few long stone and aluminum huts with tin roofs and some tents for trekkers to sleep in. Since this is not a settlement, the teahouses offer only basic amenities. All rooms have four beds, and you will be asked to share the room with three other trekkers. There may not be any electricity or charging ports inside the room. So do make sure to have your electronic devices and power bank properly charged before you leave Samdo.

Overnight in Dharamsala. 

Following an early morning breakfast, you will depart from Dharamsala and take a hike to the Larkya Base Camp. The path takes you past a gradual incline filled with rocks, ice, and snow. Hike up a glacial moraine, and about an hour and a half later you will come across a stunning blue glacial lake. Keep climbing until you reach the Larkya Base Camp. 

The base camp is set up in a wide, rock-strewn, snow-covered field close to the Larkya Peak. The local crew will serve you hot drinks and a nutritious meal at the campsite. You will be sleeping in a one-man tent.

Overnight at a tented camp. 

Leaving the base camp, you will hike up a boulder field and make a fixed-line ascent with jumar and crampon up an icy, snow-covered slope. After an exhausting climb, you will finally reach High Camp. Hot meals will be prepared by your guide to keep you well-energized. You can practice climbing under the watchful eye of your climbing guide on a rocky slope. After spending some time practicing, you can head back to your tent. Drink warm fluids to keep your body hydrated, and rest your body by sleeping early, as you have to wake up at 1 AM for the summit push tomorrow.

Camping at High Camp. 

Wake up at 1 AM and get ready for the summit push. It’s important to make your summit push early, as it gets windier and cloudier at the summit as the day progresses. One can expect good weather for climbing (no wind, clear skies) early in the morning. 

After getting ready, you will be tied up with a man rope and will follow your guide. With crampons and an ice axe, you will make your way up the icy slope. Be careful, as there will be crevasses en route. Larkya Peak has three summits: Sano Larkya (6249 m), Thulo Larkya (6416 m), and Larkya North (6200 m). The summit of Sano Larkya is your target. The route up there is technically challenging and you need to have prior climbing experience and technical skills to ascend the steep, rocky cliff leading to the summit. 

The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has classified this peak as a Grade A Peak, which means this is a challenging peak to climb. So make sure you have the skills to make it to the top before attempting to summit this peak. 

After a difficult ascent, you will reach the summit, from where you can enjoy stupendous views of Annapurna I, Annapurna II, Manaslu, Cheo Himal, Himlung Himal, Gyaji Kung, and Ganesh Himal. After spending some joyful moments taking pictures and savoring the majestic views, you will descend to the High Camp.

Overnight at High Camp. 

This is a reserved day set aside for summit push in case it gets delayed due to bad weather. 

You will start your day by going down from High Camp to Base Camp and then follow the trail to Larke La Pass. The Larkya La Pass lies at an elevation of 5106 meters and is the highest point that trekkers reach while walking along the Manaslu Circuit. The pass lies on a wide, flat ground surrounded by astounding views of snow-covered giants. There’s a signboard resting against a stone chorten covered with prayer flags. After taking pictures, you can head down to Bimthang. The descent takes you down a steep slope covered with boulders, ice, and snow. You need to be careful of your footing, as the icy path can be slippery. 

After reaching a mountain lake (Ponkar Taal), the path becomes less steep and easier to navigate. At the foot of Larkya Pass is Larkya Besi, where you will find a couple of teahouses. You can have some refreshments here and warm yourself before continuing to Bimthang.  After a long descent, you will finally reach a picturesque green valley dotted with brightly painted tiny cottages and surrounded by the snow-capped spires of Cheo Himal, Himlung Himal, Mount Manaslu, and Annapurna II. On the wide grassy meadow, horses graze peacefully. This is Bimthang, your overnight stop. You have now crossed Gorkha District and entered Manang District, which lies in the Annapurna Region. After checking into a teahouse, celebrate the success of your climb with your teammates and crew.  

Overnight in Bimthang. 

From Bimthang, you will follow the Dudhkhola River and head down to Dharapani. You have already left the Manaslu Conservation Area and are now walking through the Annapurna Conservation Area.

The landscape changes, and lush green forests cover the landscape. You will make your way downhill and after an hour reach the village of Habu. After walking past Habu, you will come to another pretty village, Chauri Kharka, dotted with apple orchards. Walking alongside the Dudhkhola River, you will hike past the settlements of Surki and Gowa. You will pause your trek at Tilche, where you will stop for lunch. There’s a road from Tilche, and trekkers usually end their trek here and take a jeep to Pokhara from this point. However, you will carry on your trek and head towards Dharapani, your final destination. This is the last day of your trek, so enjoy your hike by walking slowly, pausing at intervals to drink in the views. 

Leaving Tilche, you will cross a suspension bridge and head towards the next village, Thonje. From Thonje you will cross another bridge and arrive at the beautiful hamlet of Dharapani. Surrounded by a lush conifer forest and waterfalls, you will spend the night at one of the teahouses run by a local family.  

Overnight in Dharapani. 

Leaving Dharapani, you will make the long journey back to Kathmandu by road. After breakfast, you will board a jeep and take the dirt road out of Dharapani. Enjoy the scenic view as the vehicle winds past riverside villages and lively towns. After a long drive, you will finally reach Kathmandu. Check in at your hotel and enjoy a refreshing shower.  

Overnight in Kathmandu. 

After completing an incredible challenge across the Manaslu Circuit, your Manaslu Circuit Trek with Larkya Peak Climbing adventure finally draws to a close. It’s finally time to bid goodbye to Nepal. Our driver will drop you off at Tribhuvan International at least three hours before your scheduled departure. Feel free to get in touch with us if you want to continue your adventure in Nepal or other parts of the Himalayas (Tibet or Bhutan).