Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu
You will be greeted by our representative at the arrival area and provided hotel transfer. Free time until dinner; in the evening, we will visit a traditional Nepalese restaurant for a fine meal accompanied by folk music and a cultural program.
Day 02: Free day in Kathmandu
A free day to see the sights and do any last minute shopping for equipment while we finalize permits for the trekking. In the evening we’ll give you a briefing and introduce the team before morning departure.
Day 03: Drive to Arughat (606m)
It is about a six hour drive to Arughat, a large prosperous bazaar in ventral Nepal (part of the drive to Arughat is along a rough road). Once at Arughat, we’ll meet our local staff and porters and overnight in a lodge in the old part of the village on the banks of the Budi Gandaki River.
Day 04: Trek to Soti Khola (712m): 5 – 6 hours
We begin the trek past watched by monkeys in the forest to reach the hamlet of santé Bazaar. The banks of the Budi Gandaki now become steeper and the walking is more difficult as the trail crosses the Arket Khola and climbes through fields and over a rocky outcrop. We descend to a high cascading waterfall, and then continue to a lodge in Soti Khola.
Day 05: Trek to Machha Khola (883m): 4 – 5 hours
After breakfast, we cross the bridge and climb up onto a ridge above the huge rapids of the Budi Gandaki. The trail continues, climbing over a big rock and crossing a log bridge, before it eventually descends back down to the banks of the Budi Gandaki. We trek up again on a steep rocky trail clinging to the side of a cliff, then up and round to the Gurung Village of Labishe (880m) and beyond to the river.
Day 06: Trek to Jagat (1415m): 5 – 6 hours
Today we continue following the course of the Budi Gandaki, climbing the descending many ridges. Eventually the river valley widens and we follow a good trail to Jagat (1415m), a compact village with a beautiful flagstone square. We stay here in the village.
Day 07: Trek to Philim (1606m): 5 – 6 hours
The trail now crosses the river and climbs over a rocky ridge to the settlement of Salleri. We continue up the side of a cliff, then descend to Setibas, where several mani walls indicate we are now entering a region of Tibetan influence. The trail continues up to the stone houses of Ghatta Khola, then heads over to the east side of the river, passing through Philim where we’ll lodge.
Day 08: Trek to Deng (1804m): 6 hours
Beyond Philim, the trail enters a steep uninhabited gorge. We descend grassy slopes and cross the Budi Gandaki on a wooden cantilever bridge where the river is at its narrowest. The trail now hangs on a cliff, climbing over ridges and descending back to the river. The valley finally widens and it’s a pleasant walk through bamboo forests to the tiny village of Deng. We have now succeeded in crossing the main Himalayan Range, and the trail follows the Budi Gandaki Valley as it turns from north-south to east-west. This region is known as Kutang and is inhabited primarily by Gurungs who practice Buddhism.
Day 09: Trek to Namrung (2670m): 6 – 7 hours
We head west up the Budi Gandaki Valley, contouring up and out of the canyon, then drop into the Shringi Khola Valley. More ups and downs eventually bring us to Ghap, a village of five or six stone houses. The mani wall in Ghap has particularly elegant carvings, many of which depict the Buddha in various meditative poses and others of the Tibetan saint Milarepa, who is said to have travelled and meditated in this valley. We head into the woods through pine trees alive with birdlife, including the Danfe, or impeyan pheasant, Nepal’s colorful national bird. On the north side of the river is the Tom Khola, flowing in a deep gorge from Tibet, almost doubling the flow of the Budi Gandaki. There is a lot of trading between villages in this region and those higher in the valley and also with Tibet. In the middle of the forest we cross a wooden bridge spanning the Budi Gandaki, then make a long climb though bamboo and rhododendron forests to Namrung. This village has lovely stone houses and a police check post that access to the upper part of the valley.
Day 10: Trek to Shya 93530m): 5 hours
Beyond Namrung we enter the Nubri Region, inhabited by descendants of Tibetan immigrants. After passing though the villages of Barcham, Li, and Sho, we begin to get spectacular views of Manaslu, Manaslu North, and Naike Peak at the head of the valley. The trail finally emerges onto a plateau at Shya (3530m), one of the most spectacular view sites in the Himalayas, with wide vistas of Himal Chuli, Ngadi Chuli (Peak 29), and Manaslu.
Day 11: Trek to Samagaon (3541m): 2 – 3 hours
From Shya, the trail crosses a ridge, enters and then exits a side canyon, then descends onto a rock-strewn moraine. From here we clamber across the boulders to emerge onto a ridge overlooking the extensive pastures and fields of Samagaon (3541m). We walk through the busy village up to its gompa. We’ll stay for two nights in the center of Sama.
Day 12: Acclimatization day at Samagaon
A day to relax or take gentle day walks in the area. We can walk up to the monastery in the afternoon, or visit the local school and just enjoy village life as it goes on around us.
Day 13: Trek to Samdo (3872m): 3 – 4 hours
Revitalized following our rest day, we descend to the Budi Gandaki, which has now turned north again, and follow the trail to the Larkya La. Winding on a shelf above the river, the trail is at first good and easy before we turn into to Birendra Tal and climb up towards the glacier near to Manaslu Base Camp or as far as we feel fit. We descend again and continue to Samdo, which is nestled behind a ridge.
Day 14: Acclimatization day at Samdo (3872m)
It is necessary for us to have another acclimatization day today, before reaching at 4460m tomorrow – just over 600m higher and then crossing the Larkye La (5153m) the day after that. Again, if we feel fit, we can walk 3 hours to the Tibetan border post on the Rui La at just under 5000m.
Day 15: Trek to Larkye Phedi (4494m): 5 – 6 hours
We descend on a wide, gentle trail to the river, then begin the climb toward the Larkye La. We climb in and out of the huge gorge and contour to the only shelter on the route to the pass, a rest house at 4460m with awesome views of the Larkye Glacier.
Day 16: Cross the Larkye La 95135m): About 11 hours
The crossing of the Larkye La is the high point of the Manaslu Circuit. Today we’ll skirt a moraine and climb up a ridge, eventually ending up on top of the moraine at 4695m. We descend a bit, then make a final steep climb to the pass at 5213m. From here the views are tremendous: Himlung Himal (7125m/23373ft), Cheo Himal (6820m/22370ft), Kang Guru (6980m/22898ft), and Annapurna II (7940m/26041ft). The descend follows the top of the moraine to the west, then drops steeply and traverses scree slopes. We make a long set of steep, rough switchbacks to cross the moraine. There is a final long, steep, slippery descent on loose gravel to another grassy moraine at 4450m. We head down to a large meadow and a rest house at Bimtang (3720m), situated in a huge valley surrounded by high peaks – a place to just stand and wonder.
Day 17: Trek to Gho (2568m) 8 hours
We descend through pine and rhododendron forests to Hompuk and down to a fork of the Dudh Khola. The trail continues to Gho.
Day 18: Trek to Dharapani (2006m): about 9 hours
In the morning we cross the Dudh Khola and trek along the riverbank. As the trail descends though scrub forests, the wall of the Marsyangdi Valley looms larger, and finally the houses of Dharapani become visible. At the village of Thonje, we go through a police checkpoint, then continue to Dharapani.
Day 19: Trek to Syange (1194m)
The remainder of our trek follows trails used on the first few days of the Annapurna Circuit Trek. We descend to the Marsyangdi River and cross the suspension bridge. We then climb up and away from the river and hike through a broad, flat valley to the village of Tal (1675m), situated at the foot of a large waterfall. The trail continues on to Chyamje, re-crossing the river once again. It then descends though forests of rhododendron and pine to Syange, where we lodge for the night.
Day 20: Trek to Bhulbbhule (1314m)
Climb up from the river to Bahundanda (1310m), then continue to Bhulbhule.
Day 21: Drive to Kathmandu
It is about 7 hour drive back to Kathmandu through the scenic river valleys.
Day 22: At leisure in Kathmandu
For those eager to see as much of Kathmandu as possible, an early start is worthwhile to visit the temples of Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath and districts of Bhaktapur and Patan. Kathmandu Durbar Square is also on the essential list, as in the shopping area of Thamel. We will have a fine meal together in the evening.
Day 23: Final Departure
We hope that your enjoyed your journey! Our representative will transfer you to the airport approximately 3 hours ahead of your flight time. We bid you farewell and hope to see you in the Himalaya again soon.
