Manaslu Round Trek
Nepal: Kathmandu, Arughat Bazaar, Soti Khola, Machha Khola, Jagat, Philim, Deng, Namru, Lhogaon, Samagaon, Samdo, Dharmasala, Larkya La, Bimthangi, Tilje, Jagat, Nagdi, Besishahar, Kathmandu, Manaslu Circuit Trek
From $1,596 AUD pp (2 pax)
After breakfast, we start an interesting tour around Kathmandu. Escorted by an English speaking guide, we try to give them a full taste of the vivid culture image and an enchanting manner of its people. In our sightseeing tour we go to Monkey temple Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath and Kathmandu Durbar square.
Durbar Square This complex of palaces, courtyards and temples, built between the 12th and 18th centuries, used to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. An intriguing piece is the 17th century stone inscription set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages. The Durbar square, protected as an UNESCO world Heritage site, is the social, religious and urban focal point of the city. There are also museums inside the palace building. Your ticket to the Square entitles you to visit all the museums.
Swayambhunath, 6.5 kilometers west of Kathmandu, on a hillock, this 2000 years old Stupa is the world’s most glorious Buddhist shrine and is surrounded by several small pagodas. The main temple is capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt and is painted on the four sides with all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha.
Pashupatinath, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the holiest and most famous Nepalese temple. Situated 5 kilometers northeast of Kathmandu on the bank of the sacred Bagmati River, it is an impressive pagoda style structure with gilt roof and richly carved silver doors. It has bathing and cremation ghats, which are of absorbing interest to the tourist, particularly in the mornings and on festival days.
We take a private bus for the drive (around 6 hours) to the hill bazaar town of Arughat. Clustered on both sides of the river, and linked by a suspension bridge, this is the largest settlement in the valley.
We now head north, following the Buri Gandaki. In the low country we are surrounded by rice paddies and picturesque hamlets. After climbing briefly to Kyoropani, we descend once again to the river and our campsite at the confluence with the tributary of Sundi Khola. It is not a long day, and perhaps we have time for a refreshing swim sometime during the day for it is hot in the low country.
The country changes, the broad valley narrows and at times the trail is cut into the steep valley side, which is densely forested. We pass a number of small villages, tucked into the hillside, until we reach a widening of the valley, opposite the point where a large tributary stream enters the Buri Gandaki. The terraced farmland here belongs to the village of Lapbesi. We descend once again to the wide, sandy riverbed and follow a path which runs below the steep, craggy valley side. At length, we have to climb up once again on a trail to Machha Khola. We camp outside the village, which has a number of teashops.
It takes about 5 to 6 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 steeping 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 an impressive series of rapids. Beyond this steep section, the river is much more placid, meandering across a broad gravel bed. At Lauri, you re cross the river on a suspension bridge, and then climb on a high path to the fields of Jagat, where you camp.
After descending a long series of stone steps to the river, we climb a terraced hill to Saguleri, from where we can see the impressive Sringi Himal, 7187m. Crossing the river again, at Gata Khola, the path splits, with the right-hand branch heading off towards the Ganesh Himal. Our route continues upstream, through a gorge section with towering walls. We cross the river three more times in the next two hours to avoid difficult valley sides and then climb up over a further steep spur to reach the village of Philim where we camp. Today is a longer day of around 7 hours trekking.
The valley is still steep-sided and most impressive. We cross to the village of Lana, and start to see mani stones (prayers etched onto wayside rocks), a sure sign that we are entering a the high country Buddhist regions. After only about four hours we reach our camping place at the village of Deng, which straddles the river. We have entered the Tibetan areas and the cultural change is obvious, and the climate change is also obvious the trekking is pleasantly cool now, as we start to gain the altitude.
We gain altitude to take us into alpine territory and increasing mountain views. There are more mani walls and 3 more crossing of the Buri Gandaki on our route to Namrung, where our special permit is checked. Above this village the valley opens out and there are extensive pastures. Climbing climb gently now, and cross a large stream flowing down from the Lidanda Glaciers, and reach the Tibetan village of Namru, 2900m. We camp just above the village we get our first incredible views of the Manaslu North and then of Manaslu main ahead.
Let the exploring start- Manaslu Circuit Trek! We will discuss with locals what our best option is to get to the gompa. Our sherpas reckon it could be a very nice walk to take the smaller direct trail… We pass thru Lho, a large village at 3150 metres where there is a lovely little monastery and numerous chortens and manis. Looking back Ganesh I is visible. Leaving the village, we follow the right bank of the river, with views of Peak 29 ahead. At a fork in the trail, we take a detour to the left, which leads up to Honsansho Gompa and the Pungen Glaciers, from where there is a stunning view of Peak 29 and Manaslu Circuit Trek. We will camp somewhere around here and explore and acclimatise for the next few days.
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.
Today is our rest day so you can take your time for weak up. specially for acclimatization which help you to digest altitude .this place is Surrounded by mountains in a peaceful forest, you take a rest day to acclimatize and relax. It is a good time to catch up on that book or wash clothes.
It takes 5.30hrs. to Samdo.Now that we are more used to the altitude we take some time to have a good look around. We may camp higher in the valley.
After breakfast Still climbing we take an easy day to admire the mountains. We camp by a Dharmasala.
After a short climb above the lodge, we reach the ablation valley on the North side of the Larkya Glaciers. There are views of Cho Danda and then of Larkya Peak. Finally, we walk across the moraines of the glacier, making a gradual ascent which becomes steeper only in the last section to the pass. From the pass, there are outstanding views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru and the huge Annapurna II. Initially, there is a steep descent over snow and then scree, to reach the ablation valley trail to Larkya Kharka. A further hour on a moraine ridge path leads to Bhimthang 3650m in pleasant forest.
Below us is Bimthang, a broad and level ablation valley with a number of Mani walls and deserted houses. Crossing this high pasture, we descend the valley of the Burdin Khola to the area of the Base Camp for the West side of Manaslu circuit trek. From a ridge at 4150 metres, we 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, we descend into a rhododendron forests and follow a trail through a narrow valley until we reach the highest cultivated land in this valley at Karche, 2785 metres.
We climb through terraced fields to the Khatrte(Pass), and can see ahead a green and heavily forested valley, dropping down to the distant Marshyangdi river. At Thonje village is our final restricted area checkpost. Here we cross the Marsyandi River and join the main Annapurna Circuit, and the hoards of trekkers. We stay at Jagat.
We climb through terraced fields to the Karche La, and can see ahead a green and heavily forested valley, dropping down to the distant Marsyandi River. At thonje village is our final restricted area checkpost. Here we cross the Marsyandi River and join the main Annapurna Circuit, and the hoards of trekkers.
Communities: The Gurungs are a distinctive and interesting ethnic group found mainly in the central hills. They provided the Gurkha army with many of its men and so occasionally your greeting of “Namaste” is returned in fluent English with a cheery “and a good morning to you”! Their religion is a combination of Hinduism, Buddhism and Animism. Wheat and maize form the main diet staple, which is “Dhero”. Sometimes you may see groups of men carrying ancient muskets hunting game to supplement their diet.
This is the free day and you can use it for your shopping .In the evening we will drive you for farewell dinner with cultural dance.
All too soon it’s time to bid Nepal farewell and one realizes that we can never be intimate, only acquainted with this amazing adventure kingdom.
Trip Fact
Manaslu Circuit Trekking
Grade: Moderate
Trip Duration: 21 days
Max. Altitude: 5115m
Season: Sep – Aug
Trekking:Teahouse/Camping
Accommodation: 3 nights in Kathmandu and 17 nights in tented camps
Transportation: Private/Local Bus
Group Size:Min 2 pax
Manaslu Circuit trek has the grade moderate, you are likely to walk for 6-7 hours each day over steep hilly terrain on usually rough trails but no real extremes of weather. Moderate trails entail reaching up to 5500m with daily ascends of around 400-700m. You will also be facing high altitude air with low level of oxygen on some days and therefore required to have a positive attitude and be physically fit. Previous hiking or camping experience is preferable.
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