Manaslu Expedition

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, you will be greeted by a representative from Manaslu Tours who will transfer you to your hotel. To start your journey on a high note, we will be hosted for a welcome dinner in the evening, featuring authentic Nepalese cuisine and a warm welcome drink.

• SWOYAMBHUNATH, also known as the monkey temple, is climbed by a long set of steps and has great views of Kathmandu.
• BOUDHANATH STUPA has many traditional Gompas hung with strings of multi-colored prayer flags; it attracts many Sherpas and Tibetans for the circumambulations of the stupa (koras)
• PASHUPATINATH is a Hindu temple with burning Ghats on the banks of the Bagmati River.
• KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE, which is one of the old capitals of the Kathmandu valley, has a blend of Hindu and Buddhist temples

After an early departure by private bus to reach Barpak, we follow the Daraudi Khola River, also passing through terraced rice fields. A long climb on a track leads us to Barpak, the main village of the Gurung ethnic group, located on a small plateau overlooking the valley. In front of us stands the snowy face of the Buddha Himal (6672m).

First day of trekking: steep climb through a beautiful forest of rhododendrons and pines with stunning views of Barpak and Boudha Himal. Lunch break at Momche dada (2880m) with panoramic views of Himal Chuli, Boudha Himal, Shringgi Himal, and the Ganesh mountain range. Descend towards the surprising "new" village of Laprak, built by the government after the earthquake, consisting of identical uninhabited houses. The original village of Laprak is located lower amidst wheat, barley, and quinoa fields. Laprak is the second largest village of the Gurung ethnic group and spans over 100m of altitude difference.

We traverse Laprak's maze of village paths and reach the Jyabru Khola. After crossing a suspension bridge, we ascend steeply and passing terraced fields of pink sorghum. The narrow trail, often obscured, winds around hillsides and leads us to a small chorten below the village of Singla. From here, the hike becomes easier and we are treated to views of the Kutang and Sringi Himal to the north. Our path continues through more terraced fields and papaya trees, through the Gurung village of Khorla, before winding down to Khorlebeshi on the Budhi Gandaki River. Take caution on the rocky steps before the long suspension bridge to Khorlabeshi. Be mindful of local women weaving straw mats in the village. In the evening, we may receive a visit from the village's cultural ambassadors and experience another performance.

Today, we have a five-hour trek ahead of us. We'll start by walking along the river, surrounded by tobacco and buckwheat fields, and admiring rocks smoothed by the river's flow. Our journey will involve climbing stone steps to reach the hot springs in the terraced village of Tatopani. Here, we can take some time to soak our weary bodies in the hot water and even go for a swim in the nearby icy river. After drying off on the lovely riverside beach, we'll embark on a gentle hike through the woods with a spectacular waterfall. We'll cross an old wooden suspension bridge and continue through a short section of forest path to reach Dovan. Above Dovan, the Budhi Gandaki River presents steep rapids. Our trail will take us high above the river and down through calmer waters. We'll cross the river on a long, new suspension bridge and then climb stone steps to reach our camp below Jagat, the Manaslu Conservation National Park entrance. Before heading to camp, take a moment to wander around the beautiful, paved village of Jagat and admire the pride of the villagers who have recorded their contributions to the paving projects.

After descending a series of stone steps from Jagat to the river, we climb up terraced hillsides to the hamlet of Saguleri where we can admire the stunning view of the 7,187 meter high Sringi Himal. We traverse through the picturesque village of Sirdibas and cross the river again on a long suspension bridge at Ghata Khola. The path splits with the right branch leading to the Ganesh Himal. We continue upstream, making a steep climb to reach Philim. We cross the river at a narrow section on a new suspension bridge, and then gradually ascend a wide hillside through an open forest, crossing the river twice more on poorly maintained bridges in the next two hours. The first bridge is at the intersection to the remote Tsum valley leading to Tibet. After trekking through dense woods for over an hour, we pass the chilly campsite of Pewa on the river, and after another hour, we leave the gorge and climb briefly to the village of Deng. Deng is the starting point of the lower Nubri region, Kutang, where the people are ethnically Tibetan but speak a different dialect from the pure Tibetans of upper Nubri. We have views of the Lumbo Himal, Lapuchen, and Dwijen Himals. It's worth visiting the upper floor of a local house for a glass of "chang" (Tibetan beer) and a chat by the hearth.

We switchback steeply to the small and impoverished village of Lana, where the women often have their looms set up. After trekking through beautiful pine woods and crossing a small bridge, we reach Bihi Phedi with its good shop and views of the Kutang Himal. We start to see "mani stones" (prayer inscriptions on rocks) which indicate that we are entering one of the small Tibetan communities that dot the high Himalayas. We have three to four hours of trekking ahead of us, crossing the Bhudi Gandaki River twice and smaller tributary streams twice. We will remain mostly high, with many ascents and descents as we move through the gorge, enjoying the spectacular views along the way. Finally, we reach Ghap and set up camp for the night at the house of some friendly villagers.

Today's trek is a magnificent adventure. We depart from Ghap and ascend for an hour through a dense, cool forest, crossing the Bhudi Gandaki River via a wooden bridge and climbing smooth stone steps until we reach Namrung, located at an altitude of 2540 meters. As we continue to climb, we enter alpine terrain and are rewarded with sweeping mountain views. Namrung village marks the beginning of Nubri, an area inhabited by Tibetans who speak a western Tibetan dialect. A few hours later, we arrive at Lihi, a village located at 2840 meters above sea level, which houses an ancient gompa and is surrounded by fields of barley guarded by "bear watches". Our trek continues at a gentle pace and we soon cross a large stream flowing from the Lidanda Glaciers to reach the picturesque Tibetan village of Sho, located at 3000 meters, where we stop for lunch. After an hour, we reach Lho, where we are greeted with stunning views of Manaslu.

As we walk through the upper reaches of Lho, with the majestic peaks of Manaslu in the distance, we come across the new gompa and then ascend through a light forest next to a small river to reach the idyllic Tibetan settlement of Shayla, where the villagers are often working in the fields. A few more hours of trekking through classic alpine scenery takes us past Tibetan grazing settlements, with the trail to Pung Gyan Gompa branching off to the left. We eventually reach Sama Gaon, passing through checkered fields of barley and potato. The people of Sama Gaon are descendants of Tibetans who settled here over 500 years ago. The Tibetan villages in this region of Manaslu are characterized by their distinctive entrance gates (manes) and they maintain active trade with their Tibetan co-religionists over several nearby high passes. On a clear weather day, you may see village women weaving wool from Tibet into gowns, which are then traded back to Tibet. Spend the afternoon exploring the old gompa settlement above the town and wandering the streets of the intriguing Samagaon village.

A day dedicated to acclimatization! We trek up to the Ramanan Kharka cirque (4000m) and get close to the glaciers in the stunning Pugyen Valley. On a clear day, it is an unforgettable experience surrounded by gigantic and majestic peaks like Peak 29, Manaslu, and Himal Chuli. We are in the heart of the Great Himalayas, surrounded by towering mountains that humans rarely venture into. The trail continues as a beautiful balcony towards the Sama plateau, where we settle in a lodge in the heart of the Tibetan village of Samagaon.

You will trek uphill for around 5 hours and downhill for 3 hours to reach Manaslu Base Camp, starting early in the morning and carrying food and water. The trail from Samagaon goes through a forest and ascends a steep slope to the north of Manaslu glacier, with the final section being the steepest on a slippery trail on a tapered moraine. The base camp site is crowded during peak season with tents, guides, porters and climbers, and you will enjoy panoramic views of surrounding mountains before staying overnight.

Resting is recommended to prepare mentally and physically for the challenges of Manaslu Mountain. A Puja Ceremony will be organized according to Sherpa ritual to ask for blessings for a successful ascent.

Frequent attempts to high camps and returning to lower camps is essential for increasing altitude. Slow ascent through steep sections of moraines and glaciers will be done, and four camps will be prepared before climbing to the summit.

Base Camp to Camp I

The section of the climb from Base Camp to Camp I involves climbing over rock slabs and moraine, a crevassed glacier with occasional small ice steps, and weaving between seracs. It is the most technical section of the climb and takes between 3-6 hours. The elevation at Base Camp is 4,800m/15,750ft and Camp I is at 5,700m/18,700ft.

The section of the climb from Camp I to Camp II is considered the technical crux of the climb with some steep sections fixed with ropes and occasionally ladders. Camp II is located at the top of the serac section of the climb on a somewhat flat area safe from danger, but it can receive a lot of snow accumulation. The terrain features long 40-degree snow slopes with a few vertical ice steps that require front-point cramping. Acclimatized climbers can complete this leg in approximately 3-4 hours. The route continues up the upper glacier before increasing in steepness as it approaches Camp III. Camp II is located at an elevation of 6,400m/21,000ft.

The section of the climb from Camp II to Camp III continues up the upper glacier and becomes steeper as it approaches Camp III. Camp III is located at an elevation of 6,800m/22,310ft and is known for experiencing strong winds, requiring secure tent anchors. This leg of the climb is relatively short, taking between 1.5-3 hours.

The section of the climb from Camp III to Camp IV involves strenuous climbing over 550m of elevation gain. The route continues up the remaining glacier, weaving through seracs with some short steep sections of ice and snow that have fixed ropes in place for safety. An exposed traverse with remains of past expeditions in the shape of old abandoned and destroyed tents leads to a high camp, Camp IV, which is located at an elevation of 7,450m/24,445ft. This leg of the climb takes between 4-8 hours.

The climb from Camp IV to the summit of Mt. Manaslu takes 6-7 hours, with the route climbing three separate tiered plateaus before arriving at the final pyramid slope. The true summit is reached with an exposed technical traverse for around 70 meters, and this section needs to have a fixed rope in place. The descent from the summit to Camp IV takes 2-4 hours.

First, we need to properly dispose of the garbage we have generated in the Base Camp. We should follow Leave No Trace principles, pack out all non-biodegradable items, and dispose of them appropriately in designated waste management facilities. Biodegradable waste should be buried in a proper manner away from water sources. After disposing of the garbage, we can retrace our route back to Samagaon and stay overnight there.

A morning visit to the monastery offers the opportunity to hike towards Birendra Kund glacial lake, located at the foot of the Manaslu glacier. The easy walk to Kermo Manan, with its very long mani wall, leads to an alpine-style valley that gently rises towards a typical Tibetan village. After crossing a small bridge, a short but steep climb brings you to the most beautiful village on the tour: Samdo, with its population of 200 inhabitants. Tibet is easily accessible via Lajing Banjyang, and the people of Samdo, who are of Tibetan origin, still regularly engage in trade with families and grandparents living in Tibet. This superb and welcoming village is an ideal place to discover and rest..

We set out from Samdo and follow the old trade route toward Tibet. After crossing a bridge, we ascend through the remnants of Larkya Bazaar, a once-thriving trade market. As we climb for three hours past glaciers, the panoramic views become increasingly stunning. Our destination is the campsite at Dharamsala, the high camp for the Larkya La pass. Here, we take a lunch break and savor the breathtaking vistas. The altitude and cold can be intense, so we suggest taking it easy in the afternoon and staying warm. We will have an early dinner to prepare for our journey over the Larkya pass tomorrow.

After ascending from Dharamshala, we arrive at the ablation valley on the north side of the Larkya Glacier. Here, we can see Cho Danda and Larkya-La. We traverse the glacier's moraines, often through snow, with a gradual climb that becomes steeper towards the pass. The journey to the summit should take around four hours. The view from the top is breathtaking, with a panoramic view of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru, and the massive Annapurna II. Both sides of the pass offer equally stunning views. After hanging Tibetan prayer flags, we embark on a steep and sometimes slippery descent to a trail along the glacier's moraines. We'll take a lunch break on smooth rocks below the pass before continuing our descent, which will take another three hours to reach our campsite. The rocky descent eventually leads us to Bhimtang, making the journey well worth it.

On this chilly but beautiful morning, the sun hits the peaks around us long before we reach the campsite. Leaving the grazing fields of Bhimtang, we cross a boulder-strewn river and head down through open forests of brilliantly blooming rhododendron, past the Kharka below Bhimtang. We'll stop for lunch at a small tea house before continuing along the rocky riverbed and sliding hillsides to several small, green villages - a sign that we've reached lower altitudes. After a long but scenic day, we eventually reach the large village of Tilje, which has a mix of Manangis (of Tibetan descent) and Chettris (Hindus), resulting in unique architecture and culture, and a diverse cuisine including Dal Bhat, buckwheat dhiro, tsampa, and Tibetan salt-tea.

A long day awaits us, we will have to get up early!!! We will change our mode of transportation and board jeeps that will take us down the Marsyangdi gorges to the bustling town of Besisahar. From there, we will take a bus that will bring us directly to Kathmandu, crossing beautiful landscapes of terraced rice fields, with the snowy peaks of the Annapurnas and Manaslu in the background. We will arrive at the hotel in the evening and have our final group dinner.

There will be an expedition debriefing at the Department of Tourism.

You have a free day to spend, shopping or relaxing in the hotel. In the evening, there will be a farewell dinner to celebrate the successful completion of the Manaslu Expedition, with a cultural dance performed by local dancers. If you want to extend your stay, please email for more details.

As the day of departure arrives, you will receive assistance with your final preparations for travel. Our representative will accompany you to Tribhuvan International Airport three hours prior to my scheduled flight to ensure a stress-free departure. Safe travels!