MANASLU CIRCUIT TREK

Upon your arrival in Kathmandu on Day 1 your mountain adventure officially begins as you embark and settle into Nepal’s incredibly vibrant and exciting capital city.

Airport transfer - on your arrival at Kathmandu International Airport, outside Arrivals, our jolly English-speaking Nepali team will be holding a clear signboard displaying your name and will arrange safe and comfy transport to your lodge for the day. Travel fatigue will melt away.

Hotel check-in - you'll settle into the warmth of your friendly, centrally-located hotel in Thamel. The bustling capital provides many fine restaurants, stores selling warm clothes and accessories, and tranquil hidden garden courtyards in which to rest and contemplate your coming adventure.

Gear check and shopping - your trek guides will help you check all the equipment you are bringing and let you know whether your essential cold-weather clothing and strong trekking boots are adequate and whether you will need any additional warm layers. If needed, time will be allotted to buy/rent items from the multitude of stores found in Thamel.

Trek briefing and licensed guide: In the evening, you will take part in an orientation talk led by your fully certified mountain guide in the convivial atmosphere of a welcome dinner. Here, they will clarify the important safety procedures, what you can expect on the trail day-to-day, altitude sickness prevention, and how your route will unfold, and so forth.

On Day 2, trekkers take a drive from Kathmandu to Machha Khola, passing through rural roads and dusty tracks, discovering the variety of the Nepalese lowlands, rivers, and rural agriculture.

Trishuli River and Budhi Gandaki River route: The drive to the trailhead from Kathmandu passes by rivers rushing by white water rapids to the north. You would see lively roadside eateries, verdant valleys, and great rock architectures owing to natural dams.

Arughat: It is a local community trading point, from where the road branches into the pristine wild regions of Manaslu Conservation Area. Moreover, your drive continues for some time and reaches the end of the tarmac road, and your trek starts.

7-9 hour long trip: This simply implies that you do have your Kathmandu to the trailhead drive in a day at your will, along with a thrilling, bumpy journey. In fact, experienced trekkers get scared sometimes.

Public bus vs private jeep (CTA upsell): Here hikers can choose between a public bus and a more private and comfortable option of a private jeep, which allows for flexibility and takes photos of the amazing landscape.

Teahouse overnight: The drive ends in a small village, where the hikers can relax and have a hot meal in a local teahouse, while getting prepared for the next day's adventure.

Further deeper into the gorge, the trail becomes more exciting and thrill with the existence of more suspension bridges and ethnic villages.

Khorlabesi: The walk is along numerous ups and downs, mostly gentle throughout, crossing a few villages, pleasant walking through beautiful sub-tropical forests, terraced fields next to friendly local farmers in their tiny hamlets.

Tatopani hot spring: Nice place where tourists enjoy their break after a strenuous trip to such extreme locations and relax themselves with its geothermal hot springs.

Doban: The path is very narrowed to two rivers, from which the trek route proceeds. It has very vertical steps of rock that were carved dangerously on both side walls of the gorge.

Manaslu Restricted Area Checkpoint: Trekkers would get permits checked by authorities from here.

Permit verification: Our guides take care of all formalities at this checkpoint as they have the local expertise to deal with government officials handling permits and visas to trek in this region.

6-7 hour walking time: A full day's worth of walking ahead as this hiking trail keeps the body going on various activities to prepare it for the mountainous terrain further up the trail.

Today you will trek in a spectacular alpine landscape to Deng, passing by a waterfall and the pine ridge with an old village and the style of rich Tibetan traditions.

Salleri: The morning walk is easy through pretty stone villages with plenty of traditional terraced fields of millet. Great opportunity to see beautiful valley views down the deep river gorge of the budding Gandaki River.

Sirdibas: A walk through wide stone paths, which is a busy market village, full of smiling children and Buddhist prayer wheels along the stone wall.

Philim village: The village of Philim is a large Gurung community, which offers a good stop for lunch, with a school, agricultural center, and great valley views.

Suspension bridges: Some of the most spectacular views over the deep river gorges with white water rapids, the bridges are a thrilling experience. Be prepared to test your head and take some great pictures.

6-7 hour walk: Up and down steep slopes with gradual uphill gain will keep you active. It is an easy walk to the last camp near Deng, with cooler sub-alpine forest coming closer.

Day 5 trekkers make their way from Deng to Namrung and leave the tropical valley behind, it widens out into high alpine, a classic scene with the obligatory stupa, pines and huge snowy giants.

Bihi: The course persists amidst peaceful pockets of pines and idyllic rustic timber housing, nestled snugly between the steep granite outcrops on which ice-melt streams tumble in fine, fragile waterfalls.

Ghap: Walkers walk across wooden bridges high above gorges into an area where the Tibetan language, cultural practices and structures pervade everyday life in the village.

Mani walls and chortens: Carefully carved stone tablets with holy Buddhistic teachings are set into the paved way space, whereas renowned prayer chhatris (whitewashed structures) line the way for crowd control.

Greatest one-day net elevation gained: The most physically demanding stage, this ascent to an elevation of nearly 805 vertical meters will require gentle long-distance cruising, frequent hydration stops, and unwavering desire to climb upward.

5-6 hour walking time: A long day of uphill climbs rewards adventurous walkers with a cozy night at bright Namrung, the bustling center of government.

Your day 6 trek from Namrung to Samagaon goes deep inside Nubri Valley amidst awe-inspiring Himalaya giants, antiquity monasteries and archaic Tibetan cultures.

Village of Lho: the morning trek goes uphill through beautiful forested sections, which open into wide Alpine meadows looking straight at fantastic ice spires ahead.

Ribung Monastery: Perched atop a remote mountainside above Lho, this ancient Buddhist monastery is a profound cultural experience and resonates with prayer sounds each morning.

First full sight of Mount Manaslu: Hikers get to enjoy a magnificent, clear first glance of the eighth tallest mountain on earth, sitting atop all the magnificence of the stark northern skyline.

Shyala: Nestled in the valley are charming mountain hamlets hemmed between enormous glaciers and huge snow-capped summits, making an excellent place for a gentle mid-day tea break.

6-7 hour walking time: A longer walk at rising elevation must be managed by a steady pace to arrive at the vast and diverse culture of Samagaon.

Day 7 is a rest day at Samagaon to allow your body to recover valuable energy and adjust physiologically to the altitude before attempting to ascend the very high summit of the upcoming high-altitude mountain pass.

Birendra Lake option (45 min walk): A short side trail leads to a beautiful turquoise glacial lake located just below the huge glacier of Manaslu.

Manaslu Base Camp option (4,800m): An energetic hike will take experienced individuals on an exhausting all-day, high-altitude journey to the formal base camp and look at mountaineering parties beginning attempts at climbing.

Pungyen Gompa option: A deeply rewarding spiritual trek to an old and sacred monastery located within an immaculate glacial valley in front of sheer vertical rock walls.

Why a rest day is vital to crossing Larkya La safely: A red blood cell count can acclimatize itself to reduced oxygen concentrations by as much as it is humanly possible. This significantly minimizes any health and physical risk of Acute mountain sickness.

On Day 8, trekkers trek from Samagaon to Samdo up high alpine valley trails that approach the Tibetan frontier and cross through vast yak pastures and old trade routes

Open yak pastures - From time to time the trail winds into broad glacial valleys dotted with shaggy long-haired yak grazing under massive outcrops and moraines. Tibet border nearby - Merely a few kilometers away from the traditional border of Tibet, Samdo is a refugee trading post steeped in hundreds of years of Himalayan culture.

3-4 hour walking time: a short, easy walking day provides valuable time to acclimatize, and for afternoon rest and personal exploration of this fascinating remote border village.

This day involves a trek through high-altitude desert-like country that is quite windy and goes steadily upwards until it reaches the base of a massive Himalayan pass: Samdo - Dharamsala.

Alternatively named Larke Phedi: Known locally to people in the area as Larke Phedi, the high-altitude wasteland acts as the stepping stone for the pre-dawn journey through the pass.

Old Tibetan trade post ruins: The stone structures nearby bear witness to the passage of yaks carrying salt, grain, and other goods over this high pass.

Basic dormitory lodging: Simple, unheated, stone dormitories with communal showers are available for your overnight stay here at this important acclimatization stop preceding summit day.

No WiFi: There is no cell phone reception or Internet access at all here in order to facilitate complete disconnection and allow you to recharge your eyes while preparing mentally for tomorrow's exhausting, towering trek.

3-4 hour walking time: Not much walking is required at this altitude to conserve energy for tomorrow's hike. So, you will have plenty of time to save your strength for the big day tomorrow.

Crossing Larkya La Pass is the peak, in every physical and emotional sense of the word, for the challenging Himalayan trekking route.

Pre-dawn 3-4 am start: trek into the dark from the campsite, in the freezing chill of night, strapped on our headlamps. We have to reach and cross Larkya La before any afternoon wind and storms descend upon the pass.

Himlung Himal 7,126 m: this spectacular, behemoth peak dominates the distant skyline to the north - its majestic snow and ice edifice is simply stunning in the first morning alpine sun.

Cheo Himal 6,820 m: jagged ice walls and threatening glaciers compose the vista over Cheo Himal and its many spurs as we push across the exposed and prayer flag-covered summit ridge.

Kang Guru 6,981m: Massive rock faces and formidable snowfields of Kang Guru dominate the distant horizon, providing spectacular scenery for the toiling trekker who has climbed from dawn until dusk.

Annapurna II 7,937m: Majestic eastern ridge of Annapurna II takes shape on the distant horizon, concluding one of Nepal’s most famous mountain amphitheaters.

8-10 hour hiking day: An extremely strenuous and tiring day on the trail is ahead of you as you work your way across perilous moraines and steep snowfields and down another multi-hour arduous descent to Bimthang.

Frozen lakes on approach: Beautifully colorful and crystal-clear lakes are nestled in this high-altitude valley, their waters frozen in place by sheer glaciers that rise to meet the morning sun.

On Day 11, trekkers trek from Bimthang toward Tilje and Dharapani. The crunch of our boots echoed from the desolate frozen slopes till it reached a deafening pitch and got swallowed up in the roaring rivers and the evergreen pine trees.

Dudh Khola River: As the trail follows the cascading torrents downward, we hear the roar of a rushing river until our bodies get used to having more oxygen.

Rhododendron Forest Trek: A two-hour trek through stunning mountainous woods on gentle slopes past mature trees, with hanging mosses and seasonal blossoms—the lesser of two simple journeys you can take.

Annapurna Circuit Junction at Dharapani: The less-visited and more tranquil Manaslu trail leaves the main artery of the bustling Annapurna highway to wrap up your confined forest edge circuit.

Walking Time: 5–7 hours. A classically long, knee-killing downhill trek with tattered muscle fibers, but one that treats weary legs to the warmer evening air and a celebratory drink.

During Day 12 you will reach Kathmandu by bumpy off roads and winding mountain paths. The journey out of the wilderness of high Himalayas and into the bustling capital will be quite steep.

Shared 4-wheel drive to Besisahar. Depart after breakfast on an early, rural, 4-wheel drive jeep journey through rural dirt roads. Arrive in Besisahar, the transport center where people continue to Kathmandu.

Bus or 4-wheel drive vehicle from Besisahar to Kathmandu. Switch from the rustic local vehicle to more comfortable, paved highway driving by private vehicle or tourist bus along the Trisuli River to Kathmandu.

7-9 hour journey. This is an entire day of road travel. Take the time to reflect on your incredible trekking journey on the final stretch past the agricultural terrace landscape, the tumultuous rivers, and the charming highway towns.

Farewell Dinner, included. In the evening join all the trekkers together, and along with the trekkers, the climbing team will gather together to recount fondest moments, celebrate successful completion of your trekking venture with certificates, and have some traditional Nepali music as the group dines together at a typical Nepali restaurant.

Day 13 is a buffer day in Kathmandu (built into the trip to be exact to buffer against weather delays, cancelled flights, and soft trekking) with great sightseeing opportunities.

Weather-delay contingency: Safeguards the international return scheduled trip by never allowing surprises of suspension or trail block.

Boudhanath Stupa: People can walk around the world's biggest spherical Buddhist monument, as they're being led on a spiritual walk by chanting monks. They can also spin oversized prayer wheels.

Pashupatinath Temple: Being a significant Hindu Cremation Site on the Bagmati River, a visit to Pashupatinath gives a chance to learn about the cultural and spiritual ways of Nepalese culture.

Patan Durbar Square: Here you will see various ancient royal palaces, beautifully carved wood, stone structures, finely designed and handcrafted Pagoda structures, etc.

Add-on tours (optional): trekking participants can further opt for any other add-on services like guided city tours, shopping, spa activities on the last day to get a full day of leisure in Nepal.

On Day 14, trekkers depart from Kathmandu ending their remarkable adventure in Himalayas, trekkers depart Kathmandu in a private vehicle full of memories of the grand view of the Himalayas, hidden valleys and the warm welcome by the locals.

Airport Transfers On day 14: Your airport transfer will pick you up at the lobby of the hotel, with proper co-ordination for packing of the bags, bypassing morning city traffic and reaching the International airport.

Take off 3 hours before your international flight: After clearing the international airline counter and security check, at an International airport with a glow on your face you’ll take off to your destination; back to your homeland, cherishing forever your wonderful journey to Himalayan adventures.

Your extreme travel expedition begins before sunrise. In the early morning, depart in a vehicle from Kathmandu, driving your vehicle along the snake-like highways, passing the rural hill roads to reach Dovan. Once you arrive at the destination, Dovan, you start your accelerated trekking right away without a moment's delay in the northern direction alongside the river valley of Budhi Gandaki. 

Crossing many suspension bridges and walking for endless stairs of stones with much restriction of the time you are walking through rough trekking trails, which usually requires almost 9 to 11 hours in total for both driving and walking. Take a break and have lunch in a roadside teahouse on the trail; this basic, quick local lunch is very important for the further hike. By evening, you reach your next trekking destination, Jagat, at the checkpoint entrance gate for check-in. You will have a warm and basic meal for dinner (noodles or Dal-bhat). And prepare yourself for tomorrow's heavy and aggressive walking schedule.

You eat an early breakfast at the teahouse and start at once on a more quickly ascending section and pass by quaint hamlets of stone, picturesque waterfalls, and carefully tended farming terraces to Sirdibas and Philim. You trek at a fast, sustained pace for 7 to 8 hours to cover the horizontal distance in the dwindling gorge. You will enjoy a quick lunch at a teahouse along the way, then pass through extensive forests of pine and across stony ridges down to Bihi Phedi. You’ll have a simple meal of hot soup and carbohydrates like dal Bhat. At an elevation of 1,985 meters, the evening air is cool, and you must turn to sleep to be ready for the coming day.

You start your trek with a cup of tea and hot breakfast before a long, hard vertical push into the high Himalayas. You'll trek through thick forests of pine and Rhododendrons and trek on wooden cantilever bridges over the wild glacial rivers, which come rushing down the mountainsides. Trek for 7-8 hours to the Tibetan-style villages which have mani walls and fluttering prayer flags. A packed lunch is to be had by the roadside lodge in Namrung or a neighboring village. Afternoon: a steep climb continues to Lho Village; the snow peaks take over the distant scenery. Dinner will be served at Lho Village with hot garlic soup, rice, etc. Entering the highlands at 3,100 meters: moving fast becomes difficult when increasing your breathing rate.

The day opens with a refreshing breakfast while admiring the great glacial valleys and Mount Manaslu. The different ascents through the alpine shrubs take you to Shyala and Samagaun before arriving at the high-altitude deserts. Due to the limited schedule, you miss normal acclimatization breaks and will walk directly towards the Tibetan border for 5 to 6 hours. The first meal is consumed at a small teahouse in Samdo. The rest of the day is spent resting indoors so that the thin air can be tolerated. The dinner will consist of hot noodles with ginger tea for hydration.

You start on your hardest day long before the sun rises at 3 am or 4 am with a fast cup of tea in the freezing dark. You make a brutal, extreme, alpine trek of 10 or 12 hours, clambering up steep moraines and snow traverses towards the peak of Larkya La Pass (5106m). After admiring the amazing views across to the Himlung Himal and Annapurna II, you start a huge descent down onto a knee-smashing scree of loose glacial matter. A hurried and late lunch follows in as you descend. In the late afternoon you finally reach Bimthang to eat and get a deeply deserved deep sleep. The huge pressure of the high altitude leaves you as you descend to 3720m.

Start your final day of the journey with delicious food in the midst of the vast pine forests and wide open fields of Bimthang. From there on, you will hike downhill into the Dudh Khola valley for around the next four to five hours. Once you arrive in Tilje, you will finally be able to take a break from all the walking. Instead, you will hop on board the jeep that will take you on a wonderful but rough and bumpy journey through the dirt paths down to Besisahar. After you reach Besisahar, you will take a bus or jeep, which will continue the amazing tour of ten to eleven hours until you reach Kathmandu. If you wish to eat, then it is also possible to halt at the roadside tea houses available on the highway. You will reach Kathmandu at night after this very long journey of six days, and thus, your adventures will come to an end.

Breakfast will be provided by your Kathmandu hotel as we depart at first light for this intense 9-11-hour combo. We'll ride the vehicle on some very rugged rural highways, then at the village of Dovan we'll lace our boots and start this fast foot trek towards Jagat.

We’ll move rapidly past some initial settlements, cross a number of river gorges along the banks of the Budhi Gandaki and eat lunch at a trailside lodge in a small hamlet. Afternoon finds us arriving in Jagat to check-in at a local lodge for dinner. Although elevation here is only 1,300m and altitude effects won't really kick in until higher elevations, because of the massive length of our travels today, we strongly recommend keeping a tight grip on hydration and allowing ample time for recovery.

After a short breakfast at your lodge in Jagat, you get your trekking permits sorted at a local outpost and start your 5-6-hour trek up steep, built stone stairs and suspension bridges. Enroute pass the villages of Salleri and Sirdibas and Philim as your trek takes you into a narrow, steep forested valley with tall pine and waterfalls.

Take your swift mid-day meal at a teashop in Ekle Bhatti. The afternoon trekking into the subtropical jungle takes you to Deng, where you have dinner at your teahouse. At this altitude, 1,860 meters, the atmosphere is cool, and while altitude problems are less likely here, long days and constant movement necessitate stretching before sleeping early.

Have an early breakfast in Deng while watching the sun rise on the steep valley wall. Now begins your trip of trekking through the Budhi Gandaki River for 5-6 hours. View the spectacular nature along the way through the dense forests of fir, oak & rhododendron with traditional mani stones and carvings of Tibetan Buddhism. Continue your journey via Bihi Phedi, where you can also get early glimpses of alpine valleys around. Then have your lunch at the trail side lodge in Ghap.

The afternoon trek continues uphill through forested ridges until reaching Namrung for dinner at a local lodge. Since the height (2,630m) is high, air density drops a lot. So all trekkers are requested to take steady breathing rhythm & avoid over exertion.

After breakfast, we head out towards our first destination in the morning, namely “Namrung”. Our journey begins amidst a dramatic mountain backdrop as we start this rigorous 6-7 hour hike, which includes the ascent upwards from the pine forests of Lihi and Sho.

We will pass through some pretty local villages that adorn their houses with prayer flags, then take a short lunch break at Lho, which has one of the most stunning settlements surrounded by a huge Tibetan monastery.

In the afternoons, the trail passes the glacial junctions of Lho towards the Samagaun – the heartland of the Nubri valley. We end our day here with dinner at our teahouse.

At an altitude of about 3,530m, we are now entering the region of high altitude where trekkers may experience breathlessness. Still, they need to hydrate themselves immediately and also keep an eye on their heads if there is a mild headache and avoid doing any strenuous activity during evenings.

After an early breakfast, we leave from Samagaun, which lies in the vast windswept valleys. Then we will take a short 4-5-hour trek towards Dharamsala by crossing barren scrub lands & glacial moraine along with herder pastures.

We shall be having our lunch as we reach the destination, where we can witness all the tough stone buildings of this place called Dharamsala. Then, after lunch, you need some time to relax so that you will have enough strength to cross the high pass.

Since this route has a lot of altitude (4,460m), many people will suffer from different serious health issues like insomnia, no desire to eat anything, throbbing headache, etc., which they can overcome just by drinking fluids, resting, or using their medicines.

At approximately 4 am, you’ll wake up for an extremely fast pre-dawn breakfast and then sip some piping hot tea while surrounded by freezing coldness. With your packed rucksack ready, set off on an 8-9 hour extreme expedition crossing across the steep and icy moraines towards conquering the highest point (Larkya La Pass) of 5,106m, which you will experience through its thin air. After reaching the pass and taking some pictures, you will go into a massive knee-testing descent over loose gravel down to Bimthang. Lunch time comes later at lower levels from there. And finally dinner back at your Bimthang lodge.

Also worth noting here that since we are at a high altitude of 5,106 m, there can be risks of Acute Mountain Sickness if descents get too slow; therefore, trekkers have to keep watching their body signals of dizziness or confusion very attentively.

On your last day, you’ll have the chance to enjoy an early breakfast amidst the pines of Bimthang before embarking upon your massive 10-11-hour-long final trek towards Surki Khola & Gova – finally arriving at Tilje.

At this point, grab some lunch at the roadside lodge located there, immediately followed by boarding the 4WD that will whisk you away along the lengthy but very rough stretch of road which follows the course of the Marsyangdi river (highway corridor), passing via Besisahar & returning back to Kathmandu.

You should arrive quite late at night here & get settled in at your city hotel. You will be at a mere 1,400m above sea level here; therefore, altitude effects will dissipate instantaneously, allowing recovery after such an intense high-speed mountain challenge.

The very intense journey starts before sunup, with a vehicle leaving Kathmandu quite early in the morning. We will be driving on winding roads, going through rural hill areas until we get to Dovan. Once we get to Dovan, the part where we walk begins right away. We head north following the Budhi Gandaki river valley. This path makes us cross suspension bridges and also go up stone stairs, all of it under serious time pressure. It is going to be a tough 9 to 11 hours, including both the driving and the hiking. Along the way, we take a short break, for a quick lunch at a small teahouse by the road. In the evening, we will arrive at the Jagat checkpoint entry gate for check in procedures. Dinner will be simple; warm noodles or dal bhat at a local place, this helps ready your body for the physically demanding schedule coming up, at an elevation of 1,300 meters.

The morning starts with breakfast in Jagat. It is a crisp morning, and the alleys are stone-paved. Right after that, there is a permit verification process at the checkpoint there. The trail then goes up past Salleri, and then it goes down towards Sirdibas, a small place with Buddhist mani walls and also prayer flags that are always fluttering in the wind. You will cross a long suspension bridge when you get to Philim, which is a big regional hub, surrounded by terraced fields. The walking pace needs to be kept steady, about 5 to 6 hours. After which lunch would be served at a local lodge en route. Post lunch, the path leads into a gorge, and is confined in the gorge; the gorge is forested, with pine trees on its sides and streams flowing down. This eventually takes you to Deng. Dinner will have traditional Tibetan bread and also dal bhat. The altitude will reach 1,860 meters so that the temperature will drop noticeably at night. Due to this, warm clothes are necessary; also, drinking plenty of water to keep our health in good condition is of the utmost importance.

You begin your day in Deng with a breakfast served hot just as sun rays start warming the valley shore. The path takes you across the river known as Budhi Gandaki, and climbing through green forests of fir, oak, and rhododendron, you come across china lamps dotted throughout the rocks along the way which give a good idea about the Tibetan Buddhist influence. You also pass through Bihi Phedi, where an emerald expanse of the valley and snow-capped mountains start coming into view. Your lunch is packed, and you stop for it at one of the lodges on the way.

After lunch, the ascent continues, ultimately reaching Namrung.

Breakfast is at Namrung surrounded by spectacular scenery of Himalchuli and Sringi Himal. The trail gradually rises through pine forest through Lihi and Sho, where people are dressed in traditional Tibetan style with fields of barley surrounding prayer flags. Lunch is served at Lho, a stunning Tibetan village dominated by a large monastery, with magnificent views of Mt Manaslu at extremely close quarters.

The trail winds relatively flat around the Pungen glacier trail junction in the afternoon to Samagaun, the heart of altitude country.

Dinner is wholesome with a hearty garlic soup and fried rice. Now reaching an altitude of 3,530m and entering a high altitude area, where careful self-assessment should be done if headaches are noticeable, or breath shortens during a 6 to 7-hour hike.

Your day kicks off with a refreshing breakfast in the big, breezy valley of Samagaun. After leaving the main line of forests behind, the pathway takes a small descent towards Budhi Gandaki River before proceeding upward with a light climb of juniper and birch shrubbery. You will be continuing the journey past large chunks of stone mani walls and grazing herder pastures. A leg on this trek is kept short (4 to 5 hours) to build up your stamina for the big crossing tomorrow. By early afternoon, you will have reached Dharamsala (Larke Phedi), which is essentially a stony staging post. The lunch would be served hot at the basic lodge. Being at an altitude of 4,460 meters, altitude headaches may commence, thus, make sure to drink plenty of the fluid and go to sleep early.

Your day begins before 4 AM on a cold, pre-dawn morning with a light breakfast and a cup of hot tea in a bitter alpine dark atmosphere. Then you’ll begin the steep, exhausting climb across rock moraine and snow patches toward Larkya La Pass summit (5,106m) in thin mountain air. You will be led by your trek leader toward this incredible, prayer flag-festooned pass with great views across to Himlung Himal, Annapurna II, and Cheo Himal. Once you have cheered and celebrated your success, you’ll take a giant, grueling, knee-jerking descent over rock moraine, pebbles, down to the massive Bimthang glacial valley below, stopping for a later lunch at a pop-up teahouse below Larkya La. After a delicious hot dinner, you descend rapidly to 3,720m, instantly relieving any high-altitude discomfort you might be feeling.

You begin your morning with breakfast under magnificent alpine meadows and pine forests, which surround Bimthang and have sheer cliff walls forming the peaks. The trail steadily slopes down along the Dudh Khola glacial river with rhododendron trees found in the meadows at Surki Khola and agricultural fields at Gova, where you have a hot trail-side lunch at a lodge. Later, the trail goes under nice stone settlements and through some suspension bridges. The pleasant subtropical green valleys are seen till you reach Dharapani (6-7 hour walk) in a cool afternoon, with heavy local plates and warm drinks served for dinner. The oxygen level is restored from being extremely low down to 1,900m, giving you a much greater oxygen boost, full of energy and a relaxed, cozy atmosphere for sleep.

This final day involves an early morning breakfast in Dharapani and then travel direct by vehicle. It would mean taking a private jeep or any local transport on the Marsyangdi River valley highway corridor for some 8 to 9 hours before finally arriving in Kathmandu. Midway through this, there would be an opportunity for a break for lunch at a roadside restaurant. The travel back to Kathmandu would recommence at the beginning of the afternoon and end with finally being dropped off at the hotel upon completion of the trip.

You start your trip after a morning pick-up from your hotel in Kathmandu by our private jeep and drive westwards out of the city on a winding road crossing both the Budhi Gandaki and Trishuli River Valleys. Enjoy the refreshing scenes of tiered terraces, waterfalls, and scattered villages that flash by the windows as you move further out of the Kathmandu valley on the narrow road leading north-west from the valley. You will stop at a riverside teahouse on your way, where your lunch will be prepared, and continue to drive through Soti Khola, Macha Khola, and a variety of other villages until you finally reach Jagat around late afternoon. At Jagat, you check into the local lodge and complete your check formalities for the Manaslu Conservation Area permit and further register for permits at the District HQ, where the process continues. At the same time, you relax during dinner at the lodge, the place at an altitude of 1,340 meters, where you may sleep for acclimatization.

This morning is bright and crisp as we sit and eat our breakfast among the stone paths in the alleyways of Jagat. The path then rises to Salleri and lowers to Sirdibas, a busy village that stands out with Buddhist mani walls and prayer flags fluttering in the breeze. A long suspension bridge will take you over to Philim, a central trading market in the region with rice paddies reaching toward the village and a trekking time of about 5–6 hours as you keep a constant pace.

Lunch will take place in a local lodge along the trekking path.

The trail will take you into a deeper, forested gorge with pines and rushing waterfalls until you reach Deng. Dinner will consist of Tibetan breads and Dal Bhat as the evening's temperature then lowers to an alpine altitude, as we are sitting at 1,860 meters.

Your trekking adventure officially kicks off today as you start your day with an amazing hot breakfast in Deng as sun rays slowly reach the valley floor. Today’s hike takes us across the Budhi Gandaki River, and we travel deeper into lush forests that are packed full of fir, oak, and rhododendron trees. Along our trekking route, there will be many ancient “mani” stones which clearly reflect the heavy impact of Tibetan Buddhism on local culture. We pass by the quaint village called Bihi Phedi where you can get the first glimpse of sweeping alpine valleys and snow-capped peaks. During our half-day walk, we’ll enjoy some hot lunches at a lovely trailside lodge along the way.

In the afternoon, you have a long uphill trek through forested ridges towards the beautiful village of Namrung, which has many stone-built homes and arched entries. This evening we will try the delicious hot noodle and rice dishes. The air gets thinner with the altitude gain. Today alone we have gained 1,630 meters in altitude, so keeping our walking speed high will allow us to adjust ourselves better.

Your day starts with a walk through Namrung, with a breakfast featuring magnificent views of the Himalchuli peak and Sringi Himal. Then, you will gradually walk uphill through a pine forest towards Lihi and Sho villages, where you will see local farmers in traditional Tibetan dress and enjoy the beauty of various local crops, such as barley fields with traditional prayer flags fluttering in the wind. Further, you will reach a beautiful village of Lho for lunch with an amazing view of the Tibetan monastery and Mount Manaslu. In the afternoon, the trail becomes gentle as it winds along the Pungen glacier trail junction to the Samagaun village, the cultural heartland of the Nubri valley. Here you can enjoy dinner with local garlic soup followed by fried rice. You climb up until approx. 3,530 meters. Once higher altitude hits you, it's always advisable to get used to the height. Since walking at that altitude level is associated with headaches, you are sure to take breaks to go down. Thus a six to seven hour walk will take you down.

Today you will have a leisurely breakfast in your lodge, following the high mountain climbing saying of going high and sleeping low. Instead of hiking towards the main trail, you will have a side adventure going up towards Birendra Lake, Pungyen Gompa or lower Manaslu base camp viewpoints. This is a good way for your body to get acclimatized to the altitude with fresh air and a good workout. You’ll head back to Samagaun village after your trek for lunch at a teahouse. The rest of the afternoon is free to wander the village admiring the local culture, ancient monastic schools and busy alleys. Dinner is local Tibetan bread with hearty dal bhat. Drinking plenty of fluids and assessing how you feel will help aid your body's acclimatization for the mountainous pass tomorrow.

You start your morning with a crisp, tasty breakfast in the wide, windy valley of Samagaun. Leaving behind the tree line, you head down towards the Budhi Gandaki River before clambering steeply through juniper and birch scrubland. Following more expansive stone mani walls and crossing areas of yak herding pastures with their herds munching below a vast glacial backdrop, the trail will keep you well below the altitude range required to conserve energy for tomorrow’s important pass crossing. You will arrive at Dharamsala (Larke Phedi), a staging camp built of stone, early in the afternoon, where you will have a hot trailside lunch in the basic, comfortable lodge. Expect altitude headaches if hydration is not careful at over 4,460m, so plenty of sleep will be required.

Your day starts before sunrise at around 4:00 AM with a walk to enjoy a light breakfast and tea over a cold alpine night. You also have a steep climb in front of you to get to the Larkya La Pass (5,106m) over rocky moraine and patches of snow to see the view of the Himalayas. With a little help from your trek leader, you will walk until you reach the pass covered with prayer flags to enjoy the view of Himlung Himal, Annapurna II, and Cheo Himal. After enjoying the view, you can celebrate by walking down the massive slope of gravel and debris-covered glaciers to the valley of Bimtang, where you will have a late lunch at a temporary teahouse. The altitude also drops significantly to 3,720 meters from the pass and relieves you of the stress of being at a high altitude.

After breakfast among spectacular meadows and pine forests fringed with peak walls, you begin your hike going steeply down alongside the Dudh Khola glacial stream through the forests of rhododendrons at Surki Khola and agricultural lands and stone built village at Gova. You then have a hot trailside lunch at a village tea house at Gova. Later in the afternoon, you cross picturesque suspension bridges and walk through subtropical villages and verdant green valleys all the way to Dharapani for the next 6 to 7 hrs of trekking. Here you will have a dinner of massive portions of local food like Dal Bhat and some nice hot beverages. The sharp decline in altitude to 1,900 metres means you are getting 100% oxygen again; thus, your enthusiasm goes very high, and a comfortable atmosphere prevails around.

Today you enjoy a final mountain breakfast in Dharapani before meeting your private ground transportation. You will then board your comfortable 4WD jeep for the next 8-9 hours in what will be a rather bumpy but scenic journey through the Marsyangdi River highway corridor as you return to Kathmandu. After a hot lunch at a wayside restaurant, we reach our hotel in Kathmandu late afternoon and conclude our short and memorable journey in the Himalayas.

Your standard 10 day trip begins with an early morning pick-up by vehicle from your hotel in Kathmandu. You head off into the wilderness of Kathmandu city and travel north-west along twisty, turning highways and rough hill tracks following both the Trishuli river systems and the Budhi Gandaki river systems. You have great views as you go to manicured terrace farms, crashing waterfall cascades and typical hillside villages. You stop mid-morning for lunch in one of the many roadside tea houses. As the road devolves from a nice smooth highway into a dusty dirt road, you are well on your way, passing through Dhading, and then onto Arughat, reaching Machha Khola by tea time. Stay at a small lodge just up the road, and have a comfy evening meal.

You’ll enjoy your breakfast at the teahouse in Machha Khola and commence your first day of trekking. The path begins to make progress northwards, accompanying the forceful waters of the Budhi Gandaki River as they gush past. You will need to traverse on and off suspension bridges and climb stone stairways carefully etched into the cliff face. As you hike onwards to Jagat, you’ll go through Khorla Besi and will pass the natural hot springs at Tatopani, where some locals use the thermal waters, as will hikers during rest periods. You’ll soon leave this behind, following the rocky ridge of the trail through a tight rocky area nicknamed ‘Dobhan’. The trail ascends as you make your final stages to Jagat. The 6-7 hours of walking are interspersed with lunch along the trail at a tea house. Upon reaching Jagat check-in with the information from the conservation area station to spend a night in a simple tea house that would also have meals arranged. The cool evenings at an altitude of 1,340 m give you a pleasantly deep night's sleep.

Your day begins with an early breakfast amongst Jagat's cobbled back streets and checkpoint document clearance. Your trail continues, ascends past Salleri and then descends toward Sirdibas, where you will pass the lively village and its mani wall and prayer flags. Cross a long suspension bridge at Philim, an important regional trading centre, amidst terraced fields and keep up a good pace walking. Lunch is enjoyed at a local tea house on the trail. After lunch you enter a narrowed gorge where the track becomes forested and lined with pine trees and small streams, leading to an interesting cantilever bridge and then into Deng. Supper will comprise Tibetan bread and dal bhat. By 2,095 metres, the air will be getting cooler; warm clothing and plentiful fluids are both important. Your trek will continue upward into the higher valley.

Start your morning with a hearty, warm breakfast and witness how sunlight starts warming up the bottom of the deep gorge.

You’ll walk across the Budhi Gandaki River, amidst lush forests of fir, oak, and rhododendron and come across beautiful mani stones, which show the heavy influence of Tibetan Buddhism in this place. You’ll pass through the small hamlet of Bihi Phedi where you can get a glimpse of grand mountain panoramas of the alpine region stretching far out. Have a warm and nutritious lunch at a local lodge after reaching about halfway. In the afternoon, you will climb through the ridges of the forest as you make your way up and arrive at Namrung, a beautiful village with stone houses and stone-carved arch-gates on doors. Have your dinner at a local house and enjoy some steaming noodle soups and rice. Sitting at a height of 2,900m/9,512ft, the density of oxygen goes down significantly; maintain a sensible and smooth trekking pace while enjoying your journey.

After an early morning breakfast amid inspiring views of Himalchuli and Sringi Himal from Namrung, you follow a trail which climbs softly along pine forests through the villages of Lihi and Sho with its distinctively dressed Tibetan people and barley fields under a flutter of prayer flags. Enjoy your lunch in Lho – a magical village and the seat of a big Tibetan monastery where you get good close-up views of Mount Manaslu. Later the trail leads further without significant climb to Samagaun in the Nubri valley. The Pungen glacier path leads away at its approach. Garlic soup and fried rice provide your supper as you head into truly high altitudes of 3500m, and you are now responsible for monitoring your headache and breathing rate for any slight symptoms to accompany your 5-7-hour trek through ancient mountain villages.

You will enjoy a lazy start to your morning in the comfort of your lodge, which reflects the high-altitude rule for a trek: trek high, sleep low. You will start your trek and return to your lodge not moving forward but rather on an acclimatization hike to Birendra Lake, Pungyen Gompa, or lower to Manaslu Base Camp viewpoints. As your system learns the higher altitudes without strain, it will naturally produce blood.

Enjoy a hearty lunch at a warm lodge inside the Samagaun village. You get an entire afternoon in to seek out tradition, antique monasteries, and slim outdated world roads. Get to relax, soak up a great meal, and drink loads of liquid in the course of the day as you transition well for trekking towards the high pass the next day.

Today begins with a brisk breakfast in Samagaun’s wide and wind-whipped valley. Leaving the treelines behind, you descend a short distance to the Budhi Gandaki River and then climb gently through low scrubbier juniper and birch up towards where grazing yaks are visible set against massive glacier backdrops. You pass stone mani walls by the score along with vast pastoral plateaus, before arriving at your staging post in early afternoon. Dharamsala (Larke Phedi) is a sparsely structured, stone-built advance outpost to the Larkya Pass and a steaming hot lunch is served immediately upon arrival in your rustic lodge. Headaches commonly appear at 4,460m; ensure your water intake is high for now and rest soundly for an early departure for tomorrow’s enormous pass ascent.

The day starts at pre-dawn. It's about 4:00 AM as you gobble down a quick breakfast and some hot tea under a dark and frigid alpine sky. Then begins a 8-9 hr trek over barren, stony moraine and thin snowy patches and up towards the 5,106m summit of the Larkya La Pass. The thin air is a major issue as you follow your trek leader through what’s effectively a high Himalayan saddle dotted with fluttering prayer flags that flap wildly in the Himalayan wind, beneath towering views of Himlung Himal, Annapurna II, and Cheo Himal. Immediately after you celebrate the height of the Larkya Pass, the roughly 4,500ft drop begins as you navigate down a vast, precipitous, and unstable gravel slope and moraine all the way down into the massive valley glaciation surrounding Bimthang. A warm lunchtime break at some high-point teashop usually happens. The sudden drop to 3,720m lifts altitude headaches for good, leaving the worst well behind you.

Your hike begins after a satisfying breakfast among the sprawling alpine pastures of Bimthang surrounded by giant mountain walls. This part of the journey is a steep descent along the glacierside of Dudh Khola stream, where you continue through rich rhododendron woods over the Surki Khola. The trail branches through cultivated land after some descent toward Gova, and it is a good place to take a break for a steaming lunch in the teahouse. From there the route drops relentlessly past stone houses and across suspension bridges and is soon a pleasant subtropical jungle trail once again to the small village of Dharapani. The entire trek that covers the route to Dharapani (1,860 m.) has taken 6 to 7 hours and ends with a welcome full-fledged meal in another warm mountain village. By night, you are very rested at an altitude low enough for any person.

After breakfast in the lodge, you will connect with our transportation. Your journey begins today as you hop into a jeep shared with locals or into a private jeep and make the long, somewhat rough 8-9 hr trip down to Kathmandu. Following the Marsyangdi River the whole way back toward Kathmandu, it is a satisfying continuation through familiar landscapes to the high civilization. A stop for lunch is normally made along the way, and a final transfer is made from the vehicle at your city hotel; your trip is now over, and you hold lifetime memories of this vast highland geography.

Your trek will start early in the morning from your hotel in Kathmandu, with your private jeep. You will leave behind the hustle and bustle of the capital city and embark on a picturesque drive on curving roads, northwest towards the union of the river basins of the Trishuli and Budhi Gandaki rivers. The whole stretch of the route comprises beautiful waterfalls, agricultural fields and traditional settlements.

You will have a hot local lunch at the teahouse along the trail.

After traveling some more time through narrower roads from tar road to rocky path through Dhading and Arughat, we will arrive at Soti Khola late in the afternoon. You will check in at the lodges for a warm and readily available dinner for yourself in the evening. Situated at 710m above sea level, you will find the subtropical weather is pleasant, just perfect to help you acclimatize on your first night of the trek.

We'll have breakfast in the teahouse in Soti Khola before starting the trek on foot. We continue north through sal forests, crags and streams, which drop us down a precipitous drop to the Budhi Gandaki River. Some of the river crossings will be via suspension bridges and others by the ubiquitous steps which have been carved into the mountainside. We pass through a couple of local villages, including a busy junction for mule traffic called Khursane and also Labubesi on our way. It's a long trek so we'll stop for lunch in a mountain village lodge. We should reach Machha Khola by afternoon, and I would recommend getting a simple room in the lodge for dinner as well. Being around 900 meters above sea level, the valley is still warmer and more humid, but a good place to unwind and get your legs ready for the next day's hike.

You wake early for breakfast in Machha Khola and enjoy a great hike along the river, the Budhi Gandaki, rushing alongside you. This day involves crossing a narrow suspension bridge over the Khorla Besi gorge to the hot springs in Tatopani for a soak. This is a place where most of the trekkers are often found enjoying in the heated pools to relax.

You carry on with the trek, crossing a rocky outcrop and a saddle called Dobhan, and descend to the small and rather pretty village of Jagat. Altogether this is a 6-7hr day including stopping for a midday lunch at a local guest house, and concluding with signing yourself into the conversation area checkpost at Jagat, and a simple but clean early dinner in a simple local lodge. It's low, only 1,340m so that the nights will be quite warm, and you will sleep well tonight before going higher tomorrow.

After a refreshing breakfast in the stone paved streets of Jagat, you’re soon off for a permit check at the local checkpoint. You will ascend and pass Salleri, then descend to Sirdibas, a lively village with Buddhist Mani walls and prayer flags strung to the air. Crossing a long suspension bridge at Philim, a regional hub and commercial center with terrace fields, you’ll continue at a determined pace.  The day includes lunch at a local tea house along the trek.

The trek then gradually enters a gorge shaded by pine trees, alongside rushing streams and then a cantilever bridge takes you across to Deng. Tonight for dinner we would be having Tibetan bread & Dal bhat. At 2,095m, you can expect cool temperatures; do make sure to keep yourselves well warm, hydrated and prepared for the adventure that lies ahead at higher altitudes.

Your trip begins in the morning with a hearty, warm breakfast at Deng under the early rays of the sun warming up the floor of the deep gorge. Your trail crosses the Budhi Gandaki River and ascends through the verdant fir, oak and rhododendron forests, stopping for lunch on the way and passing the various mani stones with heavy traces of Tibetan Buddhist inscriptions. You walk along through Bihi Phedi, getting views of majestic alpine valleys with far snow views beyond. This part of the journey involves continuous walking and a gradual rise to Namrung.

Namrung is a picturesque village of stone houses with carved archways. On arrival at beautiful Namrung, dinner we are served: hot noodle soup or cooked rice for dinner. At an altitude of 2,900 m, the density of air reduces to a significant limit. Walking rhythm is maintained so as to adapt to the physiological changes occurring.

Your day starts with breakfast at Namrung amid spectacular Himalayan scenery of Himalchuli and Sringi Himal. The route gradually goes up through pine passes where many locals from Lihi and Sho are in Tibetan dress, and barley is grown amid the prayer flags. You take a midday meal at Lho, which has a gigantic Tibetan Monastery and amazing views of Manaslu close up. It then gradually goes down, passing the junction of the Pungen glacier path, to the cultural capital of Nubri Valley, Samagaon. At dinner, you are served the nutrient-rich garlic soup and fried rice or Dal Bhat. At 3500m, the real altitude trek begins, and it is to maintain your own pace, considering slight headaches or breathing difficulties and to traverse the six-to-seven-hour trek among the settlements used for hundreds of years.

Wake up early to a tasty open breakfast set in Samagaun's open and windy valley. Begin the day with a gradual descent to the Budhi Gandaki River and turn West towards the Tibetan border for a leisurely 4-5 hour walk. Pass by juniper and birch scrublands, ancient stone mani walls and inhabited yak herding regions as you encounter vast glacial walls in the distance.

We have a short and light trekking day so that we begin to adapt ourselves to the increase in altitude for the high mountain region.

Late afternoon, you will arrive at Samdo - a secluded Tibetan village, and at the lodge you will have hot food. Samdo, being situated at a height of 3,690 m, you would notice the cold to have set in. You must keep yourself hydrated and warm.

You wake for an early morning breakfast in Samdo while the alpine wind whips. The trail descends over the wooden bridge across the Budhi Gandaki River and commences an upward slog on the rim of the Larkya Glacier. You continue into the remote, desolate scenery beyond the remotest villages, into land where human presence is no longer a permanent feature. This is deliberately a short day, four to five hours to save the legs of the serious pass traverse ahead tomorrow morning. You reach Dharamsala or Larke Phedi by early afternoon in our basic stone-built high altitude staging-post. Lunch is served hot and timely in the lodge. Above 4,450 metres, you may start to feel the effects of altitude; so early to bed with warm drinks and monitor your health closely.

You have a plain breakfast and tea under the dark, cold Himalayas at around 4 am, with pre sunrise day beginning. A long and sheer uphill climb over rocks and scree fields (moraines and snowy) goes on to a 5106m(16,752ft) saddle ridge called Larkya La. At around and over Larkya La, your view is rewarded by a vast vista of Himalayan masterpieces - Himlung Himal, Annapurna II and Cheo Himal peaks, which will just appear above all of you after the prayer flag-draped Larkya La. Upon celebration after reaching the pass and congratulating each other, you must have massive, brutal knee tests of the long hike down through scree and moraine to an enormous glacial valley floor: Bimthang valley. You can get a late lunch and find it has easily fallen to 3,720m (12,205ft) while the altitude sickness dissipates away quite quickly.

You will have breakfast in the open meadows and pine forests of Bimthang between mighty snow-peaked walls. Steep descent on the glacial stream of the Dudh Khola, following into beautiful rhododendron forests of Surki Khola and then agricultural lands of Gova, where you will be having a hot trailside meal at the local lodge in Gova. In the afternoon, the path follows through charming villages of stone walls, hanging bridges and a humid subtropical valley, then crossing all to finally arrive at Dharapani after 6-7 hrs. You will be having simple but delicious and abundant local dinner with a warm beverage, followed by comfortable and high-altitude acclimatization, giving you complete oxygen levels, more energy, and a very relaxing stay to sleep.

Start the last day by having an early breakfast in Dharapani and meeting with a ground transport vehicle. Then get into sharing a jeep or private transport that drives back on a scenic but bumpy drive. Follow the Marsyangdi River highway corridor up to Kathmandu city. This takes around 6 to 7 hours on total road driving. Take a hot lunch in a side street restaurant during midday with your company. Arrive in the city by late afternoon and then be transferred to your hotel. You conclude your 11-day journey with all these indelible memories of vast and bleak highland, arduous mountain passes and Tibetan cultures.

Our representative will be at Tribhuvan International Airport to meet you upon your arrival in Nepal with a welcoming garland. They will drive to your hotel in Thamel through the city roads filled with a bustling atmosphere, check in, refresh and relax at the hotel or finalize your preparation gear for the days to come. Have your lunch in a local eatery and relax at the hotel before we join for a briefing of the trek with your expedition leader in the afternoon. For your first evening’s dinner, you can visit one of the traditional cultural restaurants, including a music program. Enjoy and rest for the night at your hotel, which is best for sound sleep for your trek.

After the morning meal in the hotel, you need to set out for an energizing drive for 7-8 hrs toward the northwest of the Kathmandu valleys through the colorful highway path, which then takes you to dusty, unpaved, rough trails passing the Trishuli and Budhi Khola valleys. You’ll make a stop midway at one of the teashops for the piping hot Dal Bhat that comprises lentils and rice and dal, a kind of watery soup; then continue to your end destination, Macha Khola, in the late afternoon. Check into a local lodge and have your dinner in the teahouse.

You enjoy breakfast at Machha Khola and then walk towards the suspension bridge crossing the Tharo Khola. The trail passes by Khorlabesi and then Tatopani, which consists of naturally hot springs to take a much-needed bath. Subsequently, you walk through a narrow and treacherous gorge and cross another spectacular suspension bridge at Doban and halt for a delicious rural lunch at a local teashop. This trail is a paved route made of stone.

In the afternoon, we ascend towards Jagat, a checkpoint village for Manaslu Conservation Area. At dinner, the menu usually comprises a garlic soup and momos at a local teashop. At 1,340 meters' altitude, you get the first feel of refreshing mountain weather.

Wake to breakfast along the stone paths of Jagat and make a permit stop at the checkpoint. The trek begins by ascending through Salleri and then down to Sirdibas, where you are greeted by mani walls of Buddhism and colourful prayer flags. Cross the suspension bridge at the one of the largest regional villages, which goes into Philim – a busy district centre with plenty of terraces to surround the village.

Enjoy lunch in Philim or at Ekle Bhatti – by far the biggest village until you reach Deng. Here we begin into a gorge widening with pines and waterfalls, the path narrowed by the trees. Enjoy dinner, which often includes Tibetan bread and dal bhat.

The morning begins in Deng with a delicious homemade breakfast with tea or hot chocolate and some snacks as the sun warms up the bottom of the valley. You'll be trekking this day to walk through pine, fir, and oak trees, and after a walk crossing Budhi Gandaki, the path gets through an uphill rhododendron walk on the mani walls, which speaks of Tibetan influence. We will walk up to the junction point where there are some beautiful views of the broad alpine valley and snow capped mountains in the distance. Halfway through the day, a nourishing lunch will be served at the teahouse on the trail.

We’ll spend the afternoon traversing gently steep ridges amidst forest, before descending to the picturesque stone house village of Namrung, where you find well-decorated archways. Evening meals generally consist of hot soups and noodles and, of course, rice. You’ll be travelling at over 2,900m by day, and it is important not to walk at a slow pace so that the body acclimatizes to decreasing levels of atmospheric oxygen.

The day starts with breakfast amidst the stunning views of Himalchuli and Sringi Himal over Namrung village. The trail continues as an easy up through pine forests going past Lihi and Sho where you’ll see villagers dressed in their finest Tibetan attire and thriving fields of barley under a plethora of colorful prayer flags. Lunch is taken in Lho, a most picturesque village centered around a colossal Tibetan monastery and offering breathtaking views straight to Mount Manaslu. In the afternoon, the trail easies and crosses over the junction to Pungen glacier to drop to Samagaun village. This is the cultural hub of the valley, where you’ll enjoy garlic soup and fried rice or Dal Bhat for dinner. At this stage, you will be going over 3,500 meters and will require attention to altitude sickness. You can suffer mild headaches and shortness of breath as a response to this.

The day starts with a leisurely breakfast in your lodge in accordance with the classic saying in this remote territory: trek high, sleep low. You’re not heading further into the mountains today but instead will enjoy an excursion on acclimatization up towards Birendra Lake, Pungyen Gompa or the lower slopes of Manaslu Base Camp. These walks help you gain elevation for your body to acclimatize with more natural red blood cell production.

At lunchtime we head back into Samagaun village to be rewarded with delicious food at our local teahouse and spend the rest of the afternoon delving into the area’s rich history; visit the region's monastic schools, explore narrow ancient lanes or learn more of their unique Tibetan history and beliefs. Dinner is a filling choice between Tibetan butter bread and more dal bhat. Today the focus remains on listening to your body to ensure adjustment as we continue our exploration.

Start the day with an early but refreshing breakfast in Samagaun's huge and windswept valley. After this, the track enters the scrub of junipers and birches; the route dips and climbs over moraines and walks along huge mani walls and through the free-ranging pastureland on which yaks wander against a stunning backdrop of glacial mountains. Today is an intentionally short walk of 5-6 hours to conserve energy for crossing the pass tomorrow. Your lodge-like base for crossing Larke La, Dharamsala (Larke Phedi) 4,460m, is a functional and rough-looking stone outpost, and you arrive here before noon. Here you will be served hot lunch in your teahouse. From this altitude of 4,460m, there is a possibility that headaches and insomnia may occur; drink plenty of water and go to sleep early.

You start very early, before the sun, around 4 am, after a modest hot tea and hot breakfast in sub-zero conditions. Then follow the steep and challenging scree and icy section of trail leading towards Larkya La Pass (5,106m) through scarce oxygen, guided by your leader. From the pass decorated with an abundance of prayer flags, enjoy outstanding scenery of Himlung Himal, Annapurna II & Cheo Himal. You celebrate and then commence a huge, often testing and downhill trip towards the wide glacial valley floor in Bimthang over a considerable depth of scree and glacial rock and ice debris; a late lunch is available in a tea house enroute. You then get a good hot dinner as you reach Bimthang, and altitude reduces to just 3,720 m, almost instantly relieving most symptoms related to this high altitude.

Following breakfast within the pristine open meadows and pine woodlands with giant precipice partitions encircling you in Bimthang in the morning, you continue on your journey. The trail descends sharply parallel to the glacial stream of Dudh Khola, traversing rhododendron woodlands at Surki Khola, after which you cross terraced village fields at Gova until you hit a neighborhood lodge at Gova, the place you are welcomed to your very first heated trek lunch. In the afternoon, the trail navigates past some charming stone dwellings and rustic suspension bridges alongside lovely green subtropical valleys before ending the day in Dharapani.

After breakfast at the hotel in Dharapani, our guide meets you and gets you into the local 4WD vehicle or bus, giving you access to a winding road that follows the Marsyangdi River highway. We'll pause for lunch during the drive at an authentic restaurant, complete with a local lunch. Arrive in Kathmandu in the late afternoon then take the transport to our hotel in Thamel once we have checked in. After unpacking, you'll have free time for shopping for souvenirs or any relaxation to rest up till evening.

Today will be the final day of your trek. To conclude your incredible expedition, you have a final fabulous breakfast served at your hotel, and depending on your departure time, you could make a final stroll through the bustling colored shops of Thamel to seek out further trinkets, handicrafts, or perhaps some tea. Our representative will meet you in the lobby to assist you with all your luggage and will offer you a private car transfer for free to the Tribhuvan International Airport, where you will then check in for your homebound international flight, loaded with unforgettable experiences of the high mountain passes, local culture, and stunning natural panoramas from your small, compact Manaslu Circuit journey.

This day will begin in the early morning with a 6 to 8 hour drive north west of the Kathmandu Valley passing through winding highway corridors before taking more rural dirt roads into Arughat and Soti Khola. After a variety of rural scenes, scenery will transform from city fringe to the terraced countryside to the rivers and villages, while on the way stopping at different places by the highway to have lunch (dal bhat or noodle soup at humble locality). By the time you reach Soti Khola, you will check into a pleasant teahouse in the indigenous locale of the land. At the end of the day, you will get to eat a filling platter of fried rice or the dal bhat. Altitude is not an issue as you are still well below 710m – the perfect place to sleep.

Breakfast will be served at the teahouse when you see morning mist lifting above the roaring Budhi Gandaki River. We'll then start our trek through some of Nepal's densest forestation with Sal trees.

We'll also cross several rocky ridges and navigate some beautiful and sometimes scary cascading waterfalls that are tumbling off of these steepest cliffs. Along this part of your journey, we're going to have lots of opportunities to visit many little farming hamlets such as Labubesi and more, where mules carrying all sorts of goods often use the same trails that we do.

In between walking, we’ll take a break for lunch at a nice-looking trailside lodge situated on top of a hill overlooking the river valley. In the afternoon, there’s going to be lots of undulating hills that we walk across atop stone staircases & some suspension bridges until finally we reach Machhakhola, where dinner consists of hot soup & noodles.

We’ll have breakfast very early in Machhakhola and cross a suspension bridge over the Tharo Khola, starting your day early for the hike up. You pass through Khorlabesi to Tatopani, a beautiful village known for its hot springs, where people rest and visit. Following a narrow, dramatic gorge, the trail takes you over a very long suspension bridge crossing the gorge at Doban, and it is time for a hot local lunch at a teahouse. The stone-paved trail slowly begins ascending toward Jagat, the checkpoint and the entrance to Manaslu Conservation Area. Garlic soup and momos or Dal Bhat are served as dinner at a local teahouse and lodge. From 1,410 m elevation, there is the start of a cooler mountain breeze. There can be an easily feelable change in temperature.

After breakfast, you will hike via the stone-floored narrow lanes of Jagat. At the local checkpoint, permits will be verified before starting the trek. The trail climbs past Salleri to descend towards Sirdibas; the village is quite interesting, full of Buddhist mani walls and prayer flags everywhere. There's a really long suspension bridge, and after that crossing, you are in a major local center, Philim, with lots of cultivated terraced maize fields. Lunch will be served by a local teahouse, either in Philim or a little further at Ekle Bhatti. Then a long descending path follows along a narrow, vegetated, deep gorge with pine trees along both edges of a stream, and you finally arrive at a lovely village with traditional Tibetan tea bread and daal bhat for dinner at Deng. Being at 1,804 m, the temperatures at night will start going down, so remember to stay properly covered up and drink a sufficient amount of water.

At the start of each day, you will enjoy breakfast in the area of Deng when the sun is starting to warm up the valley floors. The path goes across the Budhi Gandaki River towards a lush forest of fir, oak & rhododendron trees, where there are some ancient mani (traditional) stones & carvings which indicate the presence of Tibetan Buddhist influences along this route. You will pass by the small villages of Bihi Phedi, from where you will be able to see the first glimpse of the vast alpine valleys and snow peaks. We have planned for you to have lunch at a lodge that’s halfway on your trekking journey. As we climb upwards into the lower areas of the mountains, don’t forget that at this higher altitude (2,630m approx.) there will be less “dense” oxygen in our air than our lungs are accustomed to breathing at sea level. Keep the walking pace normal at the altitude; it will reduce shortness of breathing.

After breakfast, admire the excellent views of Himalchuli and Sringi Himal from Namrung. The gentle climb up takes us through lovely pine woods as we travel through Lihi and Sho. Our route crosses paths with local villagers who still wear traditional Tibetan attire while barley thrives amidst prayer flags on this beautiful part of the country.

For lunch today, we stop by in Lho and also take in stunning sights around Lho – an incredible village dominated by a huge Tibetan monastery offering close-up views of Mount Manaslu itself. After that comes an easy stroll towards the Pungen Glacier trail junction leading all the way down into Samagaun – considered one of the cultural heartlands of Nubri valley.

Today your journey begins with a laid-back breakfast at the teahouse/lodge - trek high, sleep low - so we don't ascend any higher and go on an acclimatization trek toward Birendra Lake, Pungyen Gompa, or the lower viewpoints from the Manaslu Base Camp. The altitude will serve as a perfect mechanism to aid the natural creation of red blood cells in your body. At the local village, enjoy lunch at a friendly teahouse and explore Samagaun in the afternoon.

Dive deep into the old cultural heritage and traditional school monastery of the settlement and take a ramble through its narrow streets. In the evening, enjoy dinner composed of Tibetan bread and thick dal bhat. Keep check of your energy level today.

Start your day with a cool morning meal down in the large, windswept Samagaun valley. Leaving the timberline, you will soon begin to descend to the Budhi Gandaki River before starting a gentle ascent through an area of juniper and birch. There are large stone mani walls and grazing yak herders' fields with enormous glacial backgrounds. Walking at this altitude at a relaxed pace, you should reach the small Tibetan refugee village of Samdo, only a few kilometres from the border with Tibet, by lunchtime and can get your afternoon break of momos with lunch on this day by 1:30 PM. It’s at an elevation of 3860m. Temperatures go well below the freezing level by night, and moderate breathlessness is to be expected.

You begin your day with breakfast in Samdo, in the middle of wild, craggy high-altitude peaks. To prepare for the pass, you go on a short acclimatisation hike on a morning to the ridge behind the village in the direction of a trade route towards Tibet, climbing to an altitude of nearly 4,200 metres. This will help your body cope with any minor altitude-related changes.

Enjoy lunch back in the Samdo teahouse. This afternoon is one of complete rest with plenty of fluids, mainly hot ginger tea, and sorting out your cold weather clothes. Rest today at 3,860 metres means you will get to the next push towards Dharmasala tomorrow in fine shape.

Your morning starts with an early breakfast at Samdo, where the morning frost paints the rocky surroundings. It is from here that the trail goes up on a wooden bridge passing the Budhi Gandaki River, and the path starts climbing along the wild and dry slopes of the valley, which opens into thin alpine desert and alpine tundra. The journey through this country of glacial views takes only 3 to 4 hours and is planned not to reduce your energy before tomorrow's pass. In the early afternoon, we arrive at Larke Phedi, which, in a matter of fact, is Dharmasala, as it is a harsh stone fort on a saddle on the path. A hot lunch at the simple lodge awaits. The effects of the altitude at 4,460 meters, i.e., headache and insomnia are likely to be apparent, and it's advisable to eat and go to sleep early.

This will be an early morning start, long before first light, at around 4:00 AM, for a simple breakfast and steaming hot tea in frigid arctic darkness. You then continue up steep and demanding sections over moraine and snow towards the high snow-covered Larkya La Pass (5,160m), hiking in thin alpine air under the supervision of your trekking leader. At the pass (adorned with many Tibetan flags), the views of Himlung Himal, Annapurna II and Cheo Himal are stunning. We celebrate with group photos, and commence the huge and knee-painful descent on a scree-covered descent into Bimthang. We stop to eat a late afternoon meal at a teahouse lower down enroute.

A morning breakfast, surrounded by spectacular open meadows, pine forest of Bimthang and steep walls of mountain peaks, would be a truly remarkable start to your day. The path will descend rapidly through the glacial stream of the Dudh Khola through the rhododendron forest of Surki Khola, past agricultural fields, up to Gova, where a hot meal is provided in the restaurant. Through villages of stone dwellings, suspension bridges and a subtropical verdant valley, you will ascend to the small village of Tilije or Goa/Gho, where you will have a warm dinner and beverages of local delicacies. Altitude decreases drastically to 1,700m, providing you with adequate oxygen, more energy and a comfortable stay for a good night's sleep.

Your last day is an early start for breakfast in Tilije, and take a walk downhill to connect with our transport vehicle at Dharapani. Dharapani is where you will officially exit the trail system. You will travel by bumpy 4WD/jeep on a highway on the Marsyangdi River back to Kathmandu.

In the middle of the afternoon, you will have a hot lunch in a highway restaurant. Late afternoon, arrive in the city, where you will be transferred to the hotel.

On arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, we will meet our representative, who will take you on an exclusive ride from Tribhuvan International Airport to your hotel in the city. We can avoid the traffic jams across the capital city, reach to your hotel, assist the check in to the hotel and get refreshment in the hotel. The rest of the day, the group is free to relax in the hotel and do some shopping for trekking gear that you may wish to have for yourself. Finally, you have to meet the guide at the hotel in the evening for an informal meeting during dinner, so the program explains in detail about the trip and the day's journey.

Wake up at dawn at your hotel, followed by a hot breakfast at the hotel. And board the bus/jeep that is all arranged for you. Leave Kathmandu on a westerly route, enjoying the scenery of waterfall rivers along the way. With plain roads initially that gradually change to steep ups and downs. And then it becomes very bumpy in roads during 7-8 hrs of Journey till reach the destination, namely Soti Khola 710 m by afternoon. Check in at a local teahouse. Have a hot cup of tea, and you are free after that to interact with other groups. And sleep with the nice sound of the river flowing continuously nearby.

Wake up early with the first rays of morning sun streaming into the Soti Khola valley to begin your first day trekking. Once you’ve had an early breakfast, lace up your boots, cross a suspension bridge, and take on your first undulating trail through pristine sal forest and past beautiful terraced rice fields. The walk, 6–7 hours, requires consistent concentration along jagged ridges, rocky cliffs and roaring falls, and will culminate in an arrival at the charming Gurung Village of Labubesi for the afternoon, before a descent into Machhakhola (870m). A fortifying dinner follows in the company of your hosts as dusk sets in, ready to soak tired muscles and then retire to the warmth of your double tea house bedroom for a peaceful night.

Wake with the Himalayan dawn, enjoy a warm breakfast, then face the toughest start of the trek – a 5-6 hour uphill to Khorlabesi. You’ll encounter the Thado Khola via a suspension bridge, then a tough climb of stone stairs up to Khorlabesi village. Further along the trail, you find the natural hot springs at Tatopani; locals stop to soak after their tough walk, crossing a cantilever bridge over the ferocious Budhi Gandaki valley, and a final steep climb of scree up to Dovan and then directly into Jagat (1,340m). Here we will stop to complete formalities and rest in a stone house before enjoying our evening meal.

It’s another frosty, clear morning when you leave Jagat. After breakfast and a check of your trek permit at the local checkpoint, you begin the 5–6-hour descent and climb to Deng (2,095m). You begin with a stone ascent from the village on cliff-hugging paths high above the now widening gorge of the river.

You continue your way along the river through numerous cascades and areas of sub-tropical bamboo and pine forest past a few small villages; in particular the villages of Salleri and Philim.

Buddhism then becomes increasingly evident on the path in the form of mani stones and chortens, making it seem you’ve entered a region with Tibetan culture. The walk concludes this afternoon as you reach the little teahouse in Deng, where you will be rewarded with a hearty, hot dinner and some relaxation in the cool alpine air.

Today we will leave Deng for our journey to Namrung, which is located at 2,630 m altitude and trekking will take approx 5-6 hours. The day starts with the green forest trail and then walking along the riverbank of the Budhi Gandaki River. We have to cross rivers on a suspension bridge at various times along the way, continuing to climb through the forest, crossing villages: Rana, Bihi Phedi, Ghap.

Further above, the trail becomes more serious and passes by more numerous mani walls and prayer flags and, more generally, signs of Tibetan Buddhism, so that it may be said that it takes on a more Tibetan character. The route winds up the mountain through the forest, offering nice views of the valley and snow-capped mountains on clear days, after a few hours’ hike. Finally, you will reach the village of Namrung in the mountains, your trail will end here with a nice view of the valley, and you will stay in one of the teahouse's /lodges overnight where they also provide meals.

Your morning in Namrung is bracing; following an invigorating breakfast, your trek continues for between 6 and 7 hours into the valley, ascending into the heart of the high-altitude territory where Samagaon sits. This is a day that is steadily ascended through high alpine terrain with the villages of Lihi, Sho, and Lho along the route; the magnificent, huge mountain of Manaslu can be enjoyed from the village of Lho directly above it all. You can visit the ancient Ribung Gompa before continuing further with mani-walled fields all around you to reach the vast and scattered Tibetan village of Samagaon in the late afternoon. Checking into your teahouse, you may need to bundle up against the increasing cold of these high altitudes. Your last proper meal was enjoyed tonight to put the fuel in the tank for the day's rest tomorrow.

The entire day is reserved for rest and acclimatizing physically at 3,530 m (11,581 ft). After a leisurely, low-paced morning breakfast, you have the choice of an active acclimatization day hike either in the direction of Pungyen Gompa or up towards the spectacular foot of Manaslu Base Camp to get your lungs acquainted with the mountain air, with excellent views of the glacier and moraine. You will be back in Samagaon by early afternoon, and your day will consist of strolling around the authentic village, observing the traditional weaving crafts, or relaxing near your teahouse stove reading.

You'll have a very early morning when you get up, have your breakfast, and trek out of the village of Samagaon. This stretch is short, with a walking time of only 4-5 hours, at an altitude of approx. 3,860 m (12,664 ft). Again, due to the altitude, you would have to maintain a slow pace ascending up to Samdo too.

You will descend to the Budhi Gandaki River, cross its wooden bridge, and ascend slowly through juniper and birch scrub, through stone walls enclosing former pasture grounds, as a panorama of wonderful mountain terrain starts to unveil itself.

You would finally arrive at Samdo, an antiquated Tibetan village barely one day distant from China, in the early afternoon; check in at the teahouse of the village, relax your system to adapt further, and have hot soup served with your meal well below 0 degrees.

Today there is a deliberately shorter and less challenging day (4-5 hours of walking) to ensure you can gain maximum energy for a big day tomorrow, trekking along the river through the Athahra Saya Khola, past a couple of ruined trade villages to the Dharamsala (4,460 m) (aka Larkya Phedi). This stark, isolated place with jagged rocks should take you about mid-afternoon to arrive, and there are not many facilities apart from the occasional rock shelter, so you will spend the afternoon relaxing, hydrating, and napping in the lodge to recharge before crossing one of the region’s highest passes tomorrow. While the cold nights are still harsh, you will get by with an early carb-loading dinner followed by a couple of hours to rest.

This is the hardest day of the trek, with an early start just before 3 AM or 4 AM to start your day under a starry sky. Having little to eat and beginning a steep and tough climb for 8-9 hours through loose stones and ice to the top of Larkya La Pass (5,160 m). Being at the prayer flag top and greeting the dawn over giant Himalaya peaks is a very spiritual and amazing feeling. Then take a very long and steep descent on the knees to Bimtang (3,720 m). Reach the resort in Bimtang by afternoon, have dinner and share the wonderful success of crossing the pass safely with the food. And sleep like any other human being.

This morning, after a breakfast with warming sunshine, you can feel the light touch of the surrounding hills; you start a long trek downhill – five to six hours, steeply. A final passage through the shadowy rhododendron and pine forest, up and down, brings you a quick and sharp descent. You get quickly out of the forest – The bamboo grows quickly from there, along the Dudh Khola, through high pasture lands (sangure kharka) and finally into magnificent bamboo jungles. A sudden weather change – a warmer climate and increased oxygen levels will be noticed as you approach Tilije, your destination – a fascinating village (2,300m), where a cozy lodge is expecting you, together with a hot shower after a cold mountain trekking.

After a leisurely breakfast in Tilije, you awaken refreshed, ready for the final stage of your mountain trekking experience. A 5–6-hour walk follows the Dudh Khola downstream to the confluence of the river with the Marsyangdi, visiting along the way the villages built with stones and paved footpaths that have been inherited down through the generations of the Gurung tribe, together with the terraced land that supports them. Crossing hanging bridges, you will meet up with the mainstream Annapurna Circuit trek path at Dharapani.

From here, it’s an onwards trek on this downward path, with its cascades and rock-strewn trails, leading down into the spectacular and flat riverbed valley of Tal (1,700 m), where you will spend your last night in the comfortable surroundings of a lodge and enjoy your farewell dinner, recounting your trekking adventures with your guides.

Your final morning begins with a hearty breakfast in Tal, followed by another local 4x4 adventure to Kathmandu, a journey of eight or more hours. The return trip is taken through the same off-road trails in the Marsyangdi and Trishuli river valleys that you rode in on earlier in the trip. However, on the return, you are able to see and enjoy the beautiful views of the valley changing from the isolated mountain gorge towns back to the more populated rural towns and countryside as you return to the capital city. You arrive back in Kathmandu in the late afternoon/early evening and will have a hot shower and a warm hotel room ready to greet you. In the evening, we will have a special farewell dinner with your group.

Your last day in the country brings you to its conclusive end as you wake up for the last time after a restful sleep in your hotel and enjoy a final breakfast in Kathmandu. During the morning hours, you can spend your time as you wish, either packing up, shopping for a few keepsakes in Thamel, or exploring the city to collect a few final moments. In the latter part of your day or as the schedule dictates, a designated associate of the trekking agency will facilitate the loading of your luggage and your private transfer to the Tribhuvan International Airport for your departure flight. A final, bird's-eye view of the spectacular mountain panoramas as you fly away will be your last impression before you head towards home with a trove of memories of the remote, enigmatic Manaslu Circuit.

Your interesting tour starts at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu. On arrival in Nepal, one of our representatives is expected to receive you with your name board. Later, you will be dropped off at the hotel by our private vehicle via the winding roads of the city.

After reaching the hotel and refreshing from the tiredness you get from sleep (long journey), relax in the room and take a walk in the nearby lively locality.

You will then meet and be thoroughly briefed by our trekking leader about the overall trek.

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, you will be on a guided tour of some important Buddhist stupas and Hindu temples, most with colored prayer flags flying all around. The rest of the day is spent getting your last equipment, final trek preparation, and completing your trekking permits. In the afternoon, check the camping gear with your guide, buy anything required from the various shops in Thamel, and obtain all necessary trekking permits for the Manaslu Conservation Area, which lies in a restricted area of Nepal.

The real legwork begins on the morning that the physical journey of walking will start: the adventurous overland ride out of the valley westward. Following the national highway, you travel over undulating but fascinating landscape, past rural countryside towns and villages, perched on steep hillsides, green terraced farmland and beautiful, falling waterfalls along the way. For much of this part of the journey, you follow along the rapid flow of the Trisuli and Budhi Gandaki rivers on the road; however, past Arughat, the tarmac under the wheels of your vehicle gives way to rough, dusty, bumpy tracks. Late in the day you reach the small roadside settlement of Soti Khola, and you settle into a comfortable room at a local teahouse for the night.

The first days trekking leads you on an exciting undulating path, which follows and crosses below the precipitous cliffs, descending downward toward the river as you make your way along the fast-flowing Budhi Gandaki. The trail soon continues below through the thick, cool Sal forests, taking you across various swinging suspension bridges that span narrow tributaries that flow into the gorge before continuing on past small Gurung and Magar communities. You will travel on steep climbs down the rocky passes to reach further low sections by terraced maize fields, beginning your experience of truly isolated rural culture, for which this country is famous, before after five to six hours of walking arriving at the vibrant little settlement of Machha Khola – named after the prevalence of the Machha (fish) population within the river, where you will sleep at a local lodge.

Leaving Machha Khola, we ascend and then descend by a suspension bridge onto Khorlabesi. Further on, we continue to Tatopani with its natural hot springs – a place popular for rest for the weary trekking body. Following the trail across a forested ridgeline, you'll use another long suspension bridge over the ever-widening river gorge to Dovan. Once past Dovan, the valley becomes dramatically steeper and narrows as you climb a number of remarkable rock-cut staircases to finally reach a fascinating slate-built village, Jagat, late in the afternoon - official check for the Manaslu RR Permits here.

After leaving Jagat this morning, your walk takes you up to a rocky ridgeline before descending to Salleri and occasional brief glimpses of Sringi Himal off to your left. Further on, your trek takes you into another settlement known as Philim, which, once upon a time, was a significant Gurung settlement where rice fields terraced across the hillside served as impressive houses with impressive roofs made from slate. From Philim, the route splits. Bear right onto the northern route; this smaller valley, through which you will soon enter, is bordered by both imposing pine and bamboo forests, as your trek will be primarily alongside the swirling turquoise water of the Budhi Gandaki and culminates with your final push uphill toward your stop tonight—the very small settlement called Deng, which has quite a bit of the feel of Tibet.

Your trek today will take you across the Budhi Gandaki shortly after leaving Deng, after which the trail weaves its way through a thick forest of fir and rhododendron before, occasionally, popping through to the side of narrow stone walls carved from Mani. You'll pass a couple more villages (one of them, Bihi Phedi, is where the culture begins to shift from Nepalese to more strongly Tibetan, as you will see many more Chortens and prayer wheels). Many ups and downs are spread throughout your journey that are covered by sturdy wooden bridges that span deep gorges that cut through the landscape of your surroundings. Soon after your climb, you’ll begin to see some amazing views of snow-covered mountains; by afternoon, you’ll arrive at the wealthy village of Namrung, which is known for its stone houses, which will give you far-reaching views.

The trail rises from Namrung via beautiful alpine forests as well as pretty small villages, Lihi and Sho. We will get views of splendid mountains such as Ganesh Himal, Himalchuli and Peak 29 at several points along the way during this section of the trek. Houses with intricately designed wood carving and stones surround fields of barley.

As we walk closer to Lho Gaun, we may well see an extremely steep valley leading down. It will be an intimidating scene directly under majestic Manaslu.

Ribung Gompa stands at Lho, a colorful structure; the chanting for evening prayer would be heard echoing down the valley and through the small village.

Following a stunning view of dawn enlightening the frozen face of Mount Manaslu, as you leave Lho, you embark on a descent through pines to cross the Damantsi Khola before ascending again in the vicinity of Shala, a summer dwelling in a glorious alpine setting guarded by enormous glaciers. After a while, the incredible expanse of towering mountain giants is revealed to you, just before Shyala village nestles in a meadow. Once you arrive at Shyala, you keep on descending to follow the broad alpine pastures, before enjoying a flat walk up to Samagaun. This village stands as the most developed and culturally rich community in the upper Nubri, surrounded by ancient mani walls, chortens and friendly faces, where the afternoon is dedicated to peaceful immersion in local culture.

You will spend the whole day in Samagaun today too to acclimatize physiologically before crossing the next high-level pass. The demand for oxygen is very low at this altitude; it's for this reason that it's wise to stay at this mark of 3,500-metre and aid your system to settle into the higher altitude.

Unlike doing nothing, you can do a day hike either to explore the lonely Pungyen Gompa residing in the monastery in front of glaciers, or, for the spirited ones, take up the trail through the awesome slopes of the Manaslu Base Camp. On these routes, you get incredible scenery of lakes of ice and challenging seracs and icefalls, before returning to Samagaun to relax for the evening.

A shorter trek today aids your acclimatization to the altitude, although it is steadily increasing. This track goes up a steady slope well above the valley floor amongst juniper and birch scrub to traverse a lateral moraine belonging to the Pungen Glacier. You cross Budhi Gandaki by wooden bridge and start the trek up into the borders of Tibet.

It becomes more arid, with wind-blasted rocks providing stark beauty, and you are at Samdo, just a few kilometers before the Tibetan border, an isolated yak-herding village where the people still trade between the two regions. You reach here in the early afternoon.

Today the trek is physically tough even though the walk is relatively short due to the increased altitude and decreasing air. From Samdo, you will cross a bridge over the Athari Khola, then head relentlessly upwards using the ancient trading path. It traverses barren mountain slopes and rubble fields with grand panoramic views of the distant landscape beyond. There are now practically no trees to be found, only vegetation that can grow at high-altitude alpine tundra. Your destination is reached by midday or early afternoon; at the 'Larkya Phedi', which is Dharmashala (base camp to the pass), spend the rest of the afternoon trying to rehydrate and put on your gear for the day's crossing ahead.

It will be a challenging day during the expedition and will start early in the morning. Your long and steep ascent takes you over rock moraines and snow drifts as you make your way toward the prayer-flag-flown summits of the Larkya La at 5,106 m. There are some legendary views looking over Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Annapurna II, and Manaslu. After celebrating your success, you have a long, slow, and careful descent from where the high pass becomes a steep slope and finally into the wonderful verdant alpine meadows of Bimtang.

The day after your strenuous and challenging high pass, the walk today is a comfortable and dramatic drop into lower, more humid, greener altitudes. From the meadows of Bimtang, you wake to the amazing morning light that fills the western face of Manaslu. Your walk falls steeply into fragrant rhododendron and pine forests.

This continues with several crossings of log bridges over fast-flowing glacier torrents and passage through humble villages, such as Goa and Karche, where more agricultural plots and fragrant wildflowers greet you. You will join the classic Annapurna Circuit route at Tilije for a short period before dropping steeply downhill to the thriving village of Dharapani, which will complete the mountain trekking part of your expedition.

It is the final day of your great journey on your travel down overland to the capital; it is less smooth, more scenic. It begins by boarding (a local jeep/private transport) in Dharapani; thereafter you travel down a dirt road parallel to the river and then Marsyangdi all the way to Besisahar, then board a public bus/private jeep and drive down Prithvi Highway, you'll experience a superb mosaic of constantly changing landscape of steep gorges. Gradually widening rolling verdant hills and the rushing river of the Himalayas as you finally reach Kathmandu by afternoon and you will check into your hotel and get the afternoon to rest. You can either party hard on your great achievement or grab some missing souvenirs and gifts.

After having explored this amazing part of the world for the last 16 days, we now get ready to go back to our respective countries.

You are free to have breakfast at your convenience & shop for any mementos or Coffee. Then a rep will collect you from the hotel at the mentioned time and take you privately to Tribhuvan International Airport for check-in formalities with comfort. Finally, you will see that magnificent view of the mountain range once again from the sky while taking off! You carry all the precious memories of Nepal along with you to your home country.

After an early morning breakfast your journey begins. Board on the flight and land at Tribhuvan International Airport, where your representative waits for you. You enjoy a vibrant drive to your assigned hotel in a buzzing and electric Kathmandu city. Have a delicious lunch at the most loved eateries in Thamel or within your own hotel. Zero effect of altitude is seen here at 1,350 m above sea level. After a day out, brief your trekking guide about the detailed itinerary, security measures, and documents required in your trip.

Your trip begins with a fulfilling breakfast and the sights of Kathmandu. Travel through historical places of the country and World Heritage sites, ancient temples, UNESCO palaces, and the Boudhanath Stupa, along with the Kathmandu Durbar Square; there are numerous ancient temples to visit. You can then savor a traditional lunch in a rooftop restaurant with a view of the entire Kathmandu Valley, as there is no increase in altitude. Your afternoon is solely dedicated to shopping for climbing equipment and some miscellaneous things that you may require. You can then take pleasure in authentic cuisine at a local Nepalese, family-owned restaurant.

The day begins with breakfast, then the transfer from Kathmandu to Sotikhola by jeep; it is quite a bumpy ride along dirt tracks following the river, past Dhading and Malekhu, then the valleys of the Trishuli and Budhi Gandaki rivers, which the route follows. The drive follows the river, and you share the jeeps or have the option of local buses with the local people. A picnic lunch is a good idea from a roadside teahouse at Arughat or Salyantar. Altitude is not an issue today, as you are still at just over 710 m, so expect to see domestic animals such as cattle and a small amount of lowland wildlife and arrive in Sotikhola by the afternoon to camp.

A leisurely breakfast at a teahouse to get your energy ready, then a short day trek over a few bridges and some stony ridges, followed by a hike through shaded forests made mostly from the woody plant Sal and through the Labubesi village. Lunch would ideally be a pre-prepared packet lunch; it is not expected from a lodge in Khani Besi while you admire the stunning valleys surrounding you. Altitude 870 m still nothing to fear here either; expect to see plenty of langur monkeys along the cliffs and in the trees, as well as spectacular colored butterflies at Machhakhola, where you will camp in the afternoon.

Breakfast in your Machhakhola lodge sets you off for the day. The path wanders along the canyon, past the village of Khorlabesi, past the natural hot springs of Tatopani and the village of Dovan. Lunch will be in Tatopani or Dovan. At 1,340m, this is still at low altitude; therefore, there are unlikely to be any altitude symptoms. Along this steep, rugged canyon path, barking deer and mountain goats could be encountered at any point, and this will be your stopping village of Jagat, sitting at 1,340m, and at the entrance checkpoint of Jagat there are checked controlled area permits.

An early breakfast at your lodge in Jagat will get you onto the trail for your days trekking. The trek will take you past Salleri, Sirdibas and Philim, where there is a large village of Gurungs with terraces built out of fields and where it may be time to rest at lunchtime and have some lunch at either Philim or Ekle Bhatti. At 1,860m there may be a tendency towards an increased rate of breathing on any steep uphills, and actual altitude sickness should be rare. Highland birds may include the soaring Himalayan griffon above, with your day of walking concluding in Deng, staying at a remote mountainous teahouse.

Breakfast at the Deng village, and you will have to begin your trek on the trail of the Budhi Gandaki River. You will also traverse through the Bihi Phedi and Ghap village which are very forested areas of pine villages, and rhododendron throughout your walk. Lunch will be at a teahouse midway through the Ghap village trail. At an altitude of 2,630m, you may find it a little tiresome when ascending, but you will get to find lots of Mani Walls and Prayer Wheels throughout the trail. And you might as well see the Himalayan pika moving along on rocks, depending on your vision capacity when you reach Namrung in the late afternoon.

Have breakfast at your Namrung teahouse. Now you will walk through the upper mountainous region of Ngan Gaon, visiting Liahi, Sho, and Shayala villages, respectively, and then finally arrive at Lho village. You will have lunch at Shayala village with grand views of the high Himalayas, and then the trek will be uphill to Lho Village through the coniferous forest mountainous region of Ngan Gaon.

You will find your heart beating a bit fast on this section of the trail, as there are signs of altitude sickness at 3,180 m, so it will be better to allow your body time to acclimatize. At this section, you will encounter loads of blue sheep and a few types of pheasants. You will be staying at the teahouse at Lho, and you can witness the very old Ribung Gompa close by.

Enjoy your morning breakfast at Lho with stunning views over Mt. Manaslu. Your trail is along glacial valleys, via Shala, and to Samagaun for lunch on arrival (or halfway to a local teahouse). Altitude effects (lightheaded, cold hands, poor sleep) start appearing this day due to you being at 3,500m. Your day will bring a significant increase in the number of yaks/mules carrying loads of trade from over the border. You rest this afternoon.

After breakfast at your lodge, the day is spent relaxing in your teahouse and exploring Samagaun village or heading to Pungyen Gompa or Manaslu Base Camp. Either a packed lunch will be taken with you, or you may return to your lodge for lunch. With this rest day spent mostly in the teahouse at 3,500m, your body should continue to acclimatise to the conditions.

However, any strenuous uphill climbing this day will leave you breathless. Marmots, Blue Sheep, and Griffon vultures may be encountered along the high glacial ridges during a walk this day.

Your day begins with a tasty breakfast at your Samagaun tea lodge, on a trail of sparse juniper bushes, old man-made walls, and ancient trade routes, traveling high into Tibet and on towards the border. You have lunch when you arrive at the Samdo teahouse, as it is a shorter travel day. Being at 3,860 m, you start getting mild acclimatization effects, such as cold hands and feet, light shortness of breath, and feeling tired more quickly. Your views will be of the herd of tamed yaks grazing with a handful of wild Himalayan Thar in sparse, dry, windy countryside around the teahouse.

Your day begins with breakfast at your early morning Samdo tea lodge. The trail goes up a hill around the Athari Khola, traveling through bare, cold, and wind-swept alpine tundra, with no trees to be seen. Lunch at the Dharmashala (Larkya Phedi) is held at the teahouse. You can expect pronounced shortness of breath, light headaches, and a total lack of appetite at 4,480 m, but rest at the teahouse for a while to sleep it off and await the pass. Animal sightings are poor at this great height, as it is extremely cold; save for a few high-flying ravens.

At dawn, eat a light breakfast or energy bars at Dharmashala. The trail gains a challenging climb across the slippery, icy moraines and snow-covered tracks all the way to the pass (5,106 m), draped with a multitude of colored prayer flags at Larkya La Pass. A packaged lunch is taken near the pass and eaten during the long controlled descent towards the meadows, lush green for Bimtang.

This is the maximum height of the trip, and any severe symptoms of altitude sickness are immediately relieved by way of an early drop. The peaks support resident snow leopards; many bird species can be seen, flying fast in the high winds, through and over the pass.

The beautiful meadows of Bimtang provide a scenic breakfast before the trail commences. The route has a steep descent to the village of Tilije. You may choose to stop for lunch along the trail; some smaller settlements and tea shops with meals like Goa and Karche could potentially feature at lunch break or midway. By 2,300 m, you will see immediate and sudden relief from altitude effects.

You enter the lush forest cover and encounter some smaller primate communities like the langur, and lowland birds like the barking deer species are now spotted and confirmed, as you are hosted in Tilije.

You'll eat a simple breakfast at your Tilije lodge before taking an easy morning descent to the village of Dharapani, where the trek concludes. A local jeep or private jeep will pick you up here and take you on a bumpy ride down a road that follows the whitewater of the Marsyangdi River all the way to the town where you'll enjoy a roadside lunch. There'll be further downward travel and not much time before you find yourself surrounded by sheer waterfalls and beautiful rice terraces as you drive down into the busy low valley city of Besisahar by early afternoon.

After breakfast at the Besisahar teahouse, the driving toward the capital begins. You will travel for part of the day on the Prithvi Highway on winding roads, traveling through green hills, past farmland and over rivers. We stop for lunch in a restaurant at the side of the road as we head back down, with the last few hours to go in the vehicle. Arriving back in Kathmandu and at your hotel, you'll have all the time you want for a nice hot shower, to relax and sort out your kit.

Your 17-day unforgettable trek through the heart of the Himalayas comes to an end today, as you start your transit back home. Depending on your international flight schedule, you are likely to have a leisurely morning breakfast at the hotel and spend the remaining hours being greeted with the ultimate Nepalese warmth and hospitality in the proximity shops, looking for some last-minute souvenirs or traditional handmade Nepalese craft or perhaps shop for some lovely local herbal tea before completing the room check-out. At the designated departure time, a kind and smiling company representative with a private car will await you in your hotel lobby for your smooth transit, traversing the city traffic before dropping you off at Tribhuvan International Airport, as you catch your scheduled flight, you take memories forever of traversing the distant Himalayas trails and cultures, which you will carry along throughout your lifetime.