This trek
was officially opened to tourists in 1991, but mountaineering
expeditions have long had access to the area. IN 1959 a party led by HW
TIlman trekked from Thonje to Bimtang and Colonel Jimmy Robets croosed
the Larkya La looking for an interesting mountain to climb.
Manaslu(8156m) was attempted by Japanese expeditions every year from
1952 until 1956, when the first ascent was made. It this became know as
a 'Japanese Mountain', and much of the information about the area was
available only in Japanese. The Japanese continued to dominate the
climbing scene on Manaslu until 1971.
A
few trekkers, including the peripatetic Hugh Swift, managed to obtain
trekking permits for the region, but otherwise this trek has always bee
the domain of the mountaineering expedition. The book 'Honey Hunters of
Nepal', by Eric Valli & Dianne Summers, was so popular and makes
good background reading of this region.Though the Larkya La is not a
difficult pass, the trek around Manaslu is harder that most in Nepal.
In many places the walls of the Budhi Gandaki Valley are perpendicular,
so you cannot walk along the bottom of the valley. There is a huge
amount of wasted climbing involved during the first part of the trek as
you climb up and down over ridges or onto shelves to bypass cliffs. The
trail is rough and steep and it often literally hangs on a bluff high
above the slightest tendency towards acrophobia. The trek is remote and
has no rescue facilities or opportunities to bail out if you are tired.
There is only one facility that might conceivably be called a trekkers'
hotel, and there are few English signboards between Arughat and Tilje.
No
wonder, the trek is geographically spectacular and culturally
fascinating. The inhabitants of the upper Budhi Gandaki, a region known
as Nupri ('the western mountains') are direct descendants of Tibetan
immigrants. Their speech, dress and customs are almost exclusively
Tibetan. There is still continuous trade between Nupri and Tibet;
Chinese cigarettes for example, are found more frequently that Nepali
cigarettes. The mountain views in Nupri are sensational, and crossing
of the Larkya La is one of the most drammatic of any pass in the
Himalaya.
DAY 01 Arrival at Kathmandu, transfer to hotel & well come Diner.
DAY 02 Full day Kathmandu Sightseeing, hotel.
Sightseeing at Kathmandu valley, overnight at hotel.
Visit world heritage site in Kathmandu including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan
Durbar Square, Pashupatinath (temple of Shiva), Boudhnath and Swoyambhunath.
DAY 03 : Katmandu - Gorkha (bus).
Visit of the Gorkha royal palace and the Kali temple. An historic city,
origin of the Sha dynasty that has provided most of the Nepalese kings
since 1767.
Day 04: Gorkha - Kanchok in 5h.
Nice views of the Gorkha Himal
Day 05: Kanchok - Arughat (670m) in 5h.
A pretty route through cultivated, terraced hillsides and villages. The
trail goes up and down towards the Buri Gandaki river. We will follow
this river for the next ten days.
Day 06: Arughat - Labu Besi (880m) in 6h30
The trail traverses forests populated by monkeys. As we go, we get
great vistas of the Shringi Himal. In this region, the Gurung women
often wear elegant clothes and possess impressive sets of jewelry,
bangles and saris.
Day 07: Labu Besi - Khola Besi (950m) in 4h.
The trail goes along the river, with some steep legs
Day 08: Khola Besi - Jagat (1410m) in 5h.
We head upstream along the steep side of the Buri Gandaki towards
Tatopani -- literally " hot springs ". The trail then goes up and down
along the length of the river, with some parts overhanging huge rapids
Day 09: Jagat - Ngyak (1530m) in 6h.
Day 10: Ngyak - Ghap (2040m) in 5h.
Ngyak - Ghap (2040m) in 5h. The path goes through dense jungle up the
narrow western gorge of the Buri Gandaki heading towards Manaslu. At
times the path is high above the river which we will cross and re-cross
on an incredible variety of bridges. In Ghap, we will admire some fine
sculptures, mostly representing meditating Buddhas.
Day 11: Ghap - Lho (3100m) in 5h.
We continue westwards through bamboo and rhododendron forests. Horse
and yak caravans are numerous here, as the commerce with the upper Buri
Gandaki valley and Tibet is prosperous.
Day 12: Lho - Sama Gompa (3500m) in 5h
We head straight towards Peak 29, ahead of us, then follow the lateral
moraine of the Pungen Glacier towards Sama. Breathtaking views of the
Manaslu, Northern Manaslu (7145m) and the Naike
Day 13: Sama Gompa - Samdo (3860m) in 3h.
We cross a high plateau and skirt around the ridge of the lateral
moraine. We then climb a terraced hillside to reach one of the most
remote permanent settlements in Nepal. Samdo is only a day’s walk from
Tibet by the Lajyang La pass (5098m)
Day 14: Samdo – Larkya refuge (4500m) in 5h.
The path becomes steeper. Crossing the tundra, it winds its way to the
foot of the immense Larkya glacier which pours out of the Manaslu.
Day 15: Larkya refuge - Larkya La (5212m) - Bimtang (3850m) in 7h
We first head towards Cho Chanda, then slowly climb the steep slope
towards the pass. From the top the panorama is magnificent: Himlung
Himal (7126m), Cheo Himal (6820m), Gyagi Kung, Kang Kuru (6981m) and
the Annapurna II (7937m). Steep descent through moraines towards
Bimtang
Day 16: Bimtang - Tilije (2400m) in 5h30.
The route gets easier. We start with a gentle climb through paddy
fields towards the small Karcha La pass and descend through fir tree
and rhododendron forests to Tillije
Day 17: Tilije – Dharapani (2713m) in 6h
We descend to Dharapani and join the Annapurna Circuit. From here we
follow the Marsyangdi river upstream through large areas of blue pines,
spruces and oak.
Day 18: Dharapani - Bahundanda in 6 h
Day 19: Bahundanda - Khudi - 5h
Day 20: Khudi to Besi Sahar, drive toKathmandu, hotel
Day 21: Kathmandu free day, hotel. farewell dinner.
Day 22: Final departure, transfer to airport.
Trekking regions : Annapurna Langtang Manaslu Mustang Dolpo Makalu Kanchenjunga 