The day begins with a 9 to 10 hour drive and cover 142 km to reach Soti Khola. We travel by a private vehicle or a public bus. The journey is smooth, allowing you to see the different climatic landscapes and terrain Nepal has to offer. The drive takes you along the roaring Trishuli River with verdant hills and valleys on either side of the road. We rest our bags at Soti Khola.The maximum altitude reached on this day is 730 meters.

The trekking part of the journey starts on this day. It is a fairly easy hike on the wide roads along the Budi Gandaki River. After some time, the road is cut off by a suspension bridge, which then leads to trails along cliffs, with hills on one side and the roaring river below. We walk through some stairs that have been carved by centuries of use by people and mules. You will be surrounded by forests of oaks and rhododendrons today as you pass by quaint villages reaching Machha Khola in about 6 to 7 hours. We cover 14.3 km distance and the maximum altitude reached on this day is 870 meters.

This day would be is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the water systems of the Himalayas running downwards to the hills and eventually reaching the plains of Nepal. You will cross streams, and suspension bridges over the Budi Gandaki River and walk along river banks for about 5 to 6 hours. You will also stop by Tatopani (‘tato’ stands for hot and ‘pani’ stands for water) , a natural hot spring and bath in it to relieve muscle stress.After a uphill hike you will reach the picturesque Gurung village Jagat. This day you walk for around 22 km and the maximum altitude reached is 1290 meters.

On this day, you pass by Gurung settlements with fields of millet if the season allows and trek across wooden and suspension bridges. You will be walking for 7 to 8 hours through forests of oak, pine, bamboo, and rhododendron. The hills open to a majestic view of Shringi Himal (7187m) before reaching Nyak, where paths diverge to those who do Tsum Valley and those who do the Larke La Pass. Following the trail to Larke La Pass, you will reach Deng and spend the night there. You cover 20km distance and the maximum altitude reached on this day is 2085 meters.

Day 6 is a 6 to 7-hour walk along ridges with the Budi Gandaki roaring in the valley below. You will be walking across suspension bridges, through pine and rhododendron forests to reach the village of Namrung. Namrung village is mostly inhabited by the indigenous Gurung and Lama people who practice Buddhism. You can take a walk to some of the oldest monasteries in the region in before spending the night in Namrung. The distance we cover is similar to the day before and you reach the altitude of 2660 meters.

From Namrung, day 7 trek is a 4 to 5-hour hike to Lho. This day you will cross the 3000-meter mark and the maximum altitude reached on this day is 3180m. You may begin to feel more tired as you walk. However, as long as you walk ona constant pace, you will reach Lho fairly easily as it is relatively a short trek. Beautiful stone walls and prayer flags will welcome you to Lho. At Lho, you have an iconic view of Manaslu and can visit the beautiful Ribung Monastery as you rest and acclimatize for the journey ahead. This day is a relatively short trek as you walk for around 11 kilometers only.

The landscape from this region onwards is more alpine and architecture reflecting more of the Tibetan culture. You get glimpses of Manaslu and Himal Chuli in the distance as you walk through forests of oak and rhododendrons. You also visit beautiful rustic villages like Shyala with farms, and cross over suspension bridges to reach Sama Gaun. Sama gaun is of the bigger settlements in the region. It has monasteries, shops, a health post, and even a helipad. You will rest here for tonight. This day’s hike is of around 5 hours annd you cover distance of around 16 km. This day’s journey takes us up to a maximum elevation of 3540m.

This day is dedicated for acclimatization. You to take advantage of this free day to rest and rejuvenate. Feel free to enjoy a leisurely breakfast and spend the day in Samagaon, focusing on relaxation. For those interested in exploration, there is an optional day hike that takes you through the rich Sherpa culture. You will have the chance to view numerous mani stones inscribed with Buddhist texts, as well as photographs of Sherpa women adorned in traditional attire and jewelry. If you choose to hike, you’ll reach a small hill near the village of Samagaon and discover Pungyen Gompa, an ancient monastery that offers stunning views of the glacier. This hike spans 2 to 5 hours, covering around 4-12km distance.

On this day, you will encounter more of mani walls as the valley begins to expand. The mountain vistas offer remarkable views as the journey brings you closer to the Tibetan border. This trek is relatively easy and follows a narrow shelf above the river. You will descend to cross the Budhi Gandaki River via a wooden bridge, after which you will ascend steeply onto a promontory situated between two branches of the river. Continuing along the path, you will arrive at a stone archway and proceed until you reach the village of Samdo. You will walk a distance of 16.5km to reach the highest altitude of 3875m.

Following breakfast in Samdo, you will embark on a journey lasting approximately 4 to 5 hours. Your route will take you to a seasonal Tibetan market known as Larke Bazaar, after which you will again descend to the Budi Gandaki River. Upon crossing a wooden bridge, you will begin your ascend. Your journey will continue around the valley of the Salka Khola as you make your way to Dharamsala, also referred to as Larke Phedi. Throughout this route, you will encounter numerous traditional monasteries. You will rest for the day at Dharmashala. On this day a walk of 12km will lead you to the highest point of 4460m.

This day you will embark on a relatively longer hike lasting approximately 8 to 9 hours; therefore, it is essential to enjoy a hearty breakfast in Dharamsala. Although the challenging trail, it provides an abundance of experiences, including encounters with rustic villages, pristine glacial lakes, picturesque valleys,and breathtaking views of prominent snow-capped peaks. Following a significant ascent, you will arrive at a valley located on the northern side of the Larkya Glacier, where you can appreciate spectacular vistas of Cho Danda and Larkya Peak. Later in the journey, you will be rewarded with remarkable views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, and the majestic Annapurna II. Your day will end with a fulfilling walk through misty low pastures in the dusk, with Mount Manaslu looming majestically in the distance in Bhimtang. You will cover around 24km walking with maximum altitude reaching 5106 meters.

As today’s highlight lies in a remote region, it is not visible on Google Maps. However, we have included detailed information about the exact location below. Day 13 is a relatively less intense day compared to the previous day as you walk for only 3-4 hours.After breakfast in Bimthang, you will proceed to a nearby ridge that offers magnificent views of Manaslu, Lamjung Himal, Himlung Himal, and Cheo Himal. You will also see the highest cultivated land in the region, located at Karche. As you pass through the lush fields, you will ascend and descend through ridges to reach the village of Gho, where you will spend your second-to-last night during the trek. Expect a walk of roughly 4 hours, and we descend on this day to a maximum elevation of 2515 meters.

On your final day of trekking, you depart from Gho Village after breakfast and follow the picturesque trail to Dharapani. This route offers opportunities to observe local wildlife, particularly diverse bird species. After crossing the bridge over the Dudh Khola River, you ascend through a stupa-shaped arch and pass by a a mani wall until you reach Thonje. Here, you will pass through a police checkpoint before continuing to Dharapani, marking your exit from the Manaslu Conservation Area into the Annapurna Conservation Area. You may retire early to prepare for the next day's journey to Kathmandu in Dharapani. You will walk for approximately 5 hours, reaching a maximum altitude of 1920 meters in this day’s journey.

This day you travel to Kathmandu by jeep or a bus and bid farewell to the mountains. After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, you will board a shared jeep in Dharapani, which will transport you to Besisahar. Upon arrival in Besisahar, you will change vehicles and board a local bus to continue your return to Kathmandu. This journey takes about 7-8 hours providing an excellent opportunity to reminisce about your trekking adventure with the Iconic Himalaya team. Upon your arrival in Kathmandu, you will be escorted to your hotel where a farewell dinner awaits. Following dinner, you are free to rest and rejuvenate before your journey home.

Before you leave to your next destination,you will have a glimpse of Kathmandu which is somewhat different from the himalayas. Depending on your interests, we can visit historic palace squares (Patan, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur) dating back centuries, or visit revered religious sites such as Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhu Stupa or Buddha Stupa. Each site has its own charm giving you a glimpse of the rich culture and colorful history Kathmandu has to offer. Entrance to these heritages is included in the cost.

After a restful night in Kathmandu, we are ready for farewell and will take to the airport. However, it is not goodbye forever and we leave in high hopes that you join us again for another trek very soon!