The strenuous trek around 8156m Manaslu, the world’s eighth highest mountain, is geographically spectacular and culturally fascinating and was officially opened to tourists in 1991.
Although the high pass in this region Larkya La ( 5100m) is not difficult to cross, the trek around Manaslu is harder than most other treks since at many places the walls of Buri Gandaki Valley are perpendicular due to which there are huge amount of wasted up and down climbs over the ridges or onto shelves to bypass cliffs.
Moreover the trail is rough and steep and it often literally hangs on a bluff high above the river. So this trek is not suggested to those who have the slightest tendency towards acrophobia.
Most of the trek around Manaslu is in a region of strong Tibetan influence as the people here are direct successors of Tibetan immigrants who settled here in early 1600s.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival KATHMANDU (1300m/4265ft)
Day 2 Acclimatize in KATHMANDU
Day 3 Drive to ARUGHAT BAZAR (600m/1969ft)
Day 4 Trek to SOTI KHOLA (710m/2330ft) 5-6 hours/220m ascent, 110m descent
Day 5 Trek to MACHHA KHOLA (900m/2953ft)
Day 6 Trek JAGAT (1410m/4626ft)
Day 7 Trek EKLE BHATTI (1600m/5250ft) 4-5 hours, 270m ascent
Day 8 Trek DENG (1800m/5906ft) 3-4 hours; 280m ascent, 80m descent
Day 9 Trek GHAP (2160m/7087ft) 3-4 hours; 420m ascent, 120m descent
Day 10 Trek to LHOGAON (3180m/10434ft) 6-7 hours; 1290m ascent, 210m descent
Day 11 Trek SAMAGAON (3530m/11582ft)
Day 12 Trek SAMDO (3860m/12665ft)
Day 13 Trek LARKYA PHEDI (4480m/14699ft) 3-4 hours; 630m ascent
Day 14 Trek LARKYA PASS (5100m/16733ft); Down to BIMTANG (3720m/12205ft) 7-9 hours, 810m ascent, 1570m descent
Day 15 Trek down TILJE (2300m/7546ft)
Day 16 Trek down SYANGE (1080m/3543ft)
Day17 Trek down BHULBULE (840m/2756ft) 4-5 hours; 250m ascent, 490m descent
Day 18 Drive back KATHMANDU
Day 19 Fly back HOME or extend your HOLIDAYS