Grand tour of Manaslu - 18 days

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Arrival in Kathmandu

  Welcome and transfer to the hotel. - Accommodation: Holy Himalaya Hotel or Norbulinka Free meals

• day 2

  Main sites visit day in Kathmandu.

  Discovery day of the jewels of the Kathmandu valley: Pashupatinath, a Hindu site dating from the 12th century, a cremation place dedicated to Shiva where pilgrims come to bathe in the sacred Bagmati river. Then, visit of Bodnath, a large Buddhist stupa located in the heart of the Tibetan quarter. Next, we stroll through the alleys of old Kathmandu. After lunch, possibility to visit Bhaktapur, a superb medieval Newar town, one of the jewels of the valley listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. - Accommodation: Holy Himalaya Hotel or Norbulinka Free meals

• day 3

  Gorkha - Baluwa

  We travel to Gorkha by private vehicle (vehicle according to group size) in about 4 hours by road, then 3 hours on a track to Baluwa. - 7 hours by road - Negative elevation: 600 meters - Number of hours walking: 2 - Accommodation: lodge.

• day 4

  Baluwa - Barpak

  We continue along the same river until Ranglung, then we begin the steep ascent to Barpak. - Elevation gain: 1000 meters - Number of hours of walking: 6 to 7 - Accommodation: Lodge.

• day 5

  Barpak - Laprak

  Steep climb up to Pushu Danda, located at 3,000 m, with a superb view of Bouddha Himal and Ganesh Himal. Picnic at noon. Then, we descend to Laprak, a Gurung village. Dinner with a local family. - Positive elevation gain: 1,100 meters - Negative elevation gain: 700 meters - Number of hours of walking: 5 - Accommodation: with a local family.

• day 6

  Laprak - Khorla Bensi

  Breakfast and lunch with locals. Descent down to the river. After a gradual ascent up to Singla, a steep descent awaits us down to Khorla Bensi. - Positive elevation gain: 300 meters - Negative elevation gain: 1200 meters - Number of hours of walking: 7 - Accommodation: Lodge

• day 7

  Khorla Bensi – Sirdibas

  We walk along the river and reach the first gorges. Crossing typical villages and setting up camp at Jagat (1350 m). - Positive elevation gain: 400 meters - Number of hours of walking: 7 - Accommodation: Lodge

• day 8

  Sirdibas–Philim - Eklebhatti - Gnyak Phedi

  Regions inhabited by Gurung and Tibetans. Ascent to Gnyak Phedi. Passing the checkpoint at Eklebhatti. - Positive elevation gain: 1000 meters - Number of hours of walking: 6 - Accommodation: lodge

• day 9

  Gnyak Phedi - Ghap

  Walk through the gorges to reach the village of Ghap. - Positive elevation gain: 100 meters - Number of hours of walking: 6 h 30 - Accommodation: lodge

• day 10

  Ghap - Lhö Gaon

  We meet many pilgrims, some coming from Tibet following the famous salt route. - Positive elevation gain: 640 meters - Number of hours of walking: 6h30 - Accommodation: Lodge

• day 11

  Lhö Gaon - Sama Gaon

  Walk to the village and monastery of Sama, then rest at Sama Gaon (3390 m). - Positive elevation gain: 535 meters - Negative elevation gain: 175 meters - Number of hours of walking: 4 - Accommodation: Lodge

• day 12

  Sama Gaon - Samdo

  Gradual ascent up to the village of Samdo. - Positive elevation gain: 300 meters - Number of hours of walking: 4 - Accommodation: lodge

• day 13

  Samdo / Dharmasala

  Improvised market between Tibet and the local populations. We climb up the glacial valley to reach the foot of the Larkya glacier. We will set up a simple bivouac for this night, thanks to our contacts and our equipment based in Samdo. - Number of hours of walking: 4 - Accommodation: Bivouac under tent.

• day 14

  Samdo - Crossing of the Larkya Pass - Bhimthang

  We climb up to the Larkya Pass (5160 m). The view at the top is magnificent. It is a long descent that leads us to Bhimthang. - Ascent: 1300 meters - Descent: 1200 meters - Number of hours of walking: 8 - Accommodation: Lodge

• day 15

  Bhimthang - Tileche

  Descent through the forest down to the river to reach the village of Tileche, inhabited by Manangi Tibetans. - Negative elevation gain: 500 meters - Number of hours of walking: 6 - Accommodation: Lodge

• day 16

  Tileche - Chamje

  Following the Marsyandi river, we descend towards Tal, a village surrounded by cliffs. We are in Manangi country. - Negative elevation gain: 900 meters - Number of hours of walking: 6 - Accommodation: lodge

• day 17

  Chamje / Ngadi / Bensishar / Kathmandu

  Transfer by private local jeep from Chamje / Bensishar, then private vehicle - Bensishar / Kathmandu. Free time - 8 hrs by road - Accommodation: hotel in Kathmandu in a room with breakfast.

• day 18

  Transfer to the airport

  Transfer to the airport