- Destination:Nepal
- Trip Grade:Hard
- Max Elevation:8156 m
- Total Duration:46
- Geography:Mountain/ Country side/ Forest/ Village/ Lake
- Religions:Hinduism and Buddhism
- Ethnic People:Tibetan/ Gurung/Magar etc.
- Transportation:Tourist Bus /Private Vehicle
- Region:Manaslu
Mt. Manaslu is the eighth highest mountain in the entire world. With its peak lying on an elevation of 8156m, this mountain falls under the Himalayan Ranges, Masiri Himal Range to be exact. It is located in the remote Manang-Gandaki Zone of Nepal and also falls inside the premises of Manaslu Conservation Area which is famous for its diversity of flora and fauna including dense forests of pine and rhododendron. Manaslu can be translated from Sanskrit as “mountain of the spirit”. The view from the summit of Manaslu is considered to be one of the most beautiful views in the world, with the panoramic views of mountains such as North Manaslu, Ngadi, Naike and so on sprawled alongside it.
Manaslu Expedition will start at the hills of Kathmandu city. Kathmandu is a unique city, possessing a beautiful balance with history and culture with modernity. From Kathmandu, you will drive towards the town of Arughat which lies on the banks of Budhi Gandaki River. This itinerary will take you through the Budhi Gandaki River Valley as well as Nubri Valley as you cross through villages such as Ghap, Deng, and Samagaon and so on. All along your journey, you will have a beautiful view of great big hills and the occasional view of mountains, like from Philim, Sringi Himal is seen or from Ghap, Kutang Himal can be seen.
Independent Trekking Guides Adventure has brought you this expedition so that you can explore through some of the most remote areas of Nepal. The itinerary provided to you has been perfectly molded so that you will gain the maximum experience of nature and the people of this region. A well-equipped guide will be with you throughout the journey so that he/she can enrich your beautiful experience with knowledge of the region. Independent Trekking Guides Adventure hopes that you will have an adventure of a lifetime on the hills of Nepal and as you climb up one of the highest mountains in the world. We hope that we can provide you with all the necessary things you need in order to complete this journey and that you will come out on the other end with a deeper understanding of yourself, nature as well as the culture of the region.
Outline Itinerary
- Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu to start the Manaslu Expedition (1350m)
- Day 02: Free day in Kathmandu and preparation for expedition preparation
- Day 03: Drive to Arughat
- Day 04: Soti Khola / Korsani Khola
- Day 05: Machha Khola
- Day 06: Jagat (1370m) (5-6 hours)
- Day 07: Philim (1570m) (5-6 hours)
- Day 08: Deng (1540m) (3-4 hours)
- Day 09: Ghap (2165m) (5-6 hours)
- Day 10: Lho (3180m) (6-7 hours)
- Day 11: Sama Gaon (Ro)
- Day 12: Rest day Sama Gaon
- Day 13: Trek Manaslu Base Camp (4750 m) (3-4 hours)
- Day 13-40: Manaslu expedition climbing period
- Day 41: Trek to Sama Gaon after the Manaslu expedition (3525m) (6-7 hours)
- Day 42-45: Trek back to Arughat (577m) (6-7 hours)
- Day 45: Drive back to Kathmandu (5-6 hours)
- Day 46: Final departure
Detail Itinerary
- Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu to start the Manaslu Expedition (1350m)
You will arrive in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. Our representatives will aid you towards your transfer to the hotel. Kathmandu is the largest and the busiest city in Nepal. Located in a valley with two other cities, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, so the skyline is full great big hills that surround it. Overnight in Kathmandu.
- Day 02: Free day in Kathmandu and preparation for expedition preparation
As you have a free day in Kathmandu, you will visit the various cultural heritages which hold certain significance in the history and traditions of people residing in Kathmandu.
Some of these places include the ancient temple of Pashupatinath, the beautiful Swayambhunath, and Boudhanath as well as the streets of Basantapur Durbar Square which is sure to transport you to an entirely different era.
You will also make preparations for your journey towards Manaslu which includes packing and making sure you have the necessary papers. Overnight in Kathmandu.- Day 03: Drive to Arughat
From Kathmandu, you will take a drive towards Arughat which lies 5 to 6 hours away. This road will take you through twists and turns of hills and you will get a scenic view of hills and see a few hill area settlements. You will then reach the town Arughat that lies on the banks of Budhi Gandaki River which gives its name to the valley, Budhi Gandaki Valley. Overnight in Arughat.
- Day 04: Soti Khola / Korsani Khola
From Arughat, you will trek towards Soti Khola also known as Korsani Khola. This trail will lead you through dirt paved tracks on hills which will further give you beautiful views of the valley you will be walking through and the occasional glimpse of Ganesh Himal. You will also cross a steel suspension bridge over Soti Khola. Overnight in Soti Khola.
- Day 05: Machha Khola
You will take a trail from Soti Khola to reach the village of Machha Khola. The name, ‘Machha Khola’ directly translates to ‘Fish River’. Through your trail, you will come across scenic views of surrounding hills with terraced farms, the Budhi Gandaki River as well as the occasional mule which is the sole means of transport in these regions. Overnight in Machha Khola.
- Day 06: Jagat (1370m) (5-6 hours)
From Machha Khola, you will take a trail towards the village of Jagat. This trail will take you through stone steps on sides of great hills and alongside the fast flowing Budhi Gandaki River, all the while showering you with the serene beauty of undiscovered hills. Overnight in Jagat.
- Day 07: Philim (1570m) (5-6 hours)
From Jagat, you will take a trail towards the village of Philim. On your way, you will come across one of the longest suspension bridges of Nepal. The scenery is the same beautiful lush green hills alongside fast flowing rivers. Once you reach to Philim, a magnificent view of Sringi Himal can be seen. Overnight in Philim.
- Day 08: Deng (1540m) (3-4 hours)
You will take a trail from Philim towards Deng. Deng is a small village that derives its name from the banks of the river it is located on, Deng River. On your trail, you will pass across beautiful forests of pine and bamboo which is common in this region. Overnight in Deng.
- Day 09: Ghap (2165m) (5-6 hours)
From Deng, you will trek on towards the village of Ghap. This part of the expedition consists of a trail with comparably steeper paths which is covered with trees of pine and rhododendron. On your trail, you will cross the Budhi Gandaki River and once you reach the village, you will be greeted with a beautiful view of Kutang Himal. Overnight in Ghap.
- Day 10: Lho (3180m) (6-7 hours)
From Ghap, a trek of 6 to 7 hours will take you to Lho. Lho is one of the bigger villages of the region. The trail to Lho will take you through the village of Namrung amidst rhododendron trees. Once in Lho, you will be greeted by your first glimpse of the Mansiri Himalayan Ranges amongst which peaks such as Ngadi, Naike, Manaslu etc can be viewed the best. Overnight in Lho.
- Day 11: Sama Gaon (Ro)
You will take a trail towards Sama Gaon from Lho. Located at an altitude of 3525m, this village lies in the remote Nubri Valley. It also lies on the foothills of Mt. Manaslu which makes it possible to get a direct and stunning view of the mountain from the village. Overnight in Sama Gaon.
- Day 12: Rest day Sama Gaon
This day has been set aside as a day for rest and acclimatization so that you don’t fall sick due to altitude sickness which is a common occurrence when traveling to higher altitude regions. You can spend the day exploring the village and gain an insight into the lives of the locals living in such a remote area, away from facilities and developed infrastructure. Overnight in Sama Gaon.
- Day 13: Trek Manaslu Base Camp (4750 m) (3-4 hours)
From Sama Gaon, a relatively short trek of 3 to 4 hours will take you to Manaslu Base Camp. Located at an altitude of 4750m, the trail will be steep and slippery- covered in ice. Once at the base camp, you will make preparations for your climb. Overnight in Mt Manaslu Base Camp.
- Day 13-40: Manaslu expedition climbing period
A total of 27 days have been set aside for you to tackle the geographic terrain as well as the harsh climate to climb gradually towards the peak of Mt. Manaslu. Amongst these 27 days, days for rest and acclimatization have also been set apart so that you have the safest route possible.
The summit of Mt. Manaslu lies on an elevation of 8156m, and the view from the top is considered to be exquisite, with the other mountains of Mansiri Himal Ranges clearly visible against the backdrop of blue skies. You will also make your descent back towards the Base Camp.- Day 41: Trek to Sama Gaon after the Manaslu expedition (3525m) (6-7 hours)
From Manaslu Base Camp, you will trek back towards the village of Sama Gaon, which will take you a total of 6 to 7 hours. The view of Mt. Manaslu, your recent conquest will watch over you from the skyline of the village. Overnight in Sama Gaon.
- Day 42-45: Trek back to Arughat (577m) (6-7 hours)
In a total of 3 days, you will retrace your steps back from Sama Gaon to the town of Arughat. That means you will pass through your previous stops such as Ghap, Deng, Philim and so on. Once in Arughat, the familiar sight of Budhi Gandaki River will greet you. Overnight in Arughat.
- Day 45: Drive back to Kathmandu (5-6 hours)
You will take a drive back toward the capital city, Kathmandu from the town of Arughat. Since this drive will only take you 5 to 6 hours, once you reach the city, you can choose to spend the evening exploring the cuisine and lifestyle of the city. Overnight in Kathmandu.
- Day 46: Final departure
Congratulations! Your expedition has come to an end. Our representatives will aid you in your departure. We hope we will see you again, joining us for any future travels.
Our trip to Nepal such a memorable one
I am part of a group of 4 girls who coordinated with Jagat for our 'mini' version of the Annapurna Circuit in early September 2017. We wanted to do the circuit badly but did not have enough time. Jagat and his team came up with a customized itinerary for us to start the trek from Jagat and end at Jomsom which we then flew to Pokhara to take a bus back to Kathmandu. The whole itinerary was very flexible and day to day arrangements can be altered by just communicating with our guide, Gopi. He will come up with the best plan to accommodate our wants and needs.
From the moment we landed at the airport in Kathmandu to the moment we flew out of Nepal, everything was extremely well taken care of by Jagat and his team. Our guide, Gopi and porters, Raju and Tej (whom we call Dada) were like family to us during the entire trek. They were always checking on us to see if we have enough to eat, enough drinking water or can we cope with the trek. They even offered to carry our day packs when they saw us struggling. In fact, I think at most times, if not all, our interests were placed above theirs. They will go all the way out just to help you if there is anything you need at all on the trek.
I don't think we'll be able to find another more patient, caring, trustworthy and detailed team of guides and porters. It was our pleasure to be able to trek with them. They had made our trip to Nepal such a memorable one that all of us didn't want the trip to end. Thank you for the great hospitality. I really look forward to visiting and trekking in Nepal again.
I would readily recommend Jagat and his team to anyone planning to trek in Nepal.
Love from Malaysia,
WanLing
This was my third trip to Nepal and most enjoyable.
I recently had the great pleasure of climbing Island Peak in the Khumbu, Nepal. Jagat Lama was a passionate and dependable resource for trekking and mountaineering in Nepal. He was on the spot as far as preparation for the trip. This was my third trip to Nepal and most enjoyable. Hiring a light and independent team allowed for a cost-effective, flexible and efficient way to climb in Nepal. His assistance was with me from the airport arrival through to departure. He took care of my every need and allowed me to focus on my goal of the summit of Island Peak. My climbing guide, his brother Lal, was competent, caring and successful. I left Nepal with new friendships. I readily endorse his services and would encourage anybody to go with the Independent Trekking Guides. They are honest, caring and willing to make your holiday the most memorable you have ever had. Please, don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about my experiences in Nepal.
It was my dream trip come true. 2010
I am 66 years old and have done a lot of hiking in the USA as well as climbing Mt. Fuji, Orizaba and Iztaacchuatl volcanoes in Mexico. We have hiked to the bottom and back of the Grand Canyon at least 25 times on most of the various trails to the bottom. For me, the crowning trek was to hike in the Himalayan range. We contacted Jagat Lama in Kathmandu, Nepal and signed up for our adventure to hike for two weeks with porters and guides. Our group of friends included three men and three women aged from 60 to 75. I'm sure this would be a daunting task for Jagat and his guides.
We all hiked from Lukla to Namche which was Bill's goal (he's the 75-year-old). One of the guides stayed with Bill, and we continued with the two outstanding guides, Chet and Chandra. These two guides did everything for us; got all of our bags from the porters and put in our rooms, took our menu selections to the cooks, and discussed the plans for the following day. The guides made allowances for some who were having some altitude adjustment issues and gave positive feedback to everyone. They were very patient with all of us and really tried hard to ensure we stayed healthy and happy. I can honestly say that these were two of the best guides weÃve ever had. On our hikes, the guides had to work around some of us who liked to take pictures but needed to do some additional acclimation at higher altitude. As a result three of us were able to hike all the way to Mt. Everest base camp. It was like a moonscape. We met the Korean team that was going to climb Everest as soon as the weather looked better. The base camp is awesome with tents all over the place with prayer flags, and ice towers and rocks everywhere.At 5:00 am we were going to climb Kalapathar (5545m.) When we went out it was snowing and foggy. The weather in the valley is usually clear in the morning, foggy in the afternoon, and big clouds in the later afternoon. Chandra said we should start for Kalapathar as he felt it would clear up - and sure enough, the snow stopped and the sun came out. We made it to the summit in snow and ice.
From this mountain, we took fantastic views of Mt. Everest and Lhotse. We saw an avalanche and heard the cracking sounds coming from the Khumbu glacier. The valley we hiked was very interesting. It surpassed my expectations. I had no idea how many memorials there would be erected for the Everest climbers. It's a sight to see. There were many stupas and monasteries. There are many rock faces that have a Buddha painted or adorned with prayer flags and the rows of prayer wheels to spin. The landscape goes from lush vegetation to flower trees, to pine trees and then the tree line to tundra and almost a moonscape. The children were fun to play with and photograph. As we headed down the valley to Lukla, my wife became sick and we saw that she couldn't hike all the way down. Our great guides arranged for a horse for her to ride so we wouldn't miss our plane. At Lukla, I took my wife to a new, wonderful hospital where she was treated and given medicine. When we reached Kathmandu, there was a strike by the Maoist Communist Party that closed all of the businesses. Jagat again came to our rescue by getting a van and getting us to the airport. He, Chet and Chandra babysat us to make sure we got through the security hassle and on to the right plane. I can't imagine anyone doing anything more or better that Jagat, Chet, and Chandra could have done to make this a wonderful experience that exceeded our expectations. I recommend his services to you if you're planning to go anywhere in Nepal or Tibet. It was my dream trip come true.
Dreams of trekking in the Himalaya.May 2010
In April/May 2010 I was part of a group of nine individuals who used Jagat Lama to coordinate our trek to Kala Pattar and Everest Base Camp. From taking care of obtaining our TIMS cards on the first day all the way through to seeing us off to the airport in Kathmandu when our trip was finished, Jagat took care of everything. Trust me when I say that there are a lot of details that need tending to in between the two above events. Jagat and his crew exceeded all expectations and made our trip stress free. This fact allows one to concentrate of the arduous task of getting to Base Camp while trusting Jagat and his crew to care of the daily details such as obtaining food and shelter. I highly recommend that you do as I did and have Jagat and his crew work with you to meet your Nepali dreams of trekking in the Himalaya.
