Itinerary
- Day 1
Kathmandu Arrival
You'll land at Tribhuvan International Airport and get picked up by your Adventure Himalayan representative. After checking into your hotel, your guide goes over what to expect from the trek ahead, so it's a good time to ask questions or voice any concerns. The rest of the day is yours to rest and get ready.
- Day 2
Kathmandu
Today you have flexibility to explore Kathmandu on your own or join optional sightseeing. The valley has several UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, and Swyambhunath (Monkey Temple) if you want to check those out. Patan is worth a visit too for its arts and architecture. Later in the afternoon, you'll meet with your trekking guide to go through all your gear and make sure everything's ready to go.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Pashupatinath (famous Hindu temple and cremation ground)
- Visit Boudhanath (massive Buddhist stupa)
- Visit Swyambhunath, also known as Monkey Temple (built roughly 2000 years ago)
- Visit Patan, city of fine arts
Landmarks/POIs Pashupatinath Boudhanath Swyambhunath Patan - Day 3
Kathmandu to Soti Khola
You'll drive from Kathmandu toward Arughat Bazaar on paved roads, then switch to a jeep heading to Soti Khola. The unpaved stretch from Dhading to Arughat Bazaar can get tricky after heavy monsoon rain, possibly meaning 3 to 4 hours on foot instead. Arughat Bazaar sits as a small market town right next to the Buri Gandaki river.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Arughat Bazaar Buri Gandaki River - Day 4
Soti Khola to Machha Khola
Your trek begins with several ups and downs as you head toward Almara village on the hillside, then through forested sections. You'll tackle a steep rocky path with stream crossings, drop past rice terraces, and push through the Gurung village of Lapubesi. By evening you reach Machha Khola for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Almara Lapubesi - Day 5
Machha Khola to Jagat
Walking along slopes with farm fields and rice paddies as the valley opens up more. You'll see Sringi Himal (7187m) in the distance, descend to white sandy river shores, walk through various villages, and get to Tatopani with its natural hot spring. The day finishes at Jagat.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Sringi Himal (Chamar) Tatopani - Day 6
Jagat
After crossing a suspension bridge, you trek through forested terrain on a path cut into rock to reach Doban. You'll cross more villages and another suspension bridge at Doban khola, then the trail keeps going up and down until you're back in Jagat for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Doban Doban Khola - Day 7
Jagat to Namru
From the village, you climb a bit before the path drops to the river. Walking through bamboo forests gets you to Deng Khola. From there the route follows the river bank where steep cliffs close in around the valley. You cross wooden bridges over the Buri Gandaki several times as the trail gets steeper, finishing at Namru village just a few kilometers from the Tibetan border.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Deng Khola Buri Gandaki River - Day 8
Namru to Sama
Moving through multiple villages, you reach Hinan khola and cross streams to get to Sho village with nice views of Naike peak, Manaslu north peak, and Manaslu. The path takes you through Lho, a large settlement with wide farm fields and a Gompa offering good views. After crossing Pungen glacier to Sama with Mani stones and Chortens around, you can climb up to the Gompa on the hill.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Gompa on the top of the hill in Sama
Landmarks/POIs Hinan Khola Sho Naike Peak Manaslu North Peak Manaslu Lho Pungen Glacier Sama - Day 9
Sama to Samdo
You'll cross the great Manaslu Glacier and pass where the trail branches off to Manaslu Base Camp. The route moves into woodland where you might spot marmots in the birch and juniper. A steep climb brings you to Samdo, a charming village with an established Tibetan refugee community and Tibet just a morning's walk away. After crossing a stream on a wooden bridge and zigzagging through forest, you reach Honsanho Gompa with open views, then continue to Sama with its Mani stones, Chortens, and hilltop Gompa.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit Manaslu Base Camp
Landmarks/POIs Manaslu Glacier Manaslu Base Camp Samdo Honsanho Gompa - Day 10
Samdo to Rui La Pass
This is a full day for acclimatization and exploring. You walk north from Samdo along the Athahra Saya Khola, descending gently to the river and crossing on a wooden bridge. The climb to Rui La Pass at 4,998m/16,396 ft gives beautiful distant views of Manaslu, the Hindu and Fukang glaciers. Prayer flags and a border stone mark this classic U-shaped pass between Nepal and China. You might see Yak caravans bringing goods into Nepal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Exploration and acclimatization day at Samdo
- Trek to Rui La Pass (4,998m)
Landmarks/POIs Athahra Saya Khola Rui La Pass Hindu Glacier Fukang Glacier - Day 11
Rui La Pass to Larkya Guest House
The morning starts easy enough with a final crossing of the Budhi Gandaki. The trail gradually climbs through juniper and tundra with a viewpoint looking over Larkya La Glacier. As you keep going higher, you reach the Spartan Larkya guest house by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Budhi Gandaki River Larkya La Glacier - Day 12
Larkya Guest House to Bhimthang
Start early for this tough but rewarding day. A pre-dawn start helps beat the heavy winds expected later. You'll climb gradually beside the moraine, drop to a glacial lake, then cross the moraine head at 4,700m/15,420 ft before climbing to the ridge. At Larkya La (5,100m/16,730 ft), four frozen lakes spread below and westerly views open to Himlung Himal, Kangurru, and Annapurna II with Manaslu rising above. The steep descent drops 600m/1,970 ft in under an hour, then levels onto yak pastures before Bhimthang with its typical summer herding structures.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek to Larkya La (5,100m)
Landmarks/POIs Larkya La Himlung Himal Kangurru Annapurna II - Day 13
Bhimthang to Dharapani
You descend on easier paths through meadows and pine and rhododendron forests reaching Hampuk. Following the Dudh Khola downward, you cross a stream fed by Kichke Himal snow, arrive at Karche, and continue to Gho where rice and Nepalese dhal bhat return to the menu. Walking along the river's west bank, you drop gradually to Tilije's Gurung settlement, then Thonje. After crossing the Marshyandi River, you get to Dharapani.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Landmarks/POIs Hampuk Dudh Khola Kichke Himal Karche Gho Tilije Thonje Marshyandi River Dharapani - Day 14
Dharapani to Kathmandu
A full day of travel, but the scenery along the way helps pass the time. When you roll into Kathmandu, there's a farewell dinner with Nepali cultural dance to mark finishing your trek.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Farewell dinner with Nepali cultural dance)
Included Activities
- Farewell dinner with Nepali cultural dance
- Day 15
Kathmandu Departure
You'll head to the airport for departure. Thank you for trekking with Adventure Himalayan Travels, and we hope to see you again soon.
