Manaslu Expedition

Arrival in Kathmandu. You’ll meet Ramdung Expedition representative displaying your name at airport and you’ll be escort up to the hotel. After check in, you can either take a rest, hang around in the city, visit our office; it all depends upon your interests and condition. In the evening we will organize a "Welcome Dinner" at an excellent traditional Nepalese Restaurant where you will enjoy a Nepalese cultural program as well as a fine meal. O/N Hotel, Dinner (D).

These day we are busy for briefing about expedition, documentation, visa application, last minute shopping and preparation for departure to expedition. We’ll also introduce to our Nepali crew coming with you for expedition. Hotel, BLD.

Your Trekking staff will come at your Hotel in the early morning at around 8.00 am to pick you up, from there we’ll have an 6-7 hour depending upon road condition driving journey to Aarughat. O/N Tea house (B,L,D).

After the morning breakfast, we’ll start our journey following the Budhi Gandaki River toward its point of origin. We’ll be passing the village of Morder and Simre to reach at Arkhat River. Then we ascend slowly towards Kyoropani. Camp today nears the confluence of Seti River - an ideal place to take a fresh water bath and clean the cloths. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

The trail star descending slowly until you climb again to mountain ridge to Almara. Then Pass forest trail to arrive at the village called Riden Gaon. The valley here cuts into another side of the river to enter Budhi Gandaki. Then at Lambesi, the trail follows down to the sandy river bed of Budhi Gandaki. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

After crossing Machha River and Khrola besi, there is a hot spring called "Tatopani". The trail follows forested area after towards Dovan. Below Dovan, there is a huge rapid at Budhi Gandaki. As the elevation increases, the rapids and the scenery undergoes a complete transformation. At Jagat, there is a police check-post where your trekking permit will be checked by the official and we stay overnight at Jagat. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

After ascending to a terraced hill of Saguleri and view of Sringi Himal (7177 m) can be seen from very near. Then we continue towards Sirish Gaon, Gandaki valley narrows from herewith soaring precipitous walls. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

We’ll be following the trail upstream of Deng River - a tiny village of 4 houses. We walk through a newly built rock tunnel from here, thus avoiding the traditional steep climb. At Ghap, the Tibetan culture begins with Mani stones and Chortens all around. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

After crossing the wooden bridge over the river Budhi Gandaki, we follow the path lined with houses that are interspersed with cultivated fields. At Namru, there is a police check post and again our permit and belonging will be checked if necessary. After Namru, across the Hinan river originating from Linda Glacier and continue on to Sho astonishing view of Naike peak, Manaslu north (7,774m) and Manaslu (8,150m) which are clearly visible if weather is clear. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

Walking along with upper reaches of Lho, with the view of snowy peaks Manaslu ahead of us, we pass the new gompa then ascend through light forests next to a small river to reach the Tibetan settlement village called Shyla, where the villagers are often out in their fields. Another few hours of trekking through classic alpine scenery leads us past Tibet grazing settlements, the train to Pung Gyan Gompa, and then Sama Gaon, or Ro, as the locals call it as. Sama Gaon sits in a bowl at the foot of the pastures leading to the high peaks, with mani walls, a small gompa and tightly packed rows of houses at the lower reaches of village, and the large gompa at the upper reaches. The people settled here from Tibet over 500 years ago, and the two gompas date from this time presents till today, both having unique architecture and built of pure wood. The Tibetan villages here have entrance gates which are very distinctive from the Tibetan ones, and they maintain an active trade with their co-religionists in Tibet (notice the Chinese brandy and beer on sale). If the weather is good, you will see the village women weaving wool (baal) from Tibet into gowns - which are then traded back to Tibet. Taxes were actually paid to the Dzongka Dzong (fortress) at the border of Tibet, a few days walk from Sama Gaon, as late as the 1940's until it was taken over by the Gorkas in the late 19th century. Later, after 1959, the region was home to Tibetan guerillas, and thus closed to trekking until 1992. At afternoon hike up to the gompa above town, and to wander the streets of the fascinating Sama Gaon village. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

Rest day in Sama Gaon for acclimatization. Visit surrounding area. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

Trek for 4-5 hours to reach Manaslu Base Camp from Sama Gaon.

Climbing period for Manaslu begins now on. We do not provide a day-to-day itinerary for the climb period, as this will be determined by the expedition leader and members. Guides will take a flexible approach based on what fits with climbers’ and their own experience. Typically, the team will spend a few days at the base camp organizing food, practicing rope skills, and acclimatizing before moving above the base camp. From base camp, there will be 4 camps set up until you reach summit. Base camp is in comfortable position on rock and protected from winds. Make sure to acclimatize well before you start climbing higher altitude. Enough time needs to be allowed for bad weather and slow acclimatization. Summit push will be normally at the mid night. So that team reached at top early in the morning. Catch breathtaking sunrise and surrounding view then get back to base camp before getting affected by heat. After summiting, withdraw from the mountain removing all equipment and rubbish and taking it back to Base camp.

Trek down to Sama Gaon. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

Trek back to Namrung village. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

Trek back to Philim. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

Trek back to Machha khola. O/N Camping (B,L,D).

Trek back to Aarughat. O/N hotel (BLD).

Drive by private vehicle to reach Kathmandu. It takes approximately 6-7 hours.

Today you’ll have free in Kathmandu. You can have sightseeing in the cultural heritage inside Kathmandu, buy souveniers and thankas to take back home or anything as the day is free and easy. At evening we’ll host farewell-Celebration dinner with local typical cultural experience in Restaurant adjoining our crew that were in the expedition time with you. Overnight at Hotel (BD).

The journey within the mountains of Nepal comes to an end today. At last approximately 3 hours before our scheduled flight, a representative from Ramdung Expedition escorts you to the airport. Farewell (B).