Larkya Peak with Manaslu Circuit

Welcome to Nepal! Ramdung Expedition representative will meet you at the airport and bring you to your hotel in Kathmandu. You can take a rest or if you are arriving earlier, can visit around the city. In the evening we will hold a briefing session regarding your trip and get to know your Nepali trekking companion. We’ll be happy to answer any question you may have. O/N Hotel.

Kathmandu valley is has fantastic UNESCO world heritages all around. Today after the breakfast, you’ll be visiting Boudhanath Stupa (the largest Buddhist shrines in the world), Pashupatinath (the holiest Hindu temple in the world), Durbar Squares (Palaces and fortresses of medieval Kings). The lifestyle of the Nepalese people, holy sadhus and monks, the fascinating history and the awe-inspiring architecture will be the highlight of this day. You can also buy or rent any needed gear or clothing from trekking/mountaineering shops. O/N Hotel (B)

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 Arughat. 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 Teahouse (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 Teahouse (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 Teahouse (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 Teahouse (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 Teahouse (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 Teahouse (B,L,D)

Another day of incredible mountain views during the walk up to Samdo, an easy three hours trekking. En route we pass the long mani walls at Kermo Kharka, after which we spot the entrance chorten of Samdo high on a bluff. We descend back to the Bhudi Gandaki and cross a small bridge before another short climb to the 'kane' entrance of Samdo; look back down valley for great views. The villagers of Samdo came across the border from the village of Riu after 1959 ad and built their new village here, at their old herding settlement. Samdo village is a collection of houses and lodges at 3850 m, and most trekkers miss the heat of a week ago as we huddle around the stove and a wind from Tibet batters the windowpanes. Get out and take a walk around the village, where the inhabitants live an essentially Tibetan lifestyle, herding their yaks, sheep and goats, training their horses and planting barley. There is a small home Gompa in a house mid-village which we visited during our last village, a puja being held by several of the reincarnated lamas living in the Samdo. O/N Teahouse (B,L,D)

We spend one more day acclimatizing ourselves. It is recommended that your body acclimatizes to the high altitude and be adjusted for higher altitudes in the days to follow. O/N Teahouse (B,L,D)

We leave on the trade route to Tibet and climb through the ruins of Larkya bazaar, one of the trade markets that flourished years back. After two hours of climbing passing glaciers, with increasingly awe- inspiring panoramas, we come to the campsite at Dharamsala, where we have lunch and gaze out at the views. You'll really feel the altitude and the cold here, so enjoy a more leisurely afternoon and keep warm. We'll have an early dinner in preparation for our pass crossing tomorrow. O/N Teahouse (B,L,D)

It will take around 5-6 hours to reach Larkye peak base camp from Phedi. You’ll be already seeing snow and snowcapped mountains in the surroundings. O/N Camping (BLD)

We allow plenty of time to be acclimatized before summit attempt for the Larkye Peak. On summit day, we will depart for summit before dawn. The climb up to summit is quite steep and it takes 6-7 hours. The reward at the summit is one of the world’s most spectacular mountain views you will ever experience. We will then make our way down. O/N Camping (BLD)

After a short climb above the campsite, we reach the valley on the North side of the Larkya Glaciers where we have views of Cho Danda and Larkya Peak. We continue across the moraines of the glacier, making a gradual ascent which becomes steeper only in the last section to the pass, which take us about three hours to summit. From the pass, there are outstanding views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal, Kangguru and the huge mountain Annapurna II. If there is fresh snow, we may see Snow Leopard prints from the evening before; it's also blue sheep (Bharal) and Tibetan Snow Cock territory. The views from the top of the pass are truly astonishing. After hanging our Tibetan prayer flags, and yelling 'Ki ki so so lha gyalo' (may the Gods be victorious), get ready for a steep, ankle straining drop to a trail following the glacial moraine, very slippery if covered in snow so have your 'Yak tracks' ready if you've brought them, and definitely use trekking poles. It is a longer day then usual to our campsite at Bimtang, but to walk into these low pastures with the evening mist coming in and Manaslu; it's an experience of lifetime not to be missed. A boulder-strewn descent brings us, finally, to Bimtang, where the three sisters of the 'Three Sisters Hotel' are on hand with Himalayan chilled beer. O/N at Teahouse (B,L,D)

The route gets easier from today onwards. We start with a gentle climb through paddy fields towards the small Karcha La pass and descend through fig tree and rhododendron forests to Tilje. O/N at Teahouse (B,L,D)

Follow the trail downstream of Marshyangdi River, passing through the scattered villages to reach Tal village a settlement near Marshyangdi River for overnight stay. O/N at Lodge (B,L,D)

Ascending gently for 30 minutes and the trail runs gently down to Sanjee village, then trail goes up for 15 minutes to Gharmuu Phant. From here another 2 hours easy walk and 30 minutes up will take to the village of Bahundanda. O/N at lodge (B,L,D)

Today is the last day of our trek, and a hot, five hour walk through gentle, muted hills and colorful villages to Bhulbhule and Khudi, where we will meet our transport back to Besi Sahar. If the road isn't passable, we continue walk to until Besisahar. O/N at Lodge (B,L,D)

You’ll return to Kathmandu from Besisahar by Bus. You can spend time resting/buying souvenirs back to home. In the evening, we will host farewell dinner in traditional restaurant with cultural dance performances in celebration of your amazing trip. O/N Hotel (BD)

The journey in the mountains of Nepal comes to an end today ! Approximately 3 hours before your scheduled flight, a representative from Ramdung Expedition will drop you to the airport. (B)