The combination of three spectacular
Region Manaslu, Nar Phu & Annapurna Circuit is
main focal point into unbeatable journey, incorporating
the diverse Tibetan culture, spectacular scenery and
snow peaks of the Manaslu Himal Circuit with the remote,
glacial valleys of Nar Phu (named after the villages
Nar and Phu) in the upper Manang region, only few
year ago opened to trekkers. From the Hindu middle
hills culture to the Tibetan high country dwellers,
the Manaslu Circuit trek and Annapurna Circuit Trek
in the heart of the Nepal Himalaya is a cultural trek
par excellence, without a doubt one of the best treks
in Nepal. The spectacular mountain scenery has to
be seen to be believed Starting in the middle hills
of Nepal, passing though magnificent gorges, pristine
forests and long, wooded valleys, stopping at Tibetan
Gompas in remote villages and finishing with a high
pass crossing to the Annapurna Circuit, this trek
really has it all! We start the trek following the
trade route along the Bhurki Gandaki, en route passing
through a unique region known as Nupri, where Tibetans
settled centuries ago and continue to live in their
traditional dwellings. The mountainous border of Tibet
is just a few hours trek away, and we can climb up
to a pass looking out into Tibet, passing Tibetan
traders traveling along more ancient trade routes.
We have our trademark extra time for acclimatisation
in these wonderful high altitude villages. To finish
the Manaslu Circuit, we must cross the Larkya La (pass)
at 5100m, crossing from Nupri into Manang. The Nar
and Phu valleys are newly opened, spectacular regions
of ethnically-Tibetan inhabitants for those of you
that think you have trekked it all. The trek up to
Nar and Phu combines high peaks and passes, glaciers,
remote villages, narrow canyons, lovely forests, amazing
rock formations, yaks, gompas and unique Himalayan
cultures. Two long days of walking from the border
of Tibet, this region was first explored by Tillman
in the 1950s. Closed to trekkers until late 2002,
very few westerners have explored these virtually
untouched villages or climbed the many 7000m peaks
surrounding it. We will venture into this remote region
of upper Manang, camping along the way at the winter
settlement of Nar and Phu, and visit some of the most
unvisited and most interesting villages in the Tibetan
Buddhist world.After the Nar Phu, we continue trek
over Thorong La Pass 5416 Meters. We take plane from
Jomsom to Pokhara.
This is wonderful journey do not miss!!
|
Duration :
|
30 days. |
|
Max Elevation :
|
5416 m. |
|
Difficulty :
|
Hard |
|
Season :
|
Sept to Nov, February to May |
|
Trekking Option :
|
Camping only |
| Permit require: |
US$ 90 for high season
US$ 75 for low season |
Suggested Itinerary
Day 01 - Arrive Kathmandu 1350m
Arrive in Kathmandu. Our office representative greets
you and transfer to Hotel.O/N BB.
Day 02 - Kathmandu 1350m
Day 03 - Drive and trek to Kafapani
530m.
An early morning start from our office, our bus loaded
with food, porter baskets, and, yes, those smiling
Nepali faces in the back are our porters and crew;
our companions on the adventure. After a five hour
drive through the stunning lush scenery, we unload
our equipments, trek to Kafalpani.
Day 04 - Trek to Arughat Bazaar 570m
After BF, and follow trails through small villages
that the road will reach soon. We pause for Nepali
'chai' and to buy fruit in Arughat Bazaar, and then
walk an hour to our campsite outside of town. Through
the afternoon heat, we discover that those white shadows
are not cloud but the Himalaya!
Day 05 - Arughat Bazar to Soti Khola
730m
Once upon a time in Nepal very trek started like this.
Flat land, wandering through lush green paddies, caked
in sweat, resting under pipal and banyan trees, with
those white giants on the horizon; so count your blessings
as you wade a side river and stumble deliriously into
the shade of the main Bazaar of Arkhet for lunch.
This is a vanishing world you are moving through as
trekkers fly to the high places and roads carve away
the cultures. After lunch, more easy walking to Soti
Kola, the trailside tea shacks with racks of dried
fish and the smell of chang in the air. Camp!
Day 06 - Soti Khola to Machha Khola
930m
The country changes, the broad valley narrows and
at times the trail is cut into the steep valley side,
which is densely forested. We pass a number of small
villages, tucked into the hillside, until we reach
a widening of the valley, opposite the point where
a large tributary stream enters the Buri Gandaki.
The terraced farmland here belongs to the village
of Lapuabesi. We descend once again to the wide, sandy
riverbed and follow a path which runs below the steep,
craggy valley side. At length, we have to climb up
once again on a trail to Machha Khola. We camp outside
the village, which has a number of teashops.
Day 07 - Machha Khola to Jagat 1370m
We cross the Machha Khola - Fish Stream - and head
upstream to the tiny village of Khorlabesi and then
on hot springs in the centre of the small village
of Tatopani, where we will have an early picnic lunch,
before moving on, and up, through spectacular gorge
scenery. After a short section of forest path we reach
the single teahouse at Dobhan. Above Dobhan, the Buri
Gandaki descends an impressive series of rapids.
Day 08 - Jagat to Bihi Phedi Camp
2130m
After descending a long series of stone steps to the
river, we climb a terraced hill to Saguleri, from
where we can see the impressive Sringi Himal, 7187m.
Crossing the river again at Gata Khola, the path splits,
with the right-hand branch heading off towards the
Ganesh Himal. Our route continues upstream, after
passing Philim and its Japanese sponsored school,
through a gorge section with towering walls. We cross
the river three more times in the next two hours to
avoid difficult valley sides and then leave the gorge,
climbing at one point on steps cut into tree trunks,
to Bihi Phedi; half hour past here takes us to a wonderful
isolated camp.
Day 09 - Bihi Phedi to Lihi 2840m
The valley is still steep-sided and most impressive.
We cross to the village of Lana, and start to see
mani stones (prayers etched onto wayside rocks), a
sure sign that we are entering another of the tiny
Tibetan footholds that mark the high Himalayan places.
After three hours we reach our lunch point at Ghap,
at last; as the trekkers said on the 2004 trek, a
day to get your teeth into! Hours later we reach our
camping place at the village of Lihi, with a substantial
altitude again; the air is pleasantly cool, and the
morning air is split by the sound of conch horns to
announce the morning Puja. Every village now has a
community camp site, with toilets, porter shelter
and cooking room.
Day 10 - Lihi to Sama Goan (Ro) 3390m
We gain altitude to take us into alpine territory
and increasing mountain views. There are more mani
walls and three more crossings of the Buri Gandaki
on our route to Namrung, a great place for morning
chai in the Manaslu lodge, run by friendly Tibetan
family; check out their prayer area and masks! Above
this village the valley opens out and there are extensive
pastures. We are climbing climb gently now, cross
a large stream flowing down from the Lidanda Glaciers,
and reach the picturesque Tibetan village of Sho at
3000m. We may camp at Shyala, or push on to Sama Gaon;
from either there are incredible views of Manaslu.
Day 11 - Samagaun to Samdo 3690m
Another day, another kingdom in the sky. Hard to keep
stopping, but we do to look back at the incredible
mountain views on the walk up to Samdo, an easy three
hours. You can spot the entrance chorten high on a
bluff an hour out of Ro. The village is a collection
of houses and lodges at 3690m, high enough to feel
it now, and most trekkers miss the heat of a week
ago as we huddle around the lodge stove and a wind
from Tibet batters the windowpanes. As Eric Newby,
the doyen of travel writers said, ' you wanted Central
Asia, and you got it!'. But the dining tent is warm
and cozy, and so are our tents.
Day 12 - Samdo
On our rest day here why not a day trip to Old Tibet;
no passport required. It takes five hours walking
to do just that, and then take in the views and ruminate
on the border markers at the top; 'China, 1962.' True
high Asia!
Day 13 - Trek to Dharamsala/Larkya
Phedi 4460m
We leave on the trade route to old Tibet and climb
through the ruins of Larkya bazaar, one of the trade
markets that flourished years back. After two hours
of climbing with increasingly incredible views, we
come to the campsite at Dharamsala, where it's a hot
lunch and a feast of views.
Day 14 - Cross the 4910m Larkya La
to Bimtang 3590n
After a short climb above the lodge, we reach the
ablation valley on the North side of the Larkya Glaciers.
There are views of Cho Danda and then of Larkya Peak.
Finally, we walk across the moraines of the glacier,
making a gradual ascent which becomes steeper only
in the last section to the pass. From the pass, there
are outstanding views of Himlung Himal, Cheo Himal,
Kangguru and the huge Annapurna II. If there is fresh
snow, we may see snow leopard prints. Bob Rosenbaum,
one of our returning trekkers, did a 'Bob Special'
excursion, and saw large human like bare footprints
here.
Day 15 - trek to Dharapani 2160m
We climb through terraced fields to the Karche La
(pass) and can see ahead a green and heavily forested
valley, dropping down to the distant Marshyangdi river.
At Thonje village is our final restricted area checkpost.
Here we cross the Marshyangdi River and join the main
Annapurna Circuit, and the hords of trekkers.
Day 16 - Trek to Koto Qupar 2600m
Continuing to climb through forests of pine and oak,
we pass through Danagyu before coming to a thundering
waterfall, where we turn left and head up the high
trail to Koto. After an hour of lovely, open forests,
we reach a clearing at the top of the trail and a
charming Tibetan teahouse where we will stop for a
break. Pausing for breath, we can look back for views
of Manaslu. An hour away is the wonderful Gurung village
of Timang, where the villagers might be harvesting
their crops of buckwheat or stuffing local sausages.
Heading back down to the village of Koto Qupar, our
base for the trek up to Nar Phu, we can look straight
up at nearby Annapurna II - a stunning sight convincing
us that we are deep in the Himalayan Mountains! Koto
Qupar. The villagers are mostly from Nar and Phu and
this is the gateway to their region.
Day 17 - Trek to Dharamsala 3230m
This morning we head out early, as we have a long
and somewhat difficult day before us. Just past the
check post, we cross the river leading to the Nar
Phu valleys, and hike up through beautiful woods above
the Phu Khola (river). The route takes us through
some beautiful woods and past several small shelters
(caves) and a pilgrims' 'dharmasala'. As we emerge
out of a narrow canyon, the trail actually passes
under a wide waterfall just before the dharmasala,
from which point the woods become thinner and the
vistas wider. A stunning start for the Nar Phu trek!
We camp at the dharamsala, a lovely campsite.
Day 18 - Dharmasala to Kayang 3740m
A steep climb up the valley along a small, scenic
river brings us finally to high pastures on a 3,200m
plateau. We pass by the scenic kharka of Meta, 3560m,
a non-permanent winter settlement of Nar, where we
will probably share the trail with a few yaks! This
morning is one of the loveliest walks in the Himalayas.
The landscape is similar to the Sierra Nevada; white
rocks, low shrub and juniper, scattered evergreens,
delicate brick-red and orange leafed bushes, crumbling
shelves of flat slate, white, sandy trails and knarled
trees. The mountains around us are utterly spectacular,
and the Phu Kosi shadows the trail far below. An hour
past Meta, Junam is the second semi-permanent settlement,
one where "khampas" from Tibet sometimes
sheltered. Above the kharka to the right looms a massive
glacier, which falls jaggedly down to the high pastures
above us.
Day 19- Kayang to Phu 4050m
Dropping steeply down to the river, we trek for a
while along the river bank and past the "submarine"
rock, passing some small possible campsites along
the way. Today, we really start to see some of the
unique, colorful chortens for which Nar and Phu are
justly famous. We have to rock-hop carefully across
a small glacial stream before reaching a larger one
with a bridge only half covered with large slabs of
slate. Some large steps do the trick! Another hour
and a half of trekking through scenic canyonlands
and gorges, and the "leaning tower of Pisa"
monolith guards the steep trail up to the Phu gate,
called Pupigyal Kwe.
Day 20 - Phu Acclimatization.
Having spent quite a few days getting to Phu, we will
spend a few days in the area to enjoy it, meet the
local Phu residents and do some exploring up the wide
valley systems above us. Tibet is two long days away,
so a bit far for a visit, but we might walk up the
valley to the summer grazing settlement, or "kharka"
at Ngoru, a three hour's walk past the gompa. Phu
itself is an incredibly interesting village, and a
day is well spent sitting with the villagers as they
spin their yak and sheep wool and chat, pound mustard
seeds into a paste for oil, or involve themselves
in the countless activities that take up a day in
Tibetan villages. For photographers, the light is
spectacular, and the skies a deep blue, and we may
even see some blue sheep on the surrounding hillsides.
Day 21 - Trek to Checko Lake 3550m
Back through Phu gate, we descend to the river, and
retrace our steps back to Junam karka, a lovely spot
as any for our campsite for the evening. In 2003 we
camped with some Phu residents (all but one women)
on their way back up to Phu with huge loads of planks
from the nearby forests, and the evening was filled
with Tibetan, or Manangi songs, smoky shelters and
that unique Tibetan laughter.
Day 22- Trek to Nar 4150m
Another classic Himalayan trekking day, as we trek
down to the old bridge spanning a deep, contoured
and narrow gorge (cameras out for this crossing!),
and then all the way back up again. It's a good thing
the scenery is so stunning ... Below us sit Gyalbu
Kumbu, built in 1650, and Satte gompa, both empty.
We finally reach the Nar gates at the top of the hill,
and pass by yet another line of wonderfully painted,
bamboo-topped chortens and a large tiered chorten
before turning the corner and being rewarded with
sublime views of Nar, the undulating patterns of the
surrounding barley and mustard fields, four old, colorful
and traditional gompas and the snow-peaks looming
overhead. We arrive early, so will have some lunch
in the sun before doing some
Day 23 - Trek to Ngawal 3650m
The Kang La is not a difficult pass, but it could
be a long day if there is snow on the pass or the
altitude is taking it's toll. The Kang La, at 5240m,
is an absolutely spectacular pass looking over Annapurna
II, Gangapurna, Tilicho peak, the peaks surrounding
Tilicho and the airport at Thonge. The trail down
initially is steep, and scree jumping seems to be
the easiest option for the descent.
Day 24 - Trek to upper manang.
Ngawal is just above Hongde Airport, we descend and
walk along the pine forest to Braga then now we are
standard route to Annapurna Circuit. We keep continue
to Manang village.which is situated on the foot of
Annapurna and Gangapurna.
Day 25 - Trek to Throng Phedi 4400mtrs
Passing the many mani walls of manang on the cobbled
trail end of village trail slowly ascend through yak
pasture. From manang most trekkers overnight at Letdar
due to high altitude but we have done already some
high passes and so we can continue to Thorong Phedi.today
we walk two hrs more than normally other does.
Day 26 - Trek to Muktinath crossing
5416 meters pass.
We start an early morning to the pass take about 4
hrs to the top, from pass 5416 meters view of Dhaulagiri
and mustang region is dramatic, we continue downhill
to muktinath takes another three hrs..
Day 27- Muktinath to Jomsom.
From Muktinath trail drop down to Kagbeni, border
of upper Mustang, river valley widen and we spend
an hrs for lunch there then continue to jomsom along
desert valley Kaligandaki.
Day 28 - An early morning fly to
Pokhara, transfer to Hotel, entire day enjoy the
beauty of pokhara city and view of Annapurna Himalaya.
Enjoy cold beer sitting at lake side.
Day 29 - Am Fly to Kathmandu,
transfer to Hotel rest of day self visit..
Day 30 - Free time before transfer
to Airport.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Price Feature In US$ Each Person
Standard Tour Package Cost
