Day - 01 |
Katmandu - Gorkha (bus).
Visit of the Gorkha royal palace and the Kali temple. An historic city, origin of the Sha dynasty that has provided most of the Nepalese kings since 1767. |
Day - 02 |
Gorkha - Kanchok in 5h.
Nice views of the Gorkha Himal |
Day - 03 |
Kanchok - Arughat (670m) in 5h.
A pretty route through cultivated, terraced hillsides and villages. The trail goes up and down towards the Buri Gandaki river. We will follow this river for the next ten days. |
Day - 04 |
Arughat - Labu Besi (880m) in 6h30
The trail traverses forests populated by monkeys. As we go, we get great vistas of the Shringi Himal. In this region, the Gurung women often wear elegant clothes and possess impressive sets of jewelry, bangles and saris. |
Day - 05 |
Labu Besi - Khola Besi (950m) in 4h.
The trail goes along the river, with some steep legs |
Day - 06 |
Khola Besi - Jagat (1410m) in 5h.
We head upstream along the steep side of the Buri Gandaki towards Tatopani -- literally " hot springs ". The trail then goes up and down along the length of the river, with some parts overhanging huge rapids |
Day - 07 |
Jagat - Ngyak (1530m) in 6h. |
Day - 08 |
Ngyak - Ghap (2040m) in 5h.
Ngyak - Ghap (2040m) in 5h. The path goes through dense jungle up the narrow western gorge of the Buri Gandaki heading towards Manaslu. At times the path is high above the river which we will cross and re-cross on an incredible variety of bridges. In Ghap, we will admire some fine sculptures, mostly representing meditating Buddhas. |
Day - 09 |
Ghap - Lho (3100m) in 5h.
We continue westwards through bamboo and rhododendron forests. Horse and yak caravans are numerous here, as the commerce with the upper Buri Gandaki valley and Tibet is prosperous. |
Day - 10 |
Lho - Sama Gompa (3500m) in 5h
We head straight towards Peak 29, ahead of us, then follow the lateral moraine of the Pungen Glacier towards Sama. Breathtaking views of the Manaslu, Northern Manaslu (7145m) and the Naike |
Day - 11 |
Sama Gompa - Samdo (3860m) in 3h.
We cross a high plateau and skirt around the ridge of the lateral moraine. We then climb a terraced hillside to reach one of the most remote permanent settlements in Nepal. Samdo is only a day’s walk from Tibet by the Lajyang La pass (5098m) |
Day - 12 |
Samdo – Larkya refuge (4500m) in 5h.
The path becomes steeper. Crossing the tundra, it winds its way to the foot of the immense Larkya glacier which pours out of the Manaslu. |
Day - 13 |
Larkya refuge - Larkya La (5212m) - Bimtang (3850m) in 7h
We first head towards Cho Chanda, then slowly climb the steep slope towards the pass. From the top the panorama is magnificent: Himlung Himal (7126m), Cheo Himal (6820m), Gyagi Kung, Kang Kuru (6981m) and the Annapurna II (7937m). Steep descent through moraines towards Bimtang |
Day - 14 |
Bimtang - Tilije (2400m) in 5h30.
The route gets easier. We start with a gentle climb through paddy fields towards the small Karcha La pass and descend through fir tree and rhododendron forests to Tillije |
Day - 15 |
Tilije – Chame (2713m) in 6h
We descend to Dharapani and join the Annapurna Circuit. From here we follow the Marsyangdi river upstream through large areas of blue pines, spruces and oak. |
Day - 16 |
Chame - Pisang (3185m) in 5h
We leave the magnificent pine forests and the Marsyangdi at full flow below us to enjoy views of the Lamjung and Annapurnas II and IV. Pisang, with its fine tapering walled houses, offers amazing sights of the Annapurna massif to the south, Mount Tilicho (7134m) to the west, Chulu Est (6584m) and the summit of Mount Pisang (6091m) to the north. |
| Day - 17 |
Pisang - Manang (3530m) in 5h
Manang is a typical Tibetan village with numerous stupas, monasteries and oratories |
| Day - 18 |
Manang - Thorong Phedi (4700m) in 7h.
This is a pasture area and a yak kingdom. An excursion towards the West Chulu peak can be organized in the afternoon. |
| Day - 19 |
Thorong Phedi - Thorong La (5415m) - Muktinath (3802m) in 8h.
Climb up to the Thorong La for a stunning panorama over prestigious summits rising above 6000m. Descent towards Muktinath |
| Day - 20 |
Muktinath - Jomosom (2713m) in 5h
This is the route of the Mustang and Tibet caravans |
| Day - 21 |
Jomosom – Pokhara (flight) – Katmandu (flight). |
