| Day 01 |
Drive from Katmandu to Gorkha by bus. Visit of the Gorka royal palace and the |
|
Kali temple. An historic city, origin of the Sha dynasty that had provided most of the |
|
Nepalese kings since 1767. |
| Day 02 |
Gorkha - Kanchok in 5hrs. Nice views of the Gorkha Himal. |
| Day 03 |
Kanchok - Arughat (670 m) in 5hrs. A pretty route through cultivated, terraced |
|
hillsides and villages. The trail goes up and down along the Budi Gandaki river. |
| Day 04 |
Arughat - Labu Besi (880 m) in 6.5hrs. The trail goes across forests populated by |
|
monkeys. As we go, we glance at 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 (950 m) in 4hrs. The trail ascends along the river. |
| Day 06 |
Khola Besi - Jagat (1410 m) in 5hrs. We head upstream along the Budi Gandaki's |
|
steep edge, towards Tatopani, literally " hot springs ". |
| Day 07 |
Jagat - Ngyak (1530 m) in 6hrs. |
| Day 08 |
Ngyak - Ghap (2040 m) in 5hrs. The path goes through dense jungle up the narrow |
|
western gorge of the Budi Gandaki heading towards Manaslu. |
| Day 09 |
Ghap - Lho (3100 m) in 5hrs. We continue westwards through bamboos and |
|
rhododendrons. Horses and yak caravans are numerous here, as the commerce |
|
with the upper Budi Gandaki valley and Tibet is prosperous. |
| Day 10 |
Lho - Sama Gompa (3500 m) in 5hrs. We head straight towards Peak 29, ahead of |
|
us, then follow the lateral moraine of Pungen Glacier towards Sama. Breathtaking |
|
views of the Manaslu, Northern Manaslu (7145 m) and the Naike. |
| Day 11 |
Sama Gompa-Samdo (3860 m) in 3hrs. We cross a high plateau now 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 walk |
|
from Tibet, passing by Lajyang La pass (5098 m). |
| Day 12 |
Samdo - Larkya (4500 m) in 5hrs. 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 - Larkya La (5212 m) - Bimtang (3850 m) 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 (7126 m), Cheo Himal (6820 m), Gyagi |
|
Kung, Kang Kuru (6981 m) and the Annapurna II (7937 m). Steep descend, |
|
through moraines, towards Bimtang. |
| Day 14 |
Bimtang - Tilije (2400m) in 5hrs30mins. 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 6 hrs. We descend to Dharapani and join the Annapurnas |
|
Circuit. From here, we climb upstream the Marsyangdi river, through large area of |
|
blue pines, spruces and oaks. |
| Day 16 |
Chame - Pisang (3185 m) in 5 hrs. We leave the magnificent pine forests and the |
|
Marsyangdi at full flow bellow us to enjoy views of the Lamjung and Annapurnas II |
|
and IV. Pisang, with its fine tapering walled houses, offers amazing sights of |
|
Annapurnas massif on south, Mount Tilicho (7134 m) on west, Chulu Est (6584 m) |
|
and the summit of the Mount Pisang (6091 m) on north. |
| Day 17 |
Pisang - Manang (3530 m) in 5 hrs. Manang is a village of typical Tibetan culture |
|
with numerous stupas, monasteries and oratories. |
| Day 18 |
Manang - Thorong Phedi (4700m) in 7 hrs. This is a pasture area and a yak |
|
kingdom. An excursion towards Chulu peak can be organized in the afternoon. |
| Day 19 |
Thorong Phedi - Thorong La (5415 m) - Muktinath (3802 m) in 8 hrs. Climb up to |
|
the Thorong La with a stunning panorama over prestigious summits rising above |
|
6000 m. Descent towards Muktinath. |
| Day 20 |
Muktinath - Jomosom (2713 m) in 5 hrs. This is the route of Mustang and Tibet |
|
caravans. |
| Day 21 |
Jomosom - Pokhara (flight) . Day free in Pokhara. |
| Day 22 |
Fly or drive back from Pokhara to Kathmandu |
