Manaslu Annapurna Three Passes trek

Your Arrival Time (?) Our office representative will meet and greet you at Kathmandu airport and transfer you to your hotel in Kathmandu. 

At. 06:00 PM: In the evening we will meet for a coffee talk and will brief you on the details of your trek program. You will get all the necessary information for your ongoing trekking in the Manaslu and Annapurna regions. All your paperwork and permits will be made available to you, to be kept with our guide. In the evening, you can explore the Thamel area. The nightlife around Thamel is vibrant and lively.

At. 08:00 AM: After your breakfast, you will explore the UNESCO World Heritage sites inside Kathmandu in a full-day sightseeing. Kathmandu Durbar Square which is one of three ancient formal Royal palaces of Nepal. You can see some of the most influential structures with intricate art designs engraved in them. After Kathmandu Durbar Square, visit Swayambhunath also known as the Monkey Temple located on top of a hill. One must climb hundreds of stairs to reach the top of the hill which can be physically challenging but rewarding as well. Next is Pashupatinath temple which is one of the most revered Hindu temples in Nepal.

Last but not least, Boudhanath Stupa, the largest stupa and center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. After completing your sightseeing, you can shop for trekking and get the necessary gear from the trekking shops around Thamel. In the evening, the briefing for the trek will be provided by one of our informed office representatives. If you have any queries or want to know anything, you can ask our representative.

Note (Optional Activity): You can go for a warm-up hike in the early morning to the nearest viewpoint in Kathmandu to Jamacho Gumba. The hike  can be completed in around 3-4 hours, which may help you to stretch your legs before the trek and will be beneficial.

At. 07:00 AM: Have your breakfast and be ready for a thrilling drive to Dobhan, if the road condition is good your vehicle can reach Jagat itself by drive. You will follow the upstream of Budi Gandaki River through the woodlands. You will drive through Machhakhola which is about 15 KM from Sotikhola, have your lunch on the way.

The distance between Dobhan to Jagat is 7 km which you can cover in 3-4 hours. The total distance from Kathmandu to Dobhan is around 210 KM which can be covered in around 8-10 hours depending upon traffic and road conditions. Overnight at a comfortable teahouse in Jagat.

At. 07:30 AM: Today’s trek will continue from the Jagat crossing the well-paved village before climbing the Sirdabas village which offers a great view of Shringi mountain. You will see alluring Mani walls which are Buddhist Shrines mostly found alongside the path in regions of Tibetan Buddhism. Also, you will come across Gurung villages as you get closer to your destination. 

The trail then passes through the amazing landscape with great views of waterfalls, rivers and mountains via Philim, Ekle Bhatti and Nyak finally reaching Deng. FYI: From Nyak Phedi the path separates Tsum Valley and Manaslu Circuit. The distance between Jagat to Deng is 20 KM which you can cover in 6-8 hours. Overnight at the teahouse.

At. 07:30 AM: Another 6-hour trek towards Namrung will start after breakfast early in the morning at the local teahouse. The trail is full of Tibetan Mani walls and crafted stones where you will get some glimpses of the Tibetan flavor of people and culture. You will walk around 19 km before reaching the beautiful Namrung village.

At. 07:30 AM: After breakfast, the trek starts towards Lho Gau (Village) which is situated at the lap of Manaslu Himal and peak 29 (Nagadi Chuli) in front of it. Amazing stone crafting can be seen on the stones of the trails with Mani walls.

(Namrung is the first checkpoint of the Manaslu Circuit trek as the Manaslu region lies in a Restricted area of Nepal) Also for a close view of Manaslu, you will take a side trip to the Pungen glacier. Today’s walk is 10 km which will take 5-6 hours. Overnight at teahouse accommodation.

At. 07:30 AM: The trek follows Samagaun (Ryo) via the Pungen (Pung Gyen) glacier. Samagau is the most beautiful village on the entire trek. Samagau is also the second checkpoint of the trek. On the way, you will walk past Shyala (3,500m) and big Chorten. Samagau is situated right below a gorgeous mountain giving you the majestic view of Naika peak, Manaslu. It takes 6-7 hours to walk on an 8 KM trail before reaching Samagau. You will walk slowly, acclimatizing and enjoying the walk. Rest at a teahouse in Samagau.

At. 09:00 AM: When you are trekking at a high altitude it is highly recommended that you take proper acclimatization before going further to a higher elevation to minimize the risk of high altitude sickness. Walking in a high-elevation area carries a potential risk of experiencing high-altitude sickness, which can be life-threatening if ignored. Acclimatizing doesn't necessarily mean you have to stay in the same place. You can also stroll around and explore the area while allowing your body to adjust to the changed altitude.

For acclimatization, you will have the option of trekking to Manaslu Base Camp (4,750 m) and back to Samagau which will take approximately 6-8 hours. In Samagaon, there are plenty of good cafes and local restaurants where you can try some of the local food. Or take a half-day hike to the glacier across the valley or Birendra Tal, or simply interact with the villagers to know about their day-to-day lifestyle. After exploring the area, you can enjoy a warm dinner at the local lodge and spend a comfortable night.

At. 07:30 AM: Samdo is a picturesque Tibetan refugee village situated in the stunning backdrop of the majestic Manaslu mountain. This village is located within a day's walking distance from the border between Tibet and Nepal. Samdo is connected to the ancient trade routes of Tibet. The area is also renowned for its majestic animals, including the Bharal, also known as the Himalayan Blue sheep, and its predator, the elusive Snow leopard. The distance between Samagaon and Samdo is 8 kilometers, and it typically takes around 4 to 6 hours to travel from Samagaon to the village of Samdo.

At. 08:00 AM: After crossing the few rivers and the amazing trail you will reach Larkey Bazaar. The Larkey bazaar was the hub of trade from Tibet and the upper Manaslu region. After a steady climb from Larkey Bazaar, you will reach Dharmashala, the last place to stay before crossing the pass tomorrow. Here you get to see a bed made out of stone which can be a rare sight to fresh travelers. The distance from Samdo to Dharmashala is 7 km and it takes 5 hours.

At. 04:30 AM: Today is the Larkya La Pass day, you will start early in the morning climbing the Cho Chanda before heading to the beautiful pass. You will cross the Larkya La pass (5,106m) which is one of the hardest passes. You will walk around 7-8 hours on foot today. The trail today offers panoramic views of the mountains all around. You will have spectacular views of the snow-capped Himalayas like the Himlung Himal (7,126 m), Cheo Himal (6,820 m), Gyagi Kung, Kang Koru (6,981 m), and Annapurna II (7,937 m).

After crossing the challenging pass, you will reach Bhimtang, where you can rest for the night before moving on to the next day. Take a break and set down your bags, then enjoy a delicious local dinner while immersing yourself in the simple lifestyle of the locals. You can start stargazing on clear nights and enjoy the beautiful starry sky visible from this location.

At. 07:30 AM: Today, you will be descending along your trekking route to reach Tilje. You will be walking for approximately 6 to 8 hours today. As you leave Bhimthang, you will notice the upper temperate forest reemerging and the day gradually becoming warmer. The vegetation is dominated by rhododendrons and alpine pine trees. Terraced crop fields can be observed in the vicinity of Kharche. You ascend the ridge with a steep incline and then descend along the Marshyangdi River until you reach Tilje.

At. 07:30 AM: Walk for about 5 to 6 hours to reach Koto from Tilje at an elevation of 2,610m/ 8,563ft. You will walk through the trail of Annapurna Circuit. So, the trail offers you spectacular views of Annapurna II and Manaslu Peak with the daily lifestyle of Thanchowk village people. Following the trail over the Marsyangdi River, we pass by Bagarchap Village. Then move to Koto through the pine forest, passing Timang at 2,510 m. Reaching Koto you get to see the spectacular views of the Annapurna, Lamjung, and Manaslu ranges.

At. 07:30 AM: After breakfast, you will start your journey towards Meta village. You will cover around 14 KM today which will take around 6 - 8 hours depending upon your walking pace. Today you enter the restricted area of Nar Phu Valley with a packed lunch as there are little to no places for lunch. Following the Nar Khola and Greenland forests. The trail is adventurous with a rocky trail and a long walk to Meta. You will walk through a steep and constrictive path through the dense forest, After crossing the river the trek leads to Pass the beautiful pine forest with a wide waterfall before arriving at Meta village. You can also see mesmerizing mountain views like Annapurna II and Lamjung Himal.

At. 07:30 AM: You will enter a narrow gorge and then descend to the river. You will follow the trail that heads north. You will climb steeply before descending gently towards a series of deserted buildings and large Chortens. Pass a line of wonderfully painted, bamboo-topped Chortens on the way into the ancient village. From here you will cross a suspension bridge to arrive at the village of Nar. You will see some mountains of the Annapurna ranges. Even though Nar is not far from the main Annapurna trail, it is rarely visited by trekkers and is about as picturesque as it gets.

At. 05:00 AM: Today you will start an early walk to cross Kang-la Pass (5,320m). On your way to Kang-La, you may come across some yak herder’s camps. You will climb toward the top of the pass which is decorated with many prayer flags. From the top, you will have good views of Annapurna III and IV, Machhapuchhre (Fish-Tail), Tilicho Peak, and the entire Manang Valley. You will descend from the top to reach the village of Ngawal. Ngawal village is a wonderful old village with a Buddhist school to teach monks, prayer wheels, and beautiful architecture.

At. 08:00 AM: Leaving Ngawal you will follow the trail that descends to flat fields along the banks of Marsyangdi River. You will trek through the forested area passing through Mugji to arrive at the 500-year-old village of Braga and then continue trekking to reach Manang. Manang is a wide U-shaped valley that hangs between two lines of snow peaks. This grand spot from a ridge offers scenic views of the valleys, Humde village with its short airstrip, and the great peaks of Gangapurna, Annapurna II, III, Tilocho, Chuli, and Pisang.

At. 08:00 AM: You will follow the trail that turns north and then climb a stone wall with a gate that stops domesticated livestock from leaving the grazing grounds of high pastures. From there you will gradually descend towards a suspension bridge over the Ghyanchang Khola. The trail heads up in the barren windswept terrains with juniper bushes along the way. From here an hour’s moderate walking will lead us toward Yak Kharka.

At. 08:00 AM: The trail from Yak Kharka leads to a slow climb up to reach the last settlement of Ledar. The trail then winds up offering grand views of Annapurna II, Gangapurna, and Tilache and the close-up view of Chuli peaks. After around one hour of trekking from Ledar, you will descend towards the wooden bridge over the Kone Khola. You will continue along a zig-zag track towards Upper Phedi or Thorong High Camp.

At. 04:00 AM: You will start early for the crossing of the challenging Thorong La pass, to avoid the strong winds at the pass after midday. You will climb steeply up towards a watercourse before climbing through another large gully formed by the melt of Thorong Peak. From there you will continue climbing across the undulating moraine toward the top of the Thorong Pass. After reaching an altitude of 5,416 meters at Thorong-La Pass.

You can catch the best views of northern Annapurna, Damodar, Bhrikuti, and Dhaulagiri range of mountains from Thorong La. From the top, you will descend steeply towards the grassy meadows and further to a very important pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists – Muktinath. The village where you will be staying, below the Muktinath temple, is called Rani Pauwa Village. You will pass your trail through the temple before reaching your rest point. This will be the longest day in terms of trekking. You may require almost 8-10 hours today.

At. 08:30 AM: Wake up early if you want to experience a sunrise view at Mt. Dhaulagiri which can be seen from Muktinath. You can visit the Muktinath village before starting your trek towards Jomsom. Have your breakfast and start walking towards Jomsom, you will take the trail through Lupra village. The total distance from Muktinath to Jomsom via Lupra village is around 18 KM which may take around 6-8 hours as the trail mostly follows downhill.

After a lunch break at Lupra village, you will continue walking towards Jomsom. The further trail cuts through windy areas in the Kali Gandaki valley of lower Mustang.

At. 07:30 AM: After breakfast at your hotel, move towards Jomsom airport to catch your flight to Pokhara. It just takes 20 minutes to reach Pokhara by flight. The flights between Pokhara and Jomsom operate only in the morning. Our representative will pick you from the Pokhara airport and drop you to the hotel. You will have a full leisure day in Pokhara to rest and explore the city on your own.

(Note: Pokhara Jomsom flights depend on the weather conditions. If the flight gets canceled, we will arrange a private vehicle transfer for you. The road journey is incredibly thrilling as you will experience both smooth and off-the-beaten-path moments, with great views alongside you.)

The driving road follows the Kali Gandaki river until Kushma. You will cross some of the popular Thakali villages of lower Mustang region, which are Marpha, Tukhuche, Lete, Kalopani, and Ghasa. The difficult off road starts from Ghasa to Tatopani, and you can stop at Tatopani to take a natural hot water bath. While driving further you will cross Beni and Kushma, two district headquarters of Myagdi and Patbat districts of Nepal. Upon your arrival in Pokhara, complete your checking at your hotel and enjoy a leisure time.

Optional Activities in Pokhara (Price Subject to Change):

• Paragliding in Pokhara. (USD 100 PP)

• Ultra-light flight in Pokhara. (USD 150 PP, 15 Minutes)

• Zip-flying in Pokhara. (USD 60 PP)

• Bungee jumped in Kushma. (World’s 2nd highest, 228M) (USD 120 PP)

At. 09:00 AM: Late check-out from the Pokhara hotel and enjoy your breakfast before heading to the airport for your flight back to Kathmandu. (Flight duration 25 min) Upon reaching Kathmandu one of the official representatives will pick you up from the airport and drop you off at your respective hotel. Check in at the hotel and enjoy your leisure time as you want.

You can spend your time shopping for souvenirs, exploring the rustic beauty of the ancient city, or treating yourself to a relaxing spa in Thamel after a week-long trek. In the evening, join us for a traditional Nepali Dinner (Thakali Cuisine) with a live performance of folk songs as a farewell (If you want to visit other places, you can arrange it for yourself with extra add-ons)

Note: Please collect any extra baggage you may have left behind before the trek.

You will have your breakfast at the hotel and then you will have free time (depending upon your flight time). Our office representative will drop you off at the Tribhuvan International Airport 3 hours before your flight time for airport formality. Carry loads of souvenirs, memories, and lifetime experiences back home, and Have a safe home return! We hope you enjoyed the trip! If you plan to extend your stay, we (Altitude Himalaya) are more than happy to make your visit memorable and enjoyable.