The Himalaya presents us with some of the most dramatic and demanding trekking landscapes anywhere on earth, such as our Round Manaslu and Larkya La trek, an off-the-beaten-track alternative to the neighbouring Annapurna Circuit, in the Mansiri Himal region of west-central Nepal, which was opened for tourism only relatively recently and is declared a restricted area.

Round Manaslu and Larkya La is a challenging trek, circuiting the unspoilt massif of Manaslu (8163m), the world's 8th highest mountain, with its name deriving from the Sanskrit word, Manasa, meaning ‘intellect’ or ‘soul’. Many believe that this trail, which follows old Himalayan trade routes, will one day become as popular as the far more famous Annapurna Circuit. In addition to the breathtaking backdrop of towering Himalayan peaks including Baudha, Rupina La and Ganesh, the high point of the trek is crossing the impressive Larkya La (5134m), for which our route provides adequate acclimatization.

There is strong cultural interest throughout the trek, which starts in the lower hills populated by Gurung Buddhists and ascends to traditional Tibetan villages. Days are spent walking in the shadow of some of the world's most spectacular mountain scenery, where Buddhist gompas and fluttering prayer flags mark a journey of astonishing natural and cultural diversity.

The valley is a sanctuary to many highly endangered animals, providing a safe and important habitat for the elusive snow leopard, as well as the grey wolf, musk deer, blue sheep, marmot and the Himalayan Thar. Over a hundred bird species, eleven butterfly species and three reptile species have been recorded here. Conservation of wild life in the area has been achieved by monks of local monasteries putting in place a hunting ban, which benevolent action has helped the wildlife to prosper.

The Ganesh range and Shringi Himal dominate the scenery with their size, though the Buddhist villages with their great stone carvings, chortens and paintings are equally beautiful. During the tough traverse back to the main trail, after circuiting Manaslu, the mountain scenery becomes even more impressive. The gorge slowly changes into an open valley and settlements become larger and more numerous.

The trek begins north of Gorkha and follows the Budhi Gandaki river upstream, along lush rice fields and passing through small Gurung villages. Rice terraces and yellow rapeseed fields cover the hillsides and wide valleys, while dense forests grow in the deep gorge along the river. After crossing Larkya La the trail drops down to the Marshyangdi Valley and joins the main Annapurna Circuit at Dharapani, following the Marshyangdi valley on to Bulbhule where make our final camp. Following morning we will say goodbye to our trekking team and drive to Kathmandu.

Altitude Chart